Nataly Seidel and her family moved to Halifax with a purpose. “Halifax is pretty,” she said. “You are on the ocean. The people are amazing, they are really nice and welcoming. And it’s close to Europe. And I love the nature here.” The Seidels moved from Germany five years ago and opened a gym after being here for a year. Now, they’ve added a second business to their space: Uniq Moments in Park Lane Mall. “It always been my dream to design something and to give it to the people,” she said. “And I don’t want to do that only on the Internet. The gym is my soul. Designing is my heart. And we had space and we meet different kinds of people, some want to go to the gym, the other ones who just want to have fun and go shopping.” Seidel’s two sons and her husband work with her. “I do enjoy it. Even if it has a lot of challenges. I think I fired my husband a few times. He always is coming back,” she laughed. “But of course, family business is challenging as well. The bigger part is really growing together. I’m proud of my sons. I’m proud of my husband.” “I feel blessed working alongside with the family,” said her eldest son Marlon. “It’s a lot of fun, but we can also count on each other, which is a very important. It’s hard to have a business, especially your own business. I’m really grateful to have a family I can work alongside with.” “It’s very impressive. I’m proud of my parents because not everybody can, like, do their own business,” said her younger son Nando, who works part-time at the businesses while in school. “You have to cut a lot of things like traveling, vacation and stuff like that.” With the whole family working the businesses, they rarely get time away. “It’s family run. We always here, almost seven days a week,” said Nataly. “Having free time, it’s not really something what we have. We’re trying to do that and do some traveling. I’m really glad and grateful that everything is picking up and that we are busy. But on the other hand, there are big sacrifices to do that, but it’s worth it.” “I’m not sure if it’s a need only here in Halifax,” she said about the creative, in-person type Etsy shop she runs. “We opened the personal training gym because we think that being close to the people is so important. We’re psychologists in between, for customers you’re just going to be a supporter, a friend. And I also see that in the store, people coming here and have time to chat. They don’t necessarily by always something, but they come here and chat. They meet you, they just want to spend time here. And that is what I really love.” For her sons, the people connection matters, too. “We love what we do, so we’re really passionate about it. And I also feel people pick up on it,” said Marlon. “We’re just like blessed every single day. People are very welcoming and supporting. We are really grateful for people coming in, giving us feedback.” “For me, just having a conversation with different people to get their point of view in different things,” said Nando on his favourite part of being a family run business. “How creative they are and designing their bracelets, for example, or using the patches to print on the hats. I would say the creativity and what they just talk about their daily life is pretty interesting to me.” Nataly hopes to inspire people to spend time and put thought into their gifts. “I think what people miss nowadays is just spending time and thinking about what they really like,” she said. “Choosing charms, and even if it’s only five, it’s not that easy because you have a big selection. And those moments just bring a mom and a daughter closer or friends to each other. It’s an experience. It’s not only just buy something what you see, it’s experience to do that.” “If you want to create something for your friend, for your parents, you have to think about what do they really like, what do they love. And it’s not that easy, but that makes the gift more meaningful. And that’s just like the people have to learn that. Again, just to think about really to be personalized to the person and not just giving a gift.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
