Sean Donovan and his wife Stacey are selling off their stock and closing shop after two years in village’s downtown business section.
The two are proprietors of Keremeos Toonie, located on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street at the location formerly housing Keremeos Hardware.
The Donovans took over the hardware store in 2011 and over the course of the last three years changed the stock in response to local consumer’s desires. The change to dollar store items last year helped sales, Sean said, but unfortunately sales volumes weren’t enough to make the business sustainable.
“If you worked out the average (hourly wage), winter to summer, it worked out to about three dollars an hour,” Sean said.
Asked if he had any advice for potential entrepreneurs in Keremeos, Sean said, “It’s a difficult community to sell to. People need to buy things, but not in quantity enough to keep a business going.”
The Donovans are currently selling off their remaining stock, and the business will close when the sale ends. Sean has applied to Okanagan College to take a chef’s program, hoping to build on a former career.
The Donovans plan to remain in the community with their four children.