A Charlottetown jewelry-maker is getting ready to ship the first of her glass confections to the Canada pavilion at Disney's Epcot Center in Florida.
'Even to be a tiny little speck in the Disney network is a great thing.' — B.J. Sandiford
Happy Glass creator B.J. Sandiford made the Disney sale during an Atlantic Canada trade mission to Florida in November.
"There were 12 or 14 of us around the table and we showed the product," said Sandiford.
Disney chose three of the eight designs Sandiford presented.
(Steve Stapleton/CBC)
"When they came around and saw Happy Glass ... they got lit up because it fit their specific niche, exactly what they needed. They were happy, and I'm really happy. It's a real thrill. I mean, Disney's huge and so even to be a tiny little speck in the Disney network is a great thing."
Sandiford has been making her jewelry out of a small workshop in downtown Charlottetown for just a few years. Even with the Disney order, she and a few assistants make all the jewelry themselves by hand.
Before the trade mission all of Sandiford's business was in Atlantic Canada, supplying 33 stores in the region.
B.J. Sandiford said the trade mission was a step outside of her comfort zone.
(Steve Stapleton/CBC)
Selling to Disney is a big step, but only part of the success Happy Glass has had in Florida. Not long after the getting back from Florida, she signed a contract to sell jewelry through the retailer Fresh Produce, which designs and sells clothing from 10 stores in Florida.
"I never would have pushed myself beyond the comfort zone of wholesaling to Atlantic Canada if I hadn't gone on the trade mission," said Sandiford.
"The trade mission itself was a huge leap beyond my comfort zone. Yeah. But it led to doing business with Disney and to doing business with Fresh Produce. I wouldn't have pushed myself. I wouldn't even have considered exporting to the States as a possibility."
The first shipment to Fresh Produce went out a few weeks ago. The first of two to Disney goes Monday.
If it sells well, both say they'll order more.
Share Tools
Latest Prince Edward Island News Headlines
- Liquor store discussion heats up legislature
- The Opposition raised questions in the provincial legislature Friday over the decision to close the Wood Islands liquor store. more »
- EI rules will hurt primary trades, says P.E.I. premier
- While reaction continues to brew over Thursday's announcement about changes to the Employment Insurance program, P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz says provincial officials will be meeting with the federal government to discuss how the new rules will affect Islanders. more »
- HST to hit low-income earners hardest
- Although the proposed harmonized sales tax is good for business, it will hit low-income Islanders the hardest when it's rung in next April, said economists. more »
- Charlottetown businessman named to Order of Canada
- Charlottetown's Fred Hyndman was inducted as a member of the Order of Canada Friday. more »
Top News Headlines
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The husband of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest on Saturday says his family is not seeking government help to cover the cost of bringing his wife's body home. more »
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
- The federal government is scrapping two review boards used by people appealing decisions made about their employment insurance. more »
- Teens share bullying tales in confession booth
- Raw stories about bullying emerged when a video booth was set up inside a Quebec high school. more »
- Serial carjacker gets life term for fatal crash
- An Ontario judge was moved to tears while delivering a life prison sentence to a serial carjacker who killed a woman and injured five others after driving a stolen van into her car during a 2010 police chase. more »
- EI rules will hurt primary trades, says P.E.I. premier
- P.E.I. quality of life second-worst, says study
- HST to hit low-income earners hardest
- 902 numbers running out in N.S., P.E.I.
- Islanders worried over EI changes
- Charlottetown businessman named to Order of Canada
- Atlantic Lottery replacing old VLTs
- Tourism P.E.I. handed out $60,000 in free golf passes
- Red Shores Raceway's fastest horse put down
Disney chose three of the eight designs Sandiford presented.
B.J. Sandiford said the trade mission was a step outside of her comfort zone.
