2025 Clients

Tell us about yourself.

Hey there, my name is Nancy, and I’m a Vietnamese-Canadian creative in London, Ontario. Growing up, I always had an interest in the arts, and I eventually landed at Western University to study just that. I never really saw myself realistically creating art as a steady career, which is why I started focusing on graphic design opportunities during my studies. Post-grad, I entered into the graphic design/advertising field, and throughout the next 6.5 years, I eventually moved into the product design tech industry.

Tell us about your business.

I started exploring my creative side again with extra free time during the pandemic. One of the many creative outlets I tried included polymer clay! For about a year, I explored creating handmade earrings and accessories and selling them on Etsy as a side gig – this is where my business, Oh That’s Neat, initially began. I ended up seeing more success than expected, and coupled with feeling like my passion for the product field was waning, I decided to make the jump in early 2022 to take my business full-time. And now, a couple of years later, I’m so happy to have dove in 100%. I’m my only employee at this time, but I do have some help from my amazing husband, who is always supportive and drives me to markets around London and the GTA.

What services/programs have you utilized at the London Small Business Centre and how have they helped your business?

I’ve applied to the Small Business Centre grant program [Starter Company Plus]. The grant funding has been very helpful in covering some costs to help grow my business. In addition, the monthly workshops and mentoring have been great in expanding my knowledge of all the different aspects of managing a business. 

What led you to start this business? Was there something that drew (or pushed) you into being an entrepreneur?

After 6.5 years in a more corporate setting, in varying sized companies, I just started to feel more and more stifled in my creativity, but to be honest just feeling overall very burnt out. Running my own business was something that I never even imagined was possible for me. Having that baby step with doing Oh That’s Neat as a side gig first really helped prime me to see that it could be realistic to go full-time. During my first year, balancing my regular job with this small business, I was able to make enough to qualify to get my GST/HST number, which was a good marker of success for me to go to the next level. When it was time to quit my full-time job, I told myself that I would give this a year to see if I could do it. I gave myself a financial goal of making at least what I was making at my former job – I ended up making more!

As a busy entrepreneur, what do you like to do when you take a break?

A lot of sleep, watching podcasts, and spending time with family and friends! When I’m in the thick of production for my business, it can oftentimes be hard to stay connected with people, so I love to schedule hang-out times with friends when I have a break. Outside of connecting with others, I really just love calm days at home with my husband and cat, where I can just lounge and wake up whenever I want!

Can you tell us about an entrepreneur you admire and why?

One of the first entrepreneurs I started to follow and admire online is Steffi Lynn, who owns Have a Nice Day. In general, I love her fun and vibrant art style, but on top of that, I really appreciate all the work she puts into expanding her product offerings while also doing more creative projects, such as murals and other advertising-related design work.

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur today?

I would say it’s okay to explore tons of opportunities in the first year just to see what works before narrowing things down. In my personal experience, when I started to attend in-person markets to sell my products, I would just try and apply to any I saw, and because I was so new, I didn’t know what to expect with what makes a good market. Eventually, over time, I found it to be more beneficial to cut off events that weren’t worth the time. It could be factors like the audience being my target, customer spending habits, vending fees not aligning with the value of the event, etc. I would keep notes and detailed profit info from all my markets so I can easily review them at the end of the year to evaluate which ones I want to focus on moving forward.

Learn more about Oh That’s Neat.

 

From left to right: Kahreen Nembhard (Jodybakez), Katrina Cline (Scythe & Sickle Tattoo), Gisele Ngam (Unik Afrifoods), Funmi Ogunshote (Amazing Bakery), Indira Major (Major Tax & Accounting), Gbenga Awomodu (Tweakcentric).

February is Black History Month—a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black entrepreneurs in our community. At the Small Business Centre, we are proud to support and recognize the success of our Black-owned businesses, whose innovation, resilience, and leadership continue to inspire. This month, we invite you to join us in celebrating their accomplishments and exploring the incredible impact they have on London’s business landscape. Meet some of these great entrepreneurs!

Kahreen Nembhard is the soul behind Jodybakez crafting customized cakes with great love, detail, passion, and creativity. She started this business because she loves baking and has always been baking, assisting her mom to bake back home. Her specialties are the rum cake, Jamaican coconut drops, and Jamaican coconut gizzada. “Nothing is impossible. Once there is a will, there is a way you can do all things once you put your mind to it. Kahreen is a Foodpreneur Advantage Scale-up alumna.

Katrine Cline owns Scythe & Sickle Tattoo and went through the Starter Company Plus Program in 2022. The business was established in 2021 and is an open-concept, custom tattoo studio located at 613 Dundas Street in London’s OEV. They pride themselves on the art of their trade, humility, and grassroots. They offer custom tattoos, flash, cover-ups, reworks, aftercare, prints, stickers, and will soon be offering merchandise such as t-shirts and hoodies. “I hope to create a more inclusive tattoo community in London that values marginalized artists, so that people don’t have to experience what I went through to get to where I am.”

