SBEC Success Stories

Blue Pine Innovations

Blue Pine Innovations - 2022 Starter Company Plus Participant

Blue Pine Innovations started as a project which flourished into a passionate business. David and his partner Maggie, were expecting their first child in early 2020. Like most couples they started planning their little one’s nursery months in advance. Everything was coming together nicely except one important piece. They already started a book collection for their daughter and they wanted her to have a nice set of bookshelves that she would have for years to come.

David and Maggie, searched in store and online and they couldn’t find what they had in mind. With Davids building and engineering background and Maggie’s creative flair they started designing their dream bookshelf. They wanted this piece to be made of eco-friendly and sustainable materials, so that children are not exposed to toxic materials in the nursery and bedroom. They also wanted the bookshelves to be made of premium materials, be very durable, timeless and beautiful.

When they build their first piece family and friends loved it and wanted to have bookshelves for their little ones too. This is when Blue Pine Innovations was born. Shortly after David and Maggie were introduced to an amazing consult who works for the City of Richmond Hill. Her dedication and passion in assisting entrepreneurs was profound. She gave them so much guidance and resources to set them on the path of success. They applied for the Started Company Plus Program grant and interim were given access to weekly courses lead by expert professionals. Their speakers were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about helping entrepreneurs navigate through the challenges of owning a business. Not only did they offer support and solutions to common obstacles but they also lead the classes in group setting which exposed them to other like-minded entrepreneurs. There was a great sense of community when taking part in the Starter Company Plus Program.

Blue Pine Innovations continued to grow their business in the time they went through the program. Their bookshelf business grew into the production of other custom bookshelves, book boxes, learning towers and other eco-friendly and sustainable products. Their goal was to create products that nurtured the growth and development of children.

In completing the program they gained a lot of confidence to stay true to these dreams. They were grateful that they were also given the opportunity to have two incredible mentors. These mentors took the time to share their knowledge and expertise in their field and gave real solutions and ideas on how to elevate the business.

The Starter Company Plus program helped develop critical skills that allowed Blue Pine Innovations to grow their business and taught them how to stay on top of the competitive market. Having access to these mentors was an incredible experience but also having individuals that truly care about seeing you thrive meant that much more to them.

Blue Pine Innovations were one of the lucky ones that received a grant through the Starter Company Plus Program. This allowed them to purchase equipment for the business to elevate their performance and product production. They were also able to invest in building their online presence which will be extremely beneficial. Overall, if Blue Pine Innovations could go through the Started Company Plus program they would in a heartbeat. The journey with the team over the months has been incredible and they can’t wait to see where the business goes from here.

Charmy Pet - 2022 Starter Company Plus Participant

Zach's passion for dogs ignited when he welcomed his first canine companion into his life at the age of 15. The adorable German Shepherd named Niong captured his heart, despite presenting behavioral challenges that came with being a first-time pet owner of a German Shepherd.

Determined to train her to become the most well-mannered dog she could be, instilled in Zach a deep love for the pet industry, leading him to establish his own pet boarding business at the young age of 16. As time went on, he seized various opportunities within the pet-related sector, including working as a dog trainer and in a veterinary hospital. In addition, he dedicated his summers to assisting his father's company in the beef-manufacturing industry.

During Zach's university years, he and his partner encountered a group of individuals starting a dog treat business named Charmy Pet. This proudly Canadian pet-nutrition company, headquartered in Toronto, has been committed to enhancing dogs' lives through natural nutrition since 2020. Charmy Pet meets the nutritional requirements of dogs by offering premium, single-ingredient treats to Canadian dog parents. Recently, Charmy Pet formed a partnership with the University of Guelph to introduce an unparalleled freeze-dried pet food that incorporates holistic traditional Chinese medicine. With a focus on promoting dogs' longevity and well-being, Charmy Pet uses ethically and sustainably sourced fresh ingredients obtained from local farmers, ensuring complete transparency in the sourcing process for pet owners.

While Charmy Pet was still participating in the Starter Company Plus program, the company garnered significant attention by appearing on the CBC's "Dragon's Den" in the fall of 2022 (Season 17, Episode 9). Displaying its exceptional qualities, Charmy Pet earned a prestigious position among the highest-rated pet products in the esteemed 'Dragon's Den Hall of Fame'.

