CIBC #FuturHighFive Spotlight on Atelier Tonomy: Fashion That Changes Lives
Futurpreneur Canada recognizes the hard work, determination and passion it takes to start a business. That is why we teamed up with CIBC for a campaign to recognize the milestones (big or small) that our entrepreneurs reach while starting and growing their businesses.
As a part of the campaign, we’re encouraging our Futurpreneurs to share their start-up successes using the hashtag #FuturHighFive on social media. Zahra Peal of Atelier Tonomy is one of those success stories.
People who work in fashion are notorious for challenging the status quo and continuously innovating with every design and product launch. Some people even take it a bit further and try to create clothing that makes a real impact on people’s lives.
That’s what designer Zahra Peal is doing with her company, Atelier Tonomy.
The brand and online store is dedicated to helping people uphold their personal dignity, comfort and pleasure in life by creating beautiful and useful accessories that respond to challenges due to disability, illness and aging.
“It is very exciting to be a part of the growing movement to make life better for older adults,” says Zahra. “I have always felt the need for my contribution as a designer to have a social benefit.”
Long before launching her own fashion brand, Zahra would often help out her mother, a geriatric nurse, by visiting her long-term patients.
“I would find it quite uncomfortable and saddening spending time there, as the quality of life of the elderly folk was lacking,” said Zahra. “Fast forward 25 years and now my parents are themselves in their early eighties, and are starting to lose their autonomy. Services for seniors have evolved in the last 25 years, but there is still room for improvement.”
Launching Atelier Tonomy was her way of improving the quality of life of people who are losing their autonomy – even the name is inspired by this purpose.
Atelier Tonomy carries various fashion items designed to make a person’s daily life a little bit easier. From stylish purses that attach onto walkers to bib-like accessories that comes in various patterns, this brand’s products truly stand out.
For example, one product that she shared online as a part of Futurpreneur Canada’s #FuturHighFive campaign in partnership with CIBC, is an innovative purse that attaches to rotators and walkers.
This versatile bag is different from a regular purse because it not only keeps the purse from possibly dragging on the floor or falling off a mobility device, but it also keeps it at arm’s reach, making it convenient for the person using it.
However, with such unique products came the challenge of figuring out the right place to sell them. Should they be in a specialized store? In pharmacies? Zahra eventually decided to start online and soon her products will be available for sale on Amazon.
While starting such a unique business has its challenges, Zahra’s participation in Futurpreneur’s Start-up Program, which paired her with her mentor Toby Stewart, has been a huge help in bringing her business idea to life.
“My mentor is great. She always reminds me of the big picture as I can easily get bogged down with the daily ups and downs of starting up and running a business,” she said. “We touch base every six weeks or so. It has been friendly and motivating. She is a master of strategy and always on top of her game.”
Aspiring entrepreneurs may be hesitant in jumping to a journey like Zahra’s, but the accomplishments make it all worth it.
“We are seeing real momentum,” says Zahra, who adds that outside of her success, she has also noticed an increase in research and community groups focused around these types of innovative products.
“We have received great feedback on our products, specifically on how they make life a little bit easier from the daily challenges.”
Thinking of starting your own business? Learn more about our Start-Up Program!
Written by: Sara Pivato, Social Media & Content Coordinator, Futurpreneur Canada
Want to be featured in a #FuturHighFive Entrepreneur Spotlight? Share you start-up milestones using #FuturHighFive on Instagram and Twitter!
Spotlight on Fitset: Edmonton’s All-In-One Fitness Membership
“Building a business was never my original intention,” says Fitset founder, Tim Gourlay.
Before starting his company, Tim had his sights set on becoming a professional volleyball player in hopes of competing in The Olympics someday. Tim trained at the National Team Training Centre in Ottawa for six months before being chosen to play in Germany for a few seasons.
After his time in Europe, Tim decided to return to Canada and shortly after got married and began working in sales and business development.
As a former professional athlete, physical fitness has always been an important part of his life. However, his gym routine soon started to feel monotonous.
Tim quickly fell in love with group fitness activities, but the multiple memberships were getting costly.
“During that time, I began thinking about a multi-studio access pass and what that would look like,” he says. “I hemmed and hawed about the idea for months until I finally made the commitment to go ahead and execute it!”
Tim called this service Fitset.
“Fitset is a custom pass for people to discover, book and sweat in studios and facilities across Edmonton – all from a digital platform online or on a mobile device,” says Tim.
Fitset partners with high-quality fitness studios and gyms to provide its members with a diverse range of workouts.
“For our fitness studio partners, Fitset provides a way to get new people through their doors, fill up excess capacity in their studio and create a new incremental revenue stream,” says Tim.
Fitset’s service was built to be mobile-friendly. With that being said, developing an app with little to no experience or knowledge in app development proved challenging.
“I didn’t have a technical co-founder and it was expensive to hire really strong software developers,” he says. “In the early stages of the business, I tried to build our product on a shoestring budget and it was always challenging to navigate bugs, technical issues and other software-related challenges.”
