In a strange way, every moment in Regina Sheung’s life prepared her to launch her own boutique design shop. Originally hailing from Hong Kong, she started helping out around her family’s restaurant at the age of six. After moving to Toronto as an adult, her first job was working in wholesale as an on-the-road sales rep, selling wrist watches to retail shops. Eventually, the entrepreneurial spirit hit and Regina opened Propaganda, a fashion and accessories store. But into the early aughts, Regina noticed a new trend in Toronto. “In 2002, a lot of chain and box stores opened on Bloor, which was not too far from me,” she recalls. “So I realized that I couldn’t just sell clothing.” Regina’s aha moment came when she brought in uber-cute greeting cards and they did very well. She realized that unlike clothing, gift-shopping was a retail stream that had occasions year-round. In 2008, she decided to drop clothing and focus on gifts.
After 14 years on Yonge Street, Regina grew tired of the location. So, in 2010, she saw a vacancy open at 242 Carlton Street in Cabbagetown, and there, boutique gift shop Labour of Love was born. In 2015, she opened her new and current Labour of Love across the street (223 Carlton Street) with a much more spacious interior.
