Piney youth win entrepreneur contest with original business ideas

Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce held its first Youth Entrepreneur Challenge, a Dragon’s Den-style challenge with teenagers submitting their business plans to win top prize.

“We wanted to showcase the talent we had in our youth and we wanted to make sure that the youth knew that, as in most communities, you don’t have to move to larger cities that we have a lot of entrepreneurs in our area and we wanted to showcase them…,” said Mark Bernard, business coach and board member of the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce, noting the teens learned about price points, how to track customers, who their competitors are, what it means to be a business owner, and if their product is needed.

Seven teens applied for the challenge but ultimately five ended up competing. One of the teens who competed was Miguel Bouchard, who won first place and $500 with his business, Grandma’s Garage.

“It feels good (to win). There weren’t very many competitors. I wish there were more competitors cause it would have been cool to see more ideas and more different businesses, but I put in a lot of work into it practicing my speech and doing the business plan. I’m glad that my hard work paid off,” said the Gardenton native.

Grandma’s Garage was started in Bouchard’s grandma’s garage where the duo bought secondhand tools and equipment to do woodworking. Bouchard has built a number of tables, cutting boards, and epoxy items. He said his marketing at this point is largely word of mouth through family and friends and that he has a project waitlist that will take up most of his summer. He said he will use the money he won to buy more lumber and a lathe.

The 17-year-old’s advice for those who want to enter next year’s challenge is to practice their speeches, be prepared for the questions the judges might ask, and be confident.

“Sadly, I think it is a little bit rare there’s not that many (teen entrepreneurs). A lot of people don’t really have an interest in that. It would be really cool to see more people interested in making their own businesses and if the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge keeps going every year, then hopefully more people will know about it and more people will enter.”

Bouchard plans on studying agriculture and environmental science in university.

Coming in at second place was Alexis Gobeil with her business Gobeil’s Gifts, a beading gift shop that uses Metis designs for key chains, hair clips, lanyards, and other accessories.

“I was actually very surprised (that I won) because I thought that I’m really busy lately with work and all that, I thought I was a little bit unprepared with my speech, but it actually went pretty well,” she said.

Gobeil started her business this year after beading for a few years as a hobby. Her Metis heritage influences her work which is shown on her Facebook page, Gobeil’s Gifts.

She said she will use her $100 Co-op gift card prize to pay for gas for her car.

The 18-year-old is naturally artistic and is motivated to try new things and explore different hobbies. The Zhoda native said she will continue with her business while she studies culinary arts at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology.

“I think they should know that it’s not just about the business. It’s about how you can share it with other people and how they enjoy it and how that even small little hobby can turn into (a) business,” she said about being an entrepreneur.

Tony Zacharias won third place in the competition with his business Zacharias Lawn Care. He said it felt pretty good knowing the community was doing something to help young people start their companies.

The origins of his business came about because he loved doing yard work, something he inherited from his father. He plans on being an autobody technician and has no plans on closing his company.

“For now, the plan is to keep doing it and if I ever want to stop doing it then I can always get my brothers to take over so they can have a good starting job,” he said.

What’s important to Zacharias is helping the community.

“I really enjoy helping the community in a positive way through my own ways,” said the Vita native.

He plans on using his $50 co-op gift card to pay for gas and oil for his mower.