From then on, in order to stay on top of everything, he made sure that he established the “what” and the “why” behind every move that his developers were making, even if he didn’t understand all of the coding and micro-technical details.
Now that the tough development challenges are behind him, Tim’s business has found momentum. Despite having a tough first two years, the fitness entrepreneur has proudly formed a strong team over the last six months.’
“Moving forward, I’m most excited about the plan that we have for 2018 and how that plan can take us closer to our vision of Fitset becoming the fitness companion to the active lifestyle for the Canadian masses,” says John.
Fitset is on its way to one day expanding across Canada and it couldn’t have been done without resilience and perseverance.
“We want to have Fitset in every major city in Canada and beyond,” he says.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Tim says the best way to start a business is to jump right in.
“JUST START! Start working on the idea and make a commitment to work towards it until you fail, and don’t be afraid to fail – that is where the learning takes place. The hardest part for me was just putting pen to paper. I wish I would have started pursuing my business idea sooner.”
For 2018, Tim has made another commitment. “My resolution is to tell my story to inspire others who are on this entrepreneurial journey.”
To keep up with his business and future projects, feel free to follow @fitsetpass and @tim.gourlay on Instagram!
Interested in starting a business? Learn more about our Start-Up Program!
Written by: Sara Pivato, Social Media & Content Coordinator, Futurpreneur Canada
G20 YEA Delegate Spotlight: Tynan Wenarchuk, Illuminate Inc.
Every year, Futurpreneur Canada selects a group of innovative and growth-oriented young Canadian entrepreneurs to attend the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (G20 YEA) Summit.
The opportunity gives young entrepreneurs the chance to advance their business abroad, make valuable international connections and explore the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Tynan Wenarchuk was one of the lucky few chosen to attend the 2017 summit in Berlin. Tynan is the founder of Illuminate Inc., a Calgary-based research and consulting firm that helps companies improve their workplace culture and employee experience.
We connected with Tynan to learn more about his G20 YEA experience and to give future delegates some insight into what to expect.
Why did you apply to become a G20YEA Delegate?
I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone. At first, when I read the eligibility requirements, I instantly thought, “Well, that’s not me”.
When I understood what the real purpose of the G20YEA was, to share the opinions and the struggles of entrepreneurship, advocating for governments to become more entrepreneurial and aware of such challenges, I realized I did fit. I knew what it was like to be an entrepreneur, and what my needs are from governments and my peers.
Additionally, I have always been set on building a business with global impact. Knowing I would have the opportunity to plug into the European business ecosystem was a major bonus. Although I wasn’t perfectly prepared to go global, this was an amazing push towards a major goal of mine. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity.
Before attending the summit, you attended a Canadian Delegation Training Day in Toronto and a pre-summit activity in Berlin. What was that like?
When you first join the G20YEA Delegation, you really don’t know what to expect. But I remember the raging question being, “How can we make sure we bring the voice we have and become the representative voice for other Canadian entrepreneurs at the Summit?”
My suggestion to new delegates: take advantage of the time you have before the Summit. There’s a lot of opportunities for delegates to meet with their local provincial stakeholders and build up their research on issues or curate the opinions of entrepreneurs in their region that they should be bringing to the table. Be bold. You have the opportunity to be a forerunner to create changes. Hold an event or forum, invite influential people and diligently pursue deep and meaningful conversations about entrepreneurial challenges.
I know this for certain: If you compare, you will crumble. To other entrepreneurs, their success, or their ideas, it’s not worth the comparison.
We have a unique opportunity as entrepreneurs to celebrate others who are pioneers and forerunners of innovation, business and game-changing ideas. You can choose to focus on competition or recognize that there are always people in need of what you have to offer this world.
When touring Berlin and all of the different incubators and hubs, during our pre-itinerary, we experienced the equivalent to start-up innovation Disneyland. Exploring self-driving cars, the latest augmented reality tech, a fully sustainable city, incubators that are building into the world’s next great companies, I couldn’t have asked for a more comprehensive and impacting adventure.
The official Summit kicked off and there was a flurry of activity from roundtables and networking events to speeches, workshops and a Pitch Competition. What were some of your favourite activities that you participated in and why?
I loved the process of contributing to our communiqué. It’s a rare privilege to have an audience of the G20 leaders. I didn’t take this lightly, nor should anyone else in this role. Helping to lead a roundtable discussion on entrepreneurial education around the world was a major honour. We developed language, strategic research and insights that went directly into our communiqué.
It’s a wild experience to realize that as a young entrepreneur, you are speaking directly to world leaders through the G20YEA.
Overall, what do you feel you gained from your experience as a G20YEA delegate?
Most Canadian entrepreneurs struggle to think globally and after the Summit, my mindset on that was completely shattered. In Silicon Valley, entrepreneurs know that in their first year of growth if they don’t expand into other countries, they’re losing. In Canada, if in five years you grow from Calgary to Edmonton, you’re doing well. Playing it safe is no longer an option.
