SUMMER 2015
UNPACK VOICES ON CULTURE AND JUSTICE IN HAMILTON | B Y T H E I M M I G R A N T WO M E N ’ S C E N T R E
immigrant
THE
ENTREPRENEUR
3 THE FACTS on self-employment
6 FASHION
on James Street N
ISSUE
4 PHOTOGRAPHY 5 FAIR TRADE with passion and purpose
7 TASTY FOOD with a Hungarian twist
from Kenya to Hamilton
8 ADVICE
from local experts
2 • Summer 2015
@UNPACKMAG
IWCHamilton.ca | 905-529-5209
@IWCHamilton
English Language Training Job Search Workshops Orientation & Settlement Information Sessions Skill & Leadership Workshops “L ea rning toge ther in a friendl y environmen t, I’ve ga ined so muc h k nowledge a bou t Cana dian soc ie t y.” - NAWAL
uM AnG pA aZ IcNkE Editor-In-Chief: Ines Rios Managing Editor: Michelle Both Design & Layout: Michelle Both Copy Editors: Elizabeth Webb, Lani Akande Website: UnpackMag.ca Email: UnpackMag@IWCHamilton.ca Twitter: @UnpackMag
WHAT WE’RE WORKING FOR THE ENTREPRENEUR ISSUE By Ines Rios The economic contributions of immigrants to both our local communities and nation cannot be overlooked. Over 14% of immigrants in Canada are self-employment, compared with 11% of the Canadian-born population. For male immigrants alone, the percentage rises to 17%. Some immigrants start businesses out of choice, others out of necessity. But all of them overcome barriers to making their dreams and visions a reality and securing self-employment for their futures. As studies have shown, failure rates for start-up businesses are high both for immigrants and Canadian-born counterparts. It takes great perseverance and knowledge to navigate through evolving consumer and economic environments, especially in a new country. At the Immigrant Women’s Centre, we also face evolving environments that require adaptation and forward-thinking. For over 25 years, we have served immigrant and refugees in the Hamilton area, with our programs focused around accessibility to women. As a new dawn approaches, changing immigrant demographics and government priorities have mobilized us to the start of a new era. Starting this fall, we will now be known as the ‘Immigrants Working Centre.’ This change represents the shift in our focus toward primarily equipping newcomers with the skills and knowledge needed for employment and entrepreneurship in our city. As an organization, we will also be moving forward in areas of technology, with a new state-of-the-art media studio for video production of resources for newcomers to Canada. We invite you to join us on our journey moving forward, and in supporting the immigrant entrepreneurs in Hamilton who are already making a difference.
Ines Rios is the Executive Director of the soon-to-be Immigrants Working Centre. IWCHamilton.ca 8 Main St E, Suite 101 Hamilton, ON L8N 1E8 905-529-5209 x257
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
immigrant
ENTREPRENEURS key ingredients
for success
THERE ARE
2.7 MILLION
SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE IN
CANADA
19% to success newcomer’s path
PHASE ONE
settlement
Upgrade language skills if needed. Work in field to gain experience in Canadian context.
PHASE TWO
business conception
Write business plan. Build networks and mentorship. Pursue financing and further training if needed.
PHASE THREE
business launch
Achieve financial goals. Rethink and tweet business plans.Work long, hard hours focused on the business. * WISE 5 Project Final Report, 2012
ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURS OVERCOME
Access to finances and capital assets Language or cultural knowledge Knowing start-up processes & rules Social & professional networks Access to local market research Eligibility restrictions on programs designed to help entrepreneurs Writing a business plan
of working immigrants in Canada are self-employed, compared with 15% of Canadian-born workers. * Labour Force Survey, 2006-2010
DID YOU KNOW? The self-employment rate for immigrants increases with length of time in Canada. The biggest increase occurs in the first
10 to15
years after immigration.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
networking hard work
business knowledge and skill
PASSION
persistence M O N E Y
marketing good work & customer service * WISE 5 Project Final Report, 2012
TOP SEVEN
7
TRAITS OF IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURS 01. SENSE OF ADVENTURE 02. RESPECT FOR EDUCATION 03. LOVE FOR FAMILY 04. EAGER TO COLLABORATE
DID YOU KNOW?
05. TOLERANCE FOR RISK
The largest number of new Canadian small businesses established in one year is:
06. PASSION & DESPERATION
115,000 in 2005 The largest number of small businesses that disappeared in a single year is:
100,000 in 2006 * Statistics Canada
07. MOTIVATION TO SUCCEED * WISE 5 Project Final Report, 2012
ARE YOU A NEWCOMER PLANNING TO START A BUSINESS? CALL THE IWC TODAY AT 905-529-5209.
