Young entrepreneurs betting on rural Sask. and finding room to grow

The pair said the bursary provided more than financial assistance.

“The money was awesome. We love the money,” Furber said. “But more than the money, I think it was definitely the vote of confidence for us.”

For Dr. Lyndon Jellison, owner of Longevity Chiropractic and Wellness in Unity, support came at a critical moment as his clinic looked to expand its services.

“The timing of it was impeccable,” he said. “We maybe didn’t have the cash flow at the time to make that decision, but this bursary put us right into action.”

The funding allowed the clinic to purchase equipment months earlier than it otherwise could have, helping accelerate its growth.

Clarissa Scheidl, co-owner of Birdie’s Golf Lounge in North Battleford, said building a business meant creating something the community was looking for after years of travelling elsewhere during the winter golf season.

The idea became reality after a realtor warned that another company was eyeing the local market.

“He said, ‘Were you still thinking of opening the golf sim?’ … and he said, ‘Well, I just got a call from Golf Sim in Saskatoon, and they want to expand their business to the Battlefords, so if you want to do it, you better do it now.’”

The discussion also highlighted the realities of entrepreneurship, from finding suitable space and learning unfamiliar business skills to entering new communities and adapting to changing needs.

Asked what advice they would offer aspiring entrepreneurs, the panelists consistently emphasized listening to customers and remaining flexible.

“It would be to go find out who your ideal customer client is, the people you want to be a part of your business, and talk to them and ask them what they’re looking for,” Scheidl said.

Jellison encouraged new entrepreneurs not to expect immediate perfection.

“It’s okay to not know everything immediately,” he said. “One year in will be much better, and… year two gets even better too, by a large part, and so… if you’re not good at that job, you might get better yet.”

For Makenna, innovation starts with being willing to change course.

“If it’s not working, just do something different,” she said.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

by battlefordsNOW staff

Young entrepreneurs betting on rural Sask. and finding room to grow

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