Canadians can confuse politeness and humility with risk-aversion and fear. The G20YEA Summit exposed me to other young entrepreneurs that are intentionally thinking global. I knew I needed to bring this back with me – that it’s possible for every entrepreneur to think and act on a world stage.
How did your experience in Berlin help you to develop business and international connections?
The day I landed in Berlin, I reached out to my friend who lived in Copenhagen to inquire about a visit. Copenhagen is known as the world leader in happiness at work. At Illuminate, we specialize in workplace culture development. I knew it would be highly strategic and beneficial for us to meet with some of the leaders of Copenhagen-based companies.
With a bit of hard work and some well-constructed, hope-filled emails, in one week, I had arranged 10 engagements with tech founders and leaders. Definitely a miracle and a wonderful lesson in fearless business decision-making! Because of the G20YEA, I was able to elevate our company and serve our first international clients!
Why do you think it’s important for young entrepreneurs across the G20 to speak up and help to drive change?
As young entrepreneurs, we assume everything is supposed to be hard – but if we can share these problems, bring them to light, acknowledge what challenges or policies don’t work and provide solutions, our economy and communities are better off.
When we can unite our voices and create a louder voice for these issues, we can make better policies to support young entrepreneurs. The power of recognizing our collective voice matters.
What are your pieces of advice for entrepreneurs applying for the 2018 delegation in Argentina?
1. Act like a delegate before you’re chosen to be one.
Like in any circumstance, you don’t need to be given a title in order to be a leader. When you’re on the ground in the host country, walk fearlessly. I can almost guarantee that someone at the Summit needs your support, advice, or whatever your business provides.
Our Canadian Trade Commission Service will support you in setting up meetings with businesses in their network. Take full advantage of this. If they come back without a match, adjust your offer and ask how you can make something happen.
While at the Summit, being ferocious about connecting and building relationships is key. Intertwine business conversations while having fun exploring the host city. But don’t waste time. Take full advantage of booking side-meetings with delegates that you meet and don’t hesitate… seize the opportunities before you!
2. Let the experience be about more than just you.
Do the pre-work, have the meetings, talk to your community, create some buzz and realize you’re a representative and a voice for young entrepreneurs.
How can G20YEA delegates make the most of their experience?
Plan ahead. For example, work your tail off to get five deals or opportunities in the host country. “Do what you do,” step into your element and make way for your expectations to be blown out of the water. Await your “voila moment”… you now have global clients in Buenos Aires!
Be bold and open to changing your mindset and growing as a business owner. You were created for greatness, don’t forget it!
Looking to help shape policy while exploring new markets for your business? Be part of the 2018 Canadian Delegation to the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Summit in Buenos Aires! Apply now.
CIBC Spotlight on HYDE Artisan Leather: Bringing Socially-Responsible and Stylish Goods to Saskatchewan
Futurpreneur Canada recognizes the hard work, determination and passion it takes to start a business. That is why we teamed up with CIBC for a campaign to recognize the milestones (big or small) that our entrepreneurs reach while starting and growing their businesses.
As a part of the campaign, we’re encouraging our Futurpreneurs to share their start-up successes using the hashtag #FuturHighFive on social media. David Whitrow of HYDE Artisan Leather is one of those success stories.
Making the industry shift from auditor to real estate agent to artisanal leather importer may seem like an unusual career path for some people, but not for HYDE Artisan Leather founder, David Whitrow.
Born and raised in Saskatchewan, David id his undergrad in Business Administration majoring in Accounting at the University of Regina. After graduation, he received his CPA and CMA designations and worked as a Corporations Auditor at Saskatchewan Finance before moving into the real estate industry, where he focused on residential sales and developed a strong understanding of social media, sales and content marketing.
However, his desire to pursue a more socially responsible career path led him to go back to school and complete an MBA in International Development Management at Carleton University in Ottawa. After completing his MBA, he spent the next nine months travelling Canada and circumnavigating the world, including a month in a refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece and stops in Turkey, Malaysia, and Thailand.
“I love to travel and have a passion for helping others grow their perspective and live to the fullness they were meant to,” says David.
During his world travels, he also spent some time with friends who manufacture ethically-sourced products in Northern India.
“Spending time with my friends and living day to day in their lives, I also got to meet and work alongside the artisans,” says David. “I experienced first-hand the pride and the joy these men carried having the opportunity to have consistent well-paid work. As I sat and glued bindings on journals with them I knew I had to be a part of the story of change they were writing.”
David and his friend kept in touch after his trip, but it wasn’t until this past spring that he was able to align their vision with his goal to start a socially-responsible business.
“I learned they had started a second factory this time focused on leather products. Intrigued, we talked numbers and I quickly recognized there was a potential business here,” says David. “On my return to Canada, I continued to develop the idea and model its potential and in September decided that it was go time!