Reflecting on his experience in the Starter Company Plus program, Zach expressed his admiration, particularly in his hometown of Richmond Hill. The program offered a wide array of seminars catering to aspiring founders, providing valuable insights into specialized areas such as retail, marketing, and business law. "I highly recommend everyone to apply to this program" stated Zach, acknowledging the immense value of his time spent in the Starter Company Plus program.

To learn more about Charmy Pet, visit Charmyboxshop.com and follow them on Instagram @charmypetbox.

FlowerSelf

Flowerself - 2022 Starter Company Plus Participant

"Hello. My name is Tony Choi. My wife and I created a florist starter kit under the brand name FlowerSelf. When we started off in 2022, we didn’t do enough market research and weren’t sure what we were getting into. The idea was simple, create a simple florist starter kit that would help people easily and affordably create a flower bouquet or a flower basket design. When we initially started the business, our focus was our florist starter kits. However, we realized that people were showing much more interest in one specific part of our florist starter kits, which was our Korean Wrapping Paper.

As we were taking part in the Richmond Hill Starter Program, we learned more and more about what was of interest and made a pivot to focus on selling mainly our Korean Wrapping Paper. I learned from the valuable information sessions by experts chosen by the program, how best to make decisions and even had one of my mentors encourage us to focus on what works, which was our Korean Wrapping Paper.

The journey of an entrepreneur is rarely a straight line, and we went from being FlowerSelf to Korean Wrapping Paper. Our business model made a big shift and we have had much better success because of it. Before we started this program, we were solely an online company, running out of the basement of our home in Richmond Hill. Here is a quick look of what our business looked like before and after participating in this program:

Before Participating in The Program:

-Struggling to get started on Amazon (brand name = FlowerSelf) - a couple hundred dollars in sales monthly

-Less than 10 sales on ETSY

-Low sales volume on our website, koreanwrappingpaper.com

-Less than 100 followers on Instagram

After Participating in The Program:

-Exponential growth in Amazon sales (brand name = FlowerSelf) - several thousands of dollars in sales monthly

-200+ sales on ETSY

-Large sales volume on our website, koreanwrappingpaper.com

-More than 1500 followers on Instagram

-Store front opened and welcoming hobbyists and small businesses to shop in-store

It was a pleasure to be a part of this program. Priti and Alan were very helpful and were always reaching out to me. I think anyone who participates in this program will learn a lot, be well supported by the Richmond Hill staff, and can use the $5,000 grant to further grow their business. Make sure you apply to the next startup program. This program will help take your business to the next level." -Tony Choi, Founder of FlowerSelf

Jobby - 2022 Starter Company Plus Participant 

Matt is a dedicated startup founder, passionate about helping people and businesses succeed. As a member of the Starter Company Program, Matt built his latest venture, Jobby. Jobby brings jobs to life through video. He has worked with businesses of all sizes including Scotiabank, L'Oreal and the LCBO. 

Prior to enrolling in the Starter Company Program, Jobby was first getting started and had not yet earned their first paid customer. Through the Starter Company Program, Matt was assigned sales mentors that helped coach him to launch.

The mentorship as well as the initial funding allowed Matt and his team to focus their attention on the right sales strategies for their business. After graduating from the program, Jobby now works with leading brands in Canada and continues to get new clients. 

Kinetic Performance Movement Education - 2018 Starter Company Plus Participant

Launching a business can be exciting. But as Adam Jongsma can attest, fine-tuning that business can be even more engrossing.

In 2016, Jongsma launched Kinetic Performance (now Kinetic Performance Movement Education) to provide continuing education for personal trainers. He had the professional cred — he’s a kinesiologist with a master’s degree in rehabilitation science — but no business training.

“I was flying by the seat of my pants,” he says of his first 18 months in business. So when he heard about Starter Company Plus, he applied to the provincial program, and was accepted.

