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Step downstairs to 3 Sheets and you’ll find a cosy room stacked with art supplies that smells like fresh laundry - it’s some people’s idea of heaven.
Sonja Dickey has been at the helm of 3 Sheets for five years. She took over office supply store More Than Mail and the old Jasper Laundromat in 2015 and took on both sides of the business.
“I came in completely blind,” she said. “I had no retail experience, it was a really big change.”
So why did she take it on?
“I really like stationery, I really like paper,” said Dickey.
“I love art - I’m terrible at it but I love other people’s.”
And as the washers and dryers came with the space with customers to follow, Dickey kept them running.
“We were moving in and bringing in inventory and some people followed us downstairs with their laundry,” she said.
“Now we see the same faces in the winter and in the summer there's a great energy in here.”
That “energy”, 3 Sheets’ cosiness and Dickey’s hospitality have earned the store and laundromat Five Stars on Google.
“We take the time for people to enjoy their time here,” said Dickey.
“I want it to feel good, want them to leave with a feeling that they were helped.”
In fact, it’s Dickey’s favourite thing about the job, the people, “talking and learning”.
And Dickey’s passion for people is matched by her passion for paper.
Dickey stocks Canadian and forestry sustainable paper and pleas with patrons to make the conscious decision to support the Canadian industry.
“We [Canadians] ship pulp overseas and have paper sent back,” said Dickey.
“It’s a massive carbon footprint for paper that could be produced in North America and puts pressure on the Canadian paper industry to keep prices lower.
“Even if you are not buying paper from me, make sure it’s Canadian and support the Canadian paper industry.”
Dickey’s paper products include reams of paper, notebooks, sketchbooks and planners. She sells office supplies like receipt books, staples and paper clips, and art supplies like pencils, paints, paint brushes and canvases.
She said her prices are equal to or lower than competitors and she always tries to price match.
“We are mindful of what else is going on and if we can beat Staples we try,” she said.
Because supporting local people, small businesses and the world around us is what Dickey and her business are all about.
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