Today, David is the proud owner of HYDE Artisan Leather, an importer of ethically-sourced leather bags and accessories that has since expanded into accessories like jewellery, upcycled sari handbags and scarves as well as housewares.
The business is founded on three major principles: quality, style and social impact.
“We are anti-fast fashion; we produce products that are well constructed and meant to last,” says David.
However, despite having an exceptional product, communicating the value of his business proved difficult at first. Like most start-ups, he didn’t have much of a marketing budget but thanks to social media (follow @HydeArtisan!) and content marketing, he was able to share his company’s story with the world and grow a following.
He also quickly realized that most shoppers consider a leather bag an investment, so while many people connected with his story, he found it hard to turn his social media success into sales.
His solution? Expand his store’s offerings.
“We brought on the sari and jewellery lines and expanded our line of leather accessories to allow people to experience our brand at a lower cost and begin a relationship with us,” says David.
Now, his start-up fashion business is growing into a recognizable brand. In fact, HYDE was recently featured on CTV Morning Live while he was exhibiting at the Canadian Western Agribition trade show, which he shared as a #FuturHighFive milestone.
“That was such a fun moment!” says David about his experience. “Greatest of all, it was my birthday which I shared live and had people coming up to me the rest of the weekend wishing me a happy birthday! It was all incredibly well received and for weeks after I had people I ran into telling me about how they saw it.”
Before starting HYDE Artisan Leather, David worked with Futurpreneur Canada to get financing, resources and mentorship for his business. The experience proved valuable as he not only gained input on his initial business plan but also received useful industry-specific advice from his business mentor.
“My mentor is an experienced import broker who has been working with me to understand and more effectively import my products,” says David. “We were connected by a mutual friend and his wealth of knowledge even beyond importing has proven to be incredibly valuable.”
For aspiring entrepreneurs, David has these words of wisdom: “Plan! Have a tangible representation of your idea so that as many of the issues you will face can be averted ahead of time. There will be more than enough pitfalls to navigate once you are live, so getting rid of the low hanging issues ahead of time is invaluable.”
Written by: Jasmine Williams, Social Media and Content Specialist, Futurpreneur Canada
Want to be featured in a #FuturHighFive Entrepreneur Spotlight? Share you start-up milestones using #FuturHighFive on Instagram and Twitter!
Jean-Philippe L’Écuyer’s Entrepreneurial Mission in France
On January 8, I went to France for a ten-day entrepreneurial mission with a group of students from the CÉGEP of Saint-Jérôme, accompanied by their teacher, Mr. Pierre Savard.
These students had previously shown a clear interest in entrepreneurship. Therefore, they were engaged in the mission to learn more about what it’s like to be an entrepreneur while also discovering the French entrepreneurial ecosystem.
As a start-up coach, I had three roles to play during this mission: contribute to the development of the course of our delegation, lead the discussions with the various stakeholders and answer the students’ questions about entrepreneurship.
This was a one-of-a-kind experience for the students, as well as for me. In this post, I share with you the highlights of this unique journey that took us to the heart of French entrepreneurship.
A busy journey
After a seven-hour flight from Toronto, we landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport at 10 am, Paris time. Our young cohort had to quickly overcome a jet lag of six hours as we had a busy agenda ahead.
Four trips by train, a dozen trams and more than thirty trips by metro would allow the students of the cohort to discover the entrepreneurial ecosystems of Paris, Nantes and Lille.
The next few days were going to be tough, but so exciting!
A warm welcome
We had the chance to meet the people of Moovjee, Incubaschool, Beleev, Positive Planet, Station F, EuraTechnologies, Novapuls, Le Village by CA, Pépite France, Enactus France and the Délégation Générale du Québec in Paris. At each of these meetings, our delegation was treated to an exceptional welcome by the speakers. The students benefited from the experience, expertise and network of each of them.
I was deeply touched to realize how much France appreciates Canada and its people; it seems that we have a natural connection. For having personally maintained various links internationally, I would say that the relationship between Canada and France is particularly marked by warmth and mutual enthusiasm. The students also noticed and appreciated it.
Interesting discoveries
During our journey, we have of course noticed some differences between our entrepreneurial universe and the French one. Here is what comes out of it.
First, we observed that the French have easier access to unemployment benefits to start their business. Although we have a similar measure in Quebec, the STA, it seems that the French program is less restrictive at the industry level, more generous over time and more flexible. For example, the French have the opportunity to capitalize a portion of their benefits to invest in their start-up business, making it easier to start a business.
Also, we found that student entrepreneurship was a little more developed in France. For example, the existence of a national student-entrepreneur status makes life easier for many students who want to embark on the entrepreneurial adventure. In addition, organizations such as Pépite France offer specialized programs for students wishing to start their business.
The networking between large companies and entrepreneurs is also a distinctive strength of the French entrepreneurial ecosystem. Businesses are well aware of entrepreneurs’ potential for innovation. Therefore, they collaborate with them in different ways, which benefits both parties.
