Chasin’ Turkeys – Carleton Place, ON

The Small Business Advisory Centre’s Feature Business for October 2021 is Chasin’ Turkeys Bowling Center, located at 51 Bridge Street in Carleton Place, Ontario. The business has been owned and operated by Ashley Walrond and his family since 2018 and boasts six lanes of traditional 5 pin bowling with updated automatic pinsetters and ball returns. The fully licensed location is an excellent venue for birthday parties, corporate events, and leagues. Chasin’ Turkeys, the term for bowling 3 strikes in a row, was established in 2018 when Walrond, who had a history of working in sales, found himself wanting to branch out into business ownership and entrepreneurship. The idea of owning and running a family entertainment business seemed like an exciting albeit challenging option due to the overwhelming capital costs needed to purchase a commercial space and to furnish equipment/machines. Luckily for Walrond, he approached the owner of the historic Carleton Place Bowling upon news of their retirement and was able to transitional ownership, including the building with its already existing lanes. The previous business was exceptionally well-run and highly regarded by the community allowing for the newly created Chasin’ Turkeys to be easily established.

As part of his business ownership journey, Walrond signed up for the Starter Company Plus Program to help ensure the health of his business. His entry into the program coincided with the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic which allowed Walrond to fully commit to the program, although under tense and unknown circumstances. The program, which was being run online due to restrictions, allowed Walrond to connect and network with like-minded individuals which allowed him to gain perspective and develop strategic business alliances. He was able to develop a new business plan that helped to make improvements and streamline efficiencies within the business operations and ultimately allowed for a successful reopening. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected many, if not all businesses within our region. This is especially evident with the complete and lengthy closure of indoor entertainment venues. For Walrond, it was necessary to understand and work within the public health restrictions, and to expand his services to include home-use rentals like bowling mats, bowling bingo, and board game rentals which could be sanitized once returned. These changes allowed for a vital revenue stream during some of the toughest times. Walrond remains positive and offers this advice to other entrepreneurs struggling through tough times: “You can’t take all the good times and not expect the bad times. Focus on the knowledge that there will always be better days and that there will always be others to help you when in need. Be kind to those who are struggling and offer help when possible.” Chasin’ Turkeys can be contacted by phone at (613) 253-0094 or by visiting their website at https://www.chasinturkeys.ca/. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chasinturkeysbowling/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasin_turkeys_bowling/

SEPTEMBER- FEATURED BUSINESS

THE PIE BAR

This month’s feature business is The Pie Bar, a small batch bakery located in the charming village of Westport, Ontario. The Pie Bar bakery is owned and operated by Stacy Blair, a Structural Engineer by trade, who reluctantly slipped into the world of baking during her maternity leave in 2013 in order to provide tasty snacks to her hungry husband. Ms. Blair’s husband had worked in a bakery during his youth and was happy to teach her traditional techniques and recipes. Throughout the learning process, Blair fell in love with the process of baking and soon started a blog and Instagram page which amassed a large following.

The Pie Bar business started organically over the years as Blair started bringing her baked goods to local farmers’ markets. In 2019, after many years of trial and error, the business proved to be sustainable, so Blair decided to take leave from her engineering career to pursue her newfound passion. By 2020, Blair and The Pie Bar were successfully providing pre-orders and ready-to-go baked goods to surrounding communities. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the business continued to rally support much to the surprise of Blair and her family. Customers understandably desired access to ready-to-go, delicious, and beautifully crafted comfort foods and The Pie Bar filled that slice of the market.

Stacy Blair was a successful participant and grant recipient of the Starter Company Plus Program organized by the Small Business Advisory Centre of Lanark County/Smiths Falls. Blair found the program beneficial in that she was better able to see the vision of the business and make more strategic decisions, especially regarding finances.  When asked what her advice would be for other entrepreneurs, Blair stated:

“If you aren’t happy at your 9 – 5 job, take the leap and jump into small business and make a life worth living. Follow your dreams, take a chance and see where it will bring you.”

The Pie Bar can be found on Instagram at the_pie_bar and on Facebook @ThePieBarCanada. You can also contact Stacy Blair directly on the business phone (613) 453-2647 or email stacy.murray@dal.ca.

FEATURED BUSINESS

The Greene Mill – Almonte

The Greene Mill, this month’s Featured Business, is a catering business and food truck located in the town of Almonte, ON.

The Greene Mill is owned and operated by Jacob Greene, a Red Seal certified graduate from Algonquin College. Greene, who has over 20 years experience in the food industry, discovered a passion for entrepreneurship and took the leap from “corporate” Ottawa and moved his home and fledgling business idea to the “friendliest town” – Almonte, ON.

“I wouldn’t want to start my business anywhere else. This is the biggest reason why the business has been so successful is I chose the right place. Almonte and Lanark County is so supportive. Everything is so “word of mouth” that I didn’t have to do any marketing or heavy advertising, the town did it for me!”

Throughout his career, Greene has learned the importance of giving back to his community and as an avid volunteer, believes that small efforts made by individuals can help communities in immeasurable ways. Likewise, Greene credits much of his business success to the abundance of resource centres located in Lanark County, including the Small Business Advisory Centre.

