Friday, September 17, 2021
In August, I started a campaign called #supportlocalWednesday where I highlight a different small business in Niagara each week.
It’s been quite a journey already and I have encountered some interesting stories from the owners on how and why they started their business. I started this campaign for a few reasons. I first heard about this idea at an online photography conference I attended and I really liked the idea of getting to know different businesses within my community. I was also keen on creating awareness of my photography business and in turn, creating awareness for theirs. It’s a win-win situation really!
It’s definitely taken me out of my comfort zone-walking in or calling out of the blue and asking if I can interview and take photos! But doesn’t the saying go- “if you don’t stretch, you won’t grow”? And aside from being able to take photos-which I love to do- I am also really loving the opportunity to get to know various business owners, hear their story, and be a part of my community. Every business owner I’ve spoken to has been very supportive and that’s very encouraging to me!
I started posting on FB (www.facebook.com/michellelynnfotos) and Instagram (michellelynnfotos) each Wednesday, but there was just so much more to share about each business, so I am taking the opportunity to use my blog space to do a recap of the first three business owners I interviewed in August.
The first business owner was Richard from Grape Escape Wine Tours on Hwy 55 in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
I first heard about this tour company at my daughter’s school fundraising dinner where I purchase a biking wine tour at a silent auction. Then covid hit!!! Grrrr…covid! But, they were very gracious to honour the tour vouchers for this past summer. I happened to be driving by one day so I stopped in to book our tour and talked to Richard about the possibility of me coming back to take some photos and interview him. He wasn’t keen on being in the photos, but super supportive about my goal of creating awareness of my new business.
Grape Escape was founded by Ian and Diane, Richard’s dad and step mom,14 years ago. It started off as a vehicle tour company and expanded into bicycles soon after Richard joined the business 11 years ago. Diane came up with the wonderful name (I think it is pretty clever, don’t you?) and Ian designed the logo (again, clever!). They now have a fleet of 5 vans and 160 bicycles.
Grape Escape has partnered with over 30 wineries throughout the beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake and offers various lengths of bike tours with knowledgeable tour guides and van tours-a great event for an office staff party, yes?
With so many bicycles on hand, they created some space for their own fully-equipped bike repair shop. They also have a trained repair and maintenance person on staff who keeps the bicycles in great working order.
Grape Escape also employs 40 tour guides who do anywhere from 2-4 tours a week. My husband and I had a wonderful tour guide just last week! She was very friendly and knowledgeable- not only about each winery, but also about the area. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire day: cycling throughout NOTL, meeting new people and discovering interesting connections with them, lunch at Caroline Estate, and discovering some very nice wines.
One of the best things, according to Richard, about being an owner is seeing the time invested into creating a great experience for tourists and locals come to fruition. You can tell just by the enthusiasm in his voice how proud he is of his business and the great experience they have to offer. And past customers know it! Grape Escape Wine Tours have won the trip advisor award for the past 10 years!
During the summer months, the bike tours make up 60-70% of their business and the lunch and winery bike tour is always the first to sell out. I highly recommend it! You can follow them on Instagram or Facebook at GrapeEscapeWineTours
The next owner I interviewed was Carolyn DeBlieck, an Independent Consulatant for Pure Magic Vacations, Inc.
Pure Magic Vacations is a full-service travel agency with a focus on Disney Destinations, Universal Orlando and the Central Florida area.
Carolyn is an amazing, fully-licensed, agent whose top priority is to build the best vacation for your family.
At no extra cost to you, she will build and customize a plan to fit you and your family’s needs. Let me repeat that-at NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. True story-so instead of paying some random person on the other end of your “book reservation” button, talk to Carolyn who knows all things Disney and all things travel!
Carolyn’s journey into tourism started when she went to post-secondary school for tourism and then worked at Disney in her early young adult days. There she was immersed in the culture of Disney and was impressed with their customer service.
She always wanted to be a travel agent but the timing wasn’t right until Dec of 2017, when she decided to close down her home daycare and became a consultant for Pure Magic Vacations. She holds an Ontario certification to be able to assist her clients, not only on a Florida vacation but also cruises and all inclusive vacations.
