Entrepreneur of the Week: Chi-Chi Laser Studios

 

1. Full name and company name: Gloria Loney - Chi-Chi Laser Studios

2. Web site: http://www.chi-chi.ca  

3. Why did you start your company?
My career really began in information technology at IBM, GE Capital and CIBC negotiating enterprise software agreements but in my 6th or 7th year with CIBC, it became clear it was really time to take stock and to follow my passion, which is helping woman to become what I've always aspired to be - confident, sexy and successful. I've always had a strong desire to be in charge - just ask my husband, and to be free to schedule my time around my priorities -  children and family - which hasn't always worked out perfectly...so I created Chi-Chi Laser Studios and I'm extremely proud to be expanding into my 2nd location, but to be honest remaining small and local and still having time to enjoy my wonderful husband and family are my real aspirations - however cliche that may sound. My philosophy has always been to make certain every client on every visit to Chi-Chi enjoys the highest caliber of personal service, and my Friends that is no cliche.

4. What does your company do?
Strong confident, sexy and successful woman is what my business is about - no not human trafficking - we help woman look and feel beautiful and confident through laser cosmetic therapies and in particular through painless laser hair removal treatments.

5. What's the best thing about being your own boss?
I just love all the stress - no honestly, its to be free to schedule my time around my priorities -  children and family.

6. What advice can you give to Entrepreneurs that are starting out?
Make sure your not just "me too" make sure you have a strong differentiator - whats unique to Chi-Chi Laser Studios in the market place beyond using state of the art "painless" procedures is our bed side manner, the expertise of our laser technicians (through our rigid hiring and training practices) and our philosophy to make certain every client on every visit to Chi-Chi enjoys the highest caliber of personal service - what we're not is some Groupon - esque mass production "animal factory farm" - we're competitively priced and far and away your best value in the market place - and that's become very evident since 90% of our growth is attributable to word of mouth referrals...and I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to thank all of my wonderful "affectedly elegant and trendy" clients for making Chi-Chi Laser Studios successful.

7. How do you manage family life and work?
I wish I could be more helpful to your readers in this regard - but everyone assigns their own certain priority or level of importance to every activity in their lives - I guess the only advice I can give is to really "know your priorities".

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Well lets be honest - life is what happens to you while your busy making other plans - I think that was John Lennon. My focus is here and now, as you know I'm a vegan and try to live a clean and healthy lifestyle and my dream for my family and friends and I is for abundant affluence and an optimal state of well being - and God willing in ten years I will still be around to enjoy it.

 

Entrepreneur of the Week Simply Green Baby

1. Full name and company name:
Liz Tran + Ann Giap-Jovicic - Simply Green Baby

2. Web site address: http://www.simplygreenbaby.com

3. Why did you start your company?
We wanted a change in our career path. We wanted to express our creativity fully and be able to make our own decisions.

4. What does your company do?
We sell eco-friendly, natural and organics products for babies, kids and moms. Ranging from the daily essentials for babies such as glass feeding bottles, bamboo spoons, cribs, stroller to special gifts items that are unique and one of a kind.

5. What's the best thing about being your own boss?
Making our own decisions and the results are more rewarding.

6. What advice can you give to entrepreneurs that are starting out?
Be prepare to work long hours, be sincere and passionate about what you want to do. Think in the long-term and take risk.

7. How do you manage family life and work?
With a lot of support, compromise and sacrifice from our kids, our partners and our family. Most importantly, accept help when needed.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
To continue to growth our business - to be the #1 source for eco-friendly baby's essentials, kids' toys, clothing, and unique gift items for the whole family.

Entrepreneur of the Week BEAR BOTTOMS Diaper Service

1. Full name and company name: Anna & Peter Blouin, Bear Bottoms Diaper Service

2. Web site address: www.bearbottoms.ca

3. Why did you start your company? Wanted to help parents make a better choice for their babies and the environment.

4. What does your company do? We are a fitted cloth diaper company that delivers clean diapers and picks up soiled diapers at your home once a week.

5. What's the best thing about being your own boss? The best thing is you can make the right changes for your customers and the business without the wait from a superior.

6. What advice can you give to entrepreneurs that are starting out? Make sure you do a business plan, research your competitors, know the business you are getting into, love what you do, be a self motivator, like to work with people, feel good about sharing knowledge, don't be afraid of hard work as it takes any business 3-5 years to get established, treat your employees with respect.

7. How do you manage family life and work? By not getting frustrated when work and customers come first and making sure my kids part of the business so they understand and see what you are doing.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? On a beach! Still being hands on but having a reliable person manage the business.