Starter Company Plus offers funding, training, mentoring and other assistance to Ontario residents interested in starting or expanding a business in the province. Richmond Hill residents can apply to the program at the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre (RHSBEC), which administers the program through funding from the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

In the program, Jongsma attended six afternoon training sessions on subjects such as marketing, accounting and the legal aspects of running a business, all of which helped him write a detailed business plan, a requirement of the program. In one of the sessions, participants discussed their USPs, or unique selling propositions. “I didn’t have a USP,” says Jongsma. “The session really got me thinking about what Kinetic Performance Movement Education provides that nobody else does.”

That “what” are courses for personal trainers that teach them how to work with clients who are recovering from injuries and getting back into activity. “Most corporations are reducing their insurance benefits for physiotherapy and chiropractic services,” says Jongsma. “As a result, more people are going to personal trainers.” But because not all personal trainers are trained in rehabilitation, there’s a gap that needs to be filled. “That’s what our courses do,” he says.

After Jongsma had completed the training sessions, he took advantage of the mentoring part of Starter Company Plus. At RHSBEC, he met with a lawyer who helped him draft terms of service and a privacy policy. “Two days later, I had those up on our website,” he says. A search engine optimization (SEO) specialist helped him understand how he could improve Kinetic Performance Movement Education’s website profile on search engines such as Google, while a marketing pro spoke with him about social media marketing. Says Jongsma: “His big thing was consistency: If you post more often, you’re seen by more people.”

In addition to training and mentoring, Jongsma received $5,000 in financial assistance in the program. He’s put these funds toward the purchase of a mirrorless camera, lavalier mics and other audiovisual equipment to help him produce marketing videos and, in time, instructional videos for online courses.

Right now, however, Jongsma is gearing up for the road. “In December, we became accredited by GoodLife Fitness for our Pain to Performance Core Concepts course,” he says. “We expect to be going all over Canada delivering the course in the next five months.”

For this energetic entrepreneur, it seems that 2019 is shaping up to be a banner year.

Ruth Plumb Portraits - 2018 Starter Company Plus Participant

A few years ago, Ruth Plumb began a new chapter in her life. She’d worked for 10 years as a dental hygienist, then was a stay-at-home mom. It was now time to see if she could channel her talent for portrait photography into her dream of running a viable business.

“I thought, if I didn’t give it a try, when would I?” says Plumb. “I didn’t want to regret not trying. It was a huge turning point for me.”

She’d been taking photos since age 12, when she got her first camera. As a mom, she’d honed her portraiture skills by taking thousands of picture of her four kids. Word got around and friends started asking her to photograph them.

So in 2014, she launched Ruth Plumb Portraits, but the transition wasn’t an easy one. She’d never run a business before, and she’d struggled over what to charge for her services. “I felt like I was spinning my wheels,” she says.

Then, a friend suggested she might benefit from Starter Company Plus, a program that offers funding, training, mentoring and other assistance to Ontario residents starting or expanding a business in the province. She applied to the program through the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre (RH-SBEC), which administers the program through funding from the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Plumb was accepted, and she attended a series of six weekly afternoon sessions led by seasoned entrepreneurs. The sessions helped her write a detailed business plan and project her business’s cash flow for two years — a valuable exercise she wouldn’t have done otherwise, she admits. Particularly helpful was the session on market research, which helped her define her target customers.

Plumb is experienced in photographing women, men and children, but her target customers are women who want beautiful “heirloom” portraits of themselves and their families to display at home. Ruth Plumb Portraits also specializes in professional headshots and personal branding portraits and offers styling by a professional hair and makeup artist prior to each shoot. “It’s a perk — clients feel pampered when they don’t have to worry about these details,” says Plumb.

As a successful participant in Starter Company Plus, Plumb received a $5,000 grant. She’s used these funds to purchase indoor lighting equipment and studio props, and to develop her website.

Just as valuable, if not more so, was the one-on-one mentoring she received in the program. “I specifically asked for help with networking,” says Plumb. “I’d been relying solely on referrals through friends and previous clients. I needed to get out of my comfort zone.”

And she has done just that. The RHSBEC connected her with a couple of networking professionals who boosted her confidence and helped her understand that networking is not about selling, but about building relationships.