Disney is her passion. She has Disney all over her home-stickers, mugs, glasses, mickey ears, screen saver, purses, a mouse pad, Pez dispenser, rolling pin, jewelry, and coffee-just to name a few!
She keeps up to date on the latest attractions and offers and goes on training events to learn, experience and familiarize herself so she can best serve her clients. She’s excited to have the opportunity to attend the 50th anniversary of Disney with a few colleagues.
While it was a difficult time during Covid, she is looking forward to things opening up and is staying up to date on the latest travel requirements so there are no surprises for her travelling clients. She is ready and excited to help you on your next adventure. While she is based in St. Catharines, she is able to help anyone, no matter where they live.
As I stated above, she also books all inclusive vacations. A group of friends and my husband and I had planned a vacation through her last April. Covid hit and our vacation got cancelled! We were so disappointed-as I’m sure many of you can relate! Carolyn worked with us in determining the best course of action and worked tiredly to get a refund for all of us and kept us up to date on the latest happenings. You can be certain that as soon as we are able, we’ll be contacting her again!
You can follow her on Instagram: carolyn@pmv or Facebook: Carolyn Pure Magic Vacations.
The final business I highlighted, for the month of August, was of Runner’s Edge, owned and operated by
Benny and his wife Leslie.
Their store is located on 4th Avenue in St. Catharines and has been there for the past 21 years.
Benny has a very neat story. He was first introduced to this type of job environment when we was 16 and given a chance to work at McMaster Sports in Hamilton. While in high school, a coach from different high school saw potential in him and encouraged him to transfer there and join the cross county team. This, he realized when he was older, saved his life. Instead of heading down the path of hanging out with troubled teens and perhaps becoming one himself, he found a whole new atmosphere in the world of running. He became an avid runner with a caring coach that inspired him to want to help other teens and to give back to the community.
While he went to University of Toronto for engineering, his passion was helping and coaching teens. Through a series of purchasing events and name changes, he became the owner of Runner’s Edge. Check out the logo-another really clever design!
At the same time as running the store (pun intended!), he also runs the cross country team for the Churchill Bulldogs, from Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, as head coach for the past 8 years.
For the last 21 years, he has strived to create a positive atmosphere for the students to not only train together as a team, but also to share stories and help each other in life. And his passion for making connections and mentoring students does not stop once they graduate as many have kept in contact with him over the years. He encourages past students to help with present and future Bulldogs.
Back at the store, Benny’s motto is: “There is right a shoe for everyone, we just need to find it”. There is a wide range of different types of shoes to choose from. It might seem a bit overwhelming to choose the right shoe, but not here.
Here, him and his five staff are committed to working with you to find a shoe that will fit you. When you arrive, they will measure your foot and will ask you to walk and/or along the “runway” in order to evaluate your gait. From there, they will choose a shoe that they think will work for you. Pretty simple, right?
If you have been thinking about running, but have no idea how to start, contact Runner’s Edge! They offer running clinics and clubs of various running experiences. I live in the west end of St. Catharines and I often see the Runner’s Edge club training in my area and I see Benny and his staff on the side of the road, encouraging and coaching you as you run by. They offer a free two-week trial to see if the running club is a good fit for you.
The running club doesn’t only train together-they also enter races together. If you have never entered a race, you should! As a runner myself, I can attest to the awesomeness of being in a place with hundreds of crazy runners just like you!! You are definitely not alone on the course. The running culture is a unique thing-if you are a runner, you know exactly what I am talking about. There is competition, yes, but there is encouragement from your fellow runners and spectators and you will never be left on the side of the road-you will be carried across that finish line if need be.
I encourage you to stop in at Runner’s Edge and check out their shoes and various other running support items such as clothing, water belts, energy fuel and rehydration products.
Oh and don’t to say hi to Wookie, their “fierce” watchdog and follow them on Instagram at Runner’sEdge_stc.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the stories of these three owners as much I have enjoyed listening. And I hope you will remember them in the future!