After decades of barely worn shoes and bags piling up in a garage because they were neither comfortable nor timeless – Shannon Hickey had enough. She decided that if she couldn’t find the right fit, it was time to create it herself.
Six years ago, Hickey started planning out SHISAKO. Named by combining her name with her daughters’ names, Sakura and Kohana, this Indigenous-owned e-commerce store is now selling its products Canada-wide.
“I was both excited and scared for the launch. Export Navigator provided confidence when it sometimes was lost,” says Hickey. Being introduced to various exporting specialists and sources of funding has helped.”
SHISAKO’s collection features belt bags, footwear and more, all made with low chemical processed leather. Looking at the beautiful and timeless designs Hickey created, it’s easy to forget the bumps in her journey to bring SHISAKO to the market.
The Long Road to Success
Over SHISAKO’s six-year history, Hickey has met considerable delays due to importing and exporting restrictions. Hickey originally found a manufacturer in Vietnam and was almost ready to begin. However, the ongoing trade conflict between the United States and China complicated tariffs with her Vietnamese manufacturer and SHISAKO’s progress came to a halt.
Hickey moved production to Italy just before the pandemic.
“I met my Export Advisor Shannan Roberts through a business networking group years ago and reconnected when I moved back to Kelowna from Australia. She told me about Export Navigator, and how she could help me ship my products to the USA,” says Hickey.
“She has a vast professional network, so she introduced me to consultants who understand import duties and tariffs.”
A Bright Future Ahead
As an e-commerce store, the ability to export is critical to SHISAKO’s success. Hickey anticipates 20 per cent of her business will come from exporting in its first two years. She trusts that number to increase gradually as SHISAKO grows.
“Export Navigator is a great resource. They can help you find the answers you’re looking for and help keep you on track when things get overwhelming,” says Hickey.
Hickey is grateful for the extra pair of eyes from her Export Advisor to help find available funding and resources to grow the business.
“Shannan provided this last push of confidence that I needed to launch,” says Hickey. “I don’t have a business partner, but I knew if I needed to talk to her about something, she is always there.”
With the knowledge she now possesses after working with Export Navigator, Hickey is now a regular at Canadian tradeshows, and has even attended several Fashion Weeks, including Toronto.
