CLIENT SHOWCASE
2024 Clients
Daniela & Vanessa Rodgher - Casa Manioca
Tell us about yourself and your business.
My name is Vanessa. I’m one of the owners of Casa Manioca, where we sell delicious Brazilian snacks such as croquettes, cheese bread, mini pies and empanadas. We started our business back two years ago. My family has always had a passion for cooking and hosting, and when my sister moved to Canada, we decided to turn our family recipes into a business.
How has the Small Business Centre supported your business?
The Small Business Center and the Foodpreneur Advantage Program helped us a lot from the beginning with the business concept and how to turn it into a corporation. In the beginning, I had no idea what to do. As an immigrant, I had no idea how to start a business in Canada. I seek it for information on how to start with the paperwork. Also, once we opened the business, we needed some help with strategies for sales, packaging and mentorship. The Small Business Centre has always been part of our history.
What are some of the challenges that you faced, and how did you overcome them?
As a small business, we have many challenges every day. The main challenges are finding information on our daily operations, where to purchase equipment, how to find out about regulations for the food business, and how to increase brand awareness of a product not well known in Canada. All the meetings and mentorship that we have attended have helped a lot in growing our business.
Can you share some of the accomplishments you are most proud of?
We started in a shared kitchen, renting the place for one day a week, two days a week, and then the demand started increasing, and in less than a year, we opened our storefront (at 140 Fullarton St, London, ON). I’m very proud of our storefront, and it’s been growing. Besides the storefront, we are also growing our wholesale business. We currently sell to places in Kitchener, Waterloo, Toronto and Pickering. Our goal this year is to increase the wholesale.
Learn more about Casa Manioca.
Shannon Kamins - Booch Organic Kombucha
Tell us about yourself.
I’m Shannon, the owner and Master Fermenter of Booch. We’ve been making delicious beverages for nine years now. Booch was born from my creative passion to help heal guts and spread connection, and I can confidently say we have been successful in achieving this goal since day one with every sip and every sample.
Before Booch, I was a manager at Eat Green Organics, a local organic food delivery service. Before that, I worked as a server at The Keg and for the charitable arm of GoodLife Fitness, the GoodLife Kids Foundation.
Health promotion has always been at the core of my values and continues to be at the forefront of what we do at Booch.
In 2019, we expanded our product offerings beyond kombucha and started a new line called Moonbrew—a fermented honey and green tea tonic. Since then, we’ve also experimented with small batches of Fire Cider, raw-infused honeys, vinegars, and even mushroom tinctures.
I am currently enrolled in a Soul of Herbalism course at the Dandelion Farm, where I study herbal medicine every month. In the past, I’ve taken part in the Shamanu Earth Wisdom teachings through the Living Centre, completed a Food Security certificate through Ryerson University, and a Plant Consciousness & Herbal Field Experience with Christine Dennis. I hold a degree in Health Sciences from Western University and specialized in Health Promotion. I have always been committed to growing my skills and knowledge, and if you can’t tell…. I do not have a hard time staying busy. (Something I need to work on!!)
When I am not in the garden harvesting edible flowers or hiking with my beloved German short-haired pointer Chia, you can find me playing beach volleyball all summer long or making elaborate dinners with my spouse while listening to some groovy Latin music and drinking a glass of LAN red wine. Booch’s jungle Tap Room mirrors my own house- there are plants growing everywhere from top to bottom. I love nature, and I love plants.
I love seed collecting. You’ll find me harvesting sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, and marigold seeds to plant for the next year. I love that nature will give you hundreds of seeds on just one flower. I have dreams of growing fields of flowers from seeds that I harvested myself.
Tell us about your business
Booch has been in operation since 2015. We have 4 product lines: Booch Organic Kombucha, Moonbrew, Squeeze Sparkling Water, and From the Land Fire Cider. Our unique flavours are both innovative and delicious. Kombucha is still our guiding pillar and generates the most revenue for us. We have a team of 10 people.
What services/programs have you utilized at the London Small Business Centre, and how have they helped your business?
In 2014 I registered to the London Small Business Centre business course and learned all about starting a business. This is where I began to learn about being an entrepreneur, and I didn’t hold a Business Degree like some entrepreneurs. I also participated in the Scale-Up Food Production Accelerator Program, where we participated in a multi-week class with specialized sessions to increase industry knowledge and learn how to grow our brands.
What led you to start this business? Was there something that drew (or pushed) you into being an entrepreneur?