Entrepreneur of the Week Heidi Ram Photography

1. Full name and company name: Heidi Ram, Heidi Ram Photography

2. Web site address:

http://www.heidiramphotography.com/

3. Why did you start your company?

Great question. I didn't go into photography with the intent to launch a business. I began to take it seriously while I was still in the corporate world. As I would travel through Europe on my time off, I became fixated on capturing the places I was seeing, and capturing locals. I would find myself almost ignoring the tourist attractions and instead sitting on a bench at a rail station looking for interesting people to photograph around me. A defining moment happened 4 years ago when I photographed my Pastor's family. When I met with them after to show them the images, the mom cried. She cried alot. That moment changed everything. I suddenly realized that capturing the love that people have for one another and SHOWING them the love they have for one another...is powerful. Let's face it: we don't always "feel" love for those we love and images are a good reminder for us of our love and of our life, the very things we value more than anything else.

4. What does your company do?

I photograph people. Lots of people. Little people. Just-got-engaged people. Soul-mate people. Just-got-married people. Pregnant people. Workplace people.1 and 2 and 3 year old people (my favorites!!). Big groups of people. "I-hate-having-my-picture-taken" people. Newborn people.

I love to photograph people in natural light, in outdoor settings. Not having a studio allows me to be inventive and creative, especially when asked to do a session in a home. I have awesome clients who are always willing to move furniture around or roll up area rugs to maximize the 'good light' areas.

In addition to photography, I work with clients to create artwork for their home of their favorite images. Or, if they love them all, custom design albums they can pass down to their children to help remember and relive this season of their life.

5. What's the best thing about being your own boss?

I used to say it was working from home, but now I'm not so sure because my computer is never far from me. For a photographer, the work really begins once the shoot is over. Downloading, culling, sorting, editing, blogging, backing up, burning, uploading, slideshowing...I could obsess on this if I allowed myself to.

I think now the best part is having more flexibility to do the other things I love and that are important parts of my life. I'm very involved with my church and have always been involved in serving the homeless and the poor. I'm thankful to God for the opportunities to serve in these areas which I can do because He has blessed me with a successful business.


6. What advice can you give to entrepreneurs that are starting out?

There is so much to say!! I really wish I had found a mentor early on, I think it would have saved me alot of mistakes, headaches, time and money. So my first piece of advice is to find someone who you can connect with from time to time, someone who is willing to share their wisdom and their journey to help you with yours.

Advice #2: Be prepared to work hard. Very hard.

Advice #3: Don't be obsessed with making money. Be obsessed with doing good work. Good work = money.

7. How do you manage family life and work?

I don't have any children of my own, but there are lots of children in my life between my sister and my friends. I love them all as deeply as though they were my own. In fact I've realized that the reason I love child & family photography so much is because I am fascinated with families and how they make it work. From the outside, it looks so easy! (moms: it's ok to laugh right now)

Seriously though: Balance is important, time away from the computer and camera is important. The yard and gardens have become my escape and help me refresh. It's physical work and requires attentiveness so there isn't time to focus on other things. The fact that I'm a terrible gardener helps because everything is always in various stages of being unfinished.

In the winter I LOVE LOVE LOVE to bake. The problem though is that I love to take pictures of what I bake, and then, oops... I'm unbalanced again.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

Hmmm...I can't really envision that far down the future. I hope my life will have made an impact on some else's life, and that many more families will be able to relive today when they look at their images 10 years from now.

Entrepreneur of the Week Rooms To Grow

1. Full name and company name:

Andrea Sarlo, Rooms To Grow, Founder and President

2. Web site address: http://www.roomstogrow.ca/

3. Why did you start your company?
I started Rooms to Grow because I saw a need for reasonably priced Nursery Furniture, Kid's Furniture and design that was accessible to everyone online. I spent hours going to every store in my area to plan my nursery and buying all the accessories required to make it look "put together". I wish I would have been able to find everything in one place and also for a good price! That is basically what inspired me to do this business.

4. What does your company do? We are an online retailer specializing in Nursery, Kid's Furniture and accessories. We also have full design services as well.

5. What's the best thing about being your own boss? I love being able to see my 2 boys grow up and not to have to commute downtown everyday to work for someone else. I wanted the flexibility of working whenever I felt like doing so.

6. What advice can you give to entrepreneurs that are starting out? Start with a business and marketing plan. Put aside some money ahead of time before you start the business so you can transition from a full time position to an unpaid position (which often happens for a few months or so until you get the business established!)