4 • Summer 2015
@UNPACKMAG
“My camera is my voice.” MEET PHOT OGRAPHER
Moussa Faddoul Ines Rios caught up with local photographer Moussa Faddoul, owner of FotoReflection, to gain insight into his experience as an immigrant entrepreneur.
1) WHAT WERE THE BASIC ELEMENTS YOU NEEDED TO START YOUR LIFE IN CANADA? A home and a community. A comfortable home where I can think, imagine, rest and create was and remains an important element in my life in Canada. A vibrant community where I can reach out for resources, network and grow has been essential. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Moussa Faddoul has been running his photography business for over 12 years.
WHO? Moussa Faddoul WHAT? FOTOREFLECTION
WHERE? On location WEB? Fotoreflection.com
2) HOW DID YOU BEGIN YOUR BUSINESS? It took me a while to acquire the skills needed to run a business and become a professional photographer. Once I felt ready, I made a step toward having my own business. The support of friends and professionals in the industry was a great help.
3) HOW DID YOUR BUSINESS PROGRESS AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES? The progress takes dedication, commitment and certainly discipline. Marketing the business takes up a lot of my energy and resources, but surrounding myself with successful people and making myself available and volunteering helps in steady growth. The biggest hurdle was fear of failure and the best support comes from family and friends.
4) WHAT ROLES DID OTHER PEOPLE PLAY IN YOUR PLANS? WHO? My family provided financial support at the beginning. My partner, Igor, provided help as needed and fellow professionals, especially photographers, are my ongoing support.
5) WHAT LED YOU TO START YOUR BUSINESS AND HOW DID YOU FEEL THEN? The 9:00-5:00 job was not fulfilling and eventually led me to start my own business. At the beginning I felt hesitant and afraid, but excited and free.
6) WHAT ASPECTS DID YOU HAVE TO PUT EXTRA ATTENTION IN TO DEVELOP? The hardest is discipline and commitment to the plan, especially because I’m a spontaneous person who doesn’t like structure. The easiest is people. I love working with people and customer service is natural to me. I love to see people enjoying their experience working with me.
7) HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT TODAY THAN BEFORE YOUR BUSINESS STARTED? I’m confident, secure and have more flexibility and freedom for social life, friends and family.
8) WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE TO OTHERS HOPING TO START A BUSINESS? Take the time to acquire the needed skills to run a business. Do business with honesty, integrity, discipline and passion. Most certainly put people FIRST, but also learn to say a firm “no” to what doesn’t fit with your vision. Running a business requires flexibility and creativity. When things don’t appear to be “good” change your “lens”, perspective or angle of view and you’ll see things differently. I’m always amazed by how a scene looks differently from different angles. The same with business. PHOTOS BY MOUSSA FADDOUL
Ines Rios is the Executive Director of the soon-to-be Immigrants Working Centre.
UNPACKMAG.CA
Summer 2015 • 5
It ALL starts with one
KATHY DEMERCHANT // KATHYDEMERCHANT.COM
How Hamilton’s Selbina Mwendwa started a business that is changing the lives of women in Kenya
Now with a Hamilton storefront, Moja One sells decorative wares providing over 50 jobs for women in Kenya.
By Maria Morales Hamilton’s Selbina Mwendwa is using her business of hand-crafted art, crafts, and décor to empower women in her native Kenya. Over 50 women are now employed through the fair-trade of their work. The art they make has given the women both greater independence and the ability to provide for themselves and their families in a society where women are subordinate to men. By carving into a chalky light coloured rock, soapstone is transformed into beautiful hand-painted bowls, figurines, and decorative stones by women in her home village of Tabaka. Beaded purses, bags and carved wood products are crafted together by women in her father’s home village of Kiambere. “Right now they don’t have to say: I want money to buy a dress or I need money for my child to go to school. They can do that,” she says. In 2012, she participated in her first International Marketplace event, organized by the Immigrant Women’s Centre, where she initially began selling her wares. The two-day annual holiday event offers newcomer women the chance to start up businesses and sell to the wider Hamilton community. At first she had doubts that people would be interested in the crafts, but was pleasantly surprised how much excitement people had for the products. “The
energy there was great,” she recalls. Now upgrading to her own store front, she credits the Immigrant Women’s Centre’s interview coaching and YWCA’s BizSmartz program as the supports that provided her with the confidence and the education that helped her achieve her business goals. Her husband has also been one of her biggest supporters, as her “financial guru.” Despite Mwendwa’s busy schedule of balancing her business and family, she always has Kenya in her heart. “I’ll never forget my country, and what I can do for it,” she says.
