For the last eight weeks, a group of local entrepreneurs has been gathering every Wednesday. They own micro home-based businesses that were accepted into SREDA’s Love Local Box Academy. New this year, the Academy is a boot camp to help these entrepreneurs learn from local experts how best to grow and elevate their businesses. Weekly sessions covered topics ranging from legal considerations to product manufacturing and branding.
“As a startup, there are so many challenges we face day to day it becomes easy to lose sight of key items that are vital to the success of our business,” said graduate Shanna Lux of Jolly Roger’s Hot Sauce. “The Academy covered everything from how to establish our vision to how to use our brand in marketing and distribution. With engaging speakers and lively discussion every week, I came away from each session energized and full of new ideas to make growth easier.”
The first class of Love Local Box Academy graduates includes:
- Alauna Whelan
- ThreadEthic Organic Sewing Boutique
- Pretty Sick Designs
- CanBall Games
- PHYNE YXE.S
- Head Quirk Designs
- Asara Design
- Rose’s Sweet Treats
- Reveurs De Vie Clothing
- Jolly Roger’s Hot Sauce
- Dulce Pastry and Chocolate
- GudStuff Craft Soap Art
Academy graduates will have their products showcased in this year’s Love Local Box as well as at SaskMade Marketplace, Joyne or Hen & Chick Studios. The Love Local Box, curated by SREDA, contains around 10 items from local makers and is sent out in December to local community leaders and businesses. The box will also be available for businesses to purchase as corporate gifts later this year.
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