WORK FOR THE BEST . BOSS EVER 2014 Yearbook Ontario.ca/SummerCompany #SummerCompany A MESSAGE FROM THE HONOURABLE BRAD DUGUID MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE I t has been said that the best way to ensure your future is to go out and create it. Ontario is helping the youth of today become the leaders of tomorrow by supporting our young entrepreneurs through Summer Company. The program has helped more than 5,900 young people launch a business over the last 14 years. This past year alone, 940 companies across the province were started by entrepreneurs between the ages of 15 and 29. not-for-profits and industry. Summer Company is an important part of the Youth Jobs Strategy and has benefitted from additional funding to provide more opportunities for young people and help youth who face barriers or live in vulnerable communities. Summer Company is a wonderful example of what our young people can achieve. In this yearbook you’ll see how great ideas turned into summer jobs, and in some cases careers. It’s a glimpse at how young Ontarians are creating their own path to prosperity and securing their future. I want to congratulate program participants for their hard work and perseverance, and for daring to dream. I also want to thank the many local mentors who donated their time and expertise. Investing in our young people is vital to Ontario’s long-term success. An impact study of Summer Company from 2006 to 2012 shows it’s making a difference. About 43 per cent of past participants reported they were still running their businesses and 22 per cent were operating another business. These ventures generated an estimated $46.8 million in revenue. They also created approximately 2,050 full-time and 2,958 part-time jobs. And, almost every participant surveyed said Summer Company gave them transferable skills for future employment. Now, that is exciting! Entrepreneurship is a key driver of job creation, economic growth and innovation. By working together through programs like Summer Company, we are helping to secure the economic future of young people and our province. We are committed to helping Ontario’s impressive generation of young people succeed. That’s why we launched the Youth Jobs Strategy to foster entrepreneurship and mentorship, and to develop the talents of young Ontarians through partnerships with municipalities, educators, Brad Duguid Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 2 TAKING THE GUESSWORK OUT OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY In Ontario, building owners need better performing buildings that reduce operating costs. New buildings also need to meet the energy requirements of the Ontario Building Code. But the process of meeting those requirements is complex and can be difficult and time-consuming. Enter Matthew Tokarik. His Summer Company 2nd LOT took the guesswork out of energy efficiency. It used unique energy modelling software to predict energy use and help companies modify their designs and qualify for incentives. The 26-year old graduate engineer targeted builders of small and medium commercial, mixed use and multi-unit residential buildings, areas with the greatest market growth potential. 2nd LOT attracted the attention of the Centre for Urban Energy (CUE), Canada’s first startup business incubator devoted solely to urban energy. It’s providing the fledgling company with office space, ongoing business support and mentorship. Matthew is taking his masters of applied science at Ryerson University and continuing to operate and build 2nd LOT. MATTHEW TOKARIK 2ND LOT TORONTO Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 3 A NOVEL BUSINESS IDEA Yara Kashlan has a passion for storytelling and writing. When she discovered an unfilled niche in the Canadian children’s literature market, she was sure she was on to a good business idea. With help from Summer Company she established A RAY Publishing which targets kids age 4 to 7 with books about coming from a different culture and growing up in contemporary Canada. Her first title, “Curry, Sushi and Falafel” introduces children to ethnic foods and shows them that it’s ok to experience and embrace new tastes and ideas. A recent immigrant from Dubai, the third year Ryerson University journalism student promoted her company through readings at Burlington libraries and regional parent groups, as well as magnets, business cards, trade shows, flyers, banners – and her website araycreative.ca. Yara recently published her second title, “Messy Little Missy”, and is busy working on a third. YARA KASHLAN A RAY PUBLISHING BURLINGTON Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 4 FROM TRASH TO TREASURES With help from Summer Company, Josh Farhoud founded Against the Grain, which upcycled skids and pallets and other found objects into unique home furnishings and décor. Rustic, useful and well built, the company’s products ranged from tables and benches to coat racks