This week’s round-up of regional business news includes Karly Bradford’s new online gift boutique Gift Farm, Peterborough native Kerrie Hansler’s Sweet Reads Box monthly subscription box for book lovers, the opening of Lakefield Bakery On Queen, and George Anagnostou’s The Original FAT Greek strEATery food truck in Ennismore.
Also featured this week is Peterborough resident Koel M. Upadhyay’s new children’s book about peanut allergies, a donation of $22,000 to The Canadian Canoe Museum by Golfing Gals Who Give, the visit of federal science, innovation, and economic development minister Navdeep Bains to Trent University, and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s survey for top business questions for municipal election candidates.
Regional business events added this week include the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce Meet & Greet at Friendly Fires in Cobourg and the E-Connect Summer Social at Publican House Brewery in Peterborough, both on August 14th.
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Karly Bradford’s Gift Farm helps you find the perfect unique gift
Karly Bradford held a soft launch for her new business, Gift Farm, on Saturday (July 28) with a pop-up shop at Rolling Grape Vineyard in Baileboro.
Gift Farm is a curated online boutique born out of Bradford’s frustration when shopping online for unique gifts.
“After investing a lot of time searching for the perfect gift, I’d discover at check-out most companies don’t even ship to Canada, or customs and shipping charges would be a deal-breaker,” she says.
“Amazon is okay for generic purchases like books, computer paper, and other ordinary consumables, but when it comes to gifting, with millions of items, I felt overwhelmed with some uninteresting choices.”
The collection of items in her online shop is influenced by cottage and country living “with a side of quirky humour, which I feel mirrors the attitude of our beautiful Kawartha Lakes area.”
For Peterborough and Kawaratha-area residents, free pick-up is available through Bradford’s vendor partner, Baked4U at 1837 Lansdowne Street in Peterborough. Free shipping is available on orders $79 or over.
As an interesting side note, Bradford is the daughter of successful local entrepreneur Leslie Scott, owner of Walton Wood Farm in Baileboro.
For more information, visit giftfarm.ca.
Peterborough native Kerrie Hansler delivers Sweet Reads Box, a monthly subscription box for book lovers
Monthly subscription boxes are a thing — from clothing to cosmetics to men’s razors to food to pet toys and treats and more, you can find a subscription for almost anything.
But when it comes to books, Kerrie Hansler — a Peterborough native and local teacher — noticed a gap in the marketplace. So, as an avid lifelong reader, she decided to start her own book subscription box service.
Hansler launched Sweet Reads Box with her partner Mark McLean in July 2017 and shipped the first box last September. Since then, each monthly box has been selling out.
“Sweet Reads Box was created from a love of reading and a desire to have a curated book box delivered to your door,” Hansler says. “The goal was to create a reading experience that allowed the subscriber to take time for themselves and enjoy the box.”
Hansler and McLean carefully curate everything in each monthly box, including the book, a sweet treat, a drink, and items related to the book to enhance the reader experience. The pair read all the books that are included in the boxes, and they also curate and select the other items included in the box.
For more information about Sweet Reads Box, visit sweetreadsbox.com.
Lakefield Bakery On Queen is now open
Lakefield Bakery On Queen officially opened last Friday (July 27).
Located at 127 Queen Street in Lakefield, across from Tim Hortons, the new bakery features special cultural sweets and savouries along with many bakery classics.
Lakefield Bakery On Queen is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.
For more information, visit www.lakefieldbakery.com. You can also visit them on Facebook.
George Anagnostou serves up food truck fare with a Greek twist in Ennismore
The Original FAT Greek strEATery food truck in Ennismore. (Photo: George Anagnostou / Facebook)
George Anagnostou, former owner of The Original Greek in Peterborough, is now operating The Original FAT Greek strEATery, a food truck in Ennismore.
Located beside Foodland Ennismore at 470 Robinson Road, The Original FAT Greek strEATery is not your typical food truck.
Along with standard fare like burgers, fries, poutine, and onion rings, Anagnostou adds a Greek twist with menu items such as a Greek burger (featuring bruschetta, feta, onions, olives, and tzatziki), pita bread wraps (including pork and chicken souvlaki and lamb and beer gyros), and Greek fries (topped with bruschetta, feta, and olives), along with salads, appetizers, and beverages.
The Original FAT Greek strEATery is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ofgstreatery/.
Peterborough resident Koel M. Upadhyay writes children’s book about peanut allergies
“The Prince’s Armor – A Peanut Allergy Awareness Story” is a children’s book by Peterborough resident Koel M. Upadhyay. (Photos courtesy of the author)
According to Food Allergy Canada, two out of 100 children in Canada have a peanut allergy in Canada. As the parent of a child with an anaphylactic allergy to peanuts, Peterborough resident Koel M. Upadhyay has experienced the helplessness, frustrations, and anxieties associated with raising a child with food allergies.
