TLS048 Cheri McLeod – SOHO Community President
Cheri McLeod doesn’t consider herself an Entrepreneur because she doesn’t sell anything. However with being the President of the SOHO community association Cheri has been doing many of the tasks that any CEO would. You can learn more about Cheri at http://selfproclaimedmuse.com and more about SOHO at: http://soholondon.ca/
The neighbourhood of SoHo (South of Horton) has existed within the same boundaries since London’s inception in 1840. Originally named St. David’s Ward, this neighbourhood is bordered on the north by the CN railroad tracks parallel to, and north of Horton St., on the east by Adelaide St., and on the south and west by the Thames River.
Awesome London
TLS047 Karyn Austin – Breathe Yoga & Pilates
Karyn discovered yoga at the age of 12 and hasn’t looked back! She has used yoga and meditation as a way to keep her very crazy world balanced and sane. As a wife, and mother to two lovely daughters, Karyn believes that she was born to spread the joy of yoga to as many people as she can.
Karyn has been a guest on London’s “A” Channel Morning, as well as Rogers Daytime and Bill Paul’s radio show, touting the awesomeness that is yoga! She has also brought yoga classes to local book stores, various childcare, elementary and secondary schools in London, as well as several London hospitals.
Karyn’s credentials are ever-growing and expanding as she loves to learn how to make her classes as inspiring, fun and supportive as she can. Her great sense of humour is brought into each class, as she stresses the need for everyone to see the humour in life’s difficult situations. Simply put, yoga is her passion!
TLS046 Rokhsana Purdy – Purdy Natural
www.purdynatural.ca
Purdy Natural is a ‘family thing’ located in the heart of the Forest City. Our aim is to provide education and skin nutrition to everyone who crosses our path. The customer’s health is our number one priority and we learn from you! We’re not happy unless your skin is happy! Modern Skin Care Made With Love!
Purdy Natural is committed to providing you with the absolute best ingredients that 
Mother Nature has created. We believe that our bodies desire what has been grown from the Earth. We also believe that the Earth has given us everything we need to heal all of our ailments. We at Purdy Natural are constantly searching for unique and holistic ways to help your skin be the healthiest it can be.
‘If you can’t eat it you shouldn’t put it on your skin!’. Our products are made from scratch, and we use only the highest quality ingredients. Our first and foremost ingredient in our products is LOVE, as it our goal is to provide you with the absolute best possible skin nutrition. Purdy Natural is free from parabens, fragrances, perfumes, dyes, and harsh chemicals.
TLS044 Steve Barry – Connect Sports London
Connect Sports London was founded to provide adult Londoners the opportunity to participate in a wide range of sport and social leagues. Offering affordable sport and social outlets for adults is something we all need and Connect Sports London is here to provide. We offer leagues for active adults including both the casual and more competitive players. A number of our sports have refs to ensure fair play and fun for all!
www.connectsportslondon.com
TLS041 Christine Vandenbor – Women At Play
After the sale of her first business the Baby Expo, Christine has found her second interesting business venture called Women at Play. As a social entrepreneur, Women at Play was founded to help women excel at life by incorporating more play and FUN each month. Through small groups of women and specifically chosen activities (think painting, dancing, and creating!) Christine will help you get out of your mind and into your zone… the play zone!
http://womenatplay.ca
Thanks to our Sponsors!
– Style advice and makeup by Pink Ink “Your image is Your brand!” http://pinkinkimage.com
– Hair by Hairstylist Sonia Bento https://www.facebook.com/soniathesalon
307 Dufferin St. London, Canada
– Custom Art Jewelery by Susan Dinner http://susandinner.com
– Artwork by: : Sylvie Verwaayen “Sunshine Flowers” Acrylic on stretched canvas 36″x30″ $450 + HST http://sylverdesign.com
– Wardrobe provided by Desi’s Boutique http://shopdesis.ca
– Aesthetics provided by Brighton Nails & Spa http://brightonspa.ca
Audio Podcast located at:
iTunes Stitcher Radio Libsyn
Londonpreneurs on Social Media:
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The Londonpreneur Show is just another Carter Creation http://CarterCreations.ca
Produced by GNA Video Productions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKIoPBysGF0zbAX4NV8WccQ http://gnapro.com
Intro music is OLWIK – Villain (feat. Tyler Fiore)
TLS040 Desi Pecoskie – Desi’s Boutique
Desi Pecoskie, owner of Desi’s Boutique, has always been an entrepreneur with a creative flair. When Ms. Pecoskie was young, she performed face-painting services, and after completing Fanshawe College’s fashion merchandising program, she built on her creative entrepreneurial skills to open her own fashion boutique shortly after. Ms. Pecoskie gained some retail and business experience by working at her family’s business.