After I was diagnosed with Celiac disease in 2010, I knew I needed to focus on gut health. Eventually, I found a book called The Art of Fermentation and read about the healing powers of fermented foods. Shortly after I started fermenting kombucha at home and fell in love with the art and science around creating such a living, beneficial beverage, that paired with tremendous support from my friends and family led me to pilot my healthy effervescent bevy at the local Covent Garden Farmers Market. It has been a deep journey of learning, making mistakes, growing, and following my gut!
Can you tell us about an entrepreneur you admire and why?
Rokhsana Purdy: Purdy Natural. She is one of the most influential people in the London small business community when it comes to bringing the community together and creating connections. Her main characteristic is her belief that we can all survive and grow our brands with the support of each other—eliminating competition and instead focusing on collaboration. There is enough room for all of us to do well and find success, and if we work together, we will be better off.
Margaret Coons: Nuts for Cheese. We started our businesses at the same time, and she has been someone who has grown with me over the years in terms of friendship and advice! We offer each other support and a listening ear, and I also look up to her.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received and why?
Business doesn’t always grow in a straight line. There are definite waves and ups and downs!
What advice would you give to an aspiring Entrepreneur today?
Just start.
Learn more about Booch Organic Kombucha
Funmi Ogunshote - Amazing Bakery
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Funmi Ogunshote, and I am married and a mom of 3 children. I studied Chemistry at University (B.Sc. in Chemistry and M.Sc. in Analytical Chemistry). My first career was in body care production and quality control. I later worked for over 20 years in Health, Safety and Environment Management System implementation in Oil exploration and production. After early retirement from the Oil and Gas industry, I decided to enter the food industry.
Tell us about your business.
Amazing Bakery is a family-owned small business which was started in September 2020. Our main objective is to bring freshly baked, delicious bread and pastries of Nigerian origin to Canadians. We currently have two Ad hoc employees, and we are looking to increase our production capacity to cater to the increasing demand.
What services/programs have you utilized at the London Small Business Centre, and how have they helped your business?
I benefitted greatly from the Foodpreneur Advantage program the London Small Business Centre offers. The program afforded me a small library of materials for managing Small Businesses in Ontario Province and across Canada.
Our roundtable discussions, which involved bringing professionals from different relevant fields, i.e. regulatory, marketing, human resources, bookkeeping, tax returns and success stories, better positioned me as a small business owner. My monthly review meetings with Phil, our coordinator, were quite impactful. He was always available and ready to help.
What led you to start this business? Was there something that drew (or pushed) you into being an entrepreneur?
After my early retirement from the Oil industry, I wanted to identify a gap I could fill in my community. Until I started the bakery in London, the only product close to ours was only available in one store in London, and its freshness was an issue because supply was once a week. In addition to this, I wanted to introduce this product to a wider population instead of the African community being catered for. We commenced this and ensured the bread was presented in unsliced and sliced formats, increasing its acceptability across a wider range of consumers.
What were some of the challenges you faced getting started, and how did you overcome them?
Funding and human resources were our major challenges. The only grant secured in the last three years was the $5000 from the Foodpreneur Advantage Program. All efforts to secure loans/grants for purchasing equipment needed for growth were unsuccessful. I had to rely on personal savings and interest-free loans from my family to overcome these funding challenges. Due to the low funding, equipment acquisitions were done in order of priority. This is still an ongoing process. On human resources, it has been a difficult one to overcome.
As a busy entrepreneur, what do you like to do when you take a break?
I like working out, reading novels, and watching the news and movies.
If you could sit down with any business leader or industry expert, who would you choose and why?
MD of Weston Bakery. I would like to discuss how the company was able to overcome the early challenges faced and what the big players in the industry can do to partner with emerging entrepreneurs like me.
Can you tell us about an entrepreneur you admire and why?
Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, an entrepreneur, corporate board professional and Executive Coach, who has built a multi-million-dollar furniture company in Nigeria with international affiliates by consistently delivering high-quality services and products to her clients.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received and why?
Be consistent and stay focused. Successful business takes focus, hard work, and resilience.
What’s in the future for your business?
The short-term goal is to find our products in all grocery stores in London and the environment. Long Term is to have our bread in all Canadian Provinces.