7. How do you manage family life and work? I work when the kids are in school and in the evenings. I do all of my work around their busy extra-curricular schedules.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? In 10 years time I see myself with a thriving business with year over year growth. I may have a few more employees and possibly an office outside of my home but most importantly I see myself with a happy family!

Entrepreneur of the Week: Snuggle Bugz

1. Full name and company name: Tanya Burmaster Snuggle Bugz

2. Web site address: www.snugglebugz.ca

3. Why did you start your company?

My husband and I had been looking into a couple business ideas when we had our first child 5 years ago! At that point we were driving all over the GTA looking for quality product for our 1st baby, and realized other must be doing the same. So, the concept of Snuggle Bugz began, and a few short months later we opened our first location, now 4 years later we have locations in both Burlington and Milton, and a website that ships all across Canada.

4. What does your company do?
We are a Baby store that offers all products necessary (and some extra wants that are fun to have) for the first few years for baby. From Car Seats, strollers and furniture to beautiful linens, cloth diapers and designer diaper bags. We educate our staff extensively so that they can answer almost all your questions and make preparing for new baby relaxing and stress free.

5. What's the best thing about being your own boss?
The best part about being my own boss is being able to schedule around assemblies and performances at school. I may have to work at night once the munchkins fall asleep, but I have the "flexibility" to be a part of our children's lives!

6. What advice can you give to entrepreneurs that are starting out?
My biggest piece of advice is to expect to work many, many more hours than you think, but it is so worth it. We often see ourselves sitting at the counter at midnight, trying to get everything finished for the day... don't give up, keep going and make your dreams come true!!

7. How do you manage family life and work?
This is a balance we continually struggle with. Not only are we entrepreneurs, but we work together as a husband and wife team, because of this we are always thinking and processing work! We make supper time with the Snuggle Kidz, a time to focus on them, but work and family life do a lot of mixing together!

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Wow, in 10 years? I can barely focus on what lunches need to be packed, and clothes out for tomorrow, let alone where I will be in 10 years! :) I guess it still comes back to family, at that point I will be living with a house of teenagers, and I just pray they are wonderful children with kind hearts known for their thoughtfulness. As for work one day at a time in the life of a Snuggle Mom!

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE WEEK: Up close and personal with the owner of Style Expressions

1. Full name: Monica Rolling
   Company name: Style Expressions
   
2. Web site address: www.styleexpressions.ca
   
3. Why did you start your company?
   More than offering a service I wanted to offer my passion and expertise; I wanted to inspire home owners to develop their own style and creativity. To embrace design not as a luxury but as a life changing experience.
   
4. What does your company do?
   
   We are an Interior design and home staging company. We will help with space planning, furniture selection, window treatments and flooring options and much more.
   
   Colour Consultations:
   Choosing colours and coordinating a look can be overwhelming and even intimidating with so many choices and options.
   
   Colour is a very important part of our lives; it can also affect us in many ways. I will help you make the right selections for a coordinated and harmonious look all through the house. While at the same ensuring it is reflecting your own style.
   
   Children’s Bedrooms:
   When designing for children whether babies or teenagers many factors are to be consider. Providing the right environment for learning and development is very important. We believe in rooms that will grow with your child!!
   
   Home Staging:
   Are you selling? Do you know that Staged properties spend 80% less time on the market!! Selling is such a stressful process why to prolong it.
   Let us get your property ready to impress and sell faster for the best price!!!
   
   Starting with an initial consultation to staging we can help you with these services.
   
   Floral design and seasonal decorating:
   We can create custom made floral arrangements specially design for you! Or to impress your clients and friends.
   
5. What’s the best thing about being your own boss?
   The best thing is having the freedom of managing my own schedule. Being able to attend exhibitions, seminars, and workshops to further my career. Making my own choices and taking my own decisions.
   
6. What advice can you give to entrepreneurs that are starting out?
   My best advice is to research your field extensible first! Know the market place, know what the others are doing, charging and try to be completely different form the rest. Be creative with your marketing. Put your own branding and personal touch into your business. Make a business plan; Set yourself timelines. Have a social media presence, such as Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. Network as much as possible, have fun and be creative!
   
7. How do you manage family life and work?
   It is not easy!!! I have a very supportive family so it helps a lot! I also delegate a lot and ask for help as much as possible. It is also important to define your working hours with your clients.
   
