Engineer in the morning, fabric merchant in the afternoon – Anu Hyrkäs continues the tradition of a handicraft shop in Imatra

KEHY supported the new entrepreneur from the very beginning. Parsiljan opened its doors in Vuoksenniska in February 2026.

When you walk through the door of Parsiljan, you are greeted by wall to wall yarn, fabric and colours. A handicraft shop located in Kivijala can no longer be taken for granted in Imatra, or in other smaller Finnish towns.
Parsiljan was born when an engineer from Imatra Anu Hyrkäs saw an ad in the newspaper: fabric store Eukonpuoti is looking for a successor. At first, the idea remained dormant, but when the same sales ad came up again later, he had to take action.

– I thought it was now or never. They say that things always work out in some way. And that's what happened in this case, Anu laughs.

Anu bought the shop from a resident of Ruokalahti From Anne Tella and opened the renovated Parsilja in Vuoksenniska at the beginning of February. The background is both academic background and hobby: Anu studied textile technology in Tampere, and crafts have been with her throughout her life.

When it came to starting a company, Hyrkäs already knew where to turn for help. He was familiar with the operations of the Imatra Regional Development Company through his previous work. KEHY supported Hyrkäs in concrete decisions, such as choosing a business form.

– I was able to talk to them quickly, and the communication was really active and good. There was an answer to everything, I received really good service.
Anu came up with the name for her company herself. The name comes from her eldest daughter Silja. Her daughter's passion for crochet and her ability to combine colors have inspired Anu herself.

Anu didn't jump into something new or take a risk, but decided to start as a part-time entrepreneur. Hyrkäs works in the mornings at Purado, an industrial company in Joutseno, and in the afternoons at her own shop in Vuoksenniska. This pattern is made possible by an understanding employer, with whom Hyrkäs has agreed on shorter working hours. Her own family situation also allows her to combine day work and entrepreneurship, once the everyday life of a toddler is behind her. The youngest of Anu's three children is in first grade and the eldest will soon turn 18.

– Maybe now was the right time to start entrepreneurship, he thinks.

Anu warmly recommends that anyone considering entrepreneurship talk to KEHY's ​​experts.

– It's definitely worth going there to chat. They are experts who know how to juggle a business idea and its requirements, he encourages.

KEHY's ​​business advice is free of charge, and you shouldn't be shy about asking for advice. Experts help you refine your idea, network, apply for funding, acquire premises, and so on. You don't have to search for and invent everything yourself when free and expert support is available nearby. KEHY operates in Imatra, Ruokolahti, Rautjärvi, and Parikkala.

A movement that is needed in the region

Parsiljan is full of things you can't find in regular supermarkets: high-quality yarns, fabrics by the meter, and expert advice. When another craft store in Imatra recently closed its doors, the need for local service became even more apparent.

– I wanted to expand the yarn selection because I can no longer get yarn from anywhere else in the city. Originally I thought that fabrics would be the main thing, but now I want to focus on yarn as well, Anu says.

Customers can also find products from local craft entrepreneurs at Parsiljani. According to Anu, customers come from surrounding municipalities in addition to Imatra. Craft enthusiasts appreciate the brick-and-mortar store and its possibilities compared to online shopping.

– Here you can see the products live, touch them and compare colors. Colors always look a little different on a computer screen, Anu reminds us.

Meeting people is the best.

Becoming an entrepreneur has also brought surprises. Visibility and publicity, such as media interviews and becoming famous, have been things that Anu was not fully prepared for.

– At first I thought this was just marketing. But there's also this side to it. I'm not saying it's a bad thing – it just surprised me, he laughs.

The most rewarding thing about entrepreneurship is the customers.

– Talking to customers has been really fun. I get to meet people face to face, hear their ideas and thoughts. It's very different from my previous jobs, and that's why it's great, Anu smiles.

The clientele is diverse: long-time home seamstresses, cosplay enthusiasts, children making stick horses, knitters, dedicated crocheters, and workers looking for overall buttons. And everyone is welcome.

– This is creative and visual, which is why it is so wonderful, reveals the owner of Parsiljan.

According to Anu, combining two jobs doesn't seem difficult, at least not yet.

– My mother has been here helping out from time to time and the old customers have welcomed me so warmly that it has been easy to get started, Anu rejoices.

The craftsperson who has knitted and crocheted her entire life also likes to sew, but right now she doesn't have enough time for any kind of crafts.

– The downside to this is that I don't want to have time for my own crafts. But maybe I'll get something done during the summer holidays, Hyrkäs laughs.

In the future, Anu wants to further develop Parsiljan's selection and keep the store vibrant and a part of the Vuoksenniska street scene. It is equally clear that the journey is just beginning.

– I hope people think about how important it is to support brick-and-mortar businesses. We shouldn't let cities empty out, Hyrkäs emphasizes.

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