In today’s fast-paced world, versatility with our fashion choices is becoming a more important factor in what we decide to wear each day. Pieces that can transition seamlessly from the office to the walking trail are giving consumers more value and simplicity in their lives. Ms. Pecoskie’s boutique contains unique pieces that achieve the balance between work and play. She cites the move to a more central location on Richmond Street as a turning point, but it was not without risk. The new location does carry a higher rent cost, but with a greater exposure to consumers, a savvy entrepreneur can make the move a worthwhile one. Ms. Pecoskie hopes to launch her own fashion line in the near future that will target women aged 17-65 who want to strike a great balance between a successful business career and healthy lifestyle.
http://shopdesis.ca
Thanks to our Sponsors!
– Style advice and makeup by Pink Ink “Your image is Your brand!” http://pinkinkimage.com
– Hair by Hairstylist Sonia Bento https://www.facebook.com/soniathesalon
307 Dufferin St. London, Canada
– Custom Art Jewelery by Susan Dinner http://susandinner.com
– Artwork by: Sylvie Verwaayen “Sunshine Flowers” Acrylic on stretched canvas 36″x30″ $450 + HST http://sylverdesign.com
– Wardrobe is a “Marie – Soliel Dress” $120 at Desi’s Boutique http://shopdesis.ca
– Aesthetics provided by Brighton Nails & Spa http://brightonspa.ca
Audio Podcast located at:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-londonpreneur-show/id939923410
Stitcher Radio: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/london-horse-sports/the-londonpreneur-show-2
Libsyn: http://londonpreneur.libsyn.com/podcast
Londonpreneurs on Social Media:
Facebook https://facebook.com/londonpreneurs
Instagram https://instagram.com/londonpreneurs/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/londonpreneurs/
The Londonpreneur Show is just another Carter Creation
http://CarterCreations.ca
352 Talbot Street London, Canada, N6A 2R6
Hosted by Michelle Carter
michelle@londonpreneurs.ca
Twitter @cartertechie
Facebook : https://facebook.com/cartertechie
Linked In: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/cartertechie
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+MichelleCarterTechie
http://ChelleCarter.com
Produced by GNA Video Productions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKIoPBysGF0zbAX4NV8WccQhttp://gnapro.com
Intro music is OLWIK – Villain (feat. Tyler Fiore)
TLS039 James Miller – Registered Massage Therapist
In recent years, the benefits of massage therapy have become widely known. What was once seen as a pampering practice present only at spas and resorts has become a therapeutic service integrated into rehabilitative and preventative medicine. James Miller is a registered massage therapist who started Ingersol Massage Therapy 9 years ago. Mr. Miller was inspired to become a massage therapist after experiencing the benefits of therapeutic massage treatment after he was the victim of an automobile accident.
A registered massage therapist (RMT) is much different than a masseuse, who only know basic massage techniques used in the resort or spa scenarios described previously. A RMT is knowledgeable not only in advanced massage technique, such as a lymphatic massage, which can provide lasting health benefits. A typical massage therapy treatment is not accomplished over the course of 1 massage session; to properly restore function and health to the areas being treated by a RMT, a client should undergo regular massage sessions for a period of weeks.
The challenges for Mr. Miller were numerous. Massage therapy is a female-dominated industry, so a male breaking into a female-heavy environment is not easy. The average career lifespan of a massage therapist is also relatively short at only 5 years due to the physical strain involved in the profession. Having been in business for almost double that time, Mr. Miller has gone above and beyond the call of his profession. Mr. Miller envisions his clinic expanding into a more integrated health centre, including other supportive services such as chiropractic, acupuncture, and physiotherapy, because not all treatments are equally effective for each client. We wish him the best of luck achieving this vision!
https://www.facebook.com/james.millerrmt
Sharing the stories and lessons of small business owners in London, Canada.