“It was an amazing experience,” says Plumb, of the mentoring help. “I’ve since joined two networking groups and I attend networking events about every two weeks.” 

TOGI Wellness

TOGI Wellness - 2022 Starter Company Plus Participant

TOGI Wellness is led by a woman and dedicated mom who is revolutionizing the wellness industry with her in-person or virtual boutique yoga business.  Her passion for yoga and her desire to make a positive impact on her community led her to create a unique program that combines Yoga and Financial Literacy, catering to children and teens.

Tam’s journey began when she received a prestigious grant from the City of Richmond Hill Starter Company Plus 2022 program, recognizing her innovative approach to holistic wellness. This grant provided the opportunity for Tam to establish TOGI Wellness as a hub of mindful living in her community. With a vision to promote lifelong learning and well-being, Tam set out to offer two distinct services that meet the diverse needs of her clientele.

TOGI Kids is a groundbreaking program that fills the gap left by traditional school curriculum by integrating Yoga and Financial Literacy. Through movement, breath, storytelling, play, creation, and exploration, TOGI Kids nurtures children's mental and physical health while imparting valuable financial knowledge. Tam believes that introducing concepts like financial literacy at an early age sets a solid foundation for future success and well-being.

TOGI Professional, the second service offered by TOGI Wellness, is a specialized program tailored for executives, professionals, and corporate groups. This program utilizes yoga to cultivate concentration, focus, physical strength, and resilience, enabling participants to excel in high-demand environments. Whether through one-on-one sessions or corporate group sessions, TOGI Professional equips individuals with the tools needed to perform at their best.

Throughout her journey, Tam has received unwavering support and guidance from the remarkable individuals leading the Starter Company Plus program. Recognizing Tam’s potential, they have provided her with invaluable opportunities for growth. Tam had the privilege of participating in group sessions led by industry experts, learning from the best in the field. The program also offered one-on-one mentorship, helping Tam refine her business strategies and propel TOGI Wellness to new heights.

Tam expresses immense gratitude to the Starter Company Plus team for believing in her vision and providing a platform to showcase her work. After the program, TOGI Wellness successfully formed a partnership with the City of Richmond Hill, allowing Tam to tailor a program specifically for their valued employees.  In December 2022, Tam received the Richmond Hill Community Recognition award from the Mayor David West.  This further solidified her confidence in the transformative impact TOGI Wellness will have on countless individuals in the future. 

With unwavering dedication and the support she has received, Tam envisions TOGI Wellness as a catalyst for positive change in the community.  Shaping a future where wellness and wealth go hand in hand, allowing individuals to thrive in all aspects of life.

VIVRE

VIVRE - 2022 Summer Company Plus Participant

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney

VIVRE' was born through inspiring and transforming, looking to generate an experience that balances fashion and the environment, creating sustainable products through organic, natural and recycled raw materials and plastic bottles. 

"The Starer Company Plus program motivated me to pursue my dreams because of the grant, the business training, and mentorship with expert people in the areas where I needed to work more. This experience helped me grow both as an entrepreneur and a human being, learning from my mistakes, not taking no for an answer and that there is always much to learn and improve. It also taught me that Richmond Hill is a community in which I feel very grateful to belong and to be able to impact positively fills me with satisfaction and happiness." - Paula Contreras, Founder of VIVRE

Floato - 2022 Summer Company Participant 

Ian Korovinsky is flying high with his company Floato. Last year, the 18-year-old took part in the Summer Company program and launched his own business doing drone photography and videography for the real estate market. He hopes to build Floato into a reputable drone media company in the near future. 

Larry's Lawnmowing - 2022 Summer Company Participant 

Larry Li applied to Summer Company hoping to gain valuable entrepreneurial experience while servicing his community. He decided to launch a cost-effective and customer-focused lawn mowing company for homeowners. Over the summer, he managed to grow and hire 11 student service agents. Together, they performed 30 lawn-mowing jobs in Richmond Hill and other parts of the GTA. 