8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
   As a very creative person with flowing ideas it is very hard to say what I’m going to think of next! I definitely want to grow my business and plan to start my own line of soft furnishing for the home and children’s bedrooms.

Entrepreneur of the WeeK: Brag About It – Hand Stamped and Custom Jewelry

1. Full name: Melissa Hull
   Company name: Brag About It – Hand Stamped and Custom Jewelry
   


2. Web site address: http://www.bragaboutit.etsy.com/
   


3. Why did you start your company?
   After our second son was born in 2005, I began creating jewelry as a way to have "GIRLIE TIME" in a house full of wonderful and energized boys. At the same time I had been selling real estate in Oakville (for over 10 years). I began finding it harder to be 100% Mom and 100% Realtor. The evening appointments (missed bed and bath times), weekend open houses (missed family time) and the YOU NEVER KNOW schedule.
   
   In early 2010, I decided to park my real estate license (a very emotional decision), and focus my time and energy into Brag About It and my family.
   
   Today I am and here with my little shop and LOVING IT!
   


4. What does your company do?
   
   Brag About It is where ONE A KIND hand stamped custom jewelry is created. Each piece is designed and crafted by me, with my own two hands. Each piece is individually stamped by me, each letter at a time. Each piece is looked at as a wearable WORK of ART.
   
   Love, time and attention to detail goes into each piece.
   
   Each piece is handcrafted with LOVE JUST for YOU by me.
   
   Brag About It offers a wide range of hand stamped keepsake jewelry ...
   
   • Initial Necklaces and Name Necklaces with Birthstones
   • Multi Shaped Family Necklaces
   • Layered and Cupped Necklaces
   • Original Family Locket, My Family Tree and Brag Book
   • Brag Bracelets and Brag Bands (rings)
   • Bridal/Bridal Party Jewelry and Gifts
   • Custom Designs/Orders and More
   
   


5. What’s the best thing about being your own boss?
   
   The best thing about being my own boss is being able to set my own schedule, create what I want, when I want, control over the big picture, seeing things through from start to finish, communicating with clients and being able to a MOM at the same time.
   


6. What advice can you give to entrepreneurs that are starting out?
   
   For entrepreneurs starting out ... Customer service should be NUMBER 1 on your list !
   NEVER GIVE UP. If it does not work, try something new. Think outside the box. Be different and set yourself apart from the rest. There are never any failures in life ... Just experiences, whether good or bad. Be yourself and true to it. LOVE what you do and do it for you!
   


7. How do you manage family life and work?
   
   Managing family and work was always hard when selling real estate, until creating Brag About It. It just works this way for my family and we are really enjoying it.
   
   I work when the boys are at school. I am home when the boys come home. I try to not work when the family is around (very hard) but I am working on this and trying to follow through (this is an old habit I need to break).
   
   I also have a FABULOUS support system, my entire family.
   
   And my clients, where would Brag About It and I be without them? They truly understand me and they are here for me. They help to remind me, it is okay to be a Mom and a business owner ~ THANK YOU for that, from the bottom of my ♥!
   


8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
   
   10 years from now ... I do not know where I will be. I have lots of goals and dreams for my family and Brag About It. As we say in our house ... Life is so precious, let’s take it one day at a time and enjoy every minute of it.

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE WEEK: Up close and personal with the owner of Just Add Heat

1. Full name and company name:
   Sanyo Lue-Kim, Just Add Heat and Kafene
   
   
2. Company web site address:
   justaddheat.ca and kafene.ca
   
   
3. Why did you start your company?
   I enjoy every aspect of food, from shopping to meal planning, cooking/baking, and of course, eating. I knew that owning a restaurant would interfere with my family life, while a food assembly business has much better retail hours. I had a long career in the television industry and was ready for something very different.
   
   
4. What does your company do?
   Just Add Heat provides families with “modern” fast food that is wholesome and home cooked. Eating at least one daily meal together with the family is crucial to healthy, happy children. Kafene is a café providing breakfast and lunch, including kids’ school lunches to go.
   
   
5. What’s the best thing about being your own boss?
   Being able to push the envelope and offer some really different food selections.
   
   
6. What advice can you give to entrepreneurs that are starting out?
   I received this same advice when I started, and it’s so true. You need to spend your time working ON the business, and not IN the business.
   
   
7. How do you manage family life and work?
   Another great thing about being my own boss is that I can hire staff to manage the store, allowing me to schedule my time around my family’s needs. I have been extremely fortunate in finding fantastic people to work with.
   
   
8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
   Happily running a successful company with the flexibility to enjoy my family life as well. Much like today!