and shelves – and even wall art. “We live in a world where people just throw things away,” says Josh. “I wanted to show that I could make something old, new and purposeful again – and make it profitable at the same time.” Josh started selling his products at farmers’ markets and antique shows all across Ontario – and it wasn’t long before business took off, with custom orders flying in on Facebook. The grade 10 student credits Summer Company with giving him the confidence to promote his product and prepare more accurate estimates. He plans to continue his sustainable business part time all through high school. JOSH FARHOUD AGAINST THE GRAIN BRADFORD Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 5 A SHOCKINGLY GOOD IDEA YASHIN SHAH ANSIK INC. Yashin Shah was in an auto shop one day During the summer, Shocklock was beta watching a mechanic working on a car when tested and sold in mechanic shops in the he noticed that the hood kept creeping down. Waterloo Region. Information gathered He came up with a brilliant idea – a jack that through surveys conducted with customers reinforces worn-out struts to hold up vehicle throughout the summer was used to tweak hoods and trunks. the product, which will be officially launched at SEMA, the premier automotive specialty Through Summer Company, Yashin created products trade show, in Las Vegas in Ansik Inc. and developed Shocklock, a November. jack designed for safety, convenience and inexpensive manufacturing. In the future, the University of Waterloo communications and project management The innovative product attracted the student hopes to see his product attention of Waterloo’s Velocity Garage startincorporated into every new car. up incubator, which meant Yashin was able to move his business out of his apartment – and start making important business connections. WATERLOO Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 6 A CHEESY WAY TO HIT THE SPOT Brock University business student Jake Fraser was pretty sure he had a winning Summer Company idea. Get a mobile truck, set it up at Sherkston Shores beach resort near Niagara Falls and sell hand-cut fries, a variety of poutine, jalapeno peppers (a crowd favourite) and refreshments. He was right. Beachside Poutine was an instant hit! Customers lined up to buy Jake’s food --and kept coming back for more. Business was so brisk he had to hire five employees and by summer’s end, his profits were 280 per cent of what he’d forecast. What’s more, Sherkston Shores offered him an exclusive five-year contract – which he jumped at. Needless to say, the 21-year old business student will be operating Beachside Poutine again next summer – with the addition of an ice cream truck – and he’s starting to plan his next business venture. JAKE FRASER BEACHSIDE POUTINE NIAGARA FALLS Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 7 ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF HER LABOUR Belita Choi is new to Ontario – she recently moved to Port Elgin from South Korea – but her beginner’s English didn’t stop her from starting a Summer Company, Belita’s Fruit Market. Belita bought produce from a local farmer, then sold it at community markets in Walkerton, Paisley, Kincardine and Port Elgin. The language barrier made it difficult at first, but Belita persevered, and the combination of her quality products, hard work, charm and determination paid off. It didn’t take long before Belita’s Fruit Market became a weekly stop for many shoppers. She was pleased with how well her business did – and just as pleased with how her English improved! The 22-year old says she’s taking all the vital skills she developed operating her business with her to Conestoga College, including her newfound sense of confidence! BELITA CHOI BELITA’S FRUIT MARKET SAUGEEN SHORES Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 8 CHALKING UP PROFITS, ONE PIECE AT A TIME Success in business often requires the ability to adapt to changing circumstances – which is what Savanna Enright did with her Summer Company, Chalk of the Town. Before long, Chalk of the Town had made a name for itself, and people were coming to Savanna to get her to revive their cherished pieces of furniture. At first, Savanna bought second-hand furniture and other items at garage sales and flea markets, gave them a second life using chalk paint and sold them at farmers’ markets. Because chalk paint is easy to work with and rarely requires any preparation, Savanna was able to turn out a number of pieces during the week – which were then snapped up by eager buyers on the weekend. “I was surprised that my business took a different turn than I’d expected,” she says. But the high school student didn’t skip a beat. She took on more and more custom work, to the delight of her clients. Savanna really enjoyed her Summer Company experience. Now back at school, she’s operating the business part time, selling her pieces at local events and on Facebook. SAVANNA