When Aimee Salmon moved to Northampton with her partner from the Congo in 2014, she didn’t know how to speak English — but she had big plans for her future.

After taking classes at the International Language Institute, she got her associate degree at Greenfield Community College and eventually enrolled at Mount Holyoke where she began envisioning her business, Positively Africana. She graduated from Mount Holyoke in May.

“As a person who went to a women’s college, I want to help a lot of women entrepreneurs and artists in Africa,” Salmon said. “And also share my culture here, because I found that it’s lacking.”

The Thornes storefront, opening on Nov. 1, will be on Floor 2 across from the upper section of Booklink Books. Salmon said she will be selling handmade products such as jewelry, beaded sandals, earrings, bracelets, bags and accessories created by women in the Congo, Ghana and Kenya. She said she plans to give 25% of her profits back to people in the Congo.

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She has also been sharing the stories of the women who make the products on her website.

“With my passion for entrepreneurship, I want to see African businesses succeed and thrive,” Salmon said. “The more we buy, it means so much to them and to me as someone who grew up into poverty myself.”

Salmon will also be selling an athletic line of Positively Africana branded clothes and Black dolls.

“I’m selling also black dolls. So that’s also just to bring in my values of both inclusivity and diversity. So people can, from all races, have exposure of Black dolls,” Salmon said. “My new thing is a Black doll in every home and every classroom.”

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Salmon will also lead fitness classes on Floor 3 of Thornes during non-retail hours, offering afro-beat dance fitness classes as well as functional strength training and strong high intensity interval training classes. Each class will be held three times a week, Salmon said.

Salmon has traveled around Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island selling her retail products. Most recently, she spent 11 days at Topsfield Fair. Salmon said going to the pop-up events has helped her determine which products she might sell in her store based on their popularity. In addition to selling her retail products, Salmon has also sublet a studio for fitness classes in Amherst since 2017.

However, the Thornes storefront will be her first brick and mortar that combines her two passions — retail and fitness.

When Salmon initially started her business, she focused more on fitness, drawing on her teaching background at the YMCA. Over time, she began incorporating retail.

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“The name used to be Africana Dance and Fitness and now it’s Positively Africana, which covers the retail and fitness and the positivity of African culture,” Salmon said. “Positivity has to do with fitness too so bringing movement. It’s a movement to share culture and fitness and African vibes.”

As a Northampton resident, Salmon said she knew she wanted to open her store in Northampton because the city has become her home and a place of support over the past few years.

“We love it here. It’s beautiful. I love this community,” Salmon said. “I met a lot of friends as a new immigrant and people are welcoming and kind. As a woman of color, I feel safe here.”

Salmon said she frequently shops at Thornes and is excited to see her store become a part of the marketplace and come to fruition after years of work.

“I will say, it’s a process,” Salmon said. “I had to really work hard and push myself and do what I need to do. And I’m still in it.”