Thanks to our Sponsors!
- Style advice and makeup by Pink Ink “Your image is Your brand!” http://pinkinkimage.com
- Hair by Hairstylist Sonia Bento https://www.facebook.com/soniathesalon
307 Dufferin St. London, Canada - Custom Art Jewelery by Susan Dinner http://susandinner.com
- Artwork by: Sylvie Verwaayen “Sunshine Flowers” Acrylic on stretched canvas 36″x30″ $450 + HST http://sylverdesign.com
- Wardrobe is a “Marie – Soliel Dress” $120 at Desi’s Boutique http://shopdesis.ca
- Aesthetics provided by Brighton Nails & Spa http://brightonspa.ca
TLS038 Kim Elsdon – The Pooch Playce
Nothing can love you as unconditionally as a pet can, and ensuring your pet has the proper care, including routine veterinary check-ups, proper grooming and hygiene, and ensuring your pet gets enough exercise. Kim Elsdon began her career as a professional pet groomer in 2002, and took her passion for pets and desire to run her own business to form The Pooch Playce Pet Grooming in 2014.
What sets Ms. Elsdon apart from her competition is her compassion for animals and ability to take on more troubled cases that traditional big box store grooming services may choose to avoid. A trip to the vet or groomer’s can be quite stressful for pets, so having a groomer with Ms. Elsdon’s experience combined with her empathy for pets that can be a handful is invaluable to your pet. A traumatic trip to a groomer can change how a pet reacts to people, so as a pet owner, you need to select a service that provides expertise as well as compassion. Ms. Elsdon also sews in her spare time, and has combined her business with her hobby to create a line of pet clothing available to clients.
Ms. Elsdon envisions a mobile grooming unit in the future, which will help with clients who own more “homely” animals like cats, or clients who don’t possess the convenience of a vehicle. Additionally, the mobile unit will relieve the stress of traveling to a grooming appointment. Ms. Elsdon hopes to keep expanding her new business, because as she states: “I do best when I’m busiest.” A properly groomed pet is essential to their health and can help prevent future health complications down the road. Please visit Ms. Elsdon’s new website below to inquire about her services.
http://poochplayce.com
Thanks to our Sponsors!
– Style advice and makeup by Pink Ink “Your image is Your brand!” http://pinkinkimage.com
– Hair by Hairstylist Sonia Bento https://www.facebook.com/soniathesalon
307 Dufferin St. London, Canada
– Custom Art Jewelery by Susan Dinner http://susandinner.com
– Artwork is by Sylvie Verwaayen “Sunshine Flowers” Acrylic on stretched canvas 36″x30″ $450 + HST http://sylverdesign.com
TLS037 Sylvie Verwaayen – Sylver Design
Anyone from London, Ontario knows of H.B. Beal Secondary School’s Arts program and its amazing reputation. Students from all over London attend Bealart to hone their incredible talents with the hope of sculpting a career out of them. Sylvie Verwaayen, a Bealart grad, knew she was a talented artist when she attended Beal and later enrolled Fanshawe College’s Industrial and Product Design program, but she also discovered a passion for education throughout her development as an artist. Ms. Verwaayen was an instructor at Fanshawe for 10 years, and she has also been involved with mentoring young artists and other causes in the London community.
Throughout Ms. Verwaayen’s career, it is clear that is passionate not only about art, but about engaging and helping people. In fact, Ms. Verywaayen advises aspiring entrepreneurs to “never try to do everything by themselves”. You can find value in interacting with a variety of people, whether its assistance with a project or inspiration for a new piece of art. We often like to think of entrepreneurs as “lone wolf” type of personalities, but the truth is that no one gets successful alone or by accident. Engage with those around you and return the favour!
http://www.sylverdesign.com/
TLS036 Jill Ellis-Worthington – Write.On Communication Services International
Communication is one of the most fundamentally important aspects of any business. Without effective communication, customers can become alienated from your services due to confusion or a lack of confidence instilled by poor word choices. For Jill Ellis-Worthington, writing was always at the heart of what she did, but it was not until a shift occurred in the publishing industry that she realized that her talents could help her become an entrepreneur.