ENRIGHT CHALK OF THE TOWN FURNITURE RENFREW Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 9 CHARITABLE CREATIVITY Grade 10 Guelph student Wendy Wei got the idea for her Summer Company while doing an assignment for her civics class. Wendy learned that many local charities struggle to operate on small government grants while competing for donations with large international charities. WENDY WEI She decided to start an e-commerce clothing business with a social conscience. Cotton Creations provided high quality apparel designed by local artists for kids, teens and adults who wanted an opportunity to make a positive impact in their communities. The twist? Customers voted on the designs they liked best which were then turned into products. Artists earned 5 per cent of the profits from each item sold. Charities received 10 per cent. A finalist in the provincial Young Entrepreneurs, Make Your Pitch competition, Wendy learned a lot from her first business venture and is more certain than ever that she will be an entrepreneur when she graduates from university. COTTON CREATIONS GUELPH Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 10 AN AUTHENTIC REFLECTION OF CULTURE AND TRADITION Kathryn Pasquach learned the art of Aboriginal jewellery making from her mother and grandmother and wanted to keep the tradition alive. With help from Summer Company, she created Culture Shock Jewelry. at local markets, craft shows, festivals and jewellery parties. Customers could also order by contacting her through Facebook. Her pieces were so popular she sometimes had trouble keeping up with the demand! At first, Kathryn focused on selling beads to other crafters in Windsor-Essex, but she quickly shifted to full-time jewellery making, offering colourful earrings, necklaces and bracelets made from native Canadian traditional elements. The result was jewellery that reflected a rich diverse culture and appealed to people who seek out authentically made pieces. Kathryn sold her jewellery The 28-year old University of Windsor commerce student enjoyed her Summer Company experience and felt she learned a lot from it, in particular the importance of customer relations and record keeping. Kathryn plans to build her inventory during the school year so she’ll be able to fulfill all her orders with no problem next summer. KATHRYN PASQUACH CULTURE SHOCK JEWELRY WINDSOR Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 11 NOT SCIENCE FICTION AT ALL! Imagine being able to build your own personal robot from a kit, customize its look and behaviour and control it through your Android device. Sounds like science fiction? It’s all possible thanks to 17-year old Vaughan high school student Daniel Weisberg. He founded DW Applications to create and market his innovative, affordable new product, EzBOT. It lets you construct a robot that does whatever you need it to, be it entertainment or work. The aspiring engineer says Summer Company was invaluable in helping him learn to advertise his robot using different outlets. His advice for others interested in starting a tech business? Research the market to be sure your product stands out from the competition and ensure that it’s foolproof before launching it. “Summer Company showed me that many things are possible if you’re dedicated and you work hard,” says Daniel. DANIEL WEISBERG DW APPLICATIONS VAUGHAN Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 12 STAGING HER OWN SUCCESS “I had a teacher who always said creating your own work is the best way to go,” says Susan Waycik. Deciding it was good advice, the 22-year old started her own theatre production company with support from Summer Company. Start Here Theatre Productions produced and performed a Canadian musical revue, Feels Like Home. It showcased young emerging entertainers at different venues throughout Leeds and Grenville – and it did very well, attracting enthusiastic audiences by using social media, including Facebook and YouTube. Susan is back at St. Lawrence College taking music theatre performance, but when she graduates she hopes to move to Toronto and continue with her theatre production company. “We’re told in our industry that it’s hard to beat the odds and that theatre doesn’t make any money. I proved them wrong and I’m so thankful to Summer Company for giving me the opportunity.” SUSAN WAYCIK START HERE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS BROCKVILLE Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 13 IPHONE JOE TO THE RESCUE When Joe Crozier discovered that a lot of people in his hometown of Collingwood had to go to Barrie or Toronto to get their iPhones repaired, he was pretty sure he had a good idea for a Summer Company. “I’d been fixing things for years, including my iPhone,” he says. “It wasn’t that hard, so I knew it was something I could do.” Having his own company taught Joe a lot about what it takes to succeed at being your own boss, from the importance of delivering