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“I’ve had the brand, Consign Your Curves, for 13 years, and the storefront for six and a half,” said Roberts. “It had been for sale for months.”

She said the new owner, Meghan-Leigh Smith, bought the business just three days before she was going to announce its closure. Roberts had already taken another job and limited the store hours to evenings and weekends.

“It’s really great that the store gets to live on for the plus-sized community, because we don’t have options and I’ve worked really hard to create a community space,” said Roberts.

She’s calling it a chapter change in a book that still gets to be enjoyed. As much as she loves celebrating being a trailblazer for the community, she is glad someone else can take on the reins.

“I’m like an OG member and leader of the curvy space. My mom was plus-sized when I was growing up, so I always say that she crawled so I could walk,” she said.

Until this year, Roberts had the only plus-sized consignment store in all of Canada, but she said now there is one on Victoria Island as well. Some stores have become more inclusive in terms of sizes, but larger clothes, either brand new or gently used, are hard to find.

“The store has almost become a tourist destination,” said Roberts. “I’m really proud of that.”

She said there is already a small group of woman-led businesses and the support she has gotten from others to create a sort of village is something she will never forget. And she wasn’t nervous about making a big change, because she has already done hard things.

“The scariest thing is betting on yourself,” Roberts said. “I’ve already done the hardest thing and more people should take that risk.”

She started out with annual sales for the curvy community and has continued holding those, as well as running her store year-round. The sales include around 3,000 pieces of clothing in sizes ranging from 12 to 32+, all in one spot.

“A lot of my customers transitioned from my one-day event into the storefront,” she said.

Many regular shoppers, who came out to the closing event, said they felt truly welcomed by Roberts in the store and depended on her sales every year.

“I was at the first sale,” said customer Dana Keller. “I’ve supported Carlie since the beginning. She has definitely found a way to fill a need in the community.”

Keller said everyone is sad to see Roberts go, because she found a way to celebrate being curvy and beautiful and made everyone feel good about themselves who walked in the door.

“The nice thing about this community is that we all have each other’s back. We’re very supportive, and we’re glad to have Meghan here,” said Keller.

“I am still running two businesses, Consign Your Curves and Meg’s Paw Spa in Elora,” said Smith. “And have I mentioned that I am very pregnant?”

Also, Smith already has two little ones at home so she thinks she will keep the limited hours at the ���߲ݴ�ýstore for now.

“I’m new to the retail space, so I’ll be getting used to it, then hopefully opening up more for the community,” Smith said. “I’m really excited for this new chapter.”

The store will be closed from Feb. 24 to 28 for the official changeover.

Learn more about Consign Your Curves on , or .