All aboard: Boutique business on wheels pulls into downtown St. John's
Stephanie Tobin | CBC News | Posted: July 26, 2017 6:59 PM | Last Updated: July 26, 2017
Find Scout Street Style open for business on a curbside near you this summer
If you're looking for some vintage threads paired with a unique shopping experience, one travelling businesswoman might have the niche market for you.
Instead of having them buy things online I can actually just drive to their communities. - Aryn Ballet
Aryn Ballet opened her vintage and boutique clothing store this month, Scout Street Style, which operates out of a renovated RV camper.
The goal of Scout Street Style? Bring the duds to you.
"The population in Newfoundland is so sparse, but I know that there's pockets of people everywhere who are my target market. And instead of having them buy things online, I can actually just drive to their communities," said Ballet.
"It's something they can get excited about a couple times a year."
From vintage frocks to Levi denim from the 1960s, Ballet is hoping to set up downtown during George Street Festival, as well as near this year's Folk Festival in Bannerman Park.
Short trips so far
And she's not just bound to St. John's. Ballet also hopes to take the RV to Corner Brook in September, with additional stops in Port Rexton, Bonavista and Trinity areas.
"I'm still driving around St. John's at the moment because I only started on the 15th of July. I wanted to really learn how to drive a 26-foot RV first," she said.
In the two weeks since the shop has been open, Ballet said she's had only positive reception from people pleasantly surprised by the camper-turned-clothing van.
It's a dream I've had for literally 20 years. - Aryn Ballet
"Once people realize that they're able to come inside, everyone's really surprised by how much it's just like a regular store," she said.
"It really truly is just like a mini version of a store — you don't feel like you're in an RV once you come in. And people seem to think it's really cool."
'It's been really amazing'
The positivity is a blessing for Ballet, who estimates she's spent thousands of hours working on renovations, with some help from her contractor dad, welder brother and handy — and helpful — friends.
"It's been really emotional. There was lots of little days, like finishing the business plan, getting a business loan, all kinds of things across this path. It's been really amazing though," she said.
"It's a dream I've had for literally 20 years."
Ballet will be parked this week on Harbour Drive in St. John's from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and elsewhere in downtown over the weekend.
To track her down, she suggests people check her Scout Street Style Instagram for daily updates about where the shop will be.