Today we’re talking to Kelly Lindsay who owns and operates Corner Store Candy Co. here in Stratford Ontario. Kelly’s going to talk to us about being a true solopreneur, what goes into a day in her life and how she’s the queen of collabs.

Today we’re talking to Virginia Ehrlich, the owner of the national subscription box service Acre75. Her growth journey from working in her home to send out a few boxes a month to growing into a warehouse and shipping nationwide in just a few short years will inspire you and make you smile. She does it all on her own and at the same time supports small business owners across Canada.

Today we’re talking to Kelly and Mel from Sirkel Foods about their journey rising up inside the restaurant business. We’ll start with Kelly’s first business in Stratford and end with her major pivot during the pandemic and how her business model now, as she gets ready to celebrate 20 years in business, is better than it’s ever been.

Today we’re talking to Jacqueline Martin, the co-owner and female powerhouse behind the retail division of Kampkreek Dairies. Jacqueline with her three brothers is innovating the way agricultural products are distributed. Inheriting the family farm, she’s deftly moving the family dairy business into 2025 with a large direct to consumer retail and whole division for her buffalo farm. All while getting ready to have her first baby and find a way to reduce the hours spent working on the farm. I think you’ll love hearing her story and her plans to grow this unique empire in Perth South.

Today we’re talking to Nia Bright from Good Vibrations Rock Shop. Nia purchased her store, located in downtown Stratford’s market square a little over a year ago and hasn’t stopped growing since. Nia’s infectious smile and perspective on life draws you in and just makes you feel good about life and all that’s possible. Spending time with her inside her store is like a breath of fresh air and it’s no wonder she’s done so well on her first entrepreneurship journey. You can’t help but smile inside her store.

In this bonus episode of Evolving Entrepreneurship, we chat with Cindy Teknedjian about her internship at the Stratford Perth Centre for Business, her Change Management studies, and what she thinks about the world of entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we sit down with Joani Gerber, CEO of investStratford and former Stratford Business Leader of the Year. From her early days working in the family business to steering Stratford through economic uncertainty, Joani shares powerful lessons on: Tackling trade and tariff challenges Supporting small businesses Championing women in leadership Her message is clear: leadership means lifting others. As Joani puts it, "When your rocket ship is on the way to the moon, you don’t shut the doors—you jam in as many people as possible so everyone gets the same shot at success." Tune in for a conversation that’s equal parts practical and inspiring.