SaltWire E-Edition

Not all young people take summer off

These Atlantic Canadians are busy running their own summertime businesses

JUANITA ROSSITER juanita.rossiter@gmail.com

My very first summer job was picking strawberries. I wore a hat, but with my light complexion, there were days I simply fried in the sun. Earlobes were burned and knees were reddened.

It was the furthest thing imaginable from a fun or unique summer job.

It is an entirely different world for teenagers today, many of whom are running their own businesses as a summer job.

HONEY BEE BOATS

Ten-year-old Wesley Jefferies from Stanhope, P.E.I., is spending his second summer operating his own business, Honey Bee Boats, and sells at different markets throughout P.E.I.

His wares include a variety of handmade products, ranging from small wooden sailboats that float to beeswax candles in the shape of sailboats.

Jefferies is new to P.E.I. — having moved from Alberta where large bodies of water are rare — and said his business has provided him with a way to discover his new home.

“My mom bought my brother and me a wooden toy sailboat to show us how much fun could be had at the bay or ocean,” he said. “That then inspired me to see about building my own sailboats and, by using driftwood, that continued the goal of discovering P.E.I. as we took trips as a family to go searching for it.”

Moving to P.E.I. also brought with it a newfound love for the ocean.

“I really like spending time in the water, taking walks along the ocean searching for treasures and watching the waves crash against the shore.”

With respect to boats, Jefferies said he “loves the craftsmanship that goes into sailboats and learning how they harness the power of the wind.”

When Jefferies is not at markets selling his product, he’s usually making boats, ordering supplies, updating his inventory or helping out with his family’s beekeeping business.

“The best things about my summer job are meeting new people and hearing their stories, as well as being able to choose my hours and markets.”

Jefferies got his summer business started through the Young Millionaires Program.

Through its program last summer, Jefferies learned how to become an entrepreneur, write a business plan and find locations where he can sell his products.

It also provided him with a startup grant to help fund his business.

Jefferies says that this year, the program continues to help him refine his business through guest speaker Zoom talks, fund product expansion and continues to organize more selling opportunities.

“I really enjoy this program and meeting other young people like myself who are also working on their own businesses,” he said

Future aspirations for Jefferies include learning how to sail.

A CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE ATMOSPHERE

Like Wesley Jefferies, Madelynn Jackson is also spending her summer working as part of P.E.I.’S Young Millionaires Program.

Based in eastern P.E.I., Jackson is spending her first summer working as an Eastern Facilitator for the program.

Jackson said the best thing about this summer job “is being able to witness exceptional potential in the youth I work with and getting to be a part of the beginning journeys of these young entrepreneurs.

“Seeing the hard work and dedication pay off for these youth, from coming to me with a business plan versus how far they have come with their business now, is incredible,” she added.

She has learned a lot herself doing this job.

“This job has allowed me to articulate effectively, use my leadership skills and demonstrate the ability of starting something from a small idea to a success story,” she said. “I have also learned a numerous amount of business skills and networking connections being around a vast variety of business owners, behindthe-scenes workers, as well as the financial side of things and am able to see what truly goes into making a successful business.

“The creative and innovative atmosphere I get to be around every day is truly remarkable.”

BENCHED BY NOLAN

Fourteen-year-old Nolan King is in the 10th grade and lives in Kentville, N.S.

Like Wesley Jefferies, he is spending his second summer running his own business, called Benched By Nolan. He really enjoys it. King runs his business as a summer job that he starts around April and ends in mid-september.

“What got me started in this is my dad saw plans for a bench and said we should make this and we posted it online and people wanted to buy one and that’s when we came up with the name Benched by Nolan,” he said.

King says the best thing about his summer job is the flexibility it provides.

“I can work one whole week when I want to and then the next week I can do other stuff.”

He said it’s just fun to try and make different things.

“We got an order for an L-shaped picnic table and that was really cool to make. Stuff like this is what I love about my job.”

CANDY TREASURES BY ALYSSA

Alyssa Barrett of Old Perlican, N.L., also runs her own business as a summer job.

She has been running her business Candy Treasures by Alyssa for six summers now.

“I started my business when I was only 12 years old with the support of Youth Ventures NL and CBDC,” she explained. “In 2016, I began my business by making candy bouquets for vendor sales. A year later, I purchased a tent and my first cotton candy machine.”

Each year, Barrett continued to develop her summer business.

“In order to make going to festivals more assessable, I turned my business into a food truck in the summer of 2020.”

Like many other individuals, Barrett modified her business model when the pandemic hit.

“I adapted by finding some roadside areas to set up and also selling items at the drivein movies in Bay Roberts,” she said. “Currently, I am attending many festivals and selling at roadside.”

She said the best thing about her summer job is “I love interacting with my customers and getting to meet people from all over Newfoundland.

“I also enjoy the flexibility of operating from a mobile food truck. All the positive feedback from my customers has also been very rewarding.”

Starting her business at such a young age helped Barrett build her confidence and leadership skills.

“If you have an idea or dream, just go for it,” she said.

ATLANTIC LIFE

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2022-08-10T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-10T07:00:00.0000000Z

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