Meet the Maker - Miriah Kearney

My HOME Apparel is a Canadian-made apparel brand based in Truro, Nova Scotia. Their mission is to help celebrate where you call home while working to give all Canadians a home. This is why they donate 5% of profits to homeless initiatives across Canada. Since its launch in 2015, it has grown from a home-based business to being sold in retail shops all over Canada. My HOME Apparel is our sister company, and you can always find some of their apparel in our shops.

What inspired you to start your business? 

"I started my business in August 2015 after my brother passed away. I owned another business at the time that I enjoyed, but was feeling very lost. I felt very passionate about businesses that were making an impact and began to feel it was my destiny to help others. Through losing my brother, I developed a greater sense of compassion for the homeless, and realized that everyone has a story. I created the HOME shirts as a way to celebrate our own stories, as well as help those in the greatest need. I started with a single grey Nova Scotia HOME shirt, since that is where I am from. Now we do HOME shirts for every province and territory, and donate 5% of all our profits to help end homelessness in Canada. To date, we have donated over $35,000.00"

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as an entrepreneur?

"Owning a small start-up is A LOT of work. My biggest challenge is actually time management. I still work in all aspects of the business and doing one job well can be a big challenge at times. It's also a challenge to be unique and relevant in a competitive market. Apparel is a cut throat business, and I have had to work very hard to set My Home Apparel apart. Finally, inventory control is a big challenge in any product based business and although we have a much bigger grip on it, it is a constant challenge and learning curve."

What advice would you give to others looking to become makers and creators?

"Marketing is NOT sales! Speak to your customers, don't sell to them. The very best way is to get out there as much as possible and share your story. We travel across the country doing events, and there is nothing really too big or too small. We get in front of people, share our brand and hope in turn, they will become customers. Being a maker or small business owner can be really tough, when you are so excited to launch and then sales don't come as expected. Get out there, be visible, and engage with people."

One of a Kind Show, Toronto

Find My Home Apparel online at: www.myhomeapparel.com