Learn more about Amazing Bakery
Katrina Cline - Scythe & Sickle Tattoo
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Katrina Cline. I was born and raised in London, Ontario and have been tattooing for ten years. It was a rough start, but it has become a steady journey. I remain humble and acknowledge that I have a long way to go and am forever learning. I first knew I wanted to get a tattoo as early as grade 6. I remember the career quiz well, haha. I am a Beal Art alumni and graduated from Fleming College. Before tattooing, my main focus was drawing, painting and fine arts. I still love painting whenever I’m able to make the time. I come from a tight-knit family. Canadian dad, Jamaican mom, one older sister and two younger brothers. Nieces, nephews, loads of cousins and of course, my pride and joy, my 6-year-old daughter, Luna. I am a born artist and take after my father, who is also an artist, but I get my drive from my mother.
Tell us about your business.
Scythe & Sickle Tattoo was established in 2021 and is an open-concept, custom tattoo studio in the heart of Hamilton Road. We currently have two main artists (myself included) and one apprentice. We pride ourselves on the art of our trade, humility, and grassroots. Scythe & Sickle Tattoo provides quality tattooing at competitive pricing in a welcoming, safe, and clean environment. Core values include quality, integrity, transparency, honesty, and accountability. We have many artistic abilities and value working with new and returning clients. Currently, we offer custom tattoos, flash, cover-ups, reworks, aftercare (hustle butter), prints, and stickers, and we will soon be offering merchandise such as t-shirts and hoodies.
What services/programs have you utilized at the London Small Business Centre, and how have they helped your business?
The London Small Business Centre has been an awesome resource for me and my small business. One-on-one meetings, peer mentoring and workshops have all been so valuable for me and my learning curve as an entrepreneur. Guest speakers have been very helpful and inspiring. Learning more about taxes as a sole proprietor has been especially invaluable. Shout out to David Proudfoot, who has helped me so much in so many ways throughout my learning journey and growth as an entrepreneur.
What led you to start this business? Was there something that drew (or pushed) you into being an entrepreneur?
There are many reasons why I decided to open my studio and run my own business. I’ve always been a self-driven, creative, and a big dreamer. Owning my studio has been a lifelong dream. The tattoo community in London has not always been welcoming and has oftentimes held me back. I’ve unfortunately experienced sexism and racism within the London community and have worked for many people whose only interest was to exploit my raw talent without actually helping me grow or properly mentoring me. I eventually decided to take the chance and go out on my own after many terrible experiences. I have also had many odd jobs while working toward my full-time career as a tattoo artist. I’ve never really fit into any moulds and knew I would have to take a risk. It has made me who I am today and continues to give me the drive to become a better artist and entrepreneur. I hope to create a more inclusive tattoo community in London that values marginalized artists so people don’t have to experience what I went through.
What were some of the challenges you faced getting started, and how did you overcome them?
I faced many challenges when getting started as an entrepreneur and small business owner. I struggled a lot with mental health based on my personal life as well as my past work experiences. I also struggled financially but was able to save a bit of money from my last job, which I was happily able to quit before going my own way. I did not receive financial help from anyone when it came to starting my business, and frankly, I have always been doubted and had little support, which had a negative impact on my mental health and creative self. Connecting with mental health professionals has literally saved my life, and combining that with resources like the SBC has really made all the difference. It feels so amazing to have built a life out of my art and to be the most stable I have been in my entire life. Many doors have opened for me since, and I have been happy to take the opportunities as they come.
As a busy entrepreneur, what do you like to do when you take a break?
Truly, there are no breaks, haha. As a parent, any spare time and energy goes toward my awesome daughter. Anything fun I do during my spare time is done with her by my side. Cooking, painting, anything outdoors (hikes, swimming, sledding, sports, gardening, etc.) and, of course, sleeping!
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received and why?
The best business advice I’ve ever received is to start small and to stay consistent. A lot of people bite off more than they can chew before they even begin their first year in business. In the beginning, I found a small studio and made sure to stay booked 1 to 2 months in advance. I now have a bigger, more accommodating studio, manage two other artists on top of my own tattoo schedule, and still consistently book 1 to 2 months in advance three years in. Consistency and pacing myself have been a key part of my success.
Learn more about Scythe & Sickle Tattoo.
Andrea Verouden - Hard Scrabble Blooms
Tell us about yourself
As a child, I found inspiration in my grandparents’ love for gardens, particularly my Oma’s gladiolus lining the barn. Despite dedicating almost two decades to a career in healthcare in London, I discovered my passion for growing flowers as a way to reconnect with nature.
