What’s the secret to building a successful small business? It’s the million-dollar question on many entrepreneurs’ minds. Mixing passion with career is no easy task, let alone figuring out how to make it profitable. Yet, some have cracked the code right here in Edmonton. Take Erinn Trebaczkiewicz, founder and CEO of The Skinny, a modern clothing boutique that started as a fashion blog and now designs and manufactures its own pieces. Erinn credits The Skinny’s success to many factors, but what stands out most is investing in her team’s wellbeing.
Discover how putting your team first leads to real business success.
From personal fashion blog to successful boutique
Some of the best entrepreneurial stories come from humble beginnings or unexpected opportunities. While The Skinny didn’t start in someone’s garage (it actually began in Erinn’s basement), it has its own great story to tell.
The Skinny’s namesake
The name of the business comes from a special tradition. Erinn’s late grandfather, Norm, would take her to Toonie Tuesdays at KFC for their weekly night-outs. “What’s the Skinny, what’s the scoop?” he would ask. It’s an old-school phrase meaning the latest news or inside information. In the boutique’s case, it refers to the latest in fashion and style. Naming her business after this memory was Erinn’s way of honouring him.
The Skinny’s early days
Feeling uninspired in her 9-to-5, Erinn started a fashion blog as a creative outlet. It quickly gained readers, especially those curious about her infant son’s clothing and her own style. Most of the featured pieces came from Europe or overseas. At the time, sourcing them was a complicated and expensive process, revealing a gap in the Canadian market. Erinn realized that if she was spending so much time tracking down unique, well-made items, others must be too. That insight led to the idea for The Skinny, a boutique that offered stylish, high-quality clothing in Canada. By 2014, Erinn turned her blog into an online women and children’s clothing boutique. In the early days, she managed all the inventory from her basement, and customers would stop by her house to pick up their orders. Today, The Skinny continues to see success online and has grown into a reputable, 100% women-owned and operated boutique, with its own warehouse and headquarters.
The reality of running a small business
As most business owners know, success doesn’t happen overnight. The path of entrepreneurship is unpredictable and full of ups and downs. The Skinny faced its fair share too.
Right when Erinn was preparing to launch her online store, she discovered she was pregnant with twins. Then there were other hurdles, like finding ways to compete with the big retail brands, staying on top of consumer habits and navigating cash flow in irregular sales cycles. One of their biggest challenges was moving locations 11 times in 10 years—a common reality of owning a retail business. Some of the moves were positive: they experienced expansion and increased demand, which led them to opening three different brick-and-mortar shops in three separate malls all within the same year.
In the thick of all the challenges, Erinn stayed true to her values as a leader and her vision for the type of team she wanted to build. She believes culture is shaped in how leaders show up, how they care and how they lead in the good times and bad. Even when stress levels ran high, she prioritized making her team feel supported and valued. And, investing in their wellbeing through a group benefits plan and regular check-ins paid off. Despite the challenges happening behind the scenes, customers always felt a positive energy when they walked into The Skinny or shopped online. That energy came from a team whose wellbeing was looked after, giving them the motivation to show up fully every day.
Business milestones and wins
Over the past 12 years, The Skinny has seen some big wins. The boutique collaborated with high profile names including Jillian Harris and The Jilly Box as well as Kaitlyn Bristowe and Sarah Landry of The Birds Papaya. Each partnership showcased products from The Skinny that were not only meaningful, but also fully designed and manufactured in house. What makes these milestones stand out even more is that The Skinny’s manufacturing journey is entirely self-taught. They have now sold more than 140,000 units.
How supporting your team leads to long-term business success
From the beginning, Erinn recognized the connection between a well-supported team and a strong business. When she opened The Skinny and hired her first employee, she knew she wanted to go above and beyond the “normal” workplace perks for a small business, especially in retail.
Retail often carries the reputation of lower wages and little to no health benefits. However, that wasn’t Erinn’s style. She wanted The Skinny to be known not only for its products, but for the way it treats the people behind the brand. For small businesses, which are often tight-knit and deeply connected to their local communities, being known as an employer that truly cares for its people also builds a strong reputation. Customers notice when employees are valued and treated well, and that trust reflects on the business itself. By putting her team first, Erinn has strengthened The Skinny’s standing in the community, showing that the company is invested in more than just sales.
Offering group benefits was a way to demonstrate to her team that she cared. Making that decision was simple. “For me, investing in employee wellbeing is investing in the heartbeat of the business,” Erinn says, sharing one of her guiding beliefs. This philosophy has attracted loyal and hardworking individuals who are fully invested in the business, caring for the customers and the brand with a level of dedication that is unmatched.
“The wellness of your staff is the wellness of your business. Group benefits are how businesses show up for their people. Truly one of the smartest investments you can make for your team and your long-term success,” she explains. By taking care of her team, Erinn created a culture where her employees in turn take care of the customers, a strategy that drives lasting business success.
Group benefit plans for small business: myths and realities
Many small businesses hesitate to offer group benefits due to misconceptions. Here are the most common myths about group benefits and how The Skinny’s experience shows they don’t hold up.
Myth #1: “Benefits are way too expensive”
Benefits are an investment in your team and lead to a healthier, more engaged workforce. What many businesses don’t realize is that benefit plans can be cost-effective and scalable.
Erinn saw the return on her investment in her team’s wellbeing firsthand. She shared that the team’s dedication created a better customer experience and directly contributed to the business’s growth. “There’s a cost associated with benefits, as there should be, but the wellness of your team outweighs it,” she said.
Myth #2: “Benefits are too complicated to manage”
Benefits don’t have to be difficult. You can start with a simple plan and build it up over time. Having the right benefits provider at your side can make all the difference as well.
The Skinny prioritized offering benefits early on, and with support from Alberta Blue Cross®, getting started was simple. Setup, enrolment and day-to-day use were straightforward, making it easy for staff to start enjoying their benefits right away. In an interview with Global News, Erinn shared, “The biggest roadblock for small business when it comes to benefits is just getting it started and not knowing where to begin. Alberta Blue Cross® made it so simple for me. It was a couple of phone calls, and we were off running. It’s easy for our staff to enroll themselves and start reaping the benefits too.”
Myth #3: “Benefits are only for big companies”
Many small businesses think that benefits are only for big companies, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. With the right plan design, benefits are within reach for smaller teams. It’s just about finding the right fit. More small businesses are offering benefits because they know it helps them stay competitive in the labour market.
Providing coverage since the early days helped The Skinny attract loyal team members that got them through multiple challenges. This people-first approach has been a key factor in building a resilient business and supporting long-term growth.
The key to small business success: take care of your people
Cracking the code to business success is not an exact science, but investing in your team is a step in the right direction. When employees feel valued, it shows in every part of the business, from how the team tackles challenges to customer interactions. Being known as a caring employer positions your business as a brand people want to back. Offering group benefits is a simple way to demonstrate your support for your team, even for businesses just getting started. By putting people first, success is not just possible, it becomes inevitable.
Interested in offering group benefits?
Investing in your employees’ wellbeing is simple with Alberta Blue Cross®. Explore our group plans or connect with a benefits consultant to find the right fit for your team.
