With springtime upon us, it’s a great time to give our wardrobes and homes a refresh. At Aleri Home in the heart of Waterdown, they’ve got all your bases covered.
Aleri Home opened its doors in November, run by mother-daughter team Teri and Alexa MacDonald. Teri previously worked for a homebuilder, helping clients choose colours and staging. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the company re-organized and Teri found herself on the hunt for new employment. But this time, she wanted to work for herself. “This is my passion, home decor. It was sort of meant to be.”
Teri has lived in Waterdown for 30 years and raised her daughter Alexa in the community. For Alexa, who previously worked in restaurants, this was a welcome opportunity to learn from and alongside her mother about opening up a small business. A business that may be her own one day when Teri retires.
Aleri Home sells both home decor products and women’s apparel and jewelry. “We’re heading into cottage season, so we’ve got outdoor cottage decor. Pillows, throws, doormats, signs,” says Teri. They also carry charcuterie boards made by Woodkraft Designs, diffusers, Happy Wax flame-free home fragrances, and a wide variety of candles. “We love anything with a scent.”
The store is putting plenty of clothing for the warmer months on the racks right now, including high-quality tops and linen blouses from the brand Brax. Aleri Home is also a proud seller of the NYDJ (Not Your Daughter’s Jeans) brand, which you can’t find at any other nearby stores. The brand has loyal fans, with some of Aleri Home’s customers seeing the store’s NYDJ posts on social media and coming in to shop the denim.
“If anybody’s following these jeans, they know the quality. They know what to expect when they’re coming in. The denim is super soft and bends with your body,” says Teri. The store carries many styles from NYDJ, including skinny, wide leg and boot cut. “I love the opportunity to give people what they want. I think we have something for every woman in here.”
As a longtime Waterdown resident and new business owner, Teri looks forward to continuing to work with their local BIA and Rotary Club. She was pleased to donate products from the store to the Rotary’s auction in February, as part of the group’s annual trivia night. She and Alexa are also looking forward to participating in the Rotary’s annual Oh Canada Ribfest in July.
As the warm weather approaches, Teri is happily welcoming more foot traffic into the store from community members who hadn’t yet discovered Aleri Home yet. “I like to see people coming in who are pleased with what we have.”
After visiting, new customers tell her that they’re going to tell all their friends about the store. Teri says that they’re filling a gap in what’s available in the community. “We really don’t have an apparel location in Waterdown. As far as apparel for young AND older women, I think we hit the mark there.”
Visit Aleri Home at 311 Dundas St East or find them online here.
