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BizOnDeck Case Study: Sea Salt Design

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Vanessa Raven-Vipond (VRV) owns Sea Salt Design here in the Comox Valley. She grew up in Ontario, but several years in the Martimes convinced her that she “had to live by the ocean.” In 2010, after 11 years in Victoria, Vanessa and her family moved to the Comox Valley where she says they are enjoying both the outdoors and a “wonderful, supportive community.”

Sea Salt Design offers custom illustration and graphic design services for web and print. Vanessa is also working on a line of printed products including t-shirts, posters and cards, and gift items. Products and services are available online at seasaltdesign.ca. Vanessa put the business “on deck” in Fall 2017.

LIFT: What inspired you to start Sea Salt Design?
VRV: As a child, I’d always wanted to be a children’s picture book illustrator. As I got older I started exploring graphic design. My first assignment, designing a sign for my parents B&B when I was a teen, led to work with a local sign shop. After high school, I started my own business as a portrait artist. That was my first experience as an entrepreneur. I then went on to study visual communications and illustration. I worked as a freelance for many years while I studied. I worked for a magazine and in-house with printers, but I always wanted to get back to owning my own business again.

LIFT: What was your “ask” at your BizOnDeck workshop?
VRV: I wanted feedback on whether I should continue with web design, which has been my bread and butter, or whether I should drop it altogether and focus more on illustration and print design. I also asked about the best way to go about getting back into T-shirts and gifts, as these are my passion.

LIFT: What were the biggest takeaways from your BizOnDeck?
VRV: I loved the feedback! While all agreed that I should continue to offer web along with print design, they also encouraged me to get out more, to be the face of my company, because I was so much better at selling my services in person.

LIFT: Has putting your business “on deck” helped grow your business?
VRV: Yes. I gained several new clients from my exposure from that one BizOnDeck, and since then I’ve been busy, primarily with illustration work.

Last words
VRV: I am now working on a graphic novel for a writer in Nanaimo, branding a new RMT, and re-branding a local potter. While I had a snag in the release of my online store for T-shirts and gifts, I’m anticipating a launch this year soon.

Please tell LIFT members that Sea Salt Design is offering 25% off all custom illustration and graphic design services, including print design.

FMI about LIFT & BizOnDeck
LIFT helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and non-profits grow their businesses. To put your business or project “on deck” in the Comox Valley please fill the blanks at https://j.mp/BIZONDECK. Or call HPM at 250-792-1408.

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BizOnDeck entrepreneur case study: Lil Worker Safety Gear and #vizyourkids

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LIFT’s BizOnDeck workshops enable entrepreneurs to help each other to grow new businesses, test new business ideas, and launch new products and services. In 2018 we’re expanding to include a Nanaimo BizOnDeck series.

One of the most exciting stories we’ve had the pleasure to be part of is that of Lil Worker Safety Gear.

Introduction: James Flawith, founder, Lil Worker Safety Gear

Recognized as one of Vancouver Island’s “Top 40 Under 40,” James Flawith owns and operates Precision Tree Services. He is married and has three young children. Already a very busy guy, James launched Lil Worker Safety Gear because he saw a need to bring the same safety standards to our families that we bring to our work crews.  

LIFT: What product or service do you sell?

JF: Real safety gear for kids

LIFT: Where can readers buy your products and/or services?

JF: Online at lilworkersafety.ca and at locally at ONO Work and Safety, and soon at the Lil Worker Safety Gear Store at Woodgrove Centre (Nanaimo) and at Midland Tools, Pilon Tool Rentals, Planet Kids, and at White’s of Lindsay in Ontario.

LIFT: When was your BizOnDeck and what was your “ask?”

JF: January 2016. I asked about where did people see these products being used, what age demographic should we be targeting, and about sale strategies: retail vs wholesale, online/small outlet(s), box store(s). I also asked about “exclusivity.”

LIFT: Has putting your business “on deck” helped grow your business?

JF: The support and help I received by putting my business “on deck” was an important step. It inspired me to push forward.

I also gained experience pitching. In fact, my [winning] PitchFest pitch was just a boiled down version of the “On Deck” pitch, and those pitches are very similar to the one I made to the Dragons.

LIFT: What are you working on now?

JF: Aside from the full-time work of running Precision Tree Services I’m establishing more retail partnerships for Lil Worker Safety Gear. I’m constantly working to improve digital marketing. I have plans to set up a test kiosk slated for the last week of October in the Woodgrove Centre. I’m also actively exploring more opportunities to sell in person at events.

LIFT: How can LIFT help?

JF: Can you stop time so I can work more?