A unique experience
This entrepreneurial mission has been intense, but so rich! We’ve all learned from it. The unique path of our delegation allowed us to discover the entrepreneurial side of France and develop lasting relationships.
Some people say that you never really come back from a trip. This entrepreneurial mission left us somewhere, on a piece of land of the continent of possibilities, where the other nourishes our own ambitions.
Written by: Jean-Philippe Écuyer, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Futurpreneur Canada
Spotlight on Lloyd-James: Bringing Plant-Based Items to Canadian Grocery Shelves
Businesses big and small rely on marketing agencies to help reach their audience and build their brand’s community. However, Lloyd-James Plant-Based Sales & Marketing, goes the extra mile.
This Vancouver-based agency not only offers marketing and sales services, it also helps plant-based food producers get their products into retailers nationwide.
As more and more Canadians look for healthy and sustainably produced products, the demand for plant-based items continues to grow.
“At Lloyd-James, we make it easy for plant-based food manufacturers to get their products onto grocery store shelves across Canada and into customer baskets,” said its founder, Jordan Rogers.
Getting your product in a grocery store can be difficult; even more so for niche products like the kind Lloyd-James tends to support.
Still, the agency has a proven track record for success as they’ve helped brands like Eat Pastry, Quinoa Quickies and Tonica enter the food market both in Canada and abroad.
“We are passionate about bringing the best tasting, plant-based food brands to all Canadians, to show them that healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring or tasteless,” said Jordan.
Jordan’s passion for the food business started at a very young age.
“I would literally get lost in grocery stores looking at products on the shelf and wondering why they were packaged, priced and sold a certain way,” he said. “Let’s just say my Mom was not impressed with always having to hunt me down in the store aisles in between looking at cool food products and sitting on riding lawnmowers at Zellers.”
Before launching Lloyd-James, Jordan would often hear friends and family express their frustration over how they could only find a variety of plant-based products in the US and not in Canadian grocery stores.
“I really wanted to bring great tasting plant-based products to Canada from around the world (and locally) to show people that they don’t have to settle for healthy products that are tasteless and are not run by value-based companies,” he said.
Launching his business was one thing, but entering the market proved to be a challenge.
“Grocery store buyers want to know that if they list your product, it will make them money,” he said. “Sometimes it can be a big risk for buyers to replace a more established product that is generating sales, but may be in a declining category on shelf with a new, unproven product in a growing category.”
Despite these challenges, Jordan has a solid strategy to overcoming them. “Always be politely persistent, make their job really easy by coming prepared (e.g. brand story, sales numbers, validations, pricing logistics and marketing programs) and say what you are going to do and do it!”
His efforts have been continuously rewarding. He has built a team of six people across the country that all believe in his vision to bring plant-based products to Canadians.
In the near future, Jordan and his team are working towards increasing their distribution points-of-sale of their current clients. In the long term, the team hopes to bring their Canadian brands to US consumers.
Lloyd-James was supported by Futurpreneur Canada, which has helped over 10,000 young entrepreneurs like Jordan realize their start-up dreams by providing them with resources, financing and mentorship.
“The hardest part about entrepreneurship is actually jumping into the deep end of the pool and starting the business,” he said. “Write your business plan with Futurpreneur and then just do it!”
Written by: Sara Pivato, Social Media & Content Coordinator, Futurpreneur Canada
Work is Changing January Reading List
Futurpreneur Canada recently launched Work is Changing, a national campaign and content hub covering topics like the future of work, technology and automation, economics, innovation and growth and entrepreneurship.
If you’re looking for some light reading this weekend, here’s a quick round-up of some of the latest articles on Work is Changing.
How much should I charge? Pricing tips from an experienced creative freelancer by Shauna Vert
Pricing yourself is very challenging, especially when starting out. You wouldn’t want to undervalue yourself, but you also want stay competitive with your pricing. In this post, creative freelancer, Shauna Vert, provides her insights and tips to how freelancers should set their prices.
What should entrepreneurs do if their business grows too fast? by Megan te Boekhorst
Every entrepreneur dreams of finding big success, but what if there are currently equipped for it? Some start-ups with exciting products or services may face this in their early years and it is important to tread lightly. Read more about how Smart Sweets survived their high demand!
Start-ups should celebrate side hustles by Megan te Boekhorst
Employers may not like the sound of an employee having a side hustle because it creates a notion that they may leave someday. Ambitious employees will always come and go and it is best to embrace their dreams while they are still around. Discover why start-ups should celebrate side hustles.
This start-up is turning empty restaurants into co-working spaces by Megan te Boekhorst
Restaurants in the Toronto market can be very competitive. As rent and property taxes increase, restaurants across the city are shutting down. Toronto-based start-up Flexday is making the best of these emergent changes and is opening up co-working spaces in the empty spots.
Enjoy reading about how Work is Changing? Join the conversation by clicking here.
Written by: Sara Pivato, Social Media & Content Coordinator, Futurpreneur Canada
Spotlight on A Tiny Lab for Early Learning: Eco-Minded Childcare for North Halifax Families
Finding safe, reliable and high-quality childcare is a challenge many working parents must face.