“All they needed was someone to help them find a market for their products.” After a recent visit to Kenya, she noticed the women in Kiambere were spending hours every day fetching water from contaminated sources where snakes and crocodiles pose great dangers. Upon returning to Canada, she began raising money to provide clean drinking water to the village. She has already raised $10,000 towards the project that she hopes to have completed by December. Mwendwa wants to continue supporting the work
of women in Kenya and growing her business. “I love seeing the smiles of the women. They are amazing and talented. All they needed was someone to help them find a market for their products.” Starting with just two women a few years ago, the growth Mwendwa has seen is inspirational. As orders continue to come in across Canada, more and more women will be employed, she says. “I have found so much satisfaction in helping the women in my village, while living here,” she says. “When you follow the right path, you can achieve what you want to achieve. There is no limit on what I want to do.”
WHO? Selbina Mwendwa WHAT? Moja One WHERE? 40 Mohawk Road East Unit #5 WHEN? Tuesday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. WEB? Mojaone.ca
Maria Morales is a Mohawk College alumnus, a passionate student journalist, and proud Hamiltonian. Follow her on Twitter: @mmoralesjournal.
6 • Summer 2015
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MICHELLE BOTH
With a passion for fashion, Olinda Manzano runs her own sewing design and alterations shop on Hamilton’s James Street North.
FASHIONING HER OWN FUTURE After starting her own business over 6 years ago, Olinda Manzano’s studio has become James Street North’s go-to design and alternations shop.
By Natalie Timperio Strolling down James Street North, Olinda’s Fashion Studio’s bright pink storefront and stylish mannequins are not easily missed. Upon entry, however, one takes notice not of the studio itself but rather the woman whose name is read so eloquently from the street – it is Olinda Manzano herself. The seamstress adopted a love for fashion and sewing at an early age. “I’ve enjoyed creating and constructing ever since I can remember,” Manzano says. In fact, it was after she completed her first garment in a tenth grade sewing class that she knew her passion would become a career. What unfolded in the following years became what we now know today as Olinda’s Fashion Studio. “Today I work on every imaginable clothing item. From vintage pieces to Spiderman costumes to formal army uniforms [and more],” Manzano explains. Specializing in bridal and evening wear, however, is what Manzano loves the most about her profession and business: “I find myself dreaming and working towards having my own bridal couture collection,” she says. Beyond her business, however, Manzano values the opportunities James Street North
has provided in both past years as well as in the present. “Everyone knows each other here. I love how it’s become a destination spot for shopping, dining and entertainment,” Manzano says. She also looks forward to being a part of what is to come for James Street North. “I hope that the diversity of the city will inspire the community to grow and encourage others.” With Manzano’s untiring love of Hamilton, it’s no surprise that she jumped on the opportunity to open the Studio on James Street North back in 2009. Since this pivotal year, Manzano has been helping clientele “dress for success.” With her success in business, she offers other entrepreneurs encouragement: “If you strongly believe in your business idea and have a passion for it, you will succeed.”
WHO? Olinda Manzano WHAT? Olinda’s Fashion Studio WHERE? 172 James Street North WHEN? Tuesday - Friday 8 - 5 WEB? Olindas.ca Natalie Timperio is a freelance writer in Hamilton. Follow her on Twitter: @NatalieTimperio.
UNPACKMAG.CA
Summer 2015 • 7
MICHELLE BOTH
The Taste of Budapest offers authentic Hungarian food in Hamilton’s James Street North neighbourhood. Entrepreneur Monika Deak Bocz opened the business in 2014 at 22 Barton St E.
TASTE OF BUDAPES T
A Spicy Addition to Barton Street By Maggie Macintosh A handwritten chalkboard menu greets Hamiltonians on the corner of Barton and James Street, directing passersby eastbound to 22 Barton Street. There stands a modest Hungarian café labelled with a white sign bearing the green and red words: Taste of Budapest. The handwriting belongs to Monika Deak Bocz, who opened the restaurant just a year ago. The Hungarian entrepreneur moved to Hamilton 27 years ago. She grew up in Hungary during its communist years and immigrated to Austria before she was forced to leave. “I was in a refugee camp in Austria from 1984 until March 1988, then I came here,” she explains. Reluctantly, Deak Bocz moved to Canada in the late eighties. Though the transition was difficult, she has come to love Ontario’s steel city. Finding a home in Hamilton, she affirms that she “cannot say one bad thing” about it. She currently resides in the north end, a short distance from the location of her business. Six days a week, Deak Bocz can be found preparing authentic Hungarian delicacies in her café’s kitchen alongside her two employees. The Taste of Budapest
menu includes an assortment of Hungarian soups, beef stew and schnitzel. Her favourite dish? The cabbage rolls, she says. “I love to make cabbage rolls, even though they take lots of time.” One of the unique features about Hungarian cuisine is the spices. Her dishes rely on the intense flavour of paprika. The vibrant tastes of her cooking have received attention. Apart from serving customers at her restaurant, she has also catered birthdays, wedding rehearsals and retirement parties.
