Cloud Nine Pajamas in Downtown, meet the Co-Owner Miranda Zechel!
Original Blog Post was from an older Version of Sharon Gregresh’s Website PropertyFusion.ca, posted on Saturday, January 13th, 2018 at 6:37pm. This blog post has been moved over to this site as Cloud Nine Pajama's is still one of Sharon’s fave Stores and she believes in Supporting Great Local Business’s. Check them out.
Summary
Miranda Zechel is co-owner of the family run business known as Cloud Nine Pajamas. She and her family share a passion for the comfort found in a great pair of pajamas!
Describe your business
Cloud Nine presents comfort as a way of life; where relaxation meets luxury and style to ensure you feel your best. After a full day of running errands, taking care of others, or working at the office, what feels better than putting on your favourite pair of pajamas? Or curling up with a coffee, good book, and blanket in a well loved lounge-wear outfit?
Comfort is the key to a happy and healthy lifestyle; so lounge on a Sunday morning, put on your favourite pajamas after work, and relax in what makes you feel your finest. We carry the largest variety of sleepwear in Canada so you can feel your best!
What made you decide to open this business?
Meeting after meeting, the ladies of one Edmonton book club were talking not about books, but how they couldn’t sleep! As many of them were (and still are) in the thrust of menopause, night sweats were disrupting their sleep and making them a little bit grumpy. They needed something that would help, but couldn’t find anything in Edmonton that would fit the bill. With this in mind Cloud Nine was open in 2005 to help the women of Alberta sleep better! We now have a huge variety of moisture wicking pajamas to help those trying to sleep through menopause.
What was it like when you first started?
We purchased the business in 2009 when it was a small shop on Stony Plain road in Edmonton. It was such a small adorable shop and it just needed the right structure and systems in place to flourish. It’s amazing to see how our company has grown over the years!
What has surprised you most when owning a business?
One of the most surprising things we have learnt through owning a business is that there is always something to do 24/7. You always have a to-do list and something that needs to be fixed. It took a while but we have become very good at separating our work time from our family time, which is very hard to do when you own a business. As a family we think it is very important that each of us has time each week to do something we enjoy!
What would your customers say they love most about your business?
I think it is very apparent to our customers that we love to work as a family. As a company run by three sisters, our Mom, and Dad we are extremely close. We are so proud of the company we have grown together as a family. We have the most amazing and kind staff that have become an important part of the Cloud Nine family.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had working with a customer?
Due to the nature of our moisture wicking sleepwear (which helps women through the side effects of chemo) I have had many amazing conversations with strong, inspirational women going through chemo. This has to be my most memorable moments with customers. They are moments I will never forget and to know we will bring these women more relief from their hot flashes is an important reason as to why this whole adventure started for us.
What do you like most about being an entrepreneur?
The thing I like most about being an entrepreneur is seeing our hard work paying off! The harder we worked the more people we are able to employee and the more customers we were able to make happy. It is a ripple effect!
What is something most people don't know about the business?
Something that no one would know is that our entire family lives on the same block, including our Grandma. We all walk to each other's houses in our pajamas. I’m pretty sure we are known as the crazy pajama family in our neighbourhood! Imagine walking the dog in your leopard housecoat… you get the point haha!
Do you have any exciting plans for the future that you want customers to know about?
We are in the process of building and designing an online store that will hopefully be running in the near future!
Anything exciting going on that customers should know about?
We host a Canada’s Biggest Pajama party at the Edmonton Valley Zoo every year in support of the Valley Zoo Development Society. Last year we had over 1,800 people attend! Keep posted on our social media to hear more details! This years event will be held September 2nd.
Do you have any advice that you want to share with other entrepreneurs?
Never stop learning! We are always reading books and attending seminars that help us grow and think outside the box.
Where are your favorite places to go in the neighborhood?
Where are your favorite places to go in the St.Albert?
I love to shop at Sublime swimwear for my vacations! I also love to see the beautiful new arrivals at Cerulean Boutique!
Why do you think it's important for people to shop local?
I believe it is so important to shop local because more money stays in the community around you. You are helping create more jobs in your community and you can see immediate effects on your community. Many St. Albert and Edmonton shops ran locally support amazing local charities here in the city that are so important to us. You are keeping your community unique and diverse by supporting the amazing local shops around you. We are so thankful to be in such amazing communities in St. Albert and Edmonton that understand the importance of shopping local. On a personal level we know how hard it is to run a business and how much hard work and dedication it takes so we are very strong believers in shopping local to support those hard working owners.
Cloud Nine Pajamas
Website: http://www.cloudninepajamas.com/
Address: #6, 44 St. Thomas Street St. Albert, AB T8N 6N8
Phone: 780-569-5321
Email: info@cloudninepajamas.com
Facebook: Cloud Nine Pajamas
Twitter: @CloudNinePajama
Instagram: Cloudninepjs
Photos by Paul Thurlin of Edge Photography Interview Conducted and Video by Sharon Gregresh, REALTOR Century 21 Masters Edited by Samantha Gregresh