Locating childcare centres that are also progressive and innovative in their approach to education can be even more difficult. Luckily, for young families in Halifax, there are places like A Tiny Lab for Early Learning.
A Tiny Lab was launched by early childhood educator and mom, Jillian Farris. Her centre is located in the north end of Halifax and serves children aged 18 months to 5 years.
“We are a play-based, emergent childcare centre,” says Jillian. “Children spend their days here making choices, exploring, discovering and creating. We provide a developmentally appropriate program that fosters the ideas and experiences of the children enrolled here.”
At A Tiny Lab, teachers work very close with each child, providing the support and stimulation that children need to foster their sense of wonder and curiosity.
The centre follows eco-friendly practices for optimal air quality and energy efficiency. It also uses reclaimed materials as much as possible. Lastly, A Tiny Lab serves a 100% vegetarian diet to promote variety in foods and help instill healthy eating habits from early on.
“We source our food locally and organically as much as possible,” adds Jillian.
Launching is an accomplishment in itself, but Jillian has hit many milestones that would many any entrepreneurs proud.
“I am most proud of my team of ECE’s (early childhood educators) that we have working here and the environment they provide for the children and families here every day,” she said.
“They are committed to a thoughtful, respectful, supportive and challenging environment for children that support their growth and development and respect them for their individual strength development.”
Setting up a daycare usually involves a lot of paperwork and comes with many obstacles due to government regulations. Despite all of this, Jillian was able to pull through.
“We are hoping for a modest expansion within the next few years, to meet some of the demand that exists within this neighborhood for high-quality childcare,” she said. “This would include opening up two additional classrooms and exploring the possibility of afterschool care for older children.”
A Tiny Lab has been a great success since launching. It now has clients on a two and a half year waiting list, which means the word is continuously spreading.
When launching, Jillian turned to Futurpreneur Canada to access funding. This organization prides itself in fueling young entrepreneurs as they look towards launching their businesses.
For aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own business, Jillian offers this advice: “Stay positive and committed to your vision, whatever that may be. Surround yourself with good people that can support and inspire you and that you know you can rely on for advice.”
Looking to launch your own business? Click here to learn more.
Written by: Sara Pivato, Social Media & Content Coordinator, Futurpreneur Canada
CIBC Spotlight on FRANC: Timeless Clothes That are Anything but ‘Basic’
Futurpreneur Canada recognizes the hard work, determination and passion it takes to start a business. That is why we teamed up with CIBC for a campaign to recognize the milestones (big or small) that our entrepreneurs reach while starting and growing their businesses.
As a part of the campaign, we’re encouraging our Futurpreneurs to share their start-up successes using the hashtag #FuturHighFive on social media. Brandy Mercredi of FRANC is one of those success stories.
When it comes to your wardrobe, it’s important to have items like t-shirts and tank tops to round out your look. However, it can be tough to find basics that aren’t, well, basic.
This is the exact problem Brandy Mercredi would consistently run into when shopping for clothes.
With a background in fashion design and blogging and experience working with both large and small brand over the past 13 years, Brandy knew that there was something missing in the women’s fashion market.
She wanted clothes that were timeless and classic and well-made, but still had a little something special about them. Just as importantly, she wanted clothing that was made ethically, by people who were treated well.
“Owning my own clothing brand was something that was always a dream,” says Brandy. “After dreaming and planning and working for many other brands over the years, I felt like my ideas were refined and my skills were developed and in line, to finally take the scary leap to go for my dream.”
That dream became a reality last April when she launched FRANC, a women’s basics brand made ethically in Canada.
“We aim to create clothes that are timeless and versatile – clothes that complement personal style rather than dictate it,” says Brandy.
In just a few months, FRANC has produced three seasonal collections is already hard at work at the next one.
“Each season feels like a major milestone at this point,” says Brandy. “The fact that FRANC has been so well received in order to make new seasons happen is a reason to celebrate, always.”
However, starting an e-commerce fashion business all on your own certainly comes with its fair share of challenges.
For example, currently FRANC is solely online and sells directly to customers. While this helps to keep the end cost as low as possible for the customers, it poses a tricky marketing situation as most clothing shoppers like to ‘try before they buy.’
To get around this, Brandy decided to offer free returns for first-time customers so they can try FRANC items on at home and learn our fit with as little risk to them as possible.
Fortunately, for her, this strategy paid off.
“Not only are our returns lower than the industry average, but this strategy has helped to create loyal customers,” says Brandy. “We also recently starting doing pop-up shops to make trying on, more accessible.”
While Brandy’s experience working as a fashion designer and online blogger served her well for solving the unique problems that come with running FRANC, she also credits Futurpreneur Canada for giving her a “wonderful start” to her new life as an entrepreneur.
By participating in Futurpreneur’s Start-up Program, Brandy received help with her business plan, financing, and was paired with her business mentor Jessica Frampton, co-founder of Fuzz Wax Bar.
