1. Introduce yourself! Where are you from, what are your hobbies? Who do you share your days with?
Shannon
My name is Shannon Boyne and I am the co-founder of The Glow Collective. I am born and raised in Grande Prairie. My hobbies include reading, yoga and spending time with family and friends. I spend my time outside of work with my husband Tanner and our 2 year old daughter Morgan and dog Bailey.
Chelsey
I am Chelsey Boyne, born and raised here in Grande Prairie. I love to create, practice yoga, and get out into nature with my husband Justin Vienslauze + our new puppy Mindy. The Glow Collective + supporting women entrepreneurs with Shannon my business partner is another major passion of mine. 2. Introduce your business! What do you do/sell/offer? How long have you been in operation?
Shannon
The Glow Collective is a co-working and event space that supports ambitious women entrepreneurs by providing them a place to collaborate and work while also hosting events and masterminds that help them reach their goals. We offer co-working, retail, and events throughout the year. We started our business in the summer of 2017.
Chelsey
The Glow Collective has evolved since 2017 when Shannon and I first started in business together as Awaken Your Glow Events. We started by hosting retreats, conferences + networking events and in 2020 decided to expand our business to include a Co-Working Space, Event Space, Boardroom + small boutique. Our businesses focus is on women entrepreneurs and creating an environment where they can grow, collaborate and rise together.
3. What got you first thinking about starting this business?
Shannon
I wanted to help other entrepreneurs create a business and life they love.
Chelsey
We created something we were craving in the community. We were tired of having to drive hours to attend certain events happening in other cities and knew there was a market in Grande Prairie that would support us and felt the same way. Creating a Co-Working Space for women in business was on my radar since 2015, I looked at starting one back then but didn’t think Grande Prairie had the market for it at the moment. We felt approaching the idea again, but this time together, we felt it was the natural evolution of our business.
4. When did you decide to make the plunge? What was the catalyst that motivated you to officially open?
Shannon
After I had my daughter I knew that I wanted to work on our business full time and not go back to my day job. I thought that the timing was perfect and it was now or never so I went for it and I am so happy that I did. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, I love our community and working with Chelsey.
Chelsey
We started to really research and work on the idea at the end of 2019, when the world was still ‘normal’. With 2020 ahead we felt it was our year, we found a good location and a business to collaborate with and we were working towards a dream we had had for a while. In February 2020 it finally came together and we began to work on our space and work towards our opening day of March 16. The day came and we were open for 4 hours before COVID shut us down that very same day. Long story short, the businesses that we were subleasing from closed their doors a few short months later, we had to make some really tough decisions and had to move out of the space that we just worked so hard on. We felt so strong that there was a need for what we were offering and didn’t give up. Our community being there for us and validating our idea is what motivated me to want to move forward and find a new location. We have the best community + support system that I could ask for, and I am so appreciative of that. I am so glad that we decided to hold out just a little longer until we found the perfect space to reopen in. We found a location that allowed us to expand and add on a boardroom + shop to our original business plan and we are right in the heart of Grande Prairie on 100 ave.
5. Has your business evolved since starting it and how? Who helped you get to where you are now?
Shannon
When we started in 2017 we started with doing wellness retreats for women under the name Awaken Your Glow Events. We had great success but we noticed that there was something missing in our community. There was no support or networking events for specifically women in business. We started doing panel events called The Glow Collective in January 2019 and then that led to rebranding our business as The Glow Collective and creating our space with co-working, event space and retail! Our community has really supported us and has allowed us to get to where we are now. We are so thankful for our collective of women who have our back.
Chelsey
We have absolutely evolved since starting out as Awaken Your Glow Events in 2017, we moved away from health and wellness focused retreats and instead focusing on supporting women in business as The Glow Collective. My business partner and cousin-in-law Shannon Boyne has been by my side through it all.
6. What are your most popular services/products?
Shannon
Right now a popular item in our retail is our day planners.
Chelsey
Our planners have been one of our top items. A must have item I would say is something from a Small Shop – we support around 10 different small shops, entrepreneurs and Alberta local businesses at the moment and always looking at adding more!
7. What are you most proud of in your business?
Shannon
I am proud of the community that Chelsey and I have built and the connection that we have with a lot of other women in business. Supporting local and especially other woman in business is so important to us both.
Chelsey
I am most proud of our resiliency during this time and that we did not give up and that we pushed forward and ended 2020 on a high note. I am so happy to have Shannon along for this crazy ride.
8. What’s one of the best moments or days on the job since you’ve opened?
Shannon
Working on the space and getting it ready has been a lot of long hours and work but doing it with another person (Chelsey) has been a lot of fun. We always have fun when we are together but especially when we have had little sleep and think everything is funny!! I would say that opening day on December 12, 2020 is also a favorite moment. I left feeling so grateful for the people that stopped in to say congratulations.
Chelsey
I would say seeing our community, again and for our friends + family stopping in! It has been great to connect in person again!
9. Do you have any big goals you’re working towards or have accomplished?
Shannon
Opening our space has been a big goal of ours for a couple of years now. When we were putting our space together we were talking about what our next few goals will be and we can’t say them yet but they are also very excited and something that I know we will make happen.
10. What’s coming up next?
Shannon
Hopefully some amazing events in our new event space once we are able to connect in person again!
Chelsey
Fun, entertaining, educational, events again that bring our community together when it is safe to do so!
11. How can the community support you during this time?
Shannon
Shopping our retail either in-person or online at www.theglowcollective.ca, and liking our social media channels and sharing it with your friends and family
Chelsey
Come by our new store at 10020 100 Ave and say hi! Also like and share our posts on social media. We also have gift cards available if you are interested in the other elements of our business that are closed right now due to regulations.
12. How can people connect with you?
On our Instagram at @the.glow.collective
Our facebook @theglowcollective.gp
You can shop online at www.theglowcollective.ca
In person: 10020 100 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB
Bonus: What’s one other local business that people *have to* check out in Grande Prairie?
Shannon
This is hard to answer as there are so many amazing local businesses in Grande Prairie but Danielle at the Headroom has been a huge support for us from the beginning. You can shop their retail during their closure due to the new regulations.
Chelsey
We are blessed with so many great local businesses in our city. One of my favourites, and a major supporter of our businesses would be Grande Prairie Coffee Co.. Emily + team create some of the best food, coffees + cocktails. I highly recommend taking a downtown walk and stopping in there!