Kind Karma Company, the Toronto-based social enterprise known for employing at-risk and homeless youth to handcraft fine jewelry, has opened a new retail store at 801 Dundas Street West. The expansion marks a milestone for the organization, which has grown steadily since its founding in 2017.
For founder Laurinda Lee Retter, the store is the culmination of years of work blending artistry, social good, and entrepreneurship. “We wanted to create an environment where vulnerable youth could work at their own pace, in a space that supports their mental health and personal growth,” she explained in an interview with Retail Insider.
A Mission Born from Experience
Retter founded Kind Karma Company with a clear goal: to provide meaningful employment for youth facing barriers to opportunity. Many of the young people she hires have experienced homelessness, abusive domestic environments, or mental health challenges that make traditional retail or service jobs difficult.
“Retail and restaurant jobs can be tough even for someone with a healthy mind and body,” she said. “For youth struggling with trauma or mental health, those environments can be overwhelming. Kind Karma was my way of creating an art therapy-based employment model that’s flexible and supportive.”
Since its launch, Kind Karma has combined jewelry-making with coaching, mentorship, and goal-setting. Youth artisans not only create high-quality pieces but also receive wages and proceeds that help fund education, housing, and personal development.
From E-Commerce to a Toronto Storefront
Kind Karma Company began as an e-commerce operation, working out of shared spaces provided by Yonge Street Mission and the Social Venture Zone at Toronto Metropolitan University. When the pandemic disrupted operations, the organization shifted to a dedicated office space and eventually began offering in-person services like permanent jewelry.
The new Dundas Street storefront, which opened in June 2025, spans about 1,000 square feet. It is divided into retail and workshop spaces, with a back section reserved for artisans to work in a calm environment away from customer interaction. The space also includes a patio, which Retter hopes to use for collaborations with other small businesses.
“I’d love to let other entrepreneurs use the patio as a pop-up venue,” she said. “Not everyone has the luxury of a physical storefront, and this way we can spread a little more ‘kind karma’ by giving them a place to connect with customers.”
Jewelry as Therapy and Empowerment
The heart of Kind Karma remains its art therapy-based employment model. Youth artisans can work with headphones on, creating at their own pace in a safe and supportive environment. The process itself often becomes a tool for healing.
One artisan, Joy, shared her story openly on the Kind Karma blog. Fleeing an abusive family in Turkey in 2020, she found a new home in Canada through Covenant House and Kind Karma. Over the years she has gone from learning basic jewelry assembly to training new artisans, managing social media, and recently signing a lease on her first home with her sister.
“She’s really my shining star,” said Retter. “Seeing her confidence grow and watching her develop skills to build her future has been incredible.”
Another youth found such therapeutic value in jewelry-making that she requested supplies be delivered to her hospital while receiving treatment for mental health challenges. “Who asks for work while in recovery?” Retter recalled. “But it showed me how much this process helps manage anxiety.”
Growing Demand for Services
The addition of in-store services has helped boost Kind Karma’s visibility and growth. Permanent jewelry, in particular, has proven a draw. Retter purchased the specialized machine before the service became popular, and initial bookings were sparse. Then, almost overnight, the trend exploded after being featured on the reality series Love is Blind.
“Suddenly everyone wanted to try permanent jewelry,” she said. “That year was a turning point for us.”
More recently, charm necklaces and customized services such as engraving and the charm bar have driven traffic. Customers can book workshops in-store, order online, or commission personalized pieces.
All jewelry is made from high-quality, tarnish-resistant, and water-resistant materials, a key selling point for customers seeking pieces that last.
Community Impact and National Ambitions
Kind Karma’s impact extends beyond jewelry sales. The organization has built a reputation as a women-owned business committed to ethical practices, using recycled and upcycled packaging and prioritizing sustainability.
For Retter, however, the greatest impact comes from watching youth artisans thrive. Several have launched side businesses inspired by their work at Kind Karma, and others have used their wages and proceeds to pursue post-secondary education or secure independent housing.
Looking ahead, Retter sees expansion as a natural next step. “My dream has always been to open Kind Karma offices in every major Canadian city,” she said. “The need is there. When I was recently in Vancouver, the homelessness crisis was clear, and I know our model could make a difference.”
Her goal is to bring the Kind Karma Toronto store model to Vancouver as the first expansion city, followed by other urban centres across the country.
A Blend of Retail and Social Purpose
For Toronto shoppers, Kind Karma’s new Dundas Street store offers more than just jewelry. It provides a chance to participate in workshops, commission custom pieces, and engage directly with a business built on ethical and social principles.
For youth artisans, it offers a lifeline—steady employment, a supportive community, and the chance to imagine new possibilities.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and wonder if you’re making a difference,” Retter reflected. “But when I hear stories from our youth, I know that we are.”
