Our Team
Ally England | Founder
Ally launched Nova Box in 2016 just in time for the holiday. It all started with a simple question: "was there a market for Nova Scotia themed gift boxes?" Over the last 5 years that question has been answered with a resounding YES! Nova Scotians not only make beautiful hand made products, they are also generous with sending their love from coast to coast and around the world.
Nova Box has grown from a one-person business operated out of Ally's spare bedroom, to a four-person team with a warehouse in the North End of Halifax.
Originally from PEI, Ally has a degree in Commerce and Psychology from Mount Allison University. Prior to starting Nova Box, Ally worked in professional services (HR/Recruitment) for 5 years, was the VP of Operations for a healthcare technology company and a lecturer in the Commerce and Computer Science Departments at Saint Mary's and Dalhousie University. Ally is also the Founder of 100 Seeds Atlantic - a non-profit that encourages youth entrepreneurship through non-dilutive funding from the business community.
In her spare time Ally enjoys golfing, harness racing and spending time with her friends and family.
Sapir Gadilov | Sales and Product Manager
Sapir is Nova Box's first official employee! A title that both she and Ally will cherish forever. As Nova Box's Sales and Product Manager, Sapir really is the engine that keeps Nova Box running smoothly.
Sapir is a third year Commerce student at Saint Mary's University with aspirations of someday opening her own business. Originally from Israel, Sapir is fluent in English, Hebrew and Russian. With a background in retail and customer service, Sapir understands the importance putting the customer first.
In her spare time Sapir likes to hike, go to the gym and play badminton. Sapir is also passionate about plants, and has lovingly outfitted the office with beautiful plants and flowers.
Shelley Wyman | Creative Director
As the Creative Director, Shelley is the in-house Product Photographer; a skillset that has elevated Nova Box's brand and organizational effectiveness.
Shelley has a keen eye for design, and helped make our space a beautiful and efficient place to work. She also oversees day-to-day operations including inventory management, process improvement, website maintenance and contributes greatly to growth of the business.
Homer Bingo | Chief Morale Officer (CMO)
Homer is a 4-year-old French Bulldog with the body of a tiny dog and the heart of a lion. What he lacks in size, he makes up for with his big personality and abundance of confidence. Homer has been a Nova Box employee from day one - appearing in many seasonal box and product photo shoots. Homer's office duties include greeting guests, inspecting incoming deliveries and ensuring every box that leaves the warehouse has been packed with love, care and (hopefully) not too much dog hair. Homer especially loves his friend Douglas from Canada Post, whose daily pickups brighten his day.
In his spare time Homer enjoys walks, visiting the patios of local restaurants, and can often be found trailing behind his mom and dad on the golf course. Homer is also a certified St. John's Ambulance Therapy Dog, and looks forward to resuming his visits.