fast, affordable, reliable service to the value of sales and marketing. To get the word out, he launched and maintained a creative social media campaign, promoting himself and his business on Facebook and Vimeo. iPhone Joe offered repairs for any iOS device, including iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches, together with free pick-up and delivery, and business grew steadily over the summer. Now back at McMaster University where he’s studying software development, Joe is running his business part time with a view to operating it full time again next summer. JOE CROZIER IPHONE JOE COLLINGWOOD Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 14 THE CUTTING EDGE OF HORSEPLAY For Kelly Ashcroft, Summer Company was “the best decision of my life”. Kelly combined her lifelong passion with horses and her education in film studies to create Jump Cut Cinema. When the 20-year old graduates with her degree in film studies from Carleton in spring 2015, she plans to expand Jump Cut Cinema and turn her Summer Company into a full time business. To start, Jump Cut Cinema focused on videos for equestrians in the Kingston area, but it didn’t take Kelly long to realize she needed other clients, so she added wedding videos as well. Over the summer, her business grew by leaps and bounds. ‘I’d thought about starting my own business, and Summer Company gave me the tools I needed to make it a success,” says Kelly. KELLY ASHCROFT JUMP CUT CINEMA KINGSTON Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 15 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Masood Rehman loves everything about skateboards – the one-time street kid says they “saved his life” – so he decided to take his hobby and turn it into a social enterprise: Khandor Brand Skateboards. Masood was committed to making skateboards that were innovative, environmentally friendly, high performance and affordable, while giving back to the community, with a portion of the profits going to charities that help at-risk youth. The company also sponsored skaters and community events. Both Masood and his socially conscious company got extensive coverage in the local media, including articles in the Waterloo Region Record and the Cambridge Times. The 21-year old Conestoga College public relations student was thrilled with his Summer Company experience, which taught him about the importance of doing consumer research, developing a marketing plan and building business partnerships with local companies and community organizations. His goal? To be a global brand within three years and open a homeless shelter in five. MASOOD REHMAN KHANDOR BRAND SKATEBOARDS KITCHENER-WATERLOO Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 16 ALL THE INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS Wilfrid Laurier student Cole Jones aims to be a serial entrepreneur. With help from Summer Company, he’s already created and operated his first successful business. Local Line connected chefs with farmers in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Guelph region. Chefs placed their entire order—meat, poultry and produce—through localline.ca, eliminating the need for juggling multiple suppliers and invoices and freeing up time to do what they do best: cook. To promote his business, Cole used video marketing. “Videography is growing. It’s engaging and you can track lots of valuable metrics to further drive sales. Not to mention, watching a video is really easy. All you have to do is click play and listen. We didn’t have to debate over where to place ads, what ads to print, or spend time writing blogs.” It worked! Local Line, the only company of its kind in Ontario, built a loyal roster of customers and suppliers – and convinced Cole that entrepreneurship is his future. COLE JONES LOCAL LINE GUELPH Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 17 TURNING HEADS ON MANY FRONTS When Brayden Longstaffe discovered the craft of wood turning and specialty woodworking, he knew he’d found something he would enjoy doing for the rest of his life – and hopefully turn into a profitable business. With help from Summer Company, Brayden created Longstaffe Woodcraft. He made custom pieces using wood he got from a local forest and sold them at the Barrie farmers’ market and community events including Kempenfest, one of the largest outdoor arts and crafts festivals in North America. a large and loyal clientele. Brayden himself attracted the attention of the Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce, which nominated him for its 2014 Student of Excellence Award. Brayden learned a lot about entrepreneurship through the Summer Company program, which he recommends to any student who has an idea for a business but needs help getting it up and running. He is continuing his business part time at longstaffewoodcraft.com while taking the Industrial Woodworking Technician degree program at Humber College. His stunning works of art, which