🌮 From Idea to Reality with Aurora Alcocer

In this episode, Tara McCaulley from the Elgin Business Resource Centre sits down with Aurora Alcocer, owner of Taco House Co., to talk about the real journey of starting a new business—challenges, surprises, and all.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

- How to take your business from a simple idea to a solid business plan, and finally, to launch
- Aurora’s top 3 tips for anyone thinking about starting a business
- Why you should be prepared for anything and everything to go wrong—and how to push through

About Our Guest:

Located in St. Thomas, Ontario, Taco House Co. is owned and operated by a proud Mexican family who now calls Canada home. Aurora’s dream? To create an authentic taqueria that brings the vibrant flavors of real Mexican tacos to the community—just like the ones her family enjoyed back in Mexico.

🎧 Tune in to hear Aurora’s inspiring story and get real-world advice for turning your business dreams into reality.

Starting A Business

🎙️ Building Better Brands with Henry Dryfhout

In this episode, Jennifer Grigg from the Elgin Business Resource Centre sits down with Henry Dryfhout, President of HD Painting and Chair of the Dutton Dunwich Economic Development Committee, to dive into the world of branding and marketing.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

- How to define your core values and why they matter
- The difference between traditional marketing and social media—and how to make both work for you
- What really makes up a brand (hint: it’s more than just a logo)
- Why collaboration is key to business growth

About Our Guest:
Based in St. Thomas, Ontario, HD Painting is a leader in commercial painting and epoxy flooring, serving businesses across Southwestern Ontario. Whether you’re starting a new venture, expanding, or bringing fresh ideas to your community, the Dutton Dunwich Economic Development Committee is here to support you with expert advice, resources, and connections.

🎧 Hit play to get inspired—and learn how we can all grow stronger, together.

Branding & Marketing

📊 Making Numbers Work for You with Elle Crevits

In this episode, Tara McCaulley from the Elgin Business Resource Centre sits down with Elle Crevits, owner of The Atrium, to talk about a topic that can intimidate many entrepreneurs—financial projections. Don’t be afraid of numbers. They can show you the way!

💡 What You’ll Learn:

-Why financial projections matter for both your business and personal life
-How to calculate your cost of goods and perform a stress test
-The basics of projecting sales revenue with confidence
-Why starting with financial projections can shape your entire business strategy
-The importance of having a marketing budget
-Why underpricing your products or services can hold your business back

About Our Guest:

Located in St. Thomas, Ontario, The Atrium is the office and conference space your business needs to thrive. Whether you’re running your business from your kitchen table or working remotely, The Atrium offers flexible lounges, workstations, and meeting rooms designed to boost your productivity. Need to host a bigger crowd? Their large conference room seats up to 40 people in theatre style, perfect for presentations and events.

🎧 Press play to learn how mastering your numbers can unlock your business’s full potential.

Financial Projections

📢 Succession Planning: Setting Your Business Up for the Future

In this episode, Tara McCaulley from the Elgin Business Resource Centre sits down with Helen Button, Associate Lawyer at Harrison Pensa, and Chris Button, retired partner from Baker Tilly Trillium, to break down the ins and outs of succession planning—because having a solid exit strategy is just as important as starting your business.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

-What succession planning really is and why it matters
-The legal and accounting must-knows for a smooth transition
-Why you need a plan before you even think about selling
-How far ahead you should be planning
-Why succession plans can change—and how to adapt
-Common legal pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
-The financial strategies that set you up for long-term success

About Our Guests:

Helen Button is an Associate Lawyer at Harrison Pensa, helping clients navigate estate planning, trusts, real estate, corporate law, and not-for-profit regulations.

Chris Button is a retired partner from Baker Tilly Trillium, part of one of Canada’s largest networks of chartered professional accounting firms, specializing in financial strategies for businesses.

🎧 Tune in for expert advice on protecting your business’s future and making succession planning work for you.

Succession Planning

📑 Tax Season Prep: What You Need to Know

In this episode, Tara McCaulley from the Elgin Business Resource Centre sits down with Meaghan Vreman from J. Brent Shaw Professional Corporation and Grayden Laing from Establish Media to talk about preparing for tax season. The more prepared you are, the smoother it will be!

💡 What You’ll Learn:

-Key tax filing deadlines you can’t afford to miss
-The essential records you need to have ready
-Why keeping your receipts organized (not in a shoebox!) will save you time and stress
-Smart strategies to minimize your tax burden
-Payroll obligations every business owner should understand
-Why knowing your financials is important

About Our Guests:

Meaghan Vreman is a Senior Financial Accountant at J. Brent Shaw Professional Corporation. They offer accounting, auditing, taxation, financial and succession planning and tax returns.

Grayden Laing is the owner of Establish Media, a content creation company that helps businesses and organizations boost their online presence through photography, videography, drone footage, and live-streaming.

🎧 Tune in to make tax season less stressful and set yourself up for financial success!


Preparing For Tax Season

💰 Funding Your Business: What You Need to Know Before You Apply

In this episode, Tara McCaulley from the Elgin Business Resource Centre chats with Michael Warren from RBC Business Financial Services and Grayden Laing from Establish Media about one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs: funding. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your business, knowing how to navigate the funding landscape can make all the difference.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

-How the funding landscape is changing for entrepreneurs
-The key steps to securing funding as a new business
-Different types of loans, lines of credit, and other funding options
-What business lenders look for when reviewing applications
-Why a strong business plan is important
-The importance of regularly checking your bank account 
-The most common challenges entrepreneurs face when seeking financing and how to overcome them

👥 About Our Guests:

Michael Warren is the Senior Relationship Manager at RBC Business Financial Services, helping business owners with everything from launching to growing and managing their financial future.