Gisele Ngam is the founder of Unik Afrifoods, an African-Caribbean grocery store and take-out restaurant. She completed the Starter Company Plus training in 2023. “My initial motivation for starting the business stemmed from a desire to have my own business and generate income—it was a dream I was determined to fulfill.”

Funmi Ogunshote is the owner of Amazing Bakery, a family-owned small business which was started in September 2020. Their main objective is to bring freshly baked, delicious bread and pastries of Nigerian origin to Canadians. “Be consistent and stay focused. Successful business takes focus, hard work, and resilience.” She participated in the Foodpreneur Advantage Scale-up program.

Indira Major is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified General Accountant (CGA) with extensive experience across various industries, including non-profits, accounting firms, education, finance, and retail. She has worked in the Tax Department at KPMG and has a strong background in financial reporting, tax strategy, and business advisory services. As the owner of her own tax firm, Dr. Major is dedicated to helping businesses navigate the complexities of taxation and financial management. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from St. Francis Xavier University. Indira furthered her expertise by completing the CPA In-Depth Tax Certification, a rigorous three-year program, and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Accountancy and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Accounting from the University of Scranton, USA. Indira volunteers with the Small Business Centre programs, supporting entrepreneurs and giving back to the community.

Gbenga Awomodu is the owner of TweakCentric Solutions, a marketing communications and content solutions company that helps individuals and organizations connect better with their key stakeholders through storytelling. They work with personal brands and small businesses to shape their personal brands and achieve their career goals. For small businesses and other corporate organizations, Tweakcentric provides an avenue for strategic marketing and communications solutions to help drive business objectives. “I am excited to see increasing momentum in the support for and promotion of the set-up and growth of technology and tech-enabled startups here in London.”

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, and have over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur. Before moving to Canada in 2022, I managed a tourism company and a women’s business club. However, the war in Ukraine forced my family to leave our home and start a new life in Canada. Relocating to Strathroy with my husband and three children was challenging, but it allowed me to combine my passion for cooking with my entrepreneurial skills. In Canada, I studied English intensively while volunteering in the community, which helped me integrate and develop connections. My family’s support and strong leadership skills have been key to my success.

Tell us about your business.

Alla’s Ukrainian Pierogies & More offers authentic Ukrainian pierogies made with natural ingredients alongside a variety of other dishes like soups and desserts. Established in February 2023, the business has grown from renting a small kitchen to opening a full-service restaurant with 12 tables in Strathroy. I also wholesale frozen pierogies and dumplings through “Ukrainian Pierogies Inc.” to local stores and markets. We proudly serve both individual customers and families looking for quick and nutritious meals.

What services/programs have you utilized at the London Small Business Centre, and how have they helped your business?

I have attended various entrepreneurship training sessions at the London Small Business Centre, which provided me with essential knowledge about Canadian business practices and marketing strategies. The SBC team offered guidance on structuring my business through the Foodpreneur Advantage Program and building a strong brand presence, which has been instrumental in my growth.

How has your business grown since SBC’s involvement?

With the support of the SBC, I’ve expanded from producing pierogies for local customers to managing a restaurant and wholesale operations. My network has grown significantly through local business events, and I’ve secured partnerships with cash-and-carry stores and delivery companies. The knowledge I gained from SBC workshops has enabled me to streamline production, enhance marketing efforts, and grow my customer base. Currently, we have one full-time worker on an internship and three part-time workers.

What led you to start this business?

After moving to Canada, I realized there was a demand for high-quality, homemade pierogies that could bring the taste of Ukrainian culture to Canadian families. Encouraged by friends and community members, I decided to turn my lifelong passion for cooking into a business. My desire to share my culture, combined with my entrepreneurial background, motivated me to start Alla’s Ukrainian Pierogies & More.

What were some of the challenges you faced getting started and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges was adapting to the Canadian business environment and learning a new language. To overcome this, I dedicated five hours daily to studying English and actively participated in local business events and conferences. Building relationships with the local community and leveraging support from organizations like the Small Business Centre also helped me navigate the challenges of starting fresh in a new country.

As a busy entrepreneur, what do you like to do when you take a break?

I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring nature, and participating in community activities. Volunteering at local events and engaging with the Rotary Club and Canadian Royal Legion gives me a sense of fulfillment while helping me stay connected to the community.

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur today?

Be persistent and open to learning. Surround yourself with a supportive network, attend workshops, and don’t hesitate to seek advice. Challenges are part of the journey, but with determination and adaptability, success will follow.

What’s in the future for your business?

I plan to expand the wholesale side of my business by introducing my pierogies to grocery stores across Canada. I also aim to host more pierogi-making workshops to share Ukrainian culture with the community. In the long term, I want to promote Ukrainian Pierogies INC as a recognized Canadian brand of authentic Ukrainian cuisine.

Learn more about Alla’s Ukrainian Pierogies & More