A veteran of over 25 years in the publishing business, Ms. Ellis-Worthington has written for a variety of publications distributed all over North America. She started Write.On Communication Services 5 years ago with the goal of breaking free of freelance and developing a company that was focused on helping businesses communicate effectively. Write.On has recently expanded beyond their initial 3 pillars of Feature Writing, Media Relations, and Public Relations & Communications to introduce Communications Coaching. Many individuals and businesses would rather invest in employee communications training than constantly outsource tasks, and effective communications coaching can provide.
http://writeoncommunicationservices.com/
TLS035 Adam Vandenakker – DJ Focus
DJ Focus (Adam Vandenakker) has been on the decks for over ten years, bringing the party to weddings, clubs, and special events around London. Thanks to his older brother Charlie (owner of Vanrock Sound), Mr. Vandenakker got to learn the art of live mixing at an early age. While many dismiss the role of a DJ as nothing more than a human iPod, a skilled DJ can really make a difference when it comes to keeping the party going. Anyone can play a song, but live mixing of popular tracks, reading the crowd, and blending in songs that progress well together are something that you can only learn through experience.
The key lesson that Mr. Vandenakker attributes to his success and longevity in the business is the advice given to him by Charlie: take any gig you can get, otherwise someone else will. This lesson can be applied to any sort of business. Vandenakker notes that he isn’t the most expensive DJ in the city, but that isn’t necessarily indicative of quality. His slightly lower price point also makes his services accessible to a wider variety of clients; weddings are expensive, and some couples have very tight budgets. Mr. Vandenakker believes that taking every gig and delivering a stellar performance is crucial, because the word of mouth generated as a result will guarantee business for years to come. Let that be a lesson to any aspiring entrepreneur: if you make a sale, you can earn a commission; if you make a friend, you can earn a fortune.
www.djfocus.ca
TLS034 Amy Stevenson – Whoa Mama!
Amy Stevenson never thought of herself as an entrepreneur, but being exposed to the lifestyle through her two sisters-in-law, she is incredibly grateful that she decided to take the plunge. Being a mother is a full-time job, so for a mother to also engage herself in developing her own business is no easy task. Whoa Mama! is an event planning company that runs mom-to-mom sales events, where “mamas rent tables and sell their gently-used children’s items to other mamas”.
Being a mother herself, Ms. Stevenson can relate to the hardships associated with being a mom, and a Whoa Mama! event not only gives mothers a chance to make some money on the side or purchase a wide variety of children’s items, but it also gives mothers a chance to connect with and learn from other mothers. Ms. Stevenson states that her key piece of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to be open to teaching, both as an entrepreneur and a mother. New information and education is constantly being generated, so to be successful in either of those fields, it is beneficial to be open to learning something new!
TLS033 Wilson Boynton – Advanced Composites Training
http://www.advancedcompositestraining.ca/
Early on in his career as an aircraft maintenance engineer, Wilson Boynton never thought that he would become an educator, but when he and his colleagues encountered numerous challenges repairing aircraft manufactured with advanced composites, he saw an opportunity to become one. When Mr. Boyton completed his advanced composite repair training back in the 1980s, the only available training centres were in the United States. Upon his return from training at UCLA, Mr. Boynton decided to pass on his expertise and passion for aircraft repair and he started Advanced Composites Training.
The only school of its kind in Canada, ACT offers training to aircraft maintenance engineers on all things advanced composite. What is an advanced composite? Any man-made material bonded with a high-strength resin to give the polymer a relatively high level of strength. Think carbon fiber. Most modern aircraft are manufactured with advanced composites, so the extra level of training that Mr. Boynton’s facility provides gives a distinct edge to all graduates.
Mr. Boynton admits to some tough times during the early days of his business, and the one lesson he would pass on to fellow entrepreneurs would be to remain in control of your vision for your business. Only you can truly grasp what you are trying to achieve through your business, so retain that control and stay focused. ACT has been in business since 1992, so Mr. Boynton’s advice certainly has some credible evidence to back it up.