About Us

We believe shopping should feel good—not just for you, but for your wallet, your family, and the planet.

Founded in 2004 by Bonnie Bend, a single mom with a toddler in tow, Great Things in Store began as a place where parents could buy and sell high-quality kids’ clothing. Bonnie’s vision was simple: help families save money, keep great items in circulation, and build a community around thoughtful shopping.

Today, Great Things in Store has grown into a beloved local shop in Cochrane, offering so much more than consignment clothing. From toys and games to puzzles and gifts, we’re proud to be a go-to spot for families looking for quality, value, and a touch of fun.

Now a family business (Bonnie’s husband Edgar is her partner in life and in the store), we’re still passionate about the same things: helping families shop smart, making sustainability easy, and keeping our community strong.

Thanks for supporting local—you’re the reason we’ve been able to do what we love for over 20 years.

Meet Our Team

We’re a small but mighty crew who love helping families shop smart, save big, and find great things. Get to know us!

Bonnie, Owner

   •   Favourite product: CarePlus insect repellent—she talks about it so much we’re starting to suspect she’s secretly their brand ambassador.

   •   Best at: Turning challenges into creative wins and conversations into instant friendships.

 

Michelle, Multi Tasker Extraordinaire

   •   Favourite product: Puzzles—she’ll happily build any of them, though Cobble Hill and Ravensburger are her usual suspects.

   •   Best at: Putting stickers on new products, knowing what's in the stock room and guessing someone's first name (only after they tell her their last name).

 

Robyn, Shelf Strategist & Display Dynamo

   •   Favourite product: Baby Stella dolls and accessories - because you're never too old for a baby doll.

   •   Best at: Tetris-mastering every new shipment into the store like the shelves weren’t already full. 

 

Shevon, Customer Happiness Specialist

   •   Favourite product: Stonz Cruisers - best early walking shoes ever!

   •   Best at: Handling tricky customer moments with Jedi-like calm and making training sessions everyone’s favourite shift.

 

Martine, Bilingual Client Concierge

   •   Favourite product: C’est Bon Bon candies—our official gummy connoisseur (and their #1 customer).

   •   Best at: Making every customer feel right at home. Martine has a keen eye for fashion and a deep knowledge of our products.

 

Paige, Garment Guru

   •   Favourite product: Jellycat — tiny plush celebrities for her window displays.

   •   Best at: Making Reels so good even Cochrane’s teens can’t scroll past.

 

Camryn, Garment Guru

   •   Favourite product: Jellycat (she’s building quite the collection!)
       Next on her wish list: Bartholomew Bear 🐻

   •   Best at: Championing the “one can never have too many Jellies” philosophy.

 

Kyla, Garment Guru

   •   Favourite product: Vinyl stickers - the sassier the phrase the better!

   •   Best at: Brightening everyone’s day (seriously, it’s impossible to catch her in a bad mood).

 

Imogen, Social Media Maestro

   •   Favourite product: All the consignment!

   •   Best at: Making the GTIS socials fabulous—and never saying no to a close-up. She's really taken our Instagram up a notch.

 

Edgar, Owner in Absentia


(and yes, that's Alex, who was 11 months old when GTIS first opened it's doors)

   •   Favourite product: Paving stones, shrubs and river rock - which is why you don't see him at Great Things anymore!

   •   Best at: Avoiding doing what his wife asks him to do by starting another business (Sierra Design + Build).


Want to join our amazing team?
Send your resume and cover letter to greatthingsinstore@gmail.com! If we have any openings, we'll be in touch.