“We are extremely fortunate to have all these programs and services available. Sometimes a little research and applying to programs really pays off. There is always something out there, you just have to look for it.”

Greene was a successful finalist in the Starter Company Plus program, a business training and funding program for start-up businesses within the province. Greene’s favourite part about the program was the networking potential. He has gained many helpful contacts throughout the program to call upon for help and advice.

When asked what his biggest opportunity has been to date, Greene tells a tale of a reciprocated recommendation that landed him a spot at the 2018 Tweed Shindig festival cooking for none-other than American rapper/singer/songwriter, Snoop Dogg.

Facebook: @thegreenemill

352 Ottawa St, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0

(613) 857-4807

Featured Business

Queen Bee Millinery is a one of a kind millinery and boutique located in the center of the historic Heritage Downtown of Perth, Ontario.  

After decades of developing a love for hats and formal wear by attending military ceremonial events, garden parties and formal evening dinners with her spouse, Ranelle Larocque, the owner and milliner of Queen Bee Millinery, turned her passion into a creative fashion business in 2019. Starting out as an online business, she has filled orders from around the world and has specialized in providing the perfect accessory from her ever changing inventory of one-of-a-kind designs or by creating bespoke wearable art for customized orders. Hats and fascinators designed and hand made by Ranelle have been worn at events such as the Queen’s Birthday Garden Party in London, UK, the Royal Ascot, the Kentucky Derby, and at countless Canadian and international military ceremonial events around the world.

Ranelle has been a fashion enthusiast from a very young age, when she designed and wore her own clothing, using the old Singer sewing machine that her grandfather showed her how to operate. Having lived all across Canada as well as spending several years in the Netherlands and Italy, she has developed an approach to fashion that is unique, classic, and nested in the European fashion history of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.  By contemporizing styles of the past to adapt to the unique style of potential clients, she has crafted products that have inspired beauty, boldness and self-confidence in those who have worn her art.  

Switching from online to a storefront boutique at 16 Gore St East in Perth, Ontario, Ranelle was ready to open the doors just as the first lockdowns were put into place in March of 2020.  Despite this potential setback, Ranelle dedicated her time to hone her craft, and to connect with her new found community of local business owners. Through these connections, she has seen a resiliency in the local business retail sector that is and continues to be inspiring. Every day she feels the love and support from the community and from organizations like the Small Business Advisory Centre, whose encouragement and personal attention during this crisis has been invaluable.  

As we all wait patiently for things to open up again, Ranelle is busy connecting with customers online and is operating within the guidelines to offer curbside service until the health protection measures change.  You can follow her on Facebook (facebook.com/QueenBeeMillinery) or Instagram (instagram.com/queenbeemillinery) and she will be launching her website soon at www.queenbeemillinery.ca, where you will be able see all of her creations, learn more about the art of millinery and shop online for the perfect hat for your next special occasion.

She stated: “If it wasn’t for the Centre and the things she learned in Starter Company Program she doesn’t know if she would have been strong enough to get through this first year especially in the midst of a pandemic. These government programs are absolutely vital, greatly appreciated and so important to the small business community.”

Ranelle is full of hope and optimism as she looks to the future and is looking forward to once again welcoming everyone back to Queen Bee Millinery.

Queen Bee Millinery

16 Gore St. East

Perth, ON K7H 1H5

www.queenbeemillinery.ca

North Folk Cafe is a Canadian cafe and Artisan gift market in a heritage town of Perth, ON. North Folk Cafe offers the largest variety of Artizen Kombucha on tap and in bottles, locally roasted espresso and a seasonally inspired food & beverage menu (including Mio Gelato).

Dasha Smolentseva is the co-founder of Artizen Kombucha since 2012. Covid presented unique challenges and disrupted usual supply chains for Artizen Kombucha in March 2020. Dasha saw an opportunity in uniting with other local artisan makers, combining these offers into Bubbles & Bites boxes and delivering them to Ottawa & surrounding areas. This move saved Artizen.

 Kombucha, brought beloved products from rural area directly to customers in urban areas and even saw an increase in overall revenue.

Furthermore, right in the heat of the pandemic in July 2020 Dasha took over a cafe that closed in downtown Perth during that time and gave it a new life, letting it become the retail

front for Artizen Kombucha, as well as all the local products included in Bubbles & Bites Boxes. 

The time of change has brought challenges and opportunities, but being rooted and connected to your community of customers, as well as being determined and not giving up has been the success story behind Artizen Kombucha & North Folk Cafe. 

Winner of the Breakthrough award 2020- Perth and District Chamber of Commerce

Small Business Advisory Centre (Smiths Falls/Lanark County/north Leeds Grenville) provided invaluable support and access to mentors, free advice with professionals such as lawyers and a branding consultant, Loved being part of the Starter Company Plus Program, without this support, we would have felt lost and it gave us much confidence in moving forward with our business, pivoting and looking at ways we can do things better! 