Sugarcrash Apparel - 2021 Summer Company Participant 

Rachel was entrepreneurial in nature well before joining the Summer Company program, having started multiple initiatives in the past. With Summer Company, Rachel wanted to explore her passion for business and build on her experience. She chose to start a business that aligned with her personal values and launched ‘Sugarcrash Apparel’, an embroidery business that sources products in a sustainable and human-friendly fashion.

Having worked mostly in service-based businesses, Sugarcrash Apparel allowed Rachel to learn the process of setting up a retail business – from sourcing a sustainable manufacturer, designing products, connecting with influencers, and determining pricing. Richmond Hill’s Summer Company program connected her with mentors and previous alumni helped her navigate these topics.

Although Rachel had initially started the company as a learning experience, she’s decided to continue to build on her company while in university. Long-term, she hopes to expand into accessories as well. Rachel will be returning to university for a science degree and believes the real life experience of running a company will help add another dimension to her learning experience. 

Frostack Games - 2021 Summer Company Participant

Alexandria has long been passionate about working in the video game industry and saw Summer Company as a great opportunity to gain experience in the industry. With the help of Richmond Hill’s Summer Company program, Alexandria launched ‘Frostack Games’ – a woman-led gaming company whose goal is to create games that are accessible and affordable to customers.

For starting the business, Alexandria had the technical experience she needed to create video games. She had won multiple gaming hackathons in the past, but was still new when it came to operations and marketing aspects of running a company. While in the Summer Company program, Alexandria gained experience on how to manage employees, market her product, connect with influencers and create an online community that invites gamers.

Overall, the experience was positive for Alexandria. She was excited to have collaborated with multiple gaming influencers, host a hackathon and gaming tournament, and partner with two local charities.

Despite Summer Company being over, Alexandria is still working on projects and has games planned for future launch. Frosthack already has fans that are looking for the sequel of Alexandria’s first horror themed game, “They’re Coming”, and she hopes to deliver! 

Charmy Box Shop - 2021 Summer Company Participant

Zach entered into the Summer Company program with a deep entrepreneurial background, having opened his first business at 16. As a happy pet owner himself, he knew how important pets are in their owner’s lives and decided to launch businesses that catered towards them. In the past, he launched a board game business for pet owners and, in his latest venture, Charmy Pet Foods, Zach opened a business that focused on pet food and nutrition.

Despite there being many existing pet food companies, Zach saw a gap for food products that were tailored for each individual pet. To address this need, he opened Charmy’s Box Shop, where he sourced healthy pet food products and designed an algorithm that could help match pets to a diet that maximizes their health. Zach believes that each pet breed requires an unique nutrition plan to help avoid common health conditions associated with them.

Zach was looking for funding to catapult the growth of his idea and decided to apply for Summer Company. While in Summer Company, Zach saw an opportunity to expand his products into retail storefronts and was matched with a Business-to-Business sales mentor that helped guide him through the business development process. Zach was also connected with another pet food company for mentorship through YSpace – a local partner that specializes in serving the food sector.

Since launching, Zach continues to grow his company and has plans to expand the reach of his business into the United States.

Your Home Court Advantage - 2021 Summer Company Participant

Michael was high school student with entrepreneurial aspirations who set out to launch a business over the summer so he could learn the skills required to run a successful venture. He decided to start an asphalt sealing company with a twist – Michael also offered to paint basketball court borders and logos on the client’s driveway! His business was an immediate hit with local dads, who were looking for things to do outside with their kids.

In order to ensure client safety and comfort, Michael decided to digitize as much business development and customer interaction as he could. He operated mostly off his website, gathered clients through online media, and processed his payments virtually.

Throughout his experience with Summer Company in Richmond Hill, Michael learned how to articulate his value proposition, market his services online, and connect with clients online. He entered Summer Company hoping to improve his sales and communication skills, which he felt he accomplished by summer’s end.

Despite this being his first business experience, Michael set high targets for himself for the summer, and managed to exceed his forecast. This is a business Michael wants to continue to build over the next few years, and has expansion plans for next summer. Michael can definitely see himself being an entrepreneur long term – as he greatly enjoys the freedom and creativity that comes with starting his own business.

