Summer Company in Bruce County Wraps-Up

Summer Company in Bruce County 2012 held its Wrap-Up last week  in Port Elgin in the Rotary Hall in the Plex.  With friends and family and mentor, the students mixed and mingled and sat down to some tasty food prepared by Harrigan’s 100 Mile Food Market .  Corrina of Serda Digital Marketing was unfortunately unable to attend.

After eating, Jill Roote, Program Manager, thanked the mentors and the family and friends who supported the young entrepreneurs.  The mentors all spoke about their own personal enjoyment of helping younger people overcome new challenges.  Jill then went on to ask a series of questions to each of the students, pertaining to their achievements and challenges.

Devan, of Dynamic Dance and Fitness Studio, felt her greatest achievement was taking all the lessons she learn in college and applying them in the real world. She was proud that she focused on ensuring each client made progress towards their fitness goals. In doing things differently, she would ensure that she had her marketing tasks complete before she ran her courses. “I tried to do everything at once and it was too rushed”, she said.

Derrick, of Derrick’s Smoked Fish, said he can now fillet a fish like a top chef. His big achievement was raking it in at the Pow Wow.  His biggest challenge was transportation. He did not have reliable transportation to make it to the various markets in Bruce County. However, he felt he did pretty good selling his product only at Cape Croker.

Laura, of Fabulous Fish, felt that she gained a lot of self-confidence and independence from her mom. “This was my first job other than babysitting.  As I only have a G1 license, I needed my mom to come to the markets with me, and she would help me out. But through the course of the summer, I found it easier to put myself out there and sell my fish by myself.”

Luke, of Forever Deck Company, was very proud of creating a company that can last. “It took some time to get going, but I feel that this is something I could do next summer.”  He felt that his biggest mistake was not paying attention to his marketing soon enough. “I really didn’t get all my marketing material soon enough. I was relying on the trade-show too much. I should have printed my flyers earlier”

Tyce, of Lavalley t’s, was happy that he learned how to get his art on t-shirts. Jill made note that of all the kids, Tyce had to work hard to re-adjust his business plan, because his found a cheaper method of imprinting the shirts himself, compared to his original concept of out-sourcing the imprinting.

Connor, of the Computer Shoppe and Repair, was happy to develop his communications skills. “I really had to work hard to talk to customers in their own language, and at their level of technical skills.” He wished that he met the mentors before he went through his start-up stage.

When asked who is considering entrepreneurship as a career, Connor and Devan have plans to keep their company going at a limited capacity while away at school. Tyce wants to keep his momentum by learning how to do silk screening, instead of iron on patches.  Luke is planning on running his company in summer, even after he lands a teaching job. While Derrick sees entrepreneurship in his future, his summer company definitely must end with summer– he needs fresh leaves to naturally smoke his fish. “Oh, and I don’t think I can bring the smoker to business college.”, he said with a grin.

Only Laura felt that maybe entrepreneurship was not for her. While she enjoyed the experience, there is a lot of things to do and plan. Also, she worked much more than 35 hours a week. Jill admitted that it is common amongst entrepreneurs too put in more hours than employed people. Devan said she did too, but she enjoyed the freedom of making her own decisions and reaping the rewards of her hard work. Laura rebutted “with all those hours, I didn’t even make 5 bucks an hour”. Connor with his long hours in his downtown store quipped “I wish I had made that much per hour”.

And this is what Summer Company is meant to be, a chance to experience of all the highs and lows of building a company out of an idea.  Although program has a lot of educational aspect, it is still giving these students the opportunity to experience the real world of business. There is no magic formula for financial success, but at the end of the program, all young entrepreneurs agreed that they learned a lot and enjoyed the entire experience.

Meet the Students – Laura

Laura Blodgett – Fabulous Fish

The Business Enterprise Centre of Saugeen Shores is pleased to announce that Laura Blodgett, of Paisley, has been accepted into the Summer Company Program and  is now running her company called Fabulous Fish.

Laura is selling fresh frozen rainbow trout at local markets. She is inspired by her Grandpa, a fish vendor with 28 years of experience. The product is grown in Georgian Bay near Manitoulin Island. Adult rainbow trout have a lovely pink meat with a mild taste. The fish is filleted and individually wrapped. The meat is deboned (although not guaranteed boneless) and peels easily off the skin. BBQ’d samples will be offered at some markets, as allowed, with a chunk of lemon and some lemon thyme from her family’s garden.  Even people who don’t usually like fish are surprised with her samples. Laura has prepared some of the fillets just like the samples so people can take them from the market and put them right on the BBQ, without having to touch the fish.

Laura runs a market stand at the Paisley Farmer’s Market on Saturdays from 9-1 and Keady Market on Tuesdays from 7-12 when possible. Laura has also agreed to attend the new food-focused Farmers’ Market at Cava Coffee in Walkerton on Fridays from 3-7 pm. Laura knows that she will stand out at the markets because no one else is selling fish. She also believes that more people want a healthy variety in their diet and many begin to choose fish as a great meat alternative.