“[Jessica] has helped me in so many ways; helping me see past my own barriers, pushing me to think bigger and to think of the big picture,” says Brandy. “It’s been invaluable having someone with so much experience to debrief with, someone who also happens to bring a totally unique and amazing point of view to everything I bring up in our chats.”
Brandy has accomplished a lot with her business in a short amount of time, but her proudest achievement is starting FRANC in the first place.
“I am most proud of getting to where I am right now, for actually following my dreams and not listening to all the reasons why I shouldn’t,” says Brandy. “I am super excited to see all this hard work and planning that I put into place actually roll into a working machine.”
Her advice for future entrepreneurs? “Dream and plan, but write everything down every step of the way (even dreaming). Talk to as many people as possible and take help and advice whenever it’s offered (sometimes with a grain of salt).”
Written by: Jasmine Williams, Social Media and Content Specialist, Futurpreneur Canada
Want to be featured in a #FuturHighFive Entrepreneur Spotlight? Share you start-up milestones using #FuturHighFive on Instagram and Twitter!
Tips & Tools: 4 Tips for Hiring Staff for your Start-up
Hiring staff is hard for any company, but to build a solid team for a young business is even harder.
Without a Human Resources department and with limited cash flow, it can be difficult to find the right person to take your business to the next level.
So what is the best way to ensure you find the perfect match? Here are a few tips to help you find the best talent for your start-up.
1. Define your workplace culture
In order to assess the personality fit of your future employees, it is crucial to define your workplace culture.
You can start by asking your current staff some questions about your organization and their jobs. Even though you might think they live and breathe the culture and vision of your business, this will help you better understand behaviours and identify patterns.
Asking them questions like, “What would you tell a friend about our organization?” or “What is your favourite thing about our company?” will help ensure that you aren’t just going with candidates that look good on paper but ones that would flawlessly fit into your organization and team.
2. Write a killer job posting
A job posting is no longer a brief summary of the job description including key facts about the role and the company. Nowadays, a job posting is your sales pitch.
To hook the best talent, your ad has to be engaging, attractive and informative. Include elements such as your business’ mission, vision, the workplace and the benefits of working for your company.
Finally, make your ad functional. No one wants to spend hours filling out endless application forms make sure your job posting is user-friendly and readable.
Remember to be yourself, use your own words and keep it simple!
3. Consider hiring your admirers/supporters
Let’s be honest, at some point in our lives, we have all pictured ourselves working at certain companies; thinking we’d be their best employee because of our belief in their brand and vision.
Hiring your company’s admirers and supporters has obvious benefits for your team. After all, someone who is already familiar with and passionate about your brand will be more likely to enjoy working for you and work harder than a less-interested candidate.
Hiring admirers can also be a great marketing tool. An engaged employee can act as a brand advocate, telling their friends how great it is to work for your company and helping you find new employees.
4. Speak at events and network
Speaking at industry events can be a great opportunity to sell your company and its vision to potential future employees.
By explaining your mission and practices in your own words, people will connect to your brand story and realize that your business is exciting and has a great future ahead.
Don’t neglect growing your personal networking as well, as it remains one the best options to find your next superstar employee.
So go out, talk about your business and meet people face-to-face as it is the best way to know if a person fits!
Written by: Charlotte Robert, Bilingual Copywriter, Futurpreneur Canada. In collaboration with Evelyn Salvador, Human Resources Senior Manager at Futurpreneur Canada
Spotlight on Kube Innovation: Innovative Technology for your Teeth
From self-driving cars to smart watches, new technology is popping up every single day in every industry – even dentistry.
Montreal-based company Kube Innovation specialises in the development of innovative devices that help dentists in their day-to-day practice.
This start-up was founded by an entrepreneur passionate about technology and the world of medicine. Frédérik Marcil, its founder, worked in the aeronautic industry for two years before launching his own business.
This entrepreneur started Kube Innovation to developed innovative digital devices for dentists that were never seen before in the industry.
Their first device is the Innobyte: “a patent-pending technology that accurately quantifies the maximal average bite force exerted by the patient using the innovative mouthpiece,” Frédérik explained.
“At least one third of the population suffers from a bite force deficiency without even knowing it. When bitten, the device sends fast and accurate data measured in newtons to the dentist’s computer. The Innobyte is the tool that helps patient find their next steps to treat their deficiency,” he said.
Innobyte is Kube Innovation’s first tech device, but not their last.
“Kube innovation has many ideas and new devices in the works, all with the end goal of helping dentists in the everyday diagnoses,” said Frédérik.
Frédérik launched Kube Innovation in 2015 with the desire to make a difference with innovative technology. Dentists are always on the hunt for newer and better ways to accurately provide prognoses and treatments for their patients.
Since its launch, the Innobyte is now found in more and more dental offices. Its commercialization was a success but our entrepreneur did run into some challenges along the way.
In its first two years of development, Kube was running on very little resources.
