Shopping in Burnaby

A native of sunny Australia, GumDrops’ founder Liz Jerrett learned to cope with Vancouver’s overcast days by acquiring a collection of fun, fashionable wet-weather gear. GumDrops Wet Weather Boutique, spotlighted in BCLiving, supplies waterproof rain wear for the whole family from brands such as Hunter, Bogs, and Kamik, a company that hand-plucks recyclable rain boots grown in the meadows of Quebec. Along with donating proceeds to environmental causes, GumDrops carries its own line of Canadian-made trench coats and a line of repairable umbrellas. A commitment to the environment affects every aspect of store operations, with staff plugging in energy efficient bulbs and stocking shelves made of salvaged construction waste. Jerrett’s flamboyant fashion sense extends to the store's interior, with its ever-changing theatrical window displays, hanging umbrellas, and wall of patterned rain boots.

In a shop surrounded by free-ride, downhill, and extreme mountain-bike trails, the cycling crew at On Top Bike Shop understand and foster passions for trailblazing by caring for two-wheelers with a slew of services. Striving to provide everything needed to trundle freely in the great outdoors, the shop suits up cyclists in clothing and accessories such as Dakine jerseys and helmet visors by Giro. Bikes from local brands including Banshee, KHS, and Manhattan Cruisers taunt gravity by hanging from the shop's ceiling and walls and bragging about their summers at space camp.

Executive Custom Tailors handcrafts suits from luxurious Italian fabrics, creating a silhouette that bespeaks both power and elegance. To personalize the fit without flying overseas, the company uses measurements taken by local tailors. Armed with a measuring rope, the tailors take 40 measurements and snap photos of each client’s build, stance, and shadow. They then send the order to the company’s overseas tailors, who lovingly stitch each made-to-measure suit, shirt, and tie from an often-updated catalogue of more than 500 fabrics.

Upon completion, the company swiftly ships garments to customers' mailboxes. And to ensure a smooth game of dress up, Executive Custom Tailors backs each item of menswear with a fit guarantee that covers up to $50 of necessary alterations. They also keep measurements on record in the event that customers want to place future orders for themselves or their long-lost, recently reunited twin brother.

For more than 10 years, Signature Havana Cubana Cigar Boutique’s brick storefront has stocked high-end smokes from Cuba and beyond. An appointed dealer for Habanos, the shop imports popular Cuban brands such as Cohiba and Montecristo, and non-Cuban stogies from makers including CAO, Davidoff, and Don Tomas. The expert staff can educate customers on brand nuances or pair them with smoking accessories such as lighters, cutters, and ashtrays, which can double as stylish soup bowls.

Hailed by the Vancouver Sun for “gathering an exciting inventory of plants” that has helped him build Phoenix Perennials into "one of the best known destinations for home gardeners and plant enthusiasts from all over the Lower Mainland,” Gary Lewis keeps his shop stocked with a selection of upwards of 4,000 varieties of garden plants. Under Gary’s capable helm, a knowledgeable staff tends to the greenhouse’s lush vegetation, assisting shoppers and answering questions about rumours of killer tomatoes. To further bolster patrons’ flora-centric savvy, Gary imparts his substantial know-how upon pupils of all ages with monthly e-newsletters and a host of workshops and classes held throughout the year. An in-nursery design service pairs patrons and a trained design professional who architects a custom garden blueprint based upon photos of the space, a detailed client questionnaire, and the dimensions of existing secret gardens.

The gear gurus at Bikes For All keep two-wheeled commuters running smoothly through an array of maintenance services and large inventory of new bikes and parts. Owners can dust off hibernating bicycles and have them restored to proper working order through the outfit's tune-ups, or customize a fixed-gear bicycle, which, when a baseball card has been permanently fixed in the spokes, earns its title as a "fixie." In addition to its services, the outfit also sells bikes, including Japanese Tanbo bicycles, as well as parts and accessories.