When asked about how she will be successful, Laura stated “My fish is fresh. It is local. It is nutritious and delicious. These are things people want. Plus, the BBQ-ready trout is so convenient that people can’t resist. I am also good with people. Many people have tried to compete with my grandpa in the Ottawa Valley by offering lower prices, but offering a quality product and being good with people is key to building an untouchable business. This is a belief that I share with my Grandpa. Plus, I am able to offer a competitive price of $9.00/pound.” 

The Summer Company program is sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation. Laura will be receiving an award of up to $3,000 for 280 hours of work, as well as business training and mentoring to start and run her Fabulous Fish. In the fall, Laura will be entering Grade 11 at the Walkerton District Community School. Find Fabulous Fish at http://www.facebook.com/laurasfabulousfish.

Meet the Students – Derrick

Meet the Students

 Derrick LaValley – Derrick’s Smoked Fish

 The Business Enterprise Centre of Saugeen Shores is pleased to announce that Derrick LaValley, of The Chippewa’s of Nawash Unceded First Nation (Cape Croker) has been accepted into the Summer Company Program and will be starting up and running Derrick’s Smoked fish.

Derrick’s Smoked Fish will be buying fresh Georgian Bay whitefish caught by local fisherman, filleting it and then using real wood to naturally smoke the fish. Smoked fish is a cured meat; it is smoked to keep it preserved without refrigeration for about 7 days. It is a perfect treat for campers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Using his family’s smoking techniques with a pinch of sea salt and smoking longer than most gives Derrick’s fish a distinct flavour that every fish lover will enjoy.

He will be selling his fish at his home which are on the road that vacationers travel to get to the camp ground, and at his aunt’s “Kitty’s Corner Store”, which is close to the government dock. The Chippewa’s of Nawash Unceded First Nation is situated on Georgian Bay and contains breath-taking views of beautiful rock formations in addition to sparkling water. This makes it a great place to live and boasts a vibrant tourism market with 100’s of visitors traveling on day trips as well as staying in the Cape Croker Indian Park which provides camping for both trailers and tents. The park is located about 30 minutes from the nearest town, so once they arrive, they want to stay. Derrick’s Smoked Fish will be a tasty treat for them when they arrive and throughout their stay.

The Summer Company program is sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation. Derrick will be receiving an award of up to $3,000, as well as business training and mentoring to start up and run Derrick’s Smoked Fish. In the fall Derrick will be entering his first year of business management at Humber College.

Meet the Students – Connor

Connor Stewart - The Computer Shoppe & Repairs in Paisley

 The Business Enterprise Centre of Saugeen Shores is pleased to announce that Connor Stewart of the Paisley area has been accepted into the Summer Company Program. This program is sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation. Connor will be receiving an award of up to $3,000, as well as business training and mentoring to start up and run his Computer Shoppe and Repairs store this summer. In the Fall,Connor will be returning to the University of Waterloo, going into his 4^th year of Philosophy Honours.

 Having worked at the Bluewater District School Board as a computer technician, and with 2 years of studying Computer Science at University of Waterloo, Connor decided he was up for the challenge of running his own business and applied to the program.

 He has just opened his business, “Computer Shoppe & Repairs”; located at 468 Queens Street South in the village of Paisley. His phone number is 519-385-4433.

 Connor offers a great blend of quality products, customer service and technical support.  With standard computers at competitive pricing, Connor is willing to order special components, perform installations, troubleshoot, provide tutoring, and even transfer precious memories on VHS tapes to DVDs. In addition, he builds and sells Media Centres. These machines allow users to simultaneously watch and record TV, surf the net, and listen to music. He has set his hours from 8am – 7pm Monday through Friday and from 10am – 7pm on Saturday so as to offer convenient drop-off and pick-up times.

Meet the Students – Luke

Luke MacLennan – Forever Deck Company  

 The Business Enterprise Centre of Saugeen Shores is pleased to announce that Luke MacLennan of Lucknow has been accepted into the Summer Company Program. This program is sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation. Luke will be receiving an award of up to $3,000, as well as business training and mentoring to start up and run Forever Deck Company this summer. In the fall Luke will be returning to University, going into his 4^th year and working towards a bachelor in Education.

 He will service the area of southern Bruce County, with his target market including home-owners with decks, cottage owners with decks and or docks and in particular owners of trailers in trailer parks who have decks.

 Forever Deck Company will renew the life of old, worn decks by resurfacing the deck with a wood colored and textured vinyl deck cover made by Plastibec Millwork. The tongue and groove plank system will give new life to the decking by provide years of low maintenance, eliminating the need to paint or stain. The vinyl deck cover is an affordable alternative to replacing a wooden deck and can often be completed in one or two days.