included bowls, cutting boards and boxes, attracted BRAYDEN LONGSTAFFE LONGSTAFFE WOODCRAFT BARRIE Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 18 A PICTURE PERFECT BUSINESS For several years Marguerite Bélanger was the official photographer for the Lumberjack Heritage Festival in Kapuskasing. It gave her the idea for a Summer Company. Marguerite Belanger Photography specialized in weddings, but also took family, maternity and newborn portraits. Since Marguerite’s photography talent was already well known in her small community of less than 10,000 people, her business took off quickly and demand soared. That proved to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, Marguerite exceeded her profit forecast. On the other, she experienced time and client management challenges. “I had some difficult clients who made me doubt my business and skills,” she says “But instead of thinking negative, I was able to surpass those difficulties and turn them into positive experiences to help me grow.” Marguerite plans to continue her business part time while working towards her criminology degree at the University of Ottawa. MARGUERITE BÉLANGER MARGUERITE BELANGER PHOTOGRAPHY KAPUSKASING Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 19 AN UNRESERVED SUCCESS When Naomi Jones started her Summer Company, she had two goals: to make her community a more beautiful place and run a profitable business. Naomi learned that it takes “a lot of commitment and business knowledge to run your own company” and that marketing and networking are key skills. She succeeded at both. Naomi’s Yard Care Services offered lawn and garden care to people on the Neyaashiinigmiling Reserve on the Bruce Peninsula. Naomi built a substantial client list that included the reserve, which hired her to maintain public spaces, including the local school grounds. The 15-year old Aboriginal high school student is back at school and focused on doing well, but she’s proud of herself for completing the Summer Company program – and learning what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. NAOMI JONES NAOMI’S YARD CARE SERVICES SAUGEEN SHORES Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 20 TIE-ING PASSION TO FASHION Dan Amponsah, better known as Kobi, has “Fashion is one of my passions and I’ve been wearing bow ties for years, but it wasn’t always wanted to learn how to run my own until he learned about Summer Company business,” said Kobi, whose collection that the Sheridan College student decided to included a wooden bow tie! Kobi took some turn his passion for the unusual accessory workshops to learn the art of making bow into a successful business. ties and then got busy fashioning them. The response was encouraging, with men, Neck Couture designed and made women, children and even pets sporting his customized bow ties using exotic fabrics designs. from around the world and sold them at the Brampton Farmers’ Market and online at Back at college, he’s still operating Neck www.neckcouture.ca. Couture part time, with plans to go full speed ahead again next summer. DAN AMPONSAH NECK COUTURE BRAMPTON Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 21 TURNING DIGITAL DREAMS INTO REALITY When Andres Marulanda arrived in Canada from Colombia six years ago, he couldn’t speak any English, but he was passionate about digital design and production. With help from Summer Company, he founded Next Level Media. It offered graphic design, web design and media production to Toronto’s Latin community, where Andres and his brand were already established. A graphic design graduate of George Brown College, Andres is now in his first year of Interaction Design at Sheridan College. He plans to keep operating Next Level Media while he completes his four-year degree. Andres is enthusiastic about his Summer Company experience, saying, “Summer Company provided me with great support, advice and encouragement”. His reputation, talent and hard work soon attracted a solid roster of clients, including a local radio station, an ethnic newspaper and local and international artists. ANDRES MARULANDA NEXT LEVEL MEDIA TORONTO Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 22 A COTTAGE INDUSTRY AT ITS BEST Nicole Phillips wanted a summer job that would let her enjoy being at the cottage – while being her own boss. Through Summer Company, she was able to do both. Nikki’s Cottage Care offered lawn care and outdoor maintenance that ran the gamut from sanding doors to hauling brush and logs. To let potential clients know about her service, Nicole handed out flyers and business cards and called every cottager on Woods Bay near Parry Sound. It wasn’t long before her phone started ringing and she was busy all summer long. “I was much more successful than I thought I would be and I enjoyed every minute of it,” she says. The 20-year old York University nursing student plans to operate Nikki’s Cottage Care again next summer. “Summer