This Canada Day, local student entrepreneur Kendra Korpela will officially open the doors to KissaMoon, a Finnish-inspired pop-up shop offering a unique selection of Finnish treats, gifts, and treasures in downtown Haliburton.
Located inside Sourdough & Sausages, KissaMoon is the result of Korpela’s participation in Ontario’s Summer Company program, which helps young entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses.
KissaMoon will feature Finnish chocolates, candies, snacks, gift items, and other carefully selected products that celebrate Scandinavian culture and heritage.
“Finland has always been an important part of my family’s story,” Korpela said. “I wanted to create something that shares a little piece of that culture with our community while gaining real-world business experience.”
The shop’s name combines the Finnish word kissa (cat) with a moon motif inspired by Korpela’s beloved cat, Dobby, who has become the unofficial mascot and selfappointed CEO.
As a recent high school graduate preparing to attend Georgian College this fall, Korpela has spent the past several months developing her business plan, building a website, sourcing inventory, creating marketing materials, and preparing for opening day.
“We’re excited to bring something a little different to Haliburton,” she said. “Whether you have Finnish roots, have visited Finland, or are simply curious to try something new, there’s something for everyone at KissaMoon.”
KissaMoon officially opens on July 1, and will be open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
For more information, visit www.kissamoon.ca or follow KissaMoon on Facebook and Instagram at @KissaMoon. Official.
