THUNDER BAY – Located inside Keskus Court at 215 Red River Rd., Quirky Company is a novelty gift shop that also specializes in showcasing local and small businesses.
Imagine someone eccentric and artistic as a serious small business owner. Laura Whitlock’s shop may seem a bit unorthodox to some, as it's not something that generally fits the mold of a traditional business owner.
Escaping that mold, Whitlock is anything but a typical small business owner. She combines retail with her love for art and all things quirky to create a unique business that might be unlike anything ever seen before.
Her shop consists of all sorts of wacky, whimsical knick-knacks and accessories, including homemade dog treats created from only one ingredient. She also runs markets most Saturdays in Keskus Court.
To encourage involvement, young entrepreneurs aged 18 and under – as well as charity groups – can book a table for free. For anything else, such as MLMs, arts & crafts, side hustles, baking, etc, the table fee is $15.
Originating from Kaministiquia, a community outside the city, Whitlock’s entrepreneurial journey has been anything but ordinary.
She said her childhood was filled with a deep admiration for art, animals, and nature. Despite fostering a strong passion for these interests, the path to her future career remained uncertain. Therefore, she devoted much of her professional life to working in restaurants and bars as a server/bartender.
However, the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a newfound reevaluation of her lifestyle and career aspirations.
Welcoming this new period of reflection, Whitlock set out on a transformative journey by becoming an artist.
Originally commissioned by her brother-in-law to paint murals in his museum, she discovered a newfound sense of purpose and direction. She would later go on to rent a small space in the Hub Bazaar, where she ran the Saturday peddlers markets.
This led her, along with her brother-in-law, to renting a much bigger space and creating the Keskus Market. Since then, her entrepreneurial endeavours have experienced sizable growth.
Since its inception, Quirky Company has gained a lot of recognition throughout the community and the business has received a lot of positive feedback. People are loving her unique concept of mixing creativity with retail and look forward to seeing what she does next.
In addition, Whitlock has also received praise for her friendly, professional demeanour. She engages with her customers and makes them feel welcomed when they enter her shop.
Presently, her focus lies on the formation of a Saturday market, as well as the further establishment of her novelty store that will soon feature engaging arcade games. Poised and hungry to encourage a sense of community, Whitlock aspires to include family-friendly activities and host birthday party events within a classroom setting.
Concurrently, Whitlock is engaged in the creation of alluring murals within their shared space, as well as the development of a mushroom garden.
While this wasn't the career path Whitlock had initially envisioned for her future, it has turned out to be a worthwhile endeavour. Even though the work isn’t always easy, she still really enjoys it. She especially loves that her work allows her the opportunity to create art and engage with the community simultaneously. As her business continues to grow, Whitlock said she hopes that people will appreciate just how fun and different it is from other businesses.
Excited about the future prospects of Quirky Company and the collaborative business community it possesses, Whitlock eagerly awaits the progression of new opportunities and ventures that bloom in the near future.
Be sure to follow Laura on TikTok at @laurasquirkycompany; Facebook and Instagram @ Quirky Company.
Check out Quirky Company in person at 215 Red River Rd., inside Keskus Court.
