Women's Enterprise Centre Success Stories
Women's Enterprise Centre has assisted over 50,000 B.C. women start, grow and succeed in their small businesses! Here are some examples of the women we've worked with, and their stories of start-up and growth.
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Victoria Carr, Breathe SpaVictoria Carr, owner of Breathe Spa in Vancouver reaps the rewards of her hard work everyday when she sees her clients with glowing skin and big smiles. .... more |
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Mary Johnston, WatermattersAlthough Mary Johnston attributes her success in business to being at the right place at the right time, there is no denying the research and work she put into developing her business ... more |
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Mal Paterson, BiltongCanada.comSix years ago, Mal Paterson and her husband came to Canada from South Africa. In order to settle into their new country they had to come up with a business idea quickly as it was a condition of their immigration. ... more |
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Judy McArthur and Maureen Drew, Artisan EdiblesWhat began one day as a simple conversation between Judy McArthur and Maureen Drew about a shared passion for food, art and living life to the fullest, quickly developed into a business idea that they didn’t let go stale..... more |
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Madeleine Shaw, Lunapads International ProductsWhen Madeleine Shaw first fell in love with the idea of re-useable alternatives to disposable pads and tampons 15 years ago she immediately understood the positive impact the products ... more |
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Fran & Emma Kupiak, Big Rock BagsWhat happens when there is a need that is not being met by current retailers? For the mother and daughter team of Fran and Emma Kupiak, it means there’s a niche in the market and they want to be the ones to fill it.... more |
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Shushma Datt, i.t. Productions, Ltd.Shushma is a pioneer in South Asian television and radio programming in BC, she produces nine multilingual TV programs on Shaw Cable Television and OMNI TV. |
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Janet Pearson, A&A Burger Bar & Family DinerTaking over a 28-year-old landmark burger joint in Prince George might seem like a huge undertaking to some, but for Janet Pearson it was an exciting opportunity to prove her determination and drive. ...more |
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Tracy Gray, Suzanne Mick, Discover WinesDiscover Wines is a VQA Wine Store in Kelowna and is one of the top 3 stores in BC. Opened July 2003, they offer over 500 British Columbia Wines and an extensive selection of "wine toys" and gifts. ...more |
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Shelley Klassen, Blushing DesignsShelley Klassen provides women with contemporary classics - beautifully designed, high-quality fashions with long-term appeal. ...more |
Gina Frisby, Cariboo Hiab Service Ltd.he jump into self-employment was easy for Gina Frisby. "My husband was quite qualified to run the equipment and I was really good at telling him what to do," she says. ...more |
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Biljana Vasiljevic, Exhibit CreativeEvery year companies across the globe spend a great deal of money to attend trade shows where they vie for the opportunity to sell clients on the wonders of their products or services. ...more |
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Margaret Alala, Maridadi CraftzIf you happen upon Maridadi Craftz selling at an event, you may simply see an array of unusual paintings, jewellery and crafts from Africa. . ...more |
Lisa Cham, The Fixx Café and Pasta BarLisa Cham has a recipe for success: Make each customer so they feel special. Lisa owns and operates The Fixx Café and Pasta Bar in Kelowna. ...more |
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Theresa Siochowicz, The Welder ChicWorking gruelling 16 hour days as a welder in Northern Alberta left Theresa Siochowicz feeling exhausted and empty. It wasn't until she had her son, though, that the dread of working under a rigid schedule won out over her desire for a regular paycheque. ...more |
Kalpna Solanki, BOBOBABY (R)As the first frozen, organic, age-appropriate baby food company - BOBOBABY has been named one of Food in Canada magazine's Top Ten Innovators of 2006. ...more |
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Leilani Kopp & Tana McNicol, Sweet LeilaniStrong support systems combined with careful planning, ingenuity and passion turned an entrepreneurial idea into a product. ...more |
 | Janet Féirín, Arán Foods Inc.Janet has learned there's a lot of dough to be made from bread, especially these days when people are looking for wheat-free products. ...more |
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Kelly Josling, Fetch Dog BoutiqueThanks to Kelly Josling, Vancouver dogs (and their owners) have a place to call their own. Fetch is an exclusive dog store and "spaw" - a place to mix and mingle, especially during Yappy Hour. ...more |
