-Messenger picture by Kelby Wingert
Sheila Roberts, proprietor of Sheila’z Sweetz Treatz, was the winner of Saturday’s IGNITE Spark Your Enterprise Pitch Contest on the Fort Museum Opera Home. From left are: Alicia Smith, Iowa SBDC; Justin Faiferlick, Iowa SBDC; Roberts; Mike Larson, First Interstate Financial institution.
Beginning a small enterprise is tough work.
5 native entrepreneurs aimed to assist develop their small companies on Saturday throughout the IGNITE Vendor Truthful and Spark Your Enterprise Pitch Contest on the Fort Museum Opera Home.
A panel of judges — Alicia Smith, of the Iowa Small Enterprise Improvement Heart, Justin Faiferlick, additionally of the SBDC and Mike Larson, of First Interstate Financial institution — listened to the pitches. The enterprise homeowners launched themselves and their enterprise and enterprise ideas, then they defined how they’d use the $1,000 that will be awarded to the winner after which they shared the aggressive benefit of their enterprise.
“I’m actually excited to be right here in the present day,” stated Valerie Walburn, proprietor of Wild Spirit Design LLC. “That’s probably the greatest components of dwell exhibits — the camaraderie and the networking. It’s a whole lot of enjoyable.”
Walburn, who sells handmade gadgets like playing cards, bookmarks, prints and extra, shared that her enterprise’ aggressive benefit is that she is the artist and each bit is exclusive and he or she additionally takes commissions for art work and merchandise.
-Messenger picture by Kelby Wingert
Sheila Roberts, proprietor of Sheila’z Sweetz Treatz, offers her enterprise pitch to the judges on the IGNITE Spark Your Enterprise Pitch Contest on the Fort Museum Opera Home on Saturday.
Having the ability to customise her merchandise is what helps cleaning soap maker Rebecca McCrady maintain her enterprise, Boss Bombs and Extra, aggressive. She stated any of her merchandise — bathtub bombs, soaps, physique butters, automobile fresheners and extra — might be personalized with shade, fashion and scent.
Kyrie Borsay, proprietor of KD’s Over the Moon on Central Avenue, desires to increase the makerspace behind her store.
“It’s the place individuals can come and I’ve all types of supplies and stitching machines and completely different gear,” she stated. “Wooden, plastics, glass, metals, no matter, and you’ll are available in and simply make.”
Borsay additionally presents organized crafting occasions on Saturdays.
“I’ll use the funds to develop my makerspace,” she stated. “I’d actually wish to combine some artwork expertise kind stuff.”
-Messenger picture by Kelby Wingert Rebecca McCrady, proprietor of Boss Bombs and Extra, offers her enterprise pitch to the judges on the IGNITE Spark Your Enterprise Pitch Contest on the Fort Museum Opera Home on Saturday.
Although the majority of her income don’t come from the store’s makerspace, Borsay stated, it does get individuals within the door and creates potential clients.
“I don’t make some huge cash off of the crafting however, for me, it’s extra of a way of satisfaction to see people creating and making,” she stated. “So I believe it’s essential to spend money on that area for that motive.”
Sheila Roberts, who can also be a college counselor on the Early Childhood Heart, introduced up the classic Simple Bake Oven she obtained as a toddler that sparked her love of baking.
“As a child, whereas others simply requested for toys and various things, I at all times wished an Simple Bake Oven,” she stated.
Now, Roberts runs Sheila’z Sweetz Treatz out of her kitchen, the place she whips up a wide range of baked items from cookies to muffins to candy buns and extra.
“Sheila’s Sweetz Treatz is devoted to offering high-quality meals which can be inexpensive and my purpose is to have the ability to cater to all people and households,” she stated. “The typical household spends roughly 37 minutes a day on high quality time with their households. Why spend that point baking when Sheila can do it for you?”
Roberts stated what units her other than competitors from bigger, company bakeries is that she doesn’t use preservatives and her merchandise are made recent and with “a contact of affection.” She’s additionally engaged on increasing her merchandise to incorporate sugar-free and gluten-free recipes.
Roberts stated, if she have been to win the $1,000 prize of the pitch contest — donated by First Interstate Financial institution — she would use the cash to purchase a brand new double-oven so she will be able to have extra room to bake and enhance productiveness.
In the long run, Roberts’ pitch catered to the judges’ sweet-tooth and he or she’s going to have the ability to get that new oven along with her prize cash.
The 4 different small enterprise homeowners who gave their pitches additionally obtained $100 from First Interstate Financial institution to additional their enterprise endeavors.
