A Telkwa business owner is back from the ThriveNorth Business Challenge in Prince Rupert with heavier pockets and more knowledge.
The Business Challenge, put on by Futurpreneur Canada, is an open competition where young people from the Northwest can showcase their business ideas and get the support they need to make them a reality.
While Joni Jones of Juniper Health and Fitness didn’t win a top prize, she still took home $1,000 for being a finalist. And she said her experience was amazing.
“We really got to know our businesses in a deeper level, we got to meet and market with other people — it was so worthwhile,” said Jones.
It was also motivating.
“One of the most amazing parts was meeting other people that are starting or growing their businesses; seeing their passion and meeting other entrepreneurs was a huge deal for me,” she added.
Jones plans on offering fitness classes, personal training, children’s fitness, a protein shake bar and selling business merchandise.
The money she won will go into renovating her gym.
Her gym isn’t completely up and running yet but from this event, she has had more people contacting and inquiring about her services and what she will offer.
She said she really enjoyed the event and would do it again.
This year’s top prizes went to Marcie LeBlanc of LeBLANC Boutique in Prince Rupert for Best Growth Opportunity; Kevin Febril of Wandering Bear in Terrace for Best New Business (age 18-28); Bryan Last &Aleksa Havelaar of White Goat Coffee in Terrace for Best New Business (29-39); and Andréa Harmel &Kory Yamashita of Butter Hair Salon in Terrace took home the Audience Award.