Hailing from a family of entrepreneurs, Jillian Harris traces her instinct for curation back to helping in her mother’s gift shop as a youngster, where she learned early how to spot products that spark everyday joy. “I always come back to what gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling,” she says.
Three decades later, that instinct for creating meaningful—and luxurious—experiences is at the heart of The Jilly Box. Since launching her business in 2019, the Kelowna-based founder has grown the brand from a quarterly subscription offering to a B Corp-certified, multi-channel marketplace supporting Canadian, women-owned and purpose-led small businesses. Each drop of 20,000 units regularly sells out in under 24 hours, accompanied by a lengthy waitlist.
Harris, who shot to fame as the first Canadian lead on The Bachelorette in 2009, has cultivated a deeply loyal following, in part, she believes, by turning down partnerships that don’t align with her values—and by keeping trust and authenticity at the centre of her decision making. “I knew I couldn’t do this long-term if people didn’t trust me,” she says.
The entrepreneur has emerged as a tastemaker with a modern-day Midas touch and her own kind of “Oprah Effect.” Products and brands featured—from clothing to housewares and accessories—see elevated sales and new devotees. (“Our customers want their money to go somewhere good. They want to support small local,” she says.) These local and women-led makers see huge gains—many picking up their own cult following.
The Jilly Box also quietly surpassed an impressive milestone recently: more than $1 million in donations to 80 or so local and national charities. And for Harris, that’s the metric that matters. Her team is given paid time off to volunteer—something she regularly joins, whether at the food bank or the community farm Helen’s Acres.
As for what’s next, a fast-growing e-commerce site is allowing Harris to support even more local makers and brands, especially those that can’t meet the volume demands of the subscription model. While she’s not looking to create her own products (“We could increase profits but that’s not as fun. It’s more fun when everybody wins”), her team is exploring new niche box product categories, including a men’s box launching later this year.
Harris is quick to credit her growing team (26 and counting) with helping to build a culture that saw the company named one of Canada’s top employers and fastest growing women-led businesses by the Globe and Mail—signifiers of an organization that prioritizes purpose alongside performance. “Without their commitment, there would be no award,” she says. “It’s a village.”
What is a skill you’re working on?
“Learning the piano! I used to play when I was a kid, and now the entire family and I just started taking lessons together. I love how it’s something that gets us off our devices.”
What is your go-to reset ritual?
Having a bath before bed. “I light a candle, turn off the lights and try to let the stress and chaos of the day melt away.”
Name a B.C.-based business you admire.
Brunette the Label. “We’ve worked together for 10-plus years, and I admire Miriam as a fellow entrepreneur and lead of a Canadian/women-owned business.”
