The Deloraine-Winchester community hall was the site of the seventh annual Southwest Business and Entrepreneur Expo on Wednesday, Feb. 7. This innovative business event featured speakers, panel discussions, a trade show and a business pitch competition drawing entrepreneurs and new business ventures from participating municipalities.
A fascinating Virden business featured a 3-D printer creating a complex shape from a spool of plastic filament that turned out to be a perfectly detailed rabbit. Marcel Tanguay of Virden started The Printing Den and he won $1000 with his outstanding business pitch from the Town of Virden.
3-D printing creates 3-D objects by adding multiple layers of material to form items ranging from a simple shape to complex products. This has many benefits like faster prototyping, customized products, and household part replacements.
Tanguay said the process is efficient and eco-friendly. “You’re not wasting excess plastic molds where you must cut pieces off. You print to size, you don't print in bulk.” He added, “We're moving towards more tech to simplify our lives. For example, if you need to order a handle for your oven you can just send it to me, and I'll recreate that piece instead of waiting weeks to get an overpriced part.”
Tanguay became fascinated with technology early in life. He said, “Growing up, our neighbour would always call my mom and she would send me over to fix internet issues or computer issues, even when I was 11, 12 years old... I don't consider myself a creator, I consider myself more of a tinkerer. Take somebody else's stuff and make it better.”
In preparing for the competition Tanguay practiced his pitch until he had it well-tuned, but the final few minutes of the pitch competition consisted of surprise questions from the judges about the business’s viability. Why should people choose this business instead of going with a mass producer? What is the target demographic?
Tanguay knows that success in any business depends on a strong position with the competition. He said, “My goal is to be first to market. I think that there's a niche and a need for it, especially if no one's really explored it.” He believes setting the pace gives him an advantage and said, “If there's other people that want to compete against you, and you already have a high standard, it'll be hard for them to meet it.”
He also feels that leading the pack can allow him to adapt to changes in the industry, with vendors and with customers. He said, “If you're able to adapt your strategy and remain ahead of everyone I think that's where the real winner is…but my strong suit is creating a rapport with people and understanding that we can have a good business relationship and still get along at the end of the day.”
Other pitches
In all, seven businesses made a pitch, five were from the RM of Deloraine-Winchester where the expo was held.
From Oak Lake, Jolene Thiessen’s company Enjoy Real Spice, won a $1000 advertising credit from CJRB Radio as well as $250 for the outstanding business pitch from the RM of Sifton. Thiessen sold her startup business, Real Garlic, in the fall of 2022 to Kendra and Mark Custance of Pierson. She has since branched out with her new company to create a line of flavour rich spice mixes made in small batches with real ingredients.
Sixteen-year-old entrepreneur Holden Ricard, the owner of Holden’s Honey Hollow came to show his business and went home with $1000 for the best overall pitch of the day from Community Futures Westman as well as $500 from the Municipality of Deloraine-Winchester. Ricard brought natural raw honey, raw beeswax, beeswax candles, lip balm and beeswax food wraps to the show. For years he has saved his family allowance to invest into a business that could turn into a career.
Choice Home Improvements Ltd., a residential construction company from the Deloraine area won $1000 for the judges’ choice pitch of the day from Sunrise Credit Union. Chris Paul, Elijah Critchley and Nathan Nasby are also co-owners of a second business, Choice Property Management.
Kirbie Cooper with her Kirbs Herbs personal products won $500 for the best business pitch made by an entrepreneur located in the Municipality of Deloraine-Winchester.
The $500 prize for the business pitch with the best potential for success went to David and Ashley Black with their business Turd Busters, awarded by the Deloraine-Winchester Chamber of Commerce.
New and established businesses from all over southwestern Manitoba came together to show their stuff and learn from each other.
Guest speakers shared years of experience on a variety of pertinent business topics. Tiffany Cameron, Virden business owner and economic development professional led a panel that discussed planning for succession when winding up a business.
There was plenty of time for networking and brainstorming and it is rare to find such a wide range of information available in a rural setting.
The trade show featured over 20 participants showcasing everything from food to fun to fences and participants were ready and willing to talk about their wares.
