By Stella L. Harvey
You read about them last year in the May 17 th issue of the Pique. Six young entrepreneurs who provide our community with services ranging from system development to baby equipment rental. A desire to make a mark on their own terms is the common trait among them. And they are not alone.
The Government of Canada Services and Support for Small Business Web site captures their numbers. There are 2.6 million small businesses in Canada responsible for some 60 per cent of private sector employment and 43per cent of private sector output in this country. In fact, they are the energy behind Canadas economic growth and theyre doing it in their T-shirts, jeans and sneakers, from home or wherever they decide to set up, without a thought to how theyll fit into someone elses image of corporate Canada.
They let us in last year to take a look at their world. They shared their goals openly without concern or second-guessing. As the author of the original article about them I was enticed by their open, unabashed eagerness. I wondered how they were managing. But what I really wanted was another excuse to talk to the young entrepreneurs, get swept away by their energy, and maybe in the process feel as they do, that anything is possible.
Jody Edgar, now 22, owner of Jodys Internet Café, was providing Internet and other on-demand services while building a point of sale system as part of his application development service offering a year ago. When asked how that point of sale system was going, Jody shrugs innocently, smiles and flicks his right hand into open air as if to say that was ages ago.
"We built it, sold it and were onto other things."
Okay, like what I wonder.
"Were building a sales tracking system that tracks and compares sales on any given day with the sales of the same day in the previous year."
The new system allows a company to monitor and manage its sales and labour costs from anywhere in the world. Six companies in Whistler, including Cittá and La Bocca, have already purchased the new system to help them manage their business.
And thats not all. Jody has developed a partnership with a systems integrator in England.
"A lot of companies are operating on old systems and cant make use of new technology. Our partner helps get the old systems ready for the new technology that we build."
So was it difficult to secure this partnership? I mean, how did you know about this guy or his company? Again he flashes the killer smile as if to say, whats the big deal.
"I met him when he came into the store. We started talking and determined we could help each other out."
A new system, a new partnership. Good on you, I say. You must be growing.
"Were opening a new store in the next few weeks."
Wow, where, when, how? Like the tea I spilled earlier this morning, the questions pour out and Jody answers them as rapidly as I ask them. Our combined excitement reaching a crescendo. The new store, Only in Whistler , will be located near the Royal Bank and will handle primarily the bigger system development projects. Jodys Internet Café will continue to provide the on-demand type services like Internet, faxing, and copying.
"There came a point where we couldnt expand any further because we just didnt have the physical space to do it. We needed more space and we went for it."
An opening is planned for the new shop along with an information seminar about making use of Web-based technology.
Eighteen-year-old Tim Orr and his 17-year-old business partner, Mike Rencz, are also expanding their company, Two Minds Combined. Last year, Tim and Mike handled all aspects of their clothing business, from design to marketing. Since that time, they have hired a head designer, Nicki Bridger, and Tims brother, Alex Orr fresh from completing his business degree at the University of Victoria to head up the business operations. This leaves Tim and Mike to handle marketing.
"Weve revamped everything, from our target consumer to our business plan," Tim says, and you know hes proud about the changes hes implemented and hopeful for what this will mean for his business.
So are you still focused on T-shirts?
"For now yes, but were planning on a whole line of clothes. Well be selling jackets, jeans, and shirts through a storefront operation planned for Vancouver this time next year."
Tim is planning all this while pursuing his business degree through the University of Victoria. He has completed his first year and will be going back to school in the fall.
Securing an education while running a thriving paint business helps Richard Harvey, 22, support himself and secure valuable real time business training he cant get any other way. A student at Simon Fraser University and owner of Student Works Painting in the corridor, Richard has expanded his business over the past year, taking on bigger, more complicated projects and hiring a project manager to help. Richard has made staff training a bigger focus this year.
"I want my staff to do a great job for our customers. The quality of our work impacts our customers and affects the bottom-line. Understanding this link helps my employees do a better job. Everyone wins."
Richard continues to employ approximately 10 painters plus a project manager for his operation.
"Solid employees and a reliable project manager allow me to be more responsive. It also lets me focus on the important role I play in the business. Marketing and expanding my business."
Working smarter, according to a recently released study by University of Quebec at Montreal economist Pierre Fortin, is one of the ways our American neighbours are raising their standard of living. A recent edition of the International Productivity Monitor published by the Center for the Study of Living Standard found that, in Canada, worker productivity, measured, as the value of production per hour worked, was 90 per cent of that in the United States. As Andrew Duffy reported in a Vancouver Sun article headlined, Canadas roaring Economy: Tiger or Toothless Illusion?: "Most economists agree the greatest threat to Canadas future prosperity is something more elusive productivity. Robust economic growth can only come from productivity gains the production and delivery of more goods and services per hour of labour."
Like Richard, Tara Martin, owner and operator of Babys on the Go, based in Pemberton, has come to realize the value of delegating some of her work to others. She farms out some nighttime deliveries, focusing her efforts on marketing, customer service and managing the business end of her operation. She continues to rent and deliver high-end baby furniture, toys, childrens pools and winter clothes for kids and has expanded operations to include just about any rental request that may come her way. Storage facilities in Whistler hold everything from cribs to VCRs and barbeques. She continues to operate out of her home, but as her business grows she is looking for a storefront operation.