Company taught me so many entrepreneurial skills that I will have with me for life, and I am so happy I did it!” NICOLE PHILLIPS NIKKI’S COTTAGE CARE PARRY SOUND Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 23 PERCOLATING SUCCESS Kyle Gooch has a Master’s degree in Agricultural Development Economics. It hasn’t led to a job yet – but the research he did in Costa Rica on the economics of high quality coffee gave him the idea for a Summer Company. Off the Grid Micro-Roaster imported premium quality coffee beans from ethical producers and exporters all over the world, roasted them to bring out the flavours to perfection, packaged them and sold them at local farmers’ markets and community events. It didn’t take long before restaurants, cafés and boutiques started placing orders. For Kyle, “The sustainability of the producers is key to our success”. He insists that his suppliers must benefit economically, ecologically and socially. Kyle, whose younger brother participated in Summer Company in 2013, says the program taught him a lot, including the importance of face-to-face sales, which proved critical to his early success. Now at Humber College studying project management, Kyle continues to build his business and is moving into online sales at www.offthegridcoffee.ca. KYLE GOOCH OFF THE GRID MICRO-ROASTER LINDSAY Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 24 SUCCESSFUL BY DESIGN Laura Mayer has a passion for sewing clothes, Aboriginal regalia and accessories for her friends and family. She decided to turn this love into a business. Her Summer Company Pretty Leaf Designs began by making cloth diapers and baby clothes which Laura sold at tradeshows and pow-wows. But Laura soon discovered there was an even bigger market for traditional Aboriginal clothing and accessories – and a better profit margin – so she quickly added them to her product offerings. “Summer Company allowed me to start up my own business while staying at home with my child,” she says. “And I learned a lot, such as being proactive and going out and getting new customers.” The 27-year old, who is now in her final year of law at Osgoode Hall in Toronto, is running her business part time with help from her family – and has plans to expand her services and products. LAURA MAYER PRETTY LEAF DESIGNS NORTH BAY Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 25 PRINTING PROFITS 3D printing takes virtual designs and turns them into three dimensional solid objects. It’s an emerging technology that’s about to explode, and Matt Farrell decided he wanted to get in on the ground floor. With help from Summer Company, the grade 9 Sault Ste. Marie high school student established REKAM 3D Printing. MATT FARRELL REKAM 3D PRINTING Matt credits Summer Company with teaching him the importance of networking and social media as a marketing tool. He’s continuing REKAM 3D Printing part time through his Facebook page – his latest hot selling item is custom snowflakes, just in time for Christmas shoppers – and looking forward to running it full time again next summer. Matt bought a reasonably priced high-tech 3D printer and started promoting his business on Facebook. His first product? Custom phone cases. They sold like “hot cakes”— he even got an order from the local Honda dealership for the snazzy looking items—but he soon found himself producing all sorts of other consumer products, including custom Geocaching Trackables. SAULT STE. MARIE Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 26 IN THE GREEN Peter Zech did landscaping as a summer job for a few years before he decided to use his experience, together with what he was learning in his business management course, to start his own Summer Company, Sod Guys. PETER ZECH “Summer Company mentoring sessions were great,” he says. “The feedback really helped keep me on track.” Peter is back at Humber College, but plans to run Sod Guys again next summer. With help from a landscaper friend, Peter identified sod as a niche market and offered material delivery, sod installation, lawn rolling, aeration, rotor tilling and landscaping to commercial and residential customers. It was hard physical work that involved long hours, but Peter rolled up his sleeves and built a solid clientele. By providing superior service, he was able to more than double his estimated revenues! SOD GUYS WATERLOO Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 27 WALKING THROUGH HISTORY Over the years, Candace Neveau listened to her grandfather’s stories about Aboriginal history, culture and lore. She used this knowledge to create her Summer Company, ThunderBird Rock. The 25-year old student gave guided, themed walking tours along Sault Ste. Marie’s scenic boardwalk. The two-hour tours ended with an Aboriginal activity, such as drumming, dreamcatcher making and stories with elders, and they were extremely popular with both tourists and local residents. To drum up business, Candace approached Sault