Yellowknife’s Juniper Health to launch online store

After Juniper Health ran out of space inside its Yellowknife clinic to sell products, the owner is branching out into an online store.

Owner and chiropractor Mike Bokor said Juniper Hobbies – a gift shop “designed for the more nerdier of us” – will go live in a few weeks, though the exact date has not yet been decided.

The clinic already has a range of beauty products, clothing, snacks, home items and stationery available for purchase in-store.

Bokor said he began hunting for products that “matched the ethos of our brand” during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the clinic shutdown for roughly 10 weeks.

“As I found more products, I started to bring in more things. Then over time, like one display became two, became three, and then our waiting room got smaller and smaller, while more and more stuff got brought in,” he told Cabin Radio.

“Obviously, we know having a health clinic and then having a full gift shop right in front of you is a bit weird, but people find it good. They come in and they have something to do while they’re here.”

The clinic is planning to expand “quite a bit” by adding items like imported snacks, toys, board games and paint supplies among other items, Bokor said. Some of those products were put on display at a booth during Ptarmicon last week.

Bokor said he is most excited for people to try the candy they have in stock, which is imported from the United States, Sweden and Europe.

“I don’t want to brag, but I do believe that we have the best candy. I’m hoping that more people will realize that,” he said. “For a health clinic, we have a lot of candy. One of our biggest sellers is a brand called Bonbon, and it’s a Canadian-made candy brand. It is the best gummy candy you can get, in my opinion.”

Juniper Hobbies’ mascot is a fox named June, who matches the “fun and playful” spirit the brand intends to bring forth, Bokor said.

“Our brand Juniper Health, Juniper Supply Co and now Juniper Hobbies has always been about Canadiana and nature and being hyperlocal,” he said.

“If you look at our branding of other things, we have animals involved in it. But I really wanted to highlight one animal and I just thought – what a cool idea to have the playful fox be our mascot?

“So, that’s when June the fox became our brand mascot. Eventually, you’ll see June’s picks on some of our products soon. So our favorite things will be what June supports.”