Contact information

Website:

www.northfolkcafe.ca

www.artizenkombucha.ca

Instagram

@northfolkcafe

@artizenkombucha

Cashmere and Rose, this month’s Featured Business, is a gift and floral boutique located in the charming town of Almonte, ON. The store offers a variety of unique gifts and creates classic floral designs that add “purpose and grace for you and your space”. Owned and operated by Angie Goodfellow, Cashmere and Rose evolved from a previously operational giftware business called Keepsakes, which was purchased by Goodfellow in 2017. The business has been re-branded to reflect Goodfellow’s brand identity and to incorporate her new vision for the floral component of the business, bringing in elements of the trade passed on by her mother. While purchasing an existing business may seem ideal, there are still many unique hurdles to be overcome. One must tread a fine line between honouring the past yet creating a new vision for the future. Encourage loyal customers to remain, while enticing newcomers to explore. This has been achieved by Angie Goodfellow of Cashmere and Rose and the reception by the community has been profound, especially considering the economic struggles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As many business owners can attest, navigating the regional and provincial restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic has been a whirlwind. To adapt, Goodfellow says it has been essential to “remain optimistic and actively problem solve” to stay ahead of the curveballs being hurled as small businesses. Like many affected by the pandemic, Goodfellow has been required to make unfortunate staffing changes to survive. This has caused a large reduction in resources, namely, the friendly, welcoming personalities of her highly valued team members and the knowledge,

skills, and rapport they individually brought to Cashmere and Rose. To stay afloat, Goodfellow has streamlined her store offerings, boosted her social media presence, and encouraged delivery and shipment of products.

In 2020, Goodfellow was accepted into the Starter Company Plus program, an entrepreneurial initiative created by the government of Ontario and lead by the Small Business Advisory Centre of Smiths Falls/Lanark County/North Leeds & Grenville. The two-stage competitive program incorporates participation in a Business Plan Bootcamp and the chance to win a small business grant and group

 coaching sessions with a certified business coach. Goodfellow says the program has helped her connect with like-minded individuals and motivated her to look at her business and move forward and continue to commit to her business. The program has also inspired the entrepreneurial spirit once more, with Goodfellow hinting towards an expansion of the new business in the works.

Owner: Angie Goodfellow

Cashmere and Rose

102 Mill Street Almonte ON K0A1A0

(613) 256-1594

https://cashmereandrose.ca/

Can you identify a time or event in your life or career that provided you with an epiphany that was a game changer, fundamentally shifting the way you would continue down your path? Lori Hanna had this moment in 2010, halfway through her career. It was a moment that defied all logical, linear thought and language, and at the same time, it felt utterly, undeniably right. There was no turning back, this was it, this would define how she now spends the next phase of her career and further education. This path is applying John F. Barnes’ Myofascial Release (“MFR”).

This first experience with Myofascial Release (MFR) completely altered Lori’s viewpoint on her treatment approach. When receiving MFR treatments, the profound effects felt through her body immediately felt like they were part of a natural wisdom, a way of healing; that her body could do what it needed to do, if she let go and trusted the process. Imagine realizing a paradigm shift so strong that your belief system stemming from the time you were a child is blown out of the water; that what you thought you knew as your weaknesses you now know are strengths. MFR treats the whole person and must be experienced for its profound, life changing effects to be truly understood.

After a decade of working with MFR, and continually training to advance in the technique, Lori has made her practice exclusive to it. She finds it helpful in resolving longstanding patterns of pain and/or reduced function and mobility. She has a passion for bringing about positive change for clients by providing what could be considered the missing link in their current healthcare regimen. Lori has seen that MFR can enhance and provide maximum benefit to an already established massage or chiropractic treatment schedule, or as a subsequent effort to break a plateau in progress.

Known for her love of the lake, Lori can be found spending quality time with her family there, swimming and paddle boarding. A tremendous appreciator of great music, and good food, photography and the outdoors, Lori loves discovering new places to go, but she still loves the beauty of Eastern Ontario. She is always looking for ways to gain perspective on life through striving to be grounded, mindful, and come from a place of gratitude for even the simple joys experienced every day.

Lori Hanna R.M.T.,
Intermediate level John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Practitioner.
CMTO member in good standing since 2001.
2001 Graduate of Sutherland Chan, Toronto.

Contact:

Lori Hanna
MyFreedomMFR@gmail.com

www.myfreedommfr.com/

Blue Door Spa is located in the beautiful town of Smiths Falls. We opened August 1^st of this year and have been embraced warmly by the community. Elise Harding, the owner, has been in esthetics for almost 12 years. She has a passion for the field and being able to bring a little joy into her client’s lives.

The idea of the blue door came from a folklore she had come across once. It stated that if you saw a house with a blue door it was a sign you were welcome to come in! She also recognized the fact that many spas cater to only women and wanted to create a place where everyone, including men and children, would feel welcome as well. Her goal was to create a homey and warm atmosphere where people felt comfortable and relaxed.

Blue Door Spa proudly carries Eminence Organics skin care line, Bio Sculpture Gel, as well as many different locally made products. We believe in small businesses supporting small businesses and try to help endorse buying from local artisans in the Ottawa area. We offer a wide range of services from manicures and pedicures, waxing and sugaring, facials and body treatments, and lash extensions just to name a few! Our estheticians are all professionally certified and strive to make every clients experience amazing!