Ste. Marie Tourism, which agreed to list her on their website saulttourism.com and recommend her to tourists who came into the office. Candace also produced and distributed a promotional pamphlet and advertised on Facebook. Now taking tourism at Sault College, Candace has plans to operate her business again next summer. CANDACE NEVEAU THUNDERBIRD ROCK SAULT STE. MARIE Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 28 A CUT ABOVE THE REST Eddie Wang likes to be well dressed. When he couldn’t find the perfect suit, he decided to make it himself and, with help from Summer Company, share his line with other like-minded young men. VERSEUX Apparel designed and manufactured “custom made suits with a unique cut for the modern man”. Clients made their appointments using the website, www.verseux.com, and Eddie added the face-to-face touch by taking their measurements personally and helping them to choose the material. Eddie sourced his fabrics from Australia and his tailors from Asia. He was his own best advertisement – he could always be seen sporting one of his suits – but he also used social media effectively, including Facebook. The 18-year old Markham high school student says Summer Company taught him the importance of branding, marketing and sales. Now at Queen’s University taking Commerce, Eddie is running the business part time with the goal of turning it into a fully online venture. EDDIE WANG VERSEUX APPAREL MARKHAM Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 29 A FIRST “GLASS” IDEA Kingston high school student, Hayden Rasberry, always “wanted to run a business and wanted it to have a triple bottom line: people, planet and profit.” With that in mind, he pitched his business idea at the Young Entrepreneurs, Make Your Pitch competition. Although he didn’t win, he used the knowledge gained through the experience to launch his Summer Company, WeDrink. HAYDEN RASBERRY The social enterprise made durable, lightweight, re-usable, dishwasher safe glass water bottles, with 10 per cent of the profits going to WaterCan, a charity that helps bring water to communities in need in 32 countries. “That’s where the name WeDrink comes from, because every time someone buys a WeDrink bottle, someone less fortunate benefits as well,” says Hayden, who found that his innovative product attracted almost as much local media attention as it did customers! The 16-year old Kingston high school student came up with the design himself, had the bottles manufactured locally and sold them at local festivals and events, as well as at green retailers. Hayden has big plans for WeDrink. To start, he’s looking into expanding his line of bottles and is continuing the business part time through his Facebook page, now that he’s back at school. WEDRINK KINGSTON Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 30 SUMMER COMPANY ALUMNI BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS ONE BRICK AT A TIME In 2010, Jeff Cartwright used Summer Company to help start Brick Fix Inc., which specialized in interlocking paving stone repair and installation in the London area. Then in his first year of business management at Western, Jeff did so well with Brick Fix that summer that he decided to continue the company the following summer – and the summer after that! JEFF CARTWRIGHT Today, Brick Fix is a fixture in London and has recently expanded to Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. During the season, Jeff runs four crews and employs 15 students. Off season, he’s busy planning and preparing for the next summer. “The beauty of operating a business like mine is that we’re outside in front of people’s houses, so anyone interested in getting their driveway or patio fixed can see the quality of work we provide,” says Jeff. He leaves nothing to chance though, aggressively marketing the business on his website, www.brickfixinc.ca, and through Kijiji. “Summer Company was a valuable experience. I learned a lot from the workshops and meetings and I particularly liked comparing notes with people my own age who were going through many of the same challenges.” BRICK FIX INC. LONDON Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 31 SUMMER COMPANY ALUMNI MEASURING THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK Michael Litt is just 25, but he’s already a startup veteran. While studying systems engineering at the University of Waterloo, Michael co-founded four tech companies. The latest, Vidyard, began as a fourth year design project. In 2011, Summer Company gave him the start-up funds and support he needed to run with the idea and develop the business into what it is today: a Waterloobased company with close to 100 employees that offers one of the most advanced video marketing tools in the world. With Vidyard, clients can measure the impact their video marketing has on their bottom line, based on measurable results – which means they can get the best bang for their marketing buck. When