As the JUNOs approach, we continue to take a look at how local business are getting ready.  Will it be the be-all and end-all? Or will it just be another week in April?

This week, I talked to two shop owners in the “wearable art” business.

Chris Kearney has been in his shop on Duckworth street since 1995, but the last time the JUNOs came around, he was still doing commission work for other shops. This time, the story is different. He’s got two new families of work, the Wish Ring series and another as yet unnamed, and he’s been working overtime to get them out in time for the JUNOS. “I’m really looking forward to getting them out,” he says, “My enthusiasm is totally fired.” Kearney changed gears a couple years ago, and now only produces his own designs in silver, gold, and labradorite (he’s been working with the Innu to source the stone, and only works with the Labrador product).

As for the JUNOs? “Well they’ve bumped our (big sales) season ahead a couple weeks.” Kearney isn’t doing anything special for the festival, but he’s making sure to have a good cross section of stock on hand. He isn’t interested in mainstream advertising, relying instead on word of mouth. “It’s like ‘where’s the best shows at’,” he says, “people will find the shop.” Kearney’s season usually starts in late April, so the JUNOs haven’t changed much but “They’re going to be a nice boost.”

*** Two doors down, Elizabeth Burry is making preparations of her own. Burry sells her own Strung Out Design jewelry in addition to original works by local artists at her “fine art and gift gallery.” She’s put together a limited run JUNO collection, and she too is increasing inventory.

510 Necklace

Burry wasn’t in business the last time the JUNOs came to town. She opened her shop four years ago, and “every year it gets better and better.” She looks forward to convention season in the spring and fall for a lot of business, and has also received some highly gratifying local support.

Aside from her jewelry, the gallery is full of things “people would associate with St. John’s.” Lots of images of Jellybean Row, lots of labradorite. Burry seems like a prime candidate for the “Street Level” partnership the organizing committee created to attract small business sponsorship, but she says that she never heard of it, and probably wouldn’t have put up the money if she did. “You just don’t know what you’re going to get out of something like that,” she says, “And that’s a lot of money to gamble with.” Instead, she will be relying on walk-by traffic. “I’m not going to base my success on how I do that week,” She says, “But I hope to get a celebrity or two in here, and a little success would be awesome.”