“I had to spend countless hours working with minimal equipment to successfully create an innovative and robust product,” said Frédérik. Another challenge he faced was creating a strong workplace culture.
In the end, his hard work payed off. In the upcoming week, Kube will be diving straight into the US market. They also have plans to incorporate a social aspect to their business model.
“When we make a sale to one of our clients, we want to work with them to donate their old equipment to rural communities in need of dental equipment,” said Frédérik.
Kube Innovation is a Futurpreneur Canada-supported business. “My experience with Futurpreneur has been incredibly positive. The support we have received from our mentor has proven to be useful. They have saved us from making costly errors in our first year in business,” explains Frédérik. Financing has been a great help for him, but the mentorship has been crucial to his success.
“As an entrepreneur, there is always room for growth. We can always learn more and become a better leader. For me, mentorship has helped me revisit my strategies and approaches to the business and its leadership. My mentor was always available to give their opinion on my ideas. There is no better experience as an entrepreneur than being understood and heard by someone who has been in your shoes,” said Frédérik.
His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs?
“Sell your prototypes to validate the need and price of your innovative product or service. You have to quickly establish a conversation with these first clients to get their feedback. This way you can see the strong points and where your product or service needs improvement. Don’t wait for a perfect final product. Finalize something that your clients actually want!”
Looking to launch your own business? Click here to learn more.
Written by: Sara Pivato, Social Media & Content Coordinator, Futurpreneur Canada
Spotlight on Vancouver Fashion Truck: The Trendy Fashion Boutique on Wheels
Now that more and more people are shopping online, traditional retail is undergoing a period of transition. While this has been a difficult time for some businesses, others like Vancouver Fashion Truck have taken the opportunity to be innovative and find new ways to serve their customers.
Meghan Currie, founder of Vancouver Fashion Truck, built her “trendy beachy-chic” store inside a 1997 Grumman Olson Step Van. In other words, this entrepreneur is bringing the clothes to the people, instead of waiting for her customers to come to her.
This unique way of thinking has proven successful for Meghan. For example, during the past holiday season – one of the busiest shopping periods of the year – Meghan was able to “park” her store at a popular holiday market for six weeks.
Vancouver Fashion Truck offers high quality, fashion-forward clothing, and accessories to her clients. From daytime events to nighttime soirees, Meghan helps people find the perfect pieces for every occasion. Plus, her business is not only on wheels but online as well.
“You can find the truck rolling up to a festival or market near you, or better yet, book the truck for your own private shopping party where we set up the truck at your own house,” she said.
While Meghan has clearly found her niche in the Vancouver fashion market, she didn’t always see herself in the retail business.
Prior to branching out into fashion, Meghan worked as a dental hygienist for two years before realizing it was not her calling.
“I am grateful for that experience though, because I learned a lot about myself; what I did and didn’t value, and what I wasn’t able to compromise,” she said. For her, it was her creative spirit and love of fashion.
She then had to make the hard decision to leave her job and find out her next move.
“I ended up getting a job at a women’s clothing boutique with a plan to stay until I figured it all out,” she said. “Fast forward five years and I was still there!”
While she had then been promoted to store manager, she realized that her real dream was to be her own boss.
“I knew that if I kept working for someone else, I would never be able to experience my full creative potential,” she said.
Even still, while she was confident that it was what she wanted, fear was a big obstacle to overcome.
Many people avoid facing their fears on a day-to-day basis and the decision to become an entrepreneur and stray from traditional work norms can be a scary one.
“I knew I had to start diving in to my fears instead of running from them in order to live the life I wanted,” Meghan said. “If something freaked me out, I knew I had to move closer to it and do it. Once you do something that initially scares you, and realize you did it and are still alive and well, things start to become a bit less scary, and more doors and opportunities open.”
For Meghan, facing her fears was the right choice. After ending a successful 2017, Meghan is nothing short of excited for her business plans this year.
“Looking back at what I accomplished in the first year of VFT gives me the courage and confidence to up the ante for 2018!”
Before Meghan made the dive into entrepreneurship, she turned to Futurpreneur Canada to get her started.
“The application process was simple and straightforward and the fact that they focus on supporting young entrepreneurs with big dreams gave me the confidence to apply,” she said. “If it weren’t for Futurpreneur, I may have never taken the steps to try and secure a loan from a bank and I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? “I would say you have to go for it. You don’t want to wake up in 20 years and have those ‘what if’ thoughts. If you notice fear popping up, listen to it, take some of its advice, but don’t let it stop you. Fear is usually just a result of being outside your comfort zone, and I know its cliché, but it’s so true – growth and magic do not happen in your comfort zone. Map out that imperfect plan little by little each day, because each little thing you do adds up to one big thing, which could be your fabulous new business.”
Ready to conquer your fears like Meghan and become an entrepreneur? Learn more about how Futurpreneur can help you start your business.
Written by: Sara Pivato, Social Media & Content Coordinator, Futurpreneur Canada