To help raise awareness of the problem, she has written and self-published a children’s book called The Prince’s Armor – A Peanut Allergy Awareness Story. Through the eyes of the character Little Prince, the book explains the meanings of confusing terms like “cross-contamination” and “accidental exposure”, evaluates real-life scenarios that children with a peanut allergy are likely to encounter, and brainstorms strategies that teach allergic children what they themselves can do to ensure their own safety.
The book, the first of a trilogy that Upadhyay is writing, is available on amazon.ca. For more information, visit the author’s website at www.thebookpocket.com.
Golfing Gals Who Give donates $22,000 to The Canadian Canoe Museum
Golfing Gals Who Give has donated $22,000 to The Canadian Canoe Museum to support the museum’s ongoing operations and its outreach initiatives.
The proceeds were raised from a golf tournament that took place on June 14th at Wildfire Golf Club. The tournament, which saw 98 women participate and included live and silent auctions along with dinner, was supported by more than a dozen local businesses, including title sponsor McCloskey International.
Federal science, innovation, and eonomic development minister Navdeep Bains visits Trent University
Last Wednesday (July 25), Navdeep Bains, the federal Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development, joined Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef for a discussion at the Student Centre of Trent University.
In his portfolio, Minister Bains is responsible for overseeing a broad cross section of government initiatives, including making strategic investments in Canada’s clean technology sector, targeting key growth sectors where Canada has the ability to attract investment or grow export-oriented companies, and fostering a strong investment environment for telecommunications services to keep Canada at the leading edge of the digital economy.
The discussion focused on economic development successes and challenges in Peterborough-Kawartha, and how local businesses and community leaders can build on the work of the federal government. Following the presentation, Minister Bains took a brief tour of Noblegen, a local advanced biomaterials company that has benefitted from federal investment.
Peterborough Chamber of Commerce seeks questions for municipal election candidates
Last Friday (July 27) was the final day for candidates to declare their intention to run in the 2018 municipal election on October 22nd.
Over the next few months, the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce will be speaking with local candidates, and is asking local businesses to share their top two business issues.
A survey is available online. The survey closes on Friday, August 3rd.
Northumberland chambers host accessibility workshop for businesses on August 13
The local chambers of commerce in Northumberland County are hosting the “Discover Ability Workshop” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, August 13th at Warkworth Legion (6 Norham Rd., Warkworth).
You can learn about the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), how it applies to your business (including your responsibilities under the legislation), and the advantages of developing an inclusive workforce. Light refreshments will be provided.
For more information and to register, visit business.trenthillschamber.ca/events/details/discover-ability-workshop-2831.
Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce Meet & Greet at Friendly Fires in Cobourg on August 14
The next Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce “Meet & Greet” business networking event is being hosted on Tuesday, August 14th from 5 to 7 p.m. by Friendly Fires (70 King St. E., Cobourg).
In addition to networking with local business people, you can browse the products available at Friendly Fires, including solar options for your home and business.
The event is free for Chamber members or $10 for non-members. Advance registration is required at nccofc.ca/events/details/nccofc-meet-greet-friendly-fires-1344.
E-Connect Summer Social at Publican House Brewery on August 14
FastStart Peterborough is hosting an E-Connect Summer Social from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 14th at the Publican House Brewery (294 Charlotte St., Peterborough).
The evening will feature a talk by Publican Brewery co-founder and president Marty Laskaris, who will also provide a guided tour of the location.
The event is free, but advance registration is required at www.eventbrite.com/e/e-connect-summer-social-tickets-48458715322.
Learn how to become a better trade show exhibitor on August 15
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Lunch Box Learning – Exceed as an Exhibitor” from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15th at the CHamber office (175 George St. N., Peterborough).
Chamber staff Tiffany Arcari and Siam Grobler willhost an open discussion on how to exceed as a trade show exhibitor.
The noon-hour series is free to Chamber members and members of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough. Bring your own lunch.
For more information and to register, visit www.peterboroughchamber.ca.
Save the date: Business After Hours in Bridgenorth on September 19
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism’s next Business After Hours event takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19th.
During the “Bridgenorth Hop”, the Chamber will visit members in Bridenorth, including Style Boutique and TCB Office Furniture & Supplies.
More details will be announced as the date nears.
Save the date: Love Local Ptbo Business Expo on October 3
The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s Love Local Business Expo will take place this year from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3rd.
The region’s largest business showcase, in previous years the Expo took place at the Morrow Building during September. While spacious, the location was also somewhat uncomfortable during the heat of late summer and required a lot of carpets to cover up the concrete floor.
This year’s Expo is taking place at the Envinrude Centre, which features air conditioning and hardwood floors.
Watch for more details as the date gets closer, but you can register for a booth now at peterboroughchamber.ca.
