NANAIMO — It’s the end of nearly 30 years in the Harbour City and three generations of business in kids toys and education.
Carolyn Kool will close the doors of “Kool & Child” on Bowen Rd., on Christmas Eve, wrapping over 50 years in the family business, including 29 in Nanaimo.
Kool told NanaimoNewsNOW she’s had the privilege of seeing people come in and buy toys as children, only to return as parents.
“People have come to our store right from when they were children, now some of them have grandchildren. One lady, she was so disappointed (to hear the store was closing). Her grandchild is now a year and a half old, and she was so looking forward to doing much more shopping in the future.”
Kool’s career in children’s toys and educational materials started with her grandfather around 1970, who owned a similar business in the Toronto region.
The family sold it in 1979, but Louise Kool & Galt is still operating in Scarborough.
Carolyn’s father stayed in the family business, initially with the new owners but eventually branched out on his own as a wholesaler of toys and learning equipment.
A move to Vancouver preceded A relocation to Nanaimo where Carolyn took over in the early 1990s as Kool & Child.
At the heart of it all though over the last half century, was learning through fun.
“We don’t carry war toys, we don’t carry guns, we don’t carry things that are racist, we try to bring in multicultural items and have over the years, it’s difficult but where we can, we try,” said Kool, who turns 69 in April.
Kool & Child, located across from Coast Capital Credit Union on Bowen Rd. at Labieux Rd. will close Dec. 24, after nearly 30 years of business in Nanaimo. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)The motivation for the business has always been about creating relationships with the people who come into the store, whether at their current Bowen Rd. location or their other past locations around the city including downtown and the north end.
Kool added the business aspect of the store was always secondary.
“We pay the staff (well), that’s my one expense that’s probably over and above. I bonus out and profit share with them. The end result is not ‘I want to make a fortune’, just as long as everyone is comfortable, and the store pays for itself and we can help in the community.”
The attitude has led to extensive relationships with a number of community organizations.
Groups like Nanaimo Science, Nanaimo Unique Kids Organization (NUKO) and a host of theatre programs have all benefited from the store, while Kool always made effort to give discounts to student teachers on materials for their classrooms.
Kool is also proud of the store’s work with the provincial Ministry of Children and Family Development, for which she’s helped with materials for kids with autism and other challenges.
A guest book is set up by the cash registers and is quickly filling up with memories from customers who have shopped at the store. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)But through it all, recent economic conditions and an expiring lease at the end of the year meant time was up.
After a booming business through the pandemic as many parents sought out learning materials for homeschooling, Kool said there’s been a noticeable downtown since January.
“I’m tired, my staff are tired. We’ve tried to hire all year, we can’t. We’re not getting the goods we order, a $5,000 order we might get $1,500 out of it, so it’s hard to keep the store stocked.”
Most of the staff will retire along with Kool, the others are either going to school or have found work elsewhere.
Kool herself plans to relax a little, clean out her house and focus more on her dogs, Silky terriers, which she enters in dog shows and breeds.
“I’m just going to take it one day at a time, see where my interests have laid in the past and see if I want to pick those up again. I used to do some stained glass, things like that. I want to catch up on my reading and maybe a little travel.”
Closing the store was not her first choice, as multiple attempts were made to sell the business over the last two years, but with no success.
It now means the store’s current liquidation sale will aim to clear out as much inventory as possible before the doors close.
Only a few days into their retirement sale, Kool & Child’s shelves are already starting to look a little bare. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.
alex@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @alexrawnsley
