News Release Archive
EDUCATION/CULTURE--STUDENTS BUILDING BUSINESSES ----------------------------------------------------------------- A new trend has started across Nova Scotia and it is growing bigger and more successful each year. Young people are coming up with solid business ideas and turning these ideas into an employment opportunity for themselves and their friends. Young entrepreneurs are creating their own businesses all across the province... businesses they can call their own. Students are using the entrepreneurial skills they acquire in the various entrepreneurial units offered in classrooms across the province. Students are also being given the opportunity to learn all about entrepreneurship outside the classrooms, thanks to a joint federal-provincial initiative of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Nova Scotia Economic Renewal Agency through the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification and the Department of Education and Culture, which opened the doors for the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development. The centre provides entrepreneurial opportunities to all youth across the province. Young entrepreneurs are going places and are operating prosperous businesses across the province. Business ideas range from personalized rubber stamps to dressmaking to paint ball centres and more. Some of these ideas are coming from people just 14 years of age. Imagine what they will be doing at 24! The centre's vision is one of a vibrant, dynamic, self-reliant, entrepreneurial culture, and the centre's mission is to nurture entrepreneurship in young people by undertaking, creating, coordinating, and acting as a catalyst in the areas of entrepreneurship education, research and program design, professional development, community entrepreneurship and community entrepreneurship. Young entrepreneurs are invited to attend the second annual Young Entrepreneurs Going Places Conference at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax, April 25-26, 1996. The two-day conference is an intense and entertaining program of events focusing on the basics of running a small business. Following the conference, the public is invited to attend the Going Places Trade Fair at Park Lane Mall, Halifax, Saturday, April 27. -30- Contact: Theresa Mitchell 902-424-5263 or 1-800-590-8481 NOTE TO EDITORS: The following are a series of profiles on successful young entrepreneurs from various parts of the province: #1--Sydney ---------- Doug Butler and Graham MacKay are two high school seniors who went into business together - inside their school. They became partners while taking the Entrepreneurship 12 course at Sydney Academy. The popular course is an introduction to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and helps students build the confidence to start a business. Entrepreneurship 12 inspired Doug and Graham to open Hogger's Hut, a one-stop shop for chips and pop inside the school. "It was a really good experience - and a great success," said Graham. "We felt independent which was great!" added Doug. Hogger's Hut ran for eight profitable months. Revenue was shared between the school and the two budding entrepreneurs. The greatest reward was the experience, said Graham. "Hogger's Hut gave us the confidence to pursue other ideas." He said: "If you have a business idea - go for it!" #2--West Pictou --------------- Jay McTague took a winter time passion and carved out a small business. Jay and three other schoolmates at West Pictou High School are partners in 420 Snowboards. Together, they repair, cut and re-bend snowboards for local enthusiasts. Jay said he and his partners didn't think of it as a business at first. "We just fixed up snowboards for friends - and the word got out." Now, he said, "It's great providing a service that people appreciate. Plus, it's enjoyment - and a little extra money." Jay credits the Entrepreneurship 12 class at school for helping the business along. The very popular course is an introduction to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and helps students build the confidence to start a business. "Entrepreneurship 12 has really helped me," says Jay. "The course has given me information and guidance." Jay offers budding the same advice he would offer a beginner on a snowboard. "Go for it! Keep at it. Take a risk. It won't hurt a bit!" #3--Sydney ---------- Jay Dawe of Cape Breton mixed a high school course with a recipe for perogies - and cooked up an award-winning business idea. In 1995, Ray was a student in Sydney Academy's Entrepreneurship 12 class. The highly acclaimed course teaches the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and running a small business. "Entrepreneurship 12 sparked the whole thing" said Ray, who started baking and selling perogies under the name, Dawe-Gone Good! Ray's perogies turned out to be a delicious hit. "Every time I made them, I ran out. I could never make enough!" More success came his way at the Going Places Trade Fair - a major showcase of young entrepreneurs and their business ideas. Dawe-Gone Good won top prize for best product/display. #4--Lower Sackville ------------------- When Tanya Shaw of Lower Sackville started her own business, few guessed she would have an entire market all sewn up. Tanya is the owner of Unique Pattern Design, a Halifax-based design and dressmaking company. What's so unique about her business is that Tanya's company has developed computer software to cut patterns based on a customer's measurements. Unique Pattern Design is the first and only company to offer this unique service. The challenge now is to spread the word among home sewers and manufacturers everywhere, she said. Tanya's story has been five years in the making. Her experience is excellent advice