Local Business
The first family of Normandy establishes community on Corydon Avenue
By Brenlee Coates
fashion and lifestyle shop just cel- ebrated its first year in business. “It just feels like we’ve been here
T
forever,” confirms Amanda Remond, one-third of the shop’s fixtures, which include her partner Christopher Sa- niuk and their store greeter, a mini auburn-coated goldendoodle named Norman. It’s their familiarity that makes them feel like veterans to the scene – a routine of easy conversation follows Norman’s eager welcome. Tey’ve slipped comfortably into a home that didn’t immediately seem like an obvi- ous fit. “Te entire place was this bubbling white plastic paneling…Chris was like, ‘Tis is the space.’ “I couldn’t picture it,” says Amanda. What used to house kitschy shops
like Sugar Mountain and Dingo’s Wild & Crazy Dogs, the couple turned into one of the finest displays of reclaimed wood and industrial de- cor in the city. Tey spent nearly an entire summer gathering wood for Chris to complete the renovation. When it opened in November
2013, the store had so much identity that it quickly cemented its place in Winnipeg’s psyche. Norman’s name was even chosen in homage to the shop, so he could be known as the “Prince of Normandy”. Time has flown for Winnipeg’s first
family of Normandy, witnessing brisk growth in the store’s customer base and interest flourish from brand reps. Amanda reflects on Normandy’s humble beginnings, back when they
34 • Summer 2015 Christopher Saniuk and Amanda Remond, the couple behind Normandy Shoppe.
had an unfinished store and no business clout to speak of. “We had to go meet (brand reps) just to be like, ‘Hey, we’re normal people. We’re going to represent your brands well.’” Tis year, they returned to the an- nual New York Men’s Market Week, and found that exhibiting brands knew them and actively sought to work with them. “It was like a 180 – people want- ed to meet us,” she says. Why it works
Many things distinguish Normandy in the local market; while there are places like Old Faithful Shop and Neighbour Shop in Vancouver with heritage-driven decor and a return to old-school fine craftsmanship, the same
worthy features firmly plant Normandy in a league of its own here. Te high-end brands chosen are
ethically made (mostly in the Unit- ed States), and are meant to endure. Brands like Filson have been quality assured since 1897, and were previously unavailable in Winnipeg. “It was kind of ‘see a need, fill a need’,”
says Amanda. “If your price point is go- ing to be the same as H&M and Zara, they’re just going to shop there because there’s more selection. “It’s important to us to carry good
brands that have a good story and rep- resent good people…and we only do small orders. It keeps it more of a bou- tique experience.”
The Hub
he Normandy Shoppe family is such a Corydon Avenue staple that it’s hard to believe the men’s
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