he’s not busy building his company, Michael organizes popular start-up recruitment events in Waterloo and invests in promising new businesses through a venture capital fund he helped to create. Speaking at a 2014 Summer Company event in Waterloo, Michael called the program “the foundation for Vidyard”. And he encouraged the young graduates to use Summer Company as a springboard for their own ideas. MICHAEL LITT VIDYARD WATERLOO Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 32 SUMMER COMPANY PROGRAM PROVIDERS The Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure would like to thank all our program providers and mentors for your contribution to the success of the Summer Company 2014 program. GREATER BARRIE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Barrie YMCA OF SIMCOE/MUSKOKA Barrie SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE Belleville CALEDON SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Bolton MUSKOKA SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE Bracebridge Ontario.ca/SummerCompany BRAMPTON SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Brampton BRANTFORD-BRANT BUSINESS ENTERPRISE RESOURCE CENTRE Brantford LEEDS AND GRENVILLE SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Brockville WATERLOO REGION SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Cambridge CHATHAM-KENT BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Chatham SOUTH GEORGIAN BAY SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Collingwood CORNWALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Cornwall WINDSOR-ESSEX SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE Essex GUELPH-WELLINGTON BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Guelph ENTERPRISE TEMISKAMING Haileybury SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Hamilton BUSINESS ADVISORY CENTRE NORTHUMBERLAND Cobourg SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 33 SUMMER COMPANY PROGRAM PROVIDERS CONTINUED... PRESCOTT-RUSSELL ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE Hawkesbury NORTHWEST BUSINESS CENTRE Kenora MARKHAM SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE Markham MISSISSAUGA BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Mississauga HALTON REGION SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE Oakville ORANGEVILLE & AREA SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Orangeville INVEST OTTAWA Orléans ENTREPRENEUR CENTRE Kingston YORK SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Newmarket WATERLOO REGION SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE Kitchener NIAGARA FALLS SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Niagara Falls BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Owen Sound KAWARTHA LAKES SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Lindsay THE BUSINESS CENTRE — NIPISSING PARRY SOUND INC. North Bay THE BUSINESS CENTRE — NIPISSING PARRY SOUND INC. Parry Sound SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE London ENTERPRISE TORONTO North York ENTERPRISE RENFREW COUNTY Pembroke Ontario.ca/SummerCompany INVEST OTTAWA Ottawa SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 34 SUMMER COMPANY PROGRAM PROVIDERS CONTINUED... BUSINESS ADVISORY CENTRE Peterborough BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE SAUGEEN SHORES Port Elgin ENTERPRISE RENFREW COUNTY Renfrew RICHMOND HILL SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Richmond Hill PRESCOTT-RUSSELL ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE Rockland BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE OF SARNIA-LAMBTON Sarnia Ontario.ca/SummerCompany BUSINESS SAULT STE. MARIE Sault Ste. Marie STRATFORD PERTH CENTRE FOR BUSINESS Stratford ENTERPRISE TORONTO Scarborough REGIONAL BUSINESS CENTRE Sudbury YMCA OF GREATER TORONTO Scarborough THUNDER BAY & DISTRICT ENTREPRENEUR CENTRE Thunder Bay HURON BUSINESS CENTRE Seaforth SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY CENTRE Smith Falls ST. CATHARINES ENTERPRISE CENTRE St. Catharines ELGIN / ST. THOMAS SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE St. Thomas BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Timmins ENTERPRISE TORONTO Toronto JVS TORONTO Toronto RYERSON UNIVERSITY Toronto SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 35 SUMMER COMPANY PROGRAM PROVIDERS CONTINUED... TORONTO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (TBDC) Toronto YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES (YES) Toronto VAUGHAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Vaughan WINDSOR-ESSEX SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE Windsor WOODSTOCK & AREA SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE Woodstock NOTTAWASAGA FUTURES Alliston WATERLOO REGION SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE Waterloo BUSINESS ADVISORY CENTRE DURHAM Whitby Ontario.ca/SummerCompany SUMMER COMPANY 2014 YEARBOOK PG 36