By Jennifer Foden
If you’re looking to give your home a facelift then look no further than these Durham Region businesses.
Mango Reclaimed
Melanie Curley’s journey to become the owner of Mango Reclaimed and Mango Paint, a vintage furniture studio and paint line, started with something tragic: her husband passed away. Melanie, who was pregnant at the time, left her job, sold her house in Toronto and returned back to Durham Region where her support network was. “I realized once my son was born that I could not go back to my old job,” Melanie says. “I could not imagine commuting into the city every day as an only parent to a job—that was a good job—but [one] that I didn’t really care about. So, I started thinking about what I could do out here.”
And that’s how Mango Reclaimed sprang to life. Melanie had always loved reclaiming vintage furniture. “It’s sort of in my DNA, I guess,” she says with a laugh. “We have a ton of furniture in our showroom that we paint and sell. We also have pieces that are unpainted that customers can choose their own colours and finishes. People also regularly bring us their furniture and we’ll custom paint it for them.”
The studio, on Thickson Road in Whitby, opened in 2013 and the business hasn’t slowed down since. “Initially we just had one of the studios down there, but we expanded in our fifth year and took over the two studios beside us,” says Melanie. Not only has she given new life to more than 4,000 pieces of furniture, but she regularly teaches workshops to interested DIYers as well. In 2019, Melanie also launched her own 26-colour paint line that is distributed at retailers across North America, Europe and New Zealand. Mango Paint is Canadian-made and specifically designed for furniture projects.
Her advice for aspiring business owners? “Just go for it,” she says. “Obviously do your research and get your plan in place. But also, don’t be afraid to just jump in and learn as you go. We say that sometimes in our studio: ‘Oh look, we’re building the airplane as we’re flying it.’”
Pink Lemon Decor
Seven years ago, Amber Ross stepped away from a decade-long career in the corporate telecommunications world to spend more time with her family. “It allowed me to pursue my creative passions,” says Amber. The business, Pink Lemon Decor, started as a home studio where she made wood signs, but it quickly evolved to making art prints and selling home decor and unique gifts. In 2018, she spent 10 months renovating a vintage trailer into a mobile pop-up shop on wheels. “We are no regular home decor store,” she says. “We travel the province in our 1975 pink vintage trailer. We have visited over 50 markets all across Ontario.”
And Amber’s business has continued to grow. In 2022, she opened a bricks-and-mortar location in downtown Bowmanville. Customers will find all the same art and gifts found in the original mobile pop-up shop, plus a flower market. “We worked with Lisa Radu, founder of Aspen Florist, to create a flower bar where you can create your own bouquet—or, we can help you,” Amber shares. The trailer is still on the road and returns each year from spring until snowfall.
Pink Lemon Decor is all about community. As the business has grown, so has the team. Amber employs a team of three local women who reside in Durham. “We live in the area and there is nothing better than doing business where you live,” says Amber. “Our customers are our neighbours and the love for small businesses here in Durham Region is really strong.”
What would Amber say to someone considering opening up a business in Durham Region? “Do lots of research and use local resources to help you navigate permits, bylaws, business funding, etc.,” she shares. She points to the Clarington Board of Trade and the Bowmanville BIA as valuable organizations she’s worked with. “Also, have a plan for growth and invest in your team.”
Are you thinking about starting your own retail business? Support is available in Durham Region. A great starting point is exploring the resources available through the Business Advisory Centre of Durham. Looking for a location or other resources? Get in touch with us.