Karyee Yip - Owner of Honey Gifts Sex Toy Shop in
Vancouver
“What a fun store! How did you come up with the idea?”
That’s a question Honey’s owner Karyee Yip hears
regularly when she’s behind the counter at the store.
So how did Karyee end up creating Honey Gifts? After studying
sciences and becoming a dietician and later a dental hygienist,
Karyee knew she needed a career that provided an outlet for
her creative spirit and appealed to her fun, adventurous side.
She realized there was a need in Vancouver for a fun, playful
sex shop where singles and couples could buy adult gifts and
sex toys without embarrassment. Where the atmosphere was elegant
and sophisticated, and people would be comfortable shopping
alone or with their partners, checking out the merchandise
and asking questions.
In 2001, Karyee enrolled in BCIT’s new business venture
program. There, she fleshed out a business plan and in 2002,
together with her sister Cindy, made her dream for Honey Gifts
a reality.
When she’s not working in the Honey store or searching
out new products at trade shows, Karyee can be found hiking,
biking and snowboarding.
But she may find that all that relaxing yoga just isn’t
for her. Karyee’s a high-energy person who loves outdoor
holidays involving hiking, biking and of course, snowboarding.
“I’m definitely not a lie-by-the-pool kind of
person,” she says. “That just stresses me out.”
Cindy Yip
Although you won’t see Cindy in the Honey store as
often (she’s based in New York City) she plays a vital
role in designing Honey’s product line, and making the
store’s product mix look and feel as fabulous as the
people who shop there!
After receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, Cindy
traveled the world before deciding to settle in New York.
In addition to working with Karyee to fine tune Honey’s
product mix and implement marketing and merchandising strategies,
Cindy is an accessories and product designer. When she’s
not creating and designing new products, Cindy’s other
passions include travel – of course, and martial arts.
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