Her advice to any hesitant immigrant entrepreneur is the same: be brave and “just do it.” Despite the challenges of working long hours, Deak Bocz recommends that more women start up their own businesses. The number of self-employed women in Canada has grown over the last two decades. In 2009, nearly 12% of employed women in Canada were self-employed,
compared with nearly 20% of men, according to Statistics Canada. “Women nowadays are so strong,” Deak Bocz says. She believes that there is a right time for everything. For her, the right time to start a business was in 2014, when she decided to stop letting doubt be a roadblock. Her advice to any hesitant immigrant entrepreneur is the same: be brave and “just do it.”
WHO? Monika Deak Bocz WHAT? Taste of Budapest WHERE? 22 Barton Street East WHEN? Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. WEB? Hungarianfood.ca Maggie Macintosh is an aspiring youth journalist. Alongside being the editor for her secondary school newspaper, she volunteers at Cable 14 and will be studying Journalism in September 2015 at Ryerson University.
8 • Summer 2015
@UNPACKMAG
ADVICE FROM LOCAL EXPERTS FOR
ENTREPRENEURS BELIEVE
IN YOUR IDEA Be original. Be creative. Believe in your product or service. Seek excellence and know your output is the best it can be. Keep finding ways to improve and refine your idea, and make sure it’s the right choice for you.
RESEARCH
PREPARE
Know your market. See what the demand is both currently and in the future. Know your audience. Invest time and energy in researching the customers that you hope to reach. Gain insight into the local context by obtaining work experience in your field.
Do you have enough money to carry out expenses? Are you able to work full-time or part-time? A business requires investing your time, money, ambition, hard work, and intelligence. It’s smart to start small and let your business grow step-by-step.
YOUR MARKET
WITH A PLAN
GET & STAY
LOVE
INVEST IN
There will be challenges, obstacles, and setbacks, but use it as a driving force to achieve your goals. Your perseverance and motivation to succeed will propel you forward.
As Confucius said, “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Loving your job will not only improve your satisfaction, it will reflect in how you treat your customers.
Having professional promotional material is key to having your business taken seriously. Invest in good branding, a website, business cards and promotional material. Use social media to network and promote your business.
MOTIVATED
“The key for many great entrepreneurs is the motivation to succeed.” - Thary Phy, Employment Counsellor Immigrant Women’s Centre
WHAT YOU DO
MARKETING
“To have a business is like having a new baby that will require dedication and effort.”
“Self-employment is both a great opportunity and great challenge for newcomer entrepreneurs.”
- Doris Carranza, Employment Counsellor Immigrant Women’s Centre
- Rosemary Aswani, Employment Counsellor Immigrant Women’s Centre
If you are an immigrant hoping to start a business, whatever your situation, a Job Search Workshop Counsellor at the IWC will help you weigh the pros and cons of self-employment and provide information about programs, services, and supports in the community. Visit www.iwchamilton.ca/employment or call 905-529-5209 to get started today.
UNPACKMAG.CA
Summer 2015 • 9
BEYOND SURVIVAL One immigrant’s triumphant journey to self-employment MICHELLE BOTH
With over 30 years of automechanic experience in his home country, Nusrat Mehmood did not want to settle for a ‘survival job’ in Canada. Now the owner of Hamilton’s Ustad Kar Kare, Mehmood opened his automobile repair shop just four years after immigrating to Canada.