"Weve had our best season ever. And, things havent slowed down. Our customers like talking to us on the phone, but they also want to come and visit. See what we have."
Tara manages her business while raising two pre-schoolers.
"In the summer, with the great weather, I can manage. There are lots of things to do for the kids while Im working. In the winter, the kids are around full time, which makes managing a home-based business more complicated and difficult."
A storefront operation would alleviate some of this pressure.
"I still want to do it. And hopefully this year I will. The cost of leasing space is expensive though, so I dont want to rush into something that will eat away at my profits."
Molten Metalworks founder and owner Kyle Bubbs, 30, also operates a home-based business. Or perhaps its more accurate to say he operates a number of home-based businesses in addition to operating a studio to showcase his work, as well as the work of other local artists. He opened his studio last August at 7326 Clover Road in Pemberton with exhibits by artists such as Christy Fever (glass mosaic mirrors), Borgi Rayen, (pottery) and Lynn Burns (paintings).
The Molten Metalworks gallery is the main venue for showcasing Kyles original high end furniture creations, including custom designed beds, tables, chaise lounges and kitchen islands. He supports the gallery through his work as a metal works designer who does projects for various builders and recently completed passenger pods for Hummer vehicles used for off road tours. The bike park he operates on his property has been scaled back and is now only used for photo shoots as required.
But, scaling back in this area doesnt mean Kyle is sitting back and just enjoying the gallery. Hes working on developing a cat skiing operation that will keep him going in the winter, when the gallery and his own metal work projects are on hold.
"I like to be involved in different things. It keeps me interested and alive," he says.
The gallery opened for a new season on Saturday, June 21, coinciding with the celebration of the first day of summer.
The youngest entrepreneur within this group of super stars is 17-year-old, Sally Reid who last year started a lunch program at Whistler Secondary to provide hot lunches to her classmates. She continued to provide lunches during the earlier part of the school year and pursued her artistic interests. Sally recently did a cover for Pique Newsmagazine.
Aside from business and artistic endeavors, she takes a great interest in current events. Youll recall, for example, that she was featured in our local newspapers earlier this year after she set up boxes at her school (Pro and Con the Iraq war). Donations were received into both boxes and later turned over to UNICEF. The effort raised the communitys awareness of the war and collected needed cash for a worthy cause.
So now what? Where does Sally go from here?
"Im going to the University of Victoria to study art history," she explains.
She wants to combine her business acumen with her love of art. When you hear the excitement and commitment in her voice, you know nothing is going to stop her.
Each entrepreneur is a year older. With another year of experience under their belt I wonder if there is anything theyd rather be doing. Without hesitation, they all answer no.
So what have they learned from this experience? Tim says: "Its a lot harder than I ever imagined it would be. Getting help, and dividing up responsibilities helps me focus on what I need to focus on."
Richard and Tara agree. "If you spread yourself too thin, you wont be able to deliver."
All understand the importance of meeting and exceeding a customers needs.
"My longevity is a direct result of taking care of my customers. Once you lose a customer its difficult to get them back," Jody says.
Richard concurs.
"Customers have told me that with the slow economy they want a service provider to deliver what was promised and in a professional way. Theres no money to do the job twice."
Jody takes the customer service discussion further. He says: "When I started, my focus was on building my customer base. The more the better. Now, I just want to keep my current customers happy. Id rather do a good job with a few than half a job with many."
It takes discipline to understand how, when and what you can deliver. Kyle says the biggest lesson hes learned was the importance of time management and self-discipline.
"You need to know when to turn it off," he says.
Jody concurs. "Initially, I just wanted to make people happy, so I had a hard time saying no," Jody says. "Now I know setting realistic timeframes is the only way my customers will be satisfied every time."
Sally Reid summarizes the key messages of the lessons this group has learned: "You need to jump in and not be afraid that it cant be done. And, youve got to stay on peoples good side."
Their key messages about delivering good, responsive service, pursuing goals even when youre scared to death, knowing when to delegate, and understanding how to take care of yourself were so consistent I thought they must have been meeting regularly to talk to each other, and share and learn from each others experiences. In fact, they dont, but a few of them thought it was a good idea when I mentioned the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Canada (www.yea.ca), a volunteer, non-profit national communication and resource network for young entrepreneurs. Maybe a few will join.
All I know is theyre a determined bunch. Theyve set high expectations and goals for themselves and having done so theyre getting on with the task at hand realizing their dreams. Theyve convinced me. Anything is possible.
If youre an entrepreneur with an interesting story to tell and would like to inspire others, Id love to hear from you. You can reach me at Stella25@telus.net
If you are interested in reaching any of the entrepreneurs you read about in this article, you can reach them at:
Jody Edgar: Jodys Internet Café or Only in Whistler Jody@Jodys.ca or 604-932-8380
Tim Orr: Two Minds Combined www.tmc-clothing.com or 604-938-1146
Richard Harvey: Student Works Painting 604-938-3797
Tara Martin: www.babysonthego.com or 1-604-894-0092
Kyle Bubbs: Molten Metalworks at krbmetal@direct.ca or 1-604-894-3651
Sally Reid: 604-932-3665