Hamilton and Beyond! | LiUNA Talks Small Biz (Part One)
From October 15th – 21st it’s BDC Small Business Week and once again we are bringing you some of the most creative, fun and charismatic businesses from Hamilton and beyond – as nominated by our INSTAGRAM fam! Keeping them a secret just isn’t fair to you so below, we have gathered some info on who they are, what they do, challenges they’ve overcome and how to get in touch!
What is the amazing product or service that you offer to your clients?!
Angela Milligan of Noa Rose (https://www.instagram.com/noa_rose_balloons/) provides custom balloon décor but there are not just balloons! Balloons have an extraordinary power to bring joy and enchantment anytime, anywhere! Noa Rose can create a memorable atmosphere for any celebrations. Like Winnie the pooh said “Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon.”
Tell Us A Little About Yourself!
I am a creative Mom of two that loves a good party theme. My passion for balloons was born when I started hosting birthday parties for my daughters. With a background in Interior Design I have a keen eye for coordinating colours and matching them to an event invitation or branding colours.
What 2023 Trend Are You Admiring The Most?
I am admiring the trend of balloons and rentals pretty much Go Big! People are ready to celebrate so let’s celebrate everything!
Tell Us A Small Business Related Challenge That You Have Faced And Have Overcome Or Are Working Through?
A small business related challenge that I am still working through is finding customers. I am working on spreading the word to the right people by bringing up Noa Rose balloons to anyone I cross paths with. I have printed cards that have a QR code to take a potential client right to my Instagram to view my portfolio!
Shout Out To Another Small Business Who You Want To Show Love To This Business Week!
Shout out to my girls at Drunken Figs
Olga Pankova – Toronto Live Wedding Painter
What is the amazing product or service that you offer to your clients?!
I paint live at weddings. Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of live wedding painting, where moments of love and joy are transformed into timeless works of art. LIVE at Your Wedding.
Tell Us A Little About Yourself!
My portrait paintings go far beyond merely capturing a faithful likeness. My process of applying paint with a brush creates a unique dynamic energy, impossible to replicate through any mechanical process. Capturing detail is a cornerstone of my style.
What 2023 Trend Are You Admiring The Most?
I am loving the creativity that continues to flow from the social and corporate events. Loving to see more bold implementations of new technology to enhance the event experience.
Tell Us A Small Business Related Challenge That You Have Faced And Have Overcome Or Are Working Through?
As with many others in the event industry, is being able to get back to the moments prior to COVID. I believe that 2023 has allowed all of us to breathe a bit easier.
Shout Out To Another Small Business Who You Want To Show Love To This Business Week!
What is the amazing product or service that you offer to your clients?!
Cookies, baked goods and event decor!
Tell Us A Little About Yourself!
I have always loved baking and got into it from a young age! It’s my creative outlet and I am always so happy when I bake or make anything creative! I absolutely love bringing someone’s vision to life and seeing how happy they are when I do – it’s my favourite part of the process!
What 2023 Trend Are You Admiring The Most?
Barbie!! Bringing me back!
Tell Us A Small Business Related Challenge That You Have Faced And Have Overcome Or Are Working Through?
Hours and balance – working a full time job while also baking gets to be a lot! My job is very demanding and I work more than 40 hours a week so factoring in my small business can sometimes be crazy. I have become very organized down to the half hour to make it all work but I am still working through it and trying to figure out how to do it better!
Shout Out To Another Small Business Who You Want To Show Love To This Business Week!
What is the amazing product or service that you offer to your clients?!
We press and preserve flowers to create one of a kind wedding day and memorial keepsakes. We offer a variety of preservation options from traditional flower pressing, modern shadow boxes and resin items such as ring holders, ornaments & wine stoppers.
Tell Us A Little About Yourself!
I’m a creator and flower enthusiast, homegrown in the Niagara Region. I’ve always had a love and appreciation for art. As a child you would find me in my “craft corner” covered in paint and glue, wearing one of my Dad’s oversized dress shirts as a smock. Since then, not much has changed, except I’ve grown into my smock. Nature and the great outdoors have also played a big role in my life – going on nature hikes with my parents and learning about the local flora and fauna. I would fill my pockets with clovers, ferns and wildflowers and take them home to press between the pages of old hardcover books. Today, I’ve created my own small business, inspired by the preservation and appreciation of nature and I look forward to creating floral keepsakes for customers across Canada.
What 2023 Trend Are You Admiring The Most?
We are loving the poppy bright colours that the “Barbie” movie has inspired this summer.
Tell Us A Small Business Related Challenge That You Have Faced And Have Overcome Or Are Working Through?
We have outgrown our current studio and are full to the brim with 70+ projects. We are struggling to find a suitable space to rehome that will allow for client meetings, flower pressing workshops and the growth of our business. Additionally as flower preservation becomes more popular in Canada we are seeing flower preservation artists pop up every week. The Industry for the first time is becoming saturated.
Shout Out To Another Small Business Who You Want To Show Love To This Business Week!
Boxed Cookies Is our obsession – who doesn’t want gourmet Cookies delivered to their door.
We’ve had so many amazing responses that we have created a Part 2 Small Biz Blog – be sure to check them out next week!