By Michelle Both “You have a lot of experience in your field, so don’t go for a survival job.” Those were the words that Nusrat Mehmood remembers hearing while attending the Job Search Workshop program at the Immigrant Women’s Centre. Those are the words, he said, that changed the course of his life in Canada. After living in Hamilton for just four years, he is now a licensed auto mechanic with an established automobile repair shop. Mehmood ran a shop in Pakistan for over thirty years, but the leap to expanding his business in Canada seemed daunting. The advice from his friends was always the same: ‘The easiest way to make money in Canada is as a taxi driver.’ The advice was not without merit. Until recent immigration changes, an estimated 150,000 newcomers came to Canada each year through the economic class. Many faced difficulty finding work in their field. But, as Statistics Canada found, university graduates who immigrated to Canada in the last five years are 50% more likely to be out of work than a Canadian-born worker with a high school diploma. Mehmood credits Rosemary Aswani, Employment Specialist at IWC, for setting him on a different path. “If you want to live in Canada successfully, you should
work in your field,” he recalls her advising him. He decided to take her advice and meet with the National College of Trades to make a plan. Mehmood began working at two auto shop jobs In order to meet internship and reference requirements for his licensing application, while working at a chocolate factory in the evenings to supplement his income. With his wife still job searching and two children in university, it was not an easy time.
“His philosophy is simple: Do a good job, charge reasonable prices, and people will come again.” After two years, he was ready to start his business. He solidified a location, began accumulating equipment, and set out to promote his services in the community. Today, he has a solid customer base, two employees, and most importantly – the ability to work in his area of expertise. What does he credit for this business success? His philosophy is simple: Do a good job, charge reasonable
prices, and people will come again. So far, it’s been working well. Mehmood confirms the Job Search Workshop program didn’t just help him on the right career path, but also gave him the confidence to live in Canada as a professional. “It was very helpful and useful – how to deal with people, how to speak and interact professionally in Canada,” he notes. Now, he can confidently say coming to Canada as an immigrant was a decision he will never regret: “This is my Canada now.”
WHO? Nusrat Mehmood WHAT? Ustad’s Kar Kare WHERE? 1124 Rymal Road East WHEN? Monday - Friday 9 - 6 Saturday 9 - 4 CONTACT? 905-385-7000
Michelle Both works as the Communications Coordinator at the Immigrant Women’s Centre and is Managing Editor for Unpack Magazine. Follow her on Twitter: @MichellelBoth.
Are you a youth aged 15-29 with a winning business idea? Skills for Change gives YOU the opportunity!
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONNECTIONS www.skillsforchange.org
Program information: - 16 weeks or training on how to start a business - Up to $3,000 start-up funds - Business Mentoring - Life Skills Coaching and supports - Flexible schedule (Evenings & Saturdays)
Contact: Alma Arguello, 289-776-6256 youthbiz@skillsforchange.org Location: IWC Hamilton, 182 Rebecca Street
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UNPACKMAG.CA
Summer 2015 • 11
‘Buds and Bees’ DEEPA JOSEPH HOPES TO BRIDGE INFO GAP FOR NEWCOMER MOMS
MICHELLE BOTH
Deepa Joseph is set to open Buds and Bees Baby Shop this summer in Hamilton. She hopes to use her business to help bridge the information gap for newcomer mothers.
By Michelle Both The road to parenthood is filled with firsts; First pregnancies, first births, first car seats and cribs. With a steep learning curve, parents often depend on the knowledge of friends and family to guide them in the right direction. For newcomers to Canada without a social network close by, the experience can be overwhelming. Deepa Joseph hopes to help change that. “When I became a mom, because I was an immigrant, I didn’t know anything about Canadian baby products or have exposure to Canadian winter,” she says. She began making a checklist of all the things she needed to learn: car seat regulations, baby snow suits, the list went on. She experienced the information gap that exists for many newcomer mothers. “I checked everywhere – there was no store like what I was looking for,” she explains. With a background in both commerce and childcare, she knew what she wanted to do. Today, Joseph is finalizing plans to open Buds and Bees Baby Shop, set to open this summer near Rymal Road East and Upper Centennial. She hopes the business will enable her to answer questions and
provide information for immigrant parents in Canada, while offering a selection of high quality baby products. The products will focus on both safety and style, offering brand name and organic products with a personal twist. Listing baby carriers and cloth diapers as examples, she mentions products differ from country to country, making it difficult for parents to know how-to use them.
“She hopes the business will enable her to answer questions and provide information for immigrant parents in Canada...” Joseph knows firsthand that it isn’t just baby products that newcomers need more information about. It was finding the information she needed about education that stabilized her life in Canada. “If I didn’t visit the IWC, I would have given up and gone back to my country. They led me where to go,” she
says. She was able to have her education and credentials recognized in Canada, which set her on a path to success. “I got my accreditation in months. I was expecting to go back to school, but instead I went to work.” Joseph’s wealth of education and experience will be put to good use in her new business, where she’ll be doing everything from accounting to marketing. Overall, she is grateful for each step of her journey so far, which has led her to stay in Hamilton and “bring some hope” to other mothers.
WHO? Deepa