What would you do if there were a dragon at your door - or three, and they could make your dreams come true?
Three area youths gave their best business pitches to three successful, local business owners at the Dragon's Door entrepreneurship event hosted by the Sunshine Coast Busi-ness Retention and Expansion Society (SCBRES) Tuesday night.
"Find your own niche and specialize," said dragon Cathrine Ann, president of Consumer Connection Inc. "Clients will be willing to pay for better service in a market where there are others doing the same thing. Quality of service is everything."
The Dragon's Door offered three pre-screened contestants between the ages of 15 and 30 the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a local business mentor. They received coaching tips to polish their pitches and think about the facts of business entrepreneurship.
Mike Hesla pitched a catering company, Traci Stremlaw discussed a Sun-shine Coast vacation rental marketing and management company and the youngest participant, Jessica Termuende, told the dragons about her Doggy Do It All Store and Barkery.
After each contestant gave their pitch, the business gurus around the table (dragons, for the evening's event) asked questions and offered feedback on the youth's idea. The dragons were Ann, business coach Barb Huish and Brian Hubenig, creative director for Just Business magazine. Greg Welstead from SCBRES facilitated the evening.
Hesla's catering company is all but ready to go and the dragons mostly invited him to think about pricing of his entrées and reminded him to not undersell himself on the Coast where it is already difficult to find a caterer. Stremlaw, who is currently on maternity leave, had a less developed business plan, but great ideas. The dragons commended her and encouraged her to get ready. With the 2010 Olympics approaching and great properties for rent here on the Coast, her hospitality oriented business may take off faster than she thinks. The dragons were impressed with 16-year-old Termuende's idea for a barkery (bakery for dogs), doggie daycare with photography and training included and her skill for sewing canine bathrobes and bags. She still has one more year of high school left, but the dragons thought she could start her business now by focusing on her already successful homemade dog treats and sewn products. In the end, all three hopefuls won in independent categories as their ideas were all good and completely different.
Welstead said the winners will receive start-up coaching and business development support from the dragons, plus prizes donated by local businesses.Another Dragon's Door is planned for the fall. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 30 wishing to pitch their business idea and any local business people interested in being a dragon on the panel should contact Welstead at [email protected].
