Jared Chestnut's family had close ties to Trudie and Bill, Country Pizza's original owners and operators. "Within a year of being born, I moved to Belmont, so I just say that I am from Belmont because that is all I ever remember," Jared said with a smile. "We lived three doors down from the pizza shop, so we knew Trudie for a long time just by kind of being neighbours." Being neighbours turned into being coworkers, as Jared's mom began to work for Trudie part-time while Jared was growing up, followed by Jared's older sister, and eventually Jared himself. "I worked for Trudie for a lot of years," Jared said, estimating that he probably worked for her for 8 or 10 years on and off between going off to university and coming home for summers and winter breaks. "I've been a part of the business for a long time, and we kind of joked about it originally," Jared laughed. "We said, oh, you know, maybe I'll take over the business one day, and then during my time at university, we started to talk more seriously about it, and it wasn't much of a joke anymore."
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While it might sound like heading to the Horton Farmers' Market to stake out the competition what we mean when we talk about market research is something a little more complex --but it DOES involve checking out other local small businesses.
Market research is a critical component for the success of any small business. It involves gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information about a market, including information about the target audience, competitors, and the industry as a whole. We've put together a concise guide to understanding and conducting market research for your small business: In December 2022, Railway 1856 Ultimate Mini Golf officially opened in the Elgin Centre. The 18-hole indoor mini golf course was owner Joe Buttigieg's first experience planning, opening, and running a small business. "Previously, I had a 38-year-long career as a Business Account Executive." said Joe, "I had never owned a small business before, but it was a dream I knew I eventually wanted to try."
As a small business owner managing your marketing in-house with limited resources, staying on top of the ever-changing social media landscape can feel daunting. Changes in social media algorithms and policies have made it increasingly more challenging to reach your audience organically. This shift underscores the importance of diversifying your marketing efforts. There are two things to stress as priorities to help diversify the marketing tactics you are using for your business.
One item to add to your to-do list is to start an email list, which can serve as a cornerstone of your marketing plan. The other is to put some time into optimizing your Google My Business profile and actively seeking customer reviews as they can help build your audience outside of social media, providing a more stable and direct line of communication with your customers.
Recycling and repurposing are important to Dodie, and by reusing mason jars and crown jars for her handmade candles, she can allow the jars' legacies to continue. Dodie’s candles are 100% soy wax and last longer than those made with paraffin wax. “Soy wax does not contain any toxins found in paraffin wax, so it does not cause headaches, and they burn less soot,” explains Dodie, “It is also a renewable resource, biodegradable, vegan, and natural!” Dodie’s classic candles are available year-round and include scents like fresh baked bread, oat milk and honey, tobacco flower, fresh brewed coffee, and more. Seasonal lines also make special appearances, so be sure to stop at their storefront at 538 Talbot Street and follow them on social media to be the first to know when they come out! If you are looking for smaller candles, Dodie’s handmade scents are available in tea light packs and even candle minis. “They are a great gift idea for weddings, showers, anniversaries and get-togethers,” says Dodie, “We can also personalize them with custom labels to perfectly fit your celebrations.” Spindle Mercantile has also started making small-batch handmade soap bars. “After a year of watching videos, trying, and learning, I decided to do it,” Dodie proudly says, showing us her soap bars, which include scents like saffron rose, lily, sea salt, and lavender mint. The store also carries beautiful vintage and old-fashioned home decor and gifts, which perfectly fit the repurposed, recycled, and antique atmosphere Dodie has worked to create. To further encourage customers to be a part of continuing the jars recycling and repurposing, Dodie runs a jar return incentive program, which ensures the jars can continue living on with new candles and scents. Customers who return an antique crown jar receive $2 off their next purchase, and customers who return a regular mason jar receive $1 off their next purchase. Although they may have rebranded, Spindle Mercantile still believes in the importance of handmade, repurposed, and recycled products, continuing with each unique jar's legacy and connection. Through her small business, Dodie has been able to provide customers with unique, handmade, and memorable products. “It has been a pleasure getting to know other local businesses and working together for a common goal of promoting our town and each other,” Dodie smiles, “we need to represent where we live. I love the small businesses that exist here. We all benefit and grow when we collaborate to cross-promote and be involved.” Just as Dodie’s antique jars benefit from repurposing and recycling, small businesses benefit from community support and cross-promotion from customers and business owners alike.
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