Grayden Laing is the owner of Establish Media, a St. Thomas-based content creation company specializing in photography, videography, drone work, motion graphics, and live-streaming that helps businesses amplify their online presence.

🎧 Tune in for expert insights and practical advice to help you fund your business with confidence.

Funding Your Business

🍻 Unpredictable Sales Challenges with Caps Off Brewing

In this episode, Tara McCaulley from the Elgin Business Resource Centre sits down with Fran and Rick Dunseith from Caps Off Brewing and Grayden Laing from Establish Media to talk about navigating unpredictable sales challenges. When things get tough, how do you keep going and stay creative? This episode is all about resilience, mindset, and staying connected to your community.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

- Why being quick on your feet and trying new things matters
- What it really looks like to pivot over and over again
- How challenges help you avoid getting too comfortable
- The importance of mindset and mental health as a business owner
- How to get back to basics and tune into what your community truly needs
- Why it’s important to support other businesses
- The difference between what your customers want and what you think they want

About Our Guests:

Fran and Rick Dunseith are the owners of Caps Off Brewing, a craft brewery in downtown St. Thomas known for their high-quality, locally sourced brews and welcoming atmosphere.

Grayden Laing is the owner of Establish Media, a creative agency that helps organizations and entrepreneurs stand out online with expert photography, videography, drone footage, motion graphics, and live-streaming services.

🎧 Listen in for an honest conversation about the highs, lows, and lessons that come with running a business.

Unpredictable Sales Challenges

💧 Volunteering and Contributing to Community is Good for Business

In this episode, Tara McCaulley from the Elgin Business Resource Centre and Grayden Laing from Establish Media sit down with Chris Patriquin from Simply Pure Water to talk about how giving back to your community can also grow your business.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

- How Simply Pure Water is celebrating 25 years in business, thanks to community support
- The role the community plays in building business longevity
- Why community involvement can feel overwhelming and how to find your balance
- How to identify when to say yes and when to say no
- The biggest impacts Simply Pure Water has seen by staying active in the community
- Why giving back also builds a strong network and keeps your business top of mind
- Practical advice for businesses that are hesitant to get involved

👥 About Our Guests:

Chris Patriquin, alongside his wife Jame, owns Simply Pure Water in St. Thomas. Their business provides bottled and bottle-less drinking water solutions for homes, offices, and industrial needs. The store also features a Local Love Section with local products and a Zero Waste Refillery that offers Canadian-made, plant-based household and personal care refills.

Grayden Laing is the owner of Establish Media, a creative agency helping organizations and entrepreneurs amplify their presence through photography, videography, drone footage, motion graphics, and live-streaming.

🎧 Tune in to learn how contributing to your community can strengthen both your business and your network.

Volunteering and Contributing to Community is Good for Business

🍰 Connecting to Community As a New Business Owner

In this episode, Tara McCaulley from the Elgin Business Resource Centre and Grayden Laing from Establish Media sit down with Cindy Leon from Honey Cake Pastry Shop and Paul Jenkins from the St. Thomas Chamber of Commerce to talk about what it really takes to connect with your community as a new business owner. From market research to networking, this episode is full of practical advice for anyone starting fresh, especially if you are new to the community.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

- Cindy’s inspiration for starting Honey Cake Pastry Shop
- Why understanding your community before you open is essential
- How market research helps you find your ideal customers
- The importance of focusing on quality products
- Why what works in one community may not work in another
- How networking and local resources like chambers and BIAs can support you
- Ways to collaborate with other business owners instead of competing
- Why knowing your numbers matters
- The power of believing in yourself and planning ahead with marketing and trends

👥 About Our Guests:

Cindy Leon is the owner of Honey Cake Pastry Shop in downtown St. Thomas, known for creating cakes and pastries that bring joy to celebrations, from birthdays and weddings to specialty creations.

Paul Jenkins is the CEO of the St. Thomas Chamber of Commerce, supporting local businesses with advocacy, networking opportunities, and community resources.

Grayden Laing is the owner of Establish Media, a creative agency that helps businesses amplify their presence through photography, videography, drone footage, motion graphics, and live-streaming.

🎧 Listen in for honest insights on building connections, finding your place in a new community, and setting your business up for success.

Connecting to Community As a New Business Owner

📊 Making Sense of Financial Statements

In this episode, Tara McCaulley and Grayden Laing from Establish Media sit down with Jennifer Buchanan, from Graham Scott Enns, to talk about why financial statements matter and how understanding them can give you better control of your business.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

- Why reviewing your financial statements is crucial to business success
- Who uses your financial statements and why they matter to them
- The types of statements you may need and how they differ
- The difference between sole proprietorship and incorporation
- Understanding accounts receivable vs. accounts payable
- The benefits of a balance sheet
- How an income statement explains your profitability
- How a cash flow sheet shows your liquidity
- Simplified procedures for sole proprietors
- How often you should be reviewing your financial statements
- The type of statements lenders typically require
- Key differences between non-profits and other business structures
- When to rely on bookkeepers or accountants for formal statements
- Why you should still review your statements even if a professional prepares them
- The importance of direct communication with your financial team so everyone stays aligned

👥 About Our Guests:

Jennifer Buchanan is a Partner at Graham Scott Enns. She provides clients with tailored accounting services while also leading the firm’s efforts in training, mentoring, and professional development.

Grayden Laing is the owner of Establish Media, a creative agency that helps businesses amplify their presence with photography, videography, drone footage, motion graphics, and live-streaming.

🎧 Listen in to learn how mastering your financial statements can help you make smarter business decisions and set your business up for long-term success.

Making Sense of Financial Statements

We are your one-stop location for FREE business advising, business planning, business loans and great networking opportunities in St. Thomas and Elgin County.