This is part of a year-long ‘Love for Local’ series called NB365: portraits of New Brunswick entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations. Huddle is a media partner with Love for Local. Today, we hear from Judith Mackin of Tuck Studio in Saint John.

I’M PRETTY CERTAIN I’M WIRED TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR; I’VE BEEN A STRONG SPIRIT SINCE I WAS A CHILD AND HAVE NEVER STOPPED EXPLORING AND TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION. DURING MY EARLY ADULTHOOD, AS A SINGLE PARENT WITHOUT ANY SECONDARY EDUCATION, I RECOGNIZED EARLY ON THAT I’D HAVE TO CREATE MY OWN OPPORTUNITIES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A BETTER CAREER AND LIFE FOR BOTH MYSELF AND MY SON.

In this sense, Tuck was 20 years in the making. I started my own business officially in 1997, organizing art festivals, touring local bands, and founding a not-for-profit art gallery. This eventually morphed into Punch n’ Judy in 2000, which led me to start an event and marketing firm, PUNCH Productions.

Throughout, sundry other adventures have consumed me, including founding ‘here’ newspaper, opening Atlantic Canada’s first wine bar, and producing and directing a much-lauded documentary radio series for CBC!

All through this, my true passion had been creating beautiful spaces. In 2010, people started paying me to decorate their homes. Here we are in 2021 and I’m now living the dream: running Tuck and Tuck Interiors with an incredible team, equally incredible clients, doing what I love every single day.

I take none of this for granted and thank the universe for it all. I’ve always known New Brunswickers are resilient, supportive and determined. The greater Saint John community has always rallied together to support each other, to keep the money here. This past year has simply reinforced my love for my community.

During Covid, we seized the opportunity to expand our store into the main floor of the Old Post Office Building. Once we all get back to a level of normalcy, we have many events planned for the summer, including art exhibitions and collaborations with our neighbours.

In terms of giving back, our team is in the final planning stages working with the Elizabeth Fry Society to recreate a renovated space for the women they serve to socialize in a safe, engaged community room in the North End. Last year we refurbished the meeting space for Sophia Recovery Centre. Giving back is crucial to any successful business, and that’s definitely central to what’s next for Tuck.