Pretty Little Picnics - 2021 Summer Company Participant

Anaum will be heading off to University for a business degree in the fall, and wanted to start a business that would allow her to gain business experience while working on an unique idea.

She decided to start ‘Pretty Little Picnics’, a luxury picnic service for individuals looking to create memories and celebrate important moments with their friends, family and spouses. She bought all the equipment she needed to start by using the Summer Company funding, and learned about different marketing and sales strategies through mentorship.

Anaum learned a lot over the summer, and although she still thinks she will pursue having a career, she is open to entrepreneurship opportunities that may come her way.

Spotless Power Washing

Spotless Power Washing - 2021 Summer Company Participant

Prior to Richmond Hill’s Summer Company, William was well versed with business, but most of his knowledge was based in book smarts. His entrepreneurship class was centred mostly around theoretical models, and his business club, DECA, was a competition based around hypothetical situations. While still beneficial for his growth, they lacked depth in comparison to the real world. William wanted to take the next step in his business journey, and saw Richmond Hill’s Summer Company program as a perfect way of gaining real world experience by stepping into the market.

William decided to start a pressure washing business over the summer after taking note of Richmond Hill’s business demographics and identifying a local market niche. He was able to leverage the Summer Company funding to buy his equipment and then immediately began to reach out to customers and service his first requests.

William thought that the mentoring sessions were the most helpful part of the program, largely for the same reasons as the business training. Seeing how the mentor’s perspectives differed from his in some cases was very revealing, and the opportunity to ask questions and have a discussion in a more personal, tailored session was incredibly helpful for his experience in the program.

Williams primary goal entering the program was to experience entrepreneurship first-hand and broaden his horizons. In this regard he felt very successful in the program – as he was able to gain real life experience while gaining a nice profit to boot! William feels that he has gained an incredible amount of perspective from his summer as an entrepreneur, and now when he considers problems in the future, he will always have that alternative end with which to view them. 

Pen by Rach!

Pen by Rach! - 2021 Summer Company 2021 Participant

Rachel has long had a talent and passion for calligraphy, and decided to leverage the Summer Company program to open a business where she could use her design skills to make to make products people love, and make her art more accessible to wider audience. For the purpose of Summer Company, Rachel decided to start with artistic stickers as they were easy to sell and scale.

The funding helped Rachel get started and buy all the material she needed. She was also excited to be matched to a mentor that also ran a successful calligraphy business. Mentorship provided her with a lot of insight – from helping her to explore new revenue verticals, to teaching her different ways to take advantage of her existing social media platform, and transitioning some of her social media followers into engaged customers.

Rachel felt the Richmond Hill Summer Company program really trained her to refine her business views by challenging her to think innovatively. Be it through group training sessions or 1-1 mentorships, she was always encouraged to think outside the box by considering needs and specific details about her target audience. The program also taught her to learn from niche competitors, and to fill present gaps through entrepreneurial solutions and personal creativity

Rachel sees entrepreneurship as a valuable exciting and continuous learning experience. She hopes to continue her art and calligraphy business part time while she attends school in the fall.

Rugzee - 2021 Summer Company Participant

Rachel is set to enter university next year for a business degree, and saw Summer Company as a great opportunity to set a foundation for the upcoming program.

Being an art enthusiast, Rachel was captivated with the recent rug tufting trend that was viral on TikTok. She had tufted a few rugs herself, and decided to launch a business where she could tuft personalized rugs for others. People could submit a photo and Rachel would create a rug for it. With the help of Richmond Hill’s Summer Company program, Rachel launched Rugzee.

Through the Summer Company program, Rachel received the funding she needed to purchase a new rug tufting machine, as well as all the products she needed to produce products at a larger scale. Rachel learned about different techniques for marketing and shipping her products, pricing her products and managing her finances.

Rachel entered the program wanting to generate revenue, gain entrepreneurial experience working in all aspects of a business, and to continue to refine her technique in rug tufting. She accomplished all three while in the program. Rachel wants to maintain her business as a side hustle in the future.

