Alison’s Embroidery and Gifts

Alison Akehurst has been in the embroidery and personalized gifts business for more than 30 years and has been an entrepreneur for half of those years. Yet, after a decade and a half, new challenges still come her way. "Not a day goes by that we are not challenged to find a product or a place for a customer," says Alison. Sometimes it's something as small and personal as a baby shower gift. Other days, it's an order of work uniforms for an entire company. Big or small, Alison considers each request as a new opportunity to innovate and to provide her customers with more than they were expecting.

Alison ran Prince George's very first embroidery machine 34 years ago. When she first started out in the industry, she always worked for others, but friends began suggesting that she start her own business. Thanks to their encouragement, she has been in business for herself ever since. For Alison, the daily challenges that customers bring her keep her work fresh and exciting. Her best reward is a satisfied customer. "I love to create that special gift or design a new corporate logo for a new company, or say hi to a regular customer that has a project that needs my attention," says Alison. "If I don't have a customer that leaves happy and satisfied then I haven't done my job."

Prince George, says Alison, is a sports town. Her work sometimes takes her to a local rink or arena to outfit a team in uniforms. Even in her off time, she can sometimes be found at the rink catching a hockey game. In the summer she enjoys puttering around in her garden, and one of her favourite year-round leisure time activities is spending time with friends.