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<\/p>\nSeven Canadian small businesses received their Christmas wish early this year landing their share of a $10,000 prize from Vistaprint. Businesses were selected from hundreds of entrants to the Vistaprint Wish Program, which invited small business owners across Canada to enter a contest to secure funding for vital items on their \u2018wish list\u2019 that would help them push their business to the next level.<\/p>\n
Each entrant shared the story of their business, what was on the top of their wish list this year, and the impact having this wish granted would have on their operations. Wish lists included a wide variety of items from a new video camera and computer upgrades, to a labeling machine and the equipment to finalize a food truck.<\/p>\n
As a company that serves one million small businesses across Canada, Vistaprint launched the Wish Program after consistently hearing that, along with marketing, access to finances is one of their most difficult challenges. The Program aims to help remove barriers to growth for small businesses by offering tangible financial support and equipping them with the tools and know-how needed to excel in their respective industries.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor small businesses, any investment in the right area can make the difference between surviving and thriving,\u201d says Vistaprint\u2019s Canada Country Manager, Cabral Thomas. \u201cA lack of finances is one of the biggest pain points for Canadian small businesses, but we believe that all business owners should have the tools to work efficiently and look professional. That\u2019s why we\u2019re excited to offer Canadian small business owners this financial help to make their business wishes come true.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Emily Schutz Photography (Alberta) —\u00a0<\/strong>Emily\u2019s passion for photography began at a very young age when she purchased her first DSLR camera. Her family\u2019s history of capturing beautiful memories through photography inspired her to pursue this as a full-time career. As Emily grows her business, she continues to focus on the development of skills and resources needed to support the quality of her work. Oftentimes, this means sustaining financial strains due to the high cost of quality equipment. The support of Vistaprint through the Wish List Contest will alleviate these financial burdens.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first few years of owning a small business tend to involve a lot of spending. Purchasing my photography equipment, editing programs, insurance, marketing materials, and so on, the list is endless,\u201d Schutz says. \u201cThe support of Vistaprint\u2019s Small Business Wish List Contest has made one of those purchases possible.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOur business has reached a rocky path, limiting the amount of in-person entertainment we can provide,\u201d Norman says. \u201cHaving the support from Vistaprint to strengthen our social channels and develop additional income streams will keep our company afloat during these dry spells.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe money will pay for the equipment needed to help complete our food truck and take our business to the next level,\u201d says Melville. \u201cWe\u2019re very excited to be able to take our business to our customers instead of waiting for them to come to us!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy wife and I are so thankful to Vistaprint for recognizing small businesses and the vital role they play in our economy,\u201d Jared says. \u201cThis money will not only impact my family and our business but our community as well.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe $1000 small business grant provided by Vistaprint will help us purchase the equipment that we need to continue and expand production in Miss H\u00e9l\u00e8ne\u2019s new home,\u201d says Ferne Hebig. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t be more thrilled!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2018\/12\/Halifax-Mermaids-2.jpg\")
<\/a>Halifax Mermaids (Halifax, Nova Scotia) —\u00a0<\/strong>Through entertainment, education, and the power of imagination, Halifax Mermaids provides clients with a lasting experience that helps nurture their inner child, while learning about the world around them. Due to closures and renovations of venues, the business has experienced significant hardships. Their strategy to monetize their digital presence will require significant investment into resources that they currently cannot afford. They will use the funds to purchase a better backdrop for filming and a microphone for podcasting.<\/p>\n<\/a>Black Cats BBQ (Taylor, British Columbia) —\u00a0<\/strong>A shared passion for food and bringing the community together was the inspiration behind Black Cats BBQ a company that began by selling custom spices at the local Farmer\u2019s Market. Now operating out of a concession space, the dream has always been to build a food truck that would serve the community. Due to a recent medical diagnosis, the urgency to finish the truck and fulfill this dream has been top of mind. The funding from Vistaprint brings the company one step closer to this dream.<\/p>\n<\/a>Hope Metal Studio (Clinton, Ontario) —<\/strong> This husband and wife team, that creates custom metal designs with meaning, is at an exciting point in the growth of their business but are also restricted by their current equipment. New equipment would allow them to accept orders they currently have to turn down due to size limitations, but it also requires a large investment. With the funds they plan to purchase new, Canadian-built equipment, meeting the demands of their business thanks to Vistaprint\u2019s support.<\/p>\n<\/a>Miss Helene’s Gourmet Foods, Ltd. (Saskatchewan) —<\/strong> The mother and daughter team founded the company through their love for cooking. As demand grew for their special sauces sold through their restaurant, the business quickly grew. The sauces are now manufactured and manually labeled and are then sold to local retailers. As manual labour continues, the current operations strategy will inevitably require an update. Vistaprint\u2019s support will provide funds needed to purchase machinery that will help update the current process and significantly impact the company\u2019s future success.<\/p>\n