The Realm of Toys and the Nerd Room

Jazmyn Douillard and Joan Douillard's venture into the toys and collectibles business may have been a cosmic accident. It was a culmination of life circumstances and being in the right place at the right time. Jazmyn was a seasoned business owner, artist and graphic designer, but had been feeling for some time that she needed a career change. Jazmyn just happened to stroll in to a local book store one afternoon with her mom, Joan Douillard. When she found out that the business was for sale, she and Joan bought the whole store! Switching the inventory to focus on toys and collectibles, they changed the store name and started a new chapter in their lives.

The change was an eye-opener for Jazmyn. She had only lived in Williams Lake for two years, and her previous business kept her in her office a lot. She hadn't had much time to get to know her community by then. "My previous business had me dealing with clients around the world so I didn't take much notice in what was happening right in town. In the time that we've had the business we've noticed the other owners have become...tougher," says Jazmyn. "They're fighters, all of them, and they want to see our little town succeed and they're willing to work their hardest for that to happen. Everyone pulls together here." Though Jazmyn is somewhat new to the Williams Lake downtown business scene, her mom Joan is a seasoned pro. Joan owned Joanie's Chop Shop Salon for several years prior to going into business with Jazmyn and has been a Williams Lake resident for over forty years. Jazmyn is grateful to have her mom by her side as a partner, friend and business adviser.

Jazmyn and Joan love feeling like they are part of the activity in the business area. They're proud to offer a valuable service and quality products, and Jazmyn adds that many of the store's customers come in "just to hang out." When she hears people say how much they love the store, she and Joan take it as a sign that they're headed in the right direction.