for other young entrepreneurs. "You learn what you can endure and achieve. You are putting yourself to the test constantly. Don't be afraid to ask questions...there's a lot of support for young entrepreneurs if you are willing to look." #5--Halifax ----------- Jeff Brooks has a major business hit on his hands. Jeff owns Splatshot, the paint ball centre of Halifax. For two hours at a time, people can play gun-slinging cops and robbers in a giant warehouse loaded with special effects. The business started 10 years ago as a university summer project with the help from the Economic Renewal Agency's Youth Entrepreneurial Skills program, "and it just grew from there," he explains. Splatshot is a big hit with college students, "but we get people of all ages playing." Jeff's experience with Splatshot is good advice for any aspiring entrepreneur. "You have the freedom to do what your want to do. Don't be scared. Give it a try. Be prepared to fail. Since we started Splatshot, three other ideas haven't worked. You have to keep trying." #6--Antigonish -------------- Dan Ross was 18 years old and out of school with no idea what he wanted to do. His brother knew he liked to draw and suggested putting some designs on a t-shirt. Dan took his brother's advice - and Ross Screenprint was born. The loan for starting his business came from the Economic Renewal Agency's Youth Entreprneurial Skills Program. "The Royal Bank provided the startup money, and I provided the hard work," according to Dan. Dan's company has had great success designing and printing T-shirts for customers in Atlantic Canada right through to Ontario. The hours are long and hard but Dan wouldn't have it any other way. "It's a good feeling being an entrepreneur. I can look back and smile at my accomplishments - and I can look ahead and dream." Dan's vision is good advice for anyone considering a career in private enterprise. "Down the road, I'll be doing exactly what I want to be doing." Perhaps, most important of all, Dan said, "It's not just about making money. It's about getting involved and controlling your life - doing something people appreciate." #7--Halifax ----------- Joanne Tingle of Halifax is a young entrepreneur making a great impression in her very first business venture. Joanne runs Stamp of Approval, a company specializing in fine art rubber stamps. From a catalogue of more than 400 unique designs, she crafts highly detailed and exquisite stamps for sale in local stores. Joanne's creations have a wide variety of decorative uses: on envelopes and invitations, place cards and place mats, to name just a few. "I always knew I would start my own business," Joanne said, "so I started doing what I enjoyed...things are really taking off. I'm just about to launch a nature series of stamps based on the photography of Sherman Hines." Joanne's business experience is good advice for other budding entrepreneurs. "If you've got the drive and the ideas - and you're willing to work around the clock - then go for it!" #8--Truro --------- Jennifer Sheeran and five other classmates have earned valuable business experience - inside their school! Jennifer and her business partners are seniors at Cobequid Educational Centre in Truro. They're also co-managers of the Cougar Cafe, an in-school cafe for students to gather and enjoy a snack before class. In just four month of business, the cafe serves up to 80 students every morning. "Business is great," says Jennifer, "and we're saving up all our profits for a trip at the end of the year." The cafe project was inspired by teacher and advisor, Kyla Binderup. Jennifer and her partners loved the concept but had no idea what was involved. "Until you experience it yourself, you don't know how much work goes into it," she explains. "You start early and you stay late, but when you see the money rolling in, it's worth it." Jennifer has earned valuable experience in business, which she gladly shares with others. "Work hard at it. Be positive - and don't lose focus on where you want to go." #9--Middleton ------------- Shannon Peyton turned a love for music into a small business idea. Shannon is a student at Middleton Regional High School. He's also head of Tiny Trolly Productions, a distributor of music cassettes by high school bands. "We sell everything from punk rock to death metal and noise music. For the people who want this music, the market is good." Shannon's business idea was inspired by an Entrepreneurship 12 course at school. The very popular course is an introduction to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and helps students build the confidence to start a business. "Entrepreneurship 12 is very informative - a good prerequisite. It helps you get organized," he said. Shannon enjoys producing - but he likes playing music a lot more. "I'm going to use the profits to record a very professional extended play demo for me and my band, Pagan Hellfire." Shannon also has a note of advice for other young entrepreneurs. "Plan your time wisely. And be patient." #10--Mount Uniacke ------------------ Morgan Hicks and her friends turned a very refreshing idea into a small business. Tea and Crumpet was born from a need for summer jobs. The girls knew they wanted to start a business and learned valuable advice from their social studies entrepreneurship unit at Uniacke District School. With the help of Morgan's mother and backing from the Museum Estate Board, the four friends were in business. "I am really excited about it," said Morgan, "It will be good experience and a lot of fun." Tea and Crumpet will sell everything from tea and muffins to granola mix, cookies and other cold snacks. The partners will earn an hourly wage and a share of the profits - plus the experience of running their own business. trp Apr. 17, 1996 - 12:55 p.m.