Apex Affinity

Apex Affinity - 2021 Summer Company Participant

Roger had entered the Summer Company program having had some prior experience working for non-profit start-up and participating in hackathons. He had the idea for Apex Affinity after talking with landlords, where Roger had learned that common a pain point among landlords was managing communications with multiple tenants. To solve this, he created Apex Affinity, a mobile application designed to streamline tenant communications.

Through Summer Company, Roger connected with mentors that helped him with project management, app development planning, and coming up with tactics to connect with landlords. He also was able to leverage the funding to speed up his product development, launch his website, and fund his business development ideas.

 Roger saw Summer Company as an opportunity to develop key skills for running a start-up – from management skills, to learning to how to effectively allocate resources and capital. He’s happy to say he got a dose of experience in all of these fields, with the added bonus of having heard the stories and business paths of many individuals that he would not have been able to connect to if not part of Richmond Hill’s Summer Company program.

Roger is inspired by the agency and opportunity that comes from running a company, and definitely sees more entrepreneurship ventures in his future. 

Orange Juice the Brand - 2020 Summer Company Participant

Inspired by the changing world of fashion and women's rights movements, Josh started his clothing brand with his partner to help young women become more comfortable with how they express themselves. They decided to create a brand and style centered on getting out of one’s comfort zone. Without the necessary mentorship and resources, they anticipated that the brand would grow slow and steady. This all changed with the help they received with Summer Company.

The program provided an excellent opportunity to help their company properly set up operational foundations and improve their core product quality and packaging. Throughout the program, the duo created private label designs, re-invented their logistics channel, and launched their best-selling 'flaming duo' collection. All of these improvements were made possible with the push and support of Summer Company. 

The growth initiatives contributed to a massive uptick in monthly revenue from June to August. By the end of the summer, Orange Juice the Brand also received $24,000 in capital investments from Canadian owned ClearBanc and Shopify Capital.

Joshua believes that Summer Company has offered him a “steady foundation to commit to his journey towards entrepreneurship full time."

Josh's next goal at Orange Juice The Brand is to continue to build upon its community of customers and expand its marketing efforts internationally.

Adagio Lettering - 2020 Summer Company Participant

Vanessa Yu decided to start her business, Adagio Lettering, in the summer of 2020. Adagio lettering is a company specializing in hand-lettering and modern calligraphy, offering services such as customized goods, live calligraphy and event signage. Adagio is an Italian musical term meaning slow; the term is often associated with lyricism, grace and elegance. With her business, Vanessa strived to create the same ‘adagio’ effect: the slow, breath-taking magic of written grace; the smooth flowing of ink; the therapeutic loops of charm. Vanessa felt that there was a gap in today’s world for a calligraphy service.

Vanessa believes that, “In our modern, technologically-advanced age, there is something particularly endearing about elegant penmanship and customized gifts that shines through the monotony of the impersonal, digital haze. Adagio Lettering seeks to capture these precious moments and immortalize them through elegant calligraphy.”

Vanessa was able to grow her business in multiple ways. Her Instagram page has over 120,000 followers and features content on bullet journaling, art and lettering. Vanessa also held workshops, giving her the opportunity to teach over 300 students and collaborate with companies such as MUJI, Coursera, Arteza and Pentel.

Vanessa found Summer Company mentorship opportunities to be extremely helpful for learning to sell and market her products and services to clients. From cold-calling/cold-emailing strategies to social media outreach and email wording, Vanessa learned how to attract reader attention and convert leads to sales. Summer Company also taught her about the importance of making connections and maintaining relationships. This guidance was especially useful while she was creating custom menus and signage for local restaurants.

Her advice for other aspiring business owners?

“Go for it! It’s daunting, confusing, and sometimes frustrating, but you learn so much – not only about finance or operations, but about yourself, the world, and relationships with others. You start seeing things through different lenses as a creator, owner, and do-everything-worker. Wearing so many hats teaches you more than most entry jobs – it’s not so much about how much you make at the beginning, but the lessons you learn.”

“

Summer Company was the push I needed to take a step into the business world, as opposed to simply exploring a hobby and earning a little on the side. The program has helped me pursue my goal of turning this into a business I can build in university and beyond. While I had always wanted to do this, this program gave me the experience and motivation needed.”