James and the Dragons

James went from pitching at a BizOnDeck and winning at PitchFest 2016, to pitching to CBC’s Dragons’ Den. That episode of Dragons’ Den aired at 8pm on October 12, 2017. LIFT organized a community viewing for that evening at The Creator Space where we cheered for James and Tweeted our support for Lil Worker Safety Gear and the #vizyourkids message to the world.

Did James win with the Dragons? Watch the video.

Follow the Lil Worker Safety Gear journey online via the #vizyourkids tag. 

Last word

JF: It all started with the “On Deck” experience I had with LIFT!

 

FMI about LIFT & BizOnDeck

LIFT helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and NGOs grow their businesses. To put your business or project “on deck” in the Comox Valley or Nanaimo please fill the blanks here. Or call HPM at 250-792-1408.

Sandra talks about McLintock’s Water Buffalo Yogurt: A #WeAreYQQ Local Food Profile

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Food entrepreneurs are changing the face of farming in the Comox Valley. It’s a commonplace: the Comox Valley is an agricultural hot spot on Vancouver Island. What’s often overlooked is that we’re home to a growing number of “young agrarians,” farmers with vision. One of these is Sandra McClintock.

Sandra studied agrology and came back to the family farm determined to create a career in dairy. Gary Ralston, the former agriculture consultant who played a role in many farm ventures before his untimely death in 2015, suggested Sandra try something unique: a water buffalo dairy. It was Gary’s idea. But, as so important with any innovation, it’s the person who executes, who makes the idea become a reality, that’s so important for our economies. In this case, it was Sarah. That’s why we call her a #WeAreYQQ star: she’s innovating, creating a new business and a new market, here in the Comox Valley (YQQ) region.

Although new to the Comox Valley, water buffalo dairies are part of an emerging food trend. On the epicurean side, Italian-style mozzarella and bocconcini are traditionally made with water buffalo milk. On the health side, water buffalo milk, while higher in fat, is much lower in cholesterol than cows’ milk.

When the dairy first starting producing, Natural Pastures in Courtenay was buying all the milk. With other dairies coming on stream on the Island, and with the McClintock herd having grown to over 50 head, Sandra has launched a new product: water buffalo yogurt.

Because the milk is naturally rich and white it produces an outstanding product: mild in flavour, and creamy in texture. Unlike the cheeses made from their buffalo’s milk, the yogurt is branded as McClintock’s Yogurt.

How important is the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market to McClintock’s Water Buffalo Dairy?

The Market is the number one startup incubator in the region. Sandra says it’s been extremely important to their business. This was especially the case when launching something out of the ordinary like water buffalo yogurt. “Being at the Market gave us an opportunity to let people try it and give us feedback.” And people responded extremely well. “We were expecting more resistance, but people at the Market are adventurous. They have lots of questions about the animals. It’s great to be able to talk to customers, to fill them in.”

Where to buy McClintock’s Water Buffalo Yogurt?

Besides the weekly Market, you’ll find McClintock’s Water Buffalo Yogurt at Edible Island in Courtenay, Courtenay Country Market, Natural Pastures, John’s in Comox, the Island Bison store in Black Creek, and Country Grocer outlets down-island. Transportation of local food products from the Comox Valley is an ongoing issue for all local producers, but Sandra says there is interest in several lower mainland markets.

For more information about McClintock’s Water Buffalo Yogurt see the McLintocks Farm website. Or visit the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market on Saturday’s!

Remembering that innovation happens where you are

Much of the talk about “Innovation” focuses on technology. But here in the Comox Valley, innovation is happening in many quarters that don’t see themselves in any way as “tech.” Sandra McLintock’s dairy is an example. But there are many more, and we’re featuring these stories here on our blog, and with the help of our media sponsors at Comox Valley Record, 98.9 The GOAT, and The Island Word – and wherever else we at LIFT Comox Valley can get a chance to tell the story of entrepreneurs making shift happen in our region.

The important thing to remember is that innovation happens – or can happen – where you are. One of our LIFT mentors, Jayesh Parmar, encourages Canadian entrepreneurs to “think BIGger!” Whatever you’re doing, how can you tweak it to have a bigger impact, reach a bigger market? Another mentor, Boris Mann, says that today, “every business is a tech business,” if only because we’re using marketing and sales technologies (from Facebook and Instagram to Square and Shopify and more) to make our businesses happen.

What can you do in 2017 to grow your business BIGger?

How can technology help make that happen?

If you’ve got a story, if you’ve got a business you want to grow – tell us about it. We can help make that happen. And we’re currently wanting to engage startups and entrepreneurs in the Qualicum – Comox Valley – Campbell River corridor to help grow our “startup region.” Be in touch! Check out our events (they’re fun, and they’re super useful).

hpm
@hanspetermeyer on Twitter and Instagram
December 29, 2016

Note: This post was originally produced in a different format for the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market. Please support local food entrepreneurs and food innovation in your community by supporting your local market.