All in Retail
“Personally, I was getting burnt out with traditional practice and needed a change. It took some time and some soul-searching to figure what type of change was right for me, but mobile practice seemed to offer so much of what I was looking for that, in the end, I couldn't resist.”
“ I’m an author of children’s books but I’m also a father to two young sons that my wife and I adopted in 2013. Our bond as a forever family was formed over our mutual love of reading books and storytelling. I knew I wanted to tell stories after I won a storytelling contest in grade one telling Robert Munsch’s “Mortimer”.
“I love working with my wife, children, my brother, and my nephew. This family feel is the essence of our business. Our customers, our wonderful staff, and the people we deal with behind the scenes all are like family to us, enriching our lives in so many ways, sharing the joys and the heartbreaks that life offers.”
“Dig in. Starting a business is awesome. It's exciting and fun. But it isn't fun when you are a year or two in, broke, stressed, and having a hard time seeing the other side. If you start a business thinking it's going to be super fun the whole time, you are probably setting yourself for a major let down.”
“I feel really lucky to be part of a network of thoughtful, conscientious, community-oriented business owners in Ottawa. There is something so special to me about businesses who see it as their mission to give back to the communities they’re a part of. I think that also resonates with people living in Ottawa, and has helped to build the strong ‘Shop Local’ ethic here.”
“ The idea was to offer traditional beverages akin to the origins of our ethnic culture (Hong Kong). While customers get their vehicle serviced, they can enjoy a serene café-like atmosphere with a beverage of their choice while they wait. “
“Ever since I've started learning how to cut hair, I’ve wanted a barbershop of my own.”
“ For me though, I tend to like the ones that take a bit of ingenuity to create or rely less on commercial flavours. My very favourite has to be the Margarita. I put just a tiny bit of flaky salt in the mold before I pour the candy in so the first few licks you get the sense of the salt rim on a margarita glass.”
“I don't consider myself a risk taker and it’s hard to bring a new product to market without taking risks. I’ve learned that it’s okay to venture outside your comfort zone. It might even be healthy. “
“Born and raised in Ottawa, I have always been drawn to the unique small businesses that make our city so vibrant and make shopping and dining a more personal and rich experience.”
“We set out to build a library for people to come, meet, get advice, and borrow tools. Often, those with the knowledge have built themselves a full workshop. We want to appeal to a broader demographic, especially those without the money and space for a massive collection of tools. And not just tools, but also the necessary ideas and expertise to use them safely. We wanted to make a community hub that empowered people, promoted sustainability, and collaborates with other community groups in the city. “
“We enjoy solving problems. This one just happens to be a pretty big one for most companies. Not only for snacks, but for ordering any high volume consumable. There is so much inefficiency. Companies are overspending millions of dollars and there is a lot of waste as a result.”
“We both have a strong athletic background (both of us were college tennis players in the US) and a passion for health and fitness. What really drew us to it was that we saw an opportunity to create a community, a happy place for our clients, where everyBODY can achieve their health and fitness goals. We also loved the idea that we’d get to be active on the job.”
“Fast forward many years and many jobs in the industry (wineries, liquor reps, bartender) My husband and I took a trip to Chicago and fell in love with a tiny champagne bar and wanted to bring that concept back to Ottawa. When we started looking for locations we realized we would have to basically open a restaurant and that isn’t something that we wanted. We really just wanted to open a tiny tasting bar. Not seeing a location that would suit our needs, we decided to take it mobile! “
“Every part of making the chalkboards, I have learned from my dad. He’d be the last person to take any credit, but Chalkboard Chique only exists because of what he has taught me and his continued support. When I had first told my dad about the DIY chalkboard plans for my wedding, it was the perfect opportunity for us to have a project to work on together. Every weekend, I’d drive out to his home in Rockland and take over his garage/workshop.”
“Club Piscine has a partnership with CHEO where we donate money for every swimming pool sold. We also had a CHEO day at our Ottawa locations last summer which was sooo much fun. Our parents taught us how important it is to give back. It's essential for us to be an active corporate citizen in the community. “
“Since starting at Eyemaxx, it’s been a constant process of learning and evolving. I have learned that I am determined and always have room to grow. Dawn has been a great mentor in this regard and continuously guides me to learn more about myself as we grow our business.“
“My dad and my uncle worked as tile-setters since immigrating from Italy. During the summers, me, my brother and my cousin would work for them. As I got older and finished my schooling, I decided to take this on as a career choice and became a tile setter myself. When my dad and uncle retired, I decided to open up my own shop on St. Laurent.”
“I have always gravitated towards and admired products from companies that go above beyond the norm in craftsmanship. Be it clothing, cars or food. The food we eat in our own house, meat, veggies, grains and even supplements are certified organic. This is very important to me and my family.”
“The moment came from a personal experience that most people can relate to. Elias was at a restaurant with a group of people, they finished their meal and had to head out for an event. It was a busy night and the waiter was doing their best yet the bill hadn't yet arrived. At the same time a long lineup was at the door waiting for the table to be released. It was a the frustrating thought of "the experience was amazing up until this point; why can't I just pay and leave". That was the moment.”
