Small business plays a big role in the economy.
To recognize their importance, last week was recognized as Small Business Week.
Sagehill Community Futures recognized hosted entrepreneur Jennifer Rorison for a presentation on turning an individual’s side hustle into a business.
Rorison is involved in several businesses including Metis Roots Outsourcing Incorporated, which provides social media project and content management for other businesses in rural Saskatchewan. She noted the goal of the business is to provide women an opportunity of meaningful employment while working from home.
While living in Rosthern, Rorison at one point found herself unemployed and in the midst of a divorce. She held a few physically demanding jobs to help make ends meet until she was contacted by Susan Wehage from Sagehill Community Futures by a position that allowed her to quit her other jobs.
This past August, along with her husband she launched the Wiener Wagon in Rosthern. A mobile hot dog cart located in Centennial Park by the swimming pool. With her five daughters apart of the operation, she wants the business to provide an important lesson for them.
“Help motivate them to earn income through self-employment and learning some different skills, customer service skills, money management, financial literacy and all these great things.”
Rorison has been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). She explains that she’s been provided resources at different levels for support.
“Program through Community Futures they paid for an ADHD coach for me,”
She added she was provided with assistance from the Gabriel Dumont Institute.
With the additional resources, Rorison noted she has able to combat her diagnosis.
“Because of having ADHD, I tend to struggle with some of the more finite detailed work, but I’m more a big, pictured thinker, so a lot of the tasks of running a business I can do quite well.”
If anyone is thinking about turning their side project into a full-fledged business, Rorison says it’s a good idea to continue working another job.
“Wait until you know that it’s sustainable, I think that it’s ok to have a side hustle and work full time for someone else, you’ll learn so much during that time and then you will know when you can take it to the next level.”
Another piece of advice Rorison gives for prospective business owners is to take advantage of the resources that are available in rural Saskatchewan like Community Futures.
Rorison will soon be attending local craft shows with another business, Love Your Canvas, which are temporary tattoos that replace scars because of self-harm.