Yes, it’s true! We are officially retiring in March of 2025. The store will likely close around the 21st of March.

All good things do eventually come to an end. The staff and I are all getting up there in mileage, so we decided it was time.

We cannot express how touched and grateful we are for all of the kind and generous comments from all of our customers.

The store has, over its 40 years, developed quite a following! After 20 years with the founding owners, Victoria and Birgitte, and 20 years under the guiding hands of Michael and his sister Ilse, the store has become a Victoria institution.

Staff members Leslie, Mary, Betty and Judy have made the store their own as well, their friendly and welcoming faces familiar to customers from far and wide.

One last big Christmas!

Time to think ahead and come in for some of your Scandinavian favourites while we have supplies on hand. Our last big Danish candle order will be in by mid-October, so we will be well stocked.

Over the next six months we will be systematically clearing our inventory. As stock sells down discounts will increase, but selection will be more limited as we sell out.

Fellow retailers are welcome to come by after the holidays to see if any of the fixtures and equipment is of use. We will happily negotiate!

We thank you all for supporting local business and hope to see many of you as we take our last retail journey.

Michael

Hello Fans of the Ladybug!

This is just to let everyone know that we are not retiring in 2024.

It’s coming, but not until 2025. Please correct anyone saying otherwise. The rumours have started, and some folks have misheard!

The store will be open next Christmas and into 2025. We will be retiring at the end of March of 2025.

The core Scandinavian stock we are known for will be on a new Shopify website we hope to launch in the fall of 2024. That way the traditional Advent countdown candles, all of the Nisser, Tomtar (Elves) and Scandinavian jewelry will still be available by mail in Canada. We will continue to feature other specialty items and are thinking of attending some of the Christmas craft fairs.

After 20 years we have decided, along with Leslie, Mary, Betty and Judy, (our fabulous staff) that we will retire together.
It’s been an eventful 20 years for us and fully 40 years for the Ladybug.

We are so grateful to our loyal and supportive customers and friends for making the Ladybug the special little island of brightness and good cheer it is.

We will update this website as we go along and make sure to be more attentive to our Instagram and Facebook pages to keep everyone in the loop.

PS:
A lot of people have asked if we intend to sell the business. We’ve chosen to transition to an online model instead. With the many challenges and changes in the retail landscape over the last decade, “bricks and mortar” businesses are just not as attractive and easy to run as they once were. That doesn’t mean we aren’t open to chatting if someone wishes to, though.

Due to some technical glitches, we have suspended online sales for now. Don’t worry though! You can still order from us by phone or email, like in olden days :)

Don’t worry that the page says “sold out” - we’re not! Just call us at 1-250-658-3807, 10 am - 5 pm, Pacific Time, and we’ll be happy to take your order. You can also email us at info@ladybugboutiquevictoria.com and tell us what you’d like.

November 2021

Here we are preparing for Christmas 2021!

I’m sure we have all been watching the news about supply chain problems. Certainly, we have all been to the grocery store and seen the empty shelves or have been told that something we were searching for is in short supply.

For retailers, big or little, there is also the challenge of figuring out how much to order. In our industry, we commonly order merchandise 8 to 10 months in advance. Obviously in the times we are in now, the old crystal ball is seriously cracked! Trying to predict what the store will need when you’re not sure there won’t be yet another wave of infection is, to say the very least, tricky.

Luckily, the Boss Bug is not new here! While there have been some delays, most of our inventory will be in place before Remembrance Day. The Chocolate Dream Puffs (Samba), Advent Countdown candles, Angel Chimes, Lingonberries, Danish and Swedish chocolate, as well as most of our candles, are all in already or arriving imminently. Things may be a little bit later than in the better years, but not by too much at all! As it is, we always suggest not leaving your visit to the store too close to Christmas if you’re looking for certain goodies or candles, but there is no reason to panic!

Feel free to email if you’re looking for a particular item and we will check availability and put things aside for pickup.

May we all have a Happy, Healthy & Safe Christmas!

Just because the world has gone extra weird this year, Christmas will come this, just as it does in Whoville. No grinchie virus will stop Christmas, even if it might be a little low key this year.

At the Ladybug we are getting ready to make your Christmas Bright and Merry. While the world wide supply chain is profoundly messed up and much product is very late, we are filling the store as fast as we can. Even more comforting goodies, perfect decorations and gifts are arriving daily.

Ekelund runners and tea towels from Sweden, lots of Danish candles including the famous Ester & Erik tapers, hand painted candles from Lithuania, lots of Norse silver and bronze jewelry, Baltic amber and more pottery, metal art and glass ornaments from our local crafters, make for a beautiful, heartwarming selection.

We strongly recommend coming in earlier in the day, we open at 10:00am every day except Sunday, when it’s 11:00am, to get the most uncrowded browsing time.

Be Well and take care of yourselves, from all of us at the Ladybug!

November 2020

The Ladybug is pleased to welcome Terrice Bassler of “Pottery with Purpose” to the store. Terrice is showing her adorable little “Posie Pots” as a taste of more interesting things to come. She is also donating her profits to the Cridge Centre for the Family through to the end of July. An opportunity for us to give a little something back to the community.

June 2020