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Sandra Miles, Miles Employment GroupSandra Miles is passionate about human resources and staffing. In 1986 she co-founded a successful Vancouver-based full service recruitment firm. ...more |
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Karen Murphy, Express Gift BasketsKaren Murphy's business vision has come a long way from the days when she made up gift baskets from her laundry room at her home in Kelowna. ...more |
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Susan Almrud, State of Art Inc.After seven years in the Vancouver art world, Susan Almrud found both her business and her interests expanding. Six months ago she made a pivotal decision to refocus her business. ...more |
Heather Creelman, 1 Fish 2 FishForget the kid's book - in Langley when someone mentions "1 Fish 2 Fish" it can only mean one thing they are off to buy fish at the best seafood shop in town. ...more |
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Gerri Schelini, The Tuscan KitchenThe first time Gerri Schelini started work she was 13-years-old. "Work" was the family business, a well-known lingerie store launched by her great-grandmother in Victoria during the Depression. ...more |
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Linda Enos, Party Central DJ ServicesIt's almost impossible to reach Linda Enos these days. It is June, and her thoughts are on wedding bells. Not hers, but her clients'. It's wedding season, and for every wedding, there's a reception. ...more |
Louise Manseau, Star Five Classic Country CateringStarting a business is never easy. But for a Maple Ridge entrepreneur the real challenge came when she decided to take the next step and grow. ...more |
Caroline Green, Cedar House Cafe & RestaurantCaroline Green's adventure in cuisine started when she was a little girl, playing restaurant in the attic of the family garage. She started working in "real" restaurants when she was 14, and has worked in all aspects of the business since then. ...more |
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Sue Adams, Bevendale EnterprisesWhere to begin with Sue Adams? Most people are familiar with at least one of the businesses that Sue has owned or co-owned and operated since the early 1970s. ...more |
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Cybele Negris, Webnames.ca Inc.Cybele Negris is co-founder, with three others, of Webnames.ca, a registrar for internet domain names and Canada's leading website for .CA domains. ...more |
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Tracey Axelsson, Co-operative Auto NetworkTracey Axelsson was only 28 when she and fellow students did research on car sharing for a project at SFU. ...more |
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Lindsay Smith, TechvibesMost opportunities that grow quickly happen at the intersection between a) an unmet market need and b) a special talent for filling that need. ...more |
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Bernice Davidson, Support Services UnlimitedLike many entrepreneurs, Bernice was savvy enough to know she'd make more money as a business owner than as an employee. ...more |
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Diane Thomson, Diane’s LingerieWhen Diane Thomson opened Diane's Lingerie and Loungewear Ltd. on South Granville in 1983, there were five other lingerie shops in the neighbourhood. ...more |
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Amber Murphy, Purple Dragon Jiu JitsuAmber Murphy has a passion for martial arts. She started her studies at 16, and decided to turn her passion into a career and now has her own academy, a franchise of the Purple Dragon International Karate Jiu Jitsu Association. ...more |
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Heloise Dixon-Warren, Moose Meadows FarmIt all started with a simple plan: a small farm with a few chickens, a couple of horses and 20 acres to grow Christmas trees. |
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Lori Kliman & Heather White, CupcakesWhen opportunity knocks, Lori Kliman and Heather White answer it with cupcakes. Lori and Heather both have sales backgrounds. In fact, when they met, each was working at her first retail job. ...more |
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Elena Rivera, Rivera Design GroupVisual imagery comes naturally to Elena Rivera. For the last 11 years she's been operating the Rivera Design Group, based in Vancouver. ...more |
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Deanna Hayko, Solofusion, Inc.Deanna Hayko's experience as a designer has been cultivated in some very unique and rewarding environments. ...more |
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Theresa McPhillamey, 24 Karat Salon & Spa“I truly enjoy being my own boss. When I want to really push, I go for it, but if I am feeling that I need to give my body a lighter load, I am able to do that, too. I determine how busy I will be.”. ...more |
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Nancy Mudford, Le Petit SpaLike many career women who have become entrepreneurs, Nancy Mudford was seeking to satisfy her personal drive and creativity . ...more |
- You Grow Girl! Stories on Video
- Some of BC's most enterprising women share stories, lessons and insights about what they did and learned in the process of growing their own businesses. View their stories here
