GUELPH – Young entrepreneurial students have brought 13 new businesses to life this summer through Business Centre Guelph-Wellington’s Summer Company program.
Students undergo recurring mentorship and workshops, and receive $1,500 in funding from the province when they start their business, in addition to another $1,500 when they complete the program at the end of this month.
Students presented their businesses at a July 24 open house at Guelph’s city hall.
Grain and Gorge
Spencer Anderson, a 17-year-old from Elora, started Grain and Gorge.
He sells handmade wooden cutting boards and rings made from antique cutlery.
Anderson said woodworking has been a years-long passion, and he’s absorbed everything he can about the tools and process – right down to the kind of oil or wax he’s using.
“This is such a cool opportunity, and the grant was really helpful for getting a couple of tools that I was missing,” Anderson said.
“I’m so fortunate that I could go through this program.”
He plans to sell his works at the Elora Farmers’ Market.
FrancEl Studio
Elise Woodworth, a 21-year-old from Erin, started FrancEl Studio to create “sustainable patchwork apparel.”
Taking used clothing, she gives the articles a new life by adding designs with her sewing machine, using second-hand fabrics.
Woodworth was heading to Nova Scotia to visit a friend and knew she needed a lobster-themed sweater to go along with a fated maritime dinner.
So she made one herself, and the idea to redesign old clothing was born.
Her homemade sweater got many compliments, and she realized her sewing projects could be turned into something more.
She sources her clothing and fabrics from thrift stores and collects used clothing from a donation program she started in Erin.
FrancEl Studio founder Elise Woodworth, 21, sells “sustainable patchwork apparel” using only second-hand clothes and fabrics. Photo by Owen Starling
“That helps me obviously lower overhead costs, and then it also helps community members,” said Woodworth.
She’s currently studying at Trent University to get a degree in marketing.
“This has just been a really excellent exercise for actually applying a lot of the theory I’ve learned,” she said.
She added that marketing a business with her own name attached added some pressure at the start.
“I can market someone else’s business and the stakes are a little lower, because my name’s not behind it,” said Woodworth, adding, “but this is really me in a business.”
It takes her a few hours to sew more complex pieces, such as one sweater with a tomato vine design across the chest.
“It is quite a long process, but I love it,” she said.
Labyrinth Workshop
Luca Wycherley, a 16-year-old from Fergus, started Labyrinth Workshop.
Using a 3D printer, he creates and sells dice and miniature figures for table-top role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons. He also prints full-size medieval fantasy props – such as helmets, swords and wands – designed on a computer. Wycherley has even built himself a full suit of armor.
Labyrinth Workshop is focused around Wycherley turning his passions into a business.
He could be “doing something boring like (working at) McDonald’s,” he said, but the summer company program has allowed him to spend his summer doing what he enjoys.
Avery’s Precision Greens
Avery Lorentz-Kempe, a 17-year-old from Centre Wellington, started Avery’s Precision Greens.
His business is centred around lawn and garden care – from planting to weeding. His mom previously participated in the same summer program around his age.
“She enjoyed the program, and thought it would be a great learning experience and a good idea,” said Lorentz-Kempe.
“She was right.”
He said the business idea came from his time gardening with his mom.
Lorentz-Kempe said the program has taught him how keep everything documented, as well as how to advertise a business.
Throughout the program, students have bi-weekly meetings with an advisor to discuss their business plan.
They’ve also participated in panels with insurance, web design and marketing professionals.
Business Centre Guelph-Wellington operations manager Diana Train said this year’s students have been fabulous.
“We just want to see people start on the right path, because it’s hard to be an entrepreneur and it’s hard to work for yourself,” she said.
