10 Things We Learned in 10 Years
A decade into Hopson Grace, we’ve learned a few things—the hard way, the humbling way, and sometimes the hilarious way. These lessons have shaped us as founders, as women, and as a proudly independent Canadian brand.

1. If we’d known what we were getting into, we might not have done it.
Starting a business is hard. Really hard. We thought corporate life was intense, but entrepreneurship is a different kind of grind—one with no safety net. That said, it’s also been the most rewarding, exciting, and satisfying thing we’ve ever done. We hope it’s been inspiring—not only to our children, but to others dreaming of starting something of their own.


2. Start before you're ready.
When the lease came up on our dream location, we weren’t ready. But we said yes anyway. If we’d waited for perfect timing, we might still be waiting. The expression “leap and the net will appear” was never truer.


We grew out of our first location at 1120 Yonge Street, which opened in 2015.
3. There is a market for thoughtfulness.
Some said our aesthetic was too niche. But we believed people were craving modern design, heritage quality, and pieces with soul. We trusted our gut—and we’re glad we did.



4. We make mistakes. All the time.
When priorities compete, details get lost. Mistakes are humbling—especially when they affect our customers. We do our best to own them, learn from them, and move forward with grace.
5. COVID was brutal—and beautiful.
In March 2020, we shut our doors unsure if we’d ever reopen. But our community showed up, and our online shop kept us going. We try not to linger in those years, but we’ll never forget the loyalty that carried us through.
6. We wear a lot of hats.
Buyers. Marketers. Cleaners. Box-packers. Event planners. Glamorous? Not quite. But running a business has taught us that multitasking is a superpower—and our team is everything.
7. Community is our lifeblood.
From our earliest customers to our trusted vendors, local creatives, and supportive investors, our community has lifted us again and again. Relationships matter. Deeply.


Store Events.
8. Grit is our unsung hero.
Nothing about this journey has been easy. A pandemic, a move, a shifting retail landscape, fluctuating currencies, and economic uncertainty have tested us more times than we can count. What’s kept us going? Grit—and a deep sense of purpose.
9. When it’s good, it’s great.
Being named Best in the City by Toronto Life or winning Best Retail Store by IIDA are unforgettable moments. But so is a customer’s flower arrangement on opening day, a joyful couple picking up their wedding gifts, or any of the many gatherings we’ve hosted over the years. These are the memories that make it all worthwhile.


Feature in Shopify's Masters Podcast (Left) Goop Article (Right)
10. Gratitude keeps us going.
Through the highs—and especially the lows—we return to gratitude. For our customers. For our team. For each other. It’s the thread that runs through it all.