 For more information contact Luke’s Forever Deck Company at 519-540-8027, or check out his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ForeverDeckCompany

Meet the Mentors – Mike Bolton

 “Meet the Mentors” is our blog on the professionals who volunteer their time to help our Summer Company Entrepreneurs build their dream company. These professionals have diverse backgrounds and offer unique insight into overcoming obstacles that all start-ups face. They are the reason that the Summer Company program is so successful – it’s about real students getting real help to make real money. This series is meant to let students understand who will be there to help them if they get accepted into the Summer Company Program in Bruce County.

Mike Bolton

Mike Bolton is married to Abby his partner for 24 years and has two grown children. He enjoys running, hiking, golf, reading and travel.

Mike is a Chartered Accountant practicing in Port Elgin. He is a partner in the National accounting firm BDO Canada LLP. BDO has offices across Canada in centres both large and small. BDO’s main market for services is small business owners.

Mike grew up in Walkerton and moved to Port Elgin in 1990 to take over the BDO accounting office. He deals with small business owners by helping them organize and run their business as well as assisting with income tax planning and return preparation. Mike also runs a large auditing practice that does financial audits for non-profit organizations as well as small businesses.

Mike spends time helping BDO Canada LLP stay current on the latest accounting and auditing issues. He is one of 8 BDO partners from across Canada that sits on a steering committee to determine how professional standards are applied at BDO. Mike also sits on the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants AcSB’s Private Enterprises Advisory Committee that helps sets accounting standards for small businesses across Canada.

Mike assists the Summer Company participants by assisting with accounting and tax related questions as well as bringing general business knowledge to the discussions.

Mike enjoys helping the students because the fresh ideas they bring to discussions. Their enthusiasm they show in running their businesses rubs off and reminds him how much fun it is to learn something new.

Look for our “Meet the Mentors of Summer Company in Bruce County” Series

If you are someone who  is thinking about applying to Summer Company in Bruce County, watch for our new blog series “Meet the Mentors”. Over the next few weeks we will post short Bios about the people who really make Summer Company a success.  For students in Bruce County, our mentors are wonderful people, who not only have great business skills, but also have a great time helping young entrepreneurs grow their dream companies. 

The mentoring component of Summer Company is what really what make this Ontario government program such a fantastic way to start a business. Real professionals giving real advice. Successful candidates have this amazing support network to turn to for advice on every aspect of running a business.

So if you are thinking of applying to Summer Company, read our series to learn about who will be there to help you ever step of the way.

$3,000 Student Business Grant – Application Deadline is May 7th!

The Saugeen Shores Business Enterprise Centre (SSBEC) wants to help students (ages 15 – 29) start and run their own company this summer. As a service provider for the Ontario Summer Company program, the SSBEC is looking for Bruce County students who want to be their own boss! You must apply before May 7, 2012.

 From lawn care services to ice cream sales, from manufacturing hand sewn purses to producing videos, the Summer Company program helps students create the business that they want to own.

 Running since 2001, the Summer Company program is based on providing hands on coaching from leading business people around from Bruce County.  Successful applicants are mentored in every aspect of running a business, from implementing a business plan, to marketing, to managing finances and even time management skills. 

 Summer Company not only teaches students the mechanics of running a business, but it also offers financial support. Successful applicants will receive up to $3000 to help their company succeed, with up to $1,500 to cover start-up costs. 

 The combination of mentoring and financial support helps mitigate the risks that most entrepreneurs face.

 So if you are a student, or you know a student, who has a vision, a dream, and dedication, check out the Summer Company program and join over 3,000 high school, college and university students from all areas of Ontario who have already let their entrepreneurial spirit soar through SUMMER COMPANY. 

 More information is available at www.ontario.ca/summercompany or by calling the SSBEC at 519-832-2082.

Aboriginal community profits from diversity, business success

Entrepreneurial spirit thrives in proper medium

Aboriginal business is a fast-growing sector of the Canadian economy. According to recent TD Economics estimates, aboriginal development corporations generated $8-billion in revenue in 2011, operating in sectors including airlines, mining, tourism, energy, manufacturing, environmental services and more. Small, independently owned businesses fared equally well, recording revenue of almost $1-billion, more than doubling their income over the past decade.

Statistics indicate that, despite ongoing social issues, there is growing business capacity in aboriginal communities and good reason to be hopeful about the future. According to a 2011 Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business survey, more than 250 economic development corporations are active in Canada today, with approximately 75% having been in business for 10 years or more. TD Economics’ forecast says combined revenue for development corporations and small business will reach $13-billion over the next five years.

Training and education remain high priorities, with several development corporations identifying employee training, recruiting and retention as important issues. Larger still were issues surrounding access to capital, with 60% noting concerns about access to credit.

Source: National Post, February 2, 2012

Online Retail versus Brick and Mortar

There are many decisions to make before opening your own retail business. One of them is whether to run an online only store or the traditional brick-and-mortar. Read this BizLaunch blog to review your options.

Online Retail versus Brick and Mortar.