Cultivating flowers became a personal source of fulfillment, allowing me to nurture tiny seeds into vibrant plants and ultimately harvest them to contribute to local brides’ beautiful bouquets and everyday florals. This journey completes a circle of profound satisfaction, bridging my healthcare background with the joy of tending to nature’s wonders.
Tell us about your business
Hard Scrabble Blooms took root in 2020 with a mission to bring locally grown flowers to our community, emphasizing transparency in floriculture production and a commitment to minimizing environmental impact.
Specializing in the cultivation of unique cut flowers, we supply 90% of our harvest directly to florists in London and throughout Southwestern Ontario. The remaining 10% finds its way into the hands of local clients through our bouquet subscription program.
From cultivation to packaging and delivery, I manage every step of the process. Last season, the growth of our operations allowed me to welcome three dedicated employees into the Hard Scrabble Blooms family, contributing to the efficiency and success of our flower-sharing venture.
Beyond providing fresh flowers, our business serves as a hub for fostering connections. Sharing my passion for local products has opened doors to meaningful collaborations with other local businesses and strengthened ties within our community. Hard Scrabble Blooms is not just about flowers; it’s about cultivating relationships and enhancing our local ecosystem through the beauty and sustainability of homegrown blooms.
What services/programs have you utilized at the London Small Business Centre and how have they helped your business?
In the winter of 2023, I had the opportunity to participate in the Starter Company Plus program offered by the London Small Business Centre, and the experience has been transformative for Hard Scrabble Blooms. During the off-season when our focus shifted from fieldwork to business development, this program provided invaluable insights and tools to propel our growth.
The SCP program not only equipped me with the knowledge and confidence required to elevate my business through effective digital marketing but also offered essential guidance on the intricacies of employee hiring. Beyond these core aspects, the program played a crucial role in connecting me with diverse resources vital for various aspects of business expansion. The networking opportunities facilitated by the London Small Business Centre allowed me to build meaningful connections with other local businesses, creating a supportive community.
Is there anything currently happening in the London business community that excites you?
I find the current momentum of the support local movement in the London business community truly invigorating. Witnessing both local and national acclaim for brands and businesses originating right here in our city is exceptionally inspiring.
In particular, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the emerging field-to-vase movement for flowers. While the farm-to-table movement in the food industry is well-established, the parallel concept for flowers is just starting to bloom. This presents an ideal time for me to spearhead efforts in raising awareness for local flower farms.
At Hard Scrabble Blooms, our goal is to emphasize the significance of supporting local farms and showcase the exceptional quality available within our community. By championing the local economy, we aim to keep the economic impact within our city, ensuring that the dollars circulate where they originated. It’s a rewarding endeavor to be part of this movement that not only highlights the uniqueness of our local businesses but also promotes sustainability and community.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received and why?
The best business advice I’ve ever received is to ‘focus on customer satisfaction and build lasting relationships.’ This advice has proven invaluable for Hard Scrabble Blooms. By prioritizing our customers’ needs and ensuring they have a positive experience with our products and services, we not only foster loyalty but also receive valuable feedback for improvement. Happy customers not only become repeat buyers but also serve as brand ambassadors, spreading positive word-of-mouth.
In today’s competitive market, the emphasis on customer satisfaction has helped us stand out, build a strong reputation, and ultimately contribute to the sustained growth of our business.
What advice would you give to an aspiring Entrepreneur today?
My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs today is to ’embrace adaptability and continuous learning.’ In the dynamic and ever-changing business landscape, being adaptable is crucial for success. Stay open to new ideas, be willing to pivot when necessary, and view challenges as opportunities for growth. Additionally, never stop learning. Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices. Continuous learning not only keeps you ahead of the curve but also allows you to make informed decisions that can positively impact your business. Lastly, surround yourself with a supportive network of mentors, peers, and advisors. Building a strong support system can provide valuable insights, guidance, and encouragement throughout your entrepreneurial journey.
What’s in the future for your business?
In the future, Hard Scrabble Blooms aims to expand its delivery area, reaching new regions and sharing locally grown flowers with a broader audience. We’re committed to increasing the variety of specialty cut flowers, providing customers with a diverse selection of stunning blooms. To achieve these goals, we’re excited to bring more team members on board, enhancing efficiency and fostering collaboration. Our vision is to create a lasting impact in the floral industry by delivering exceptional products, expanding our reach, and offering a wider selection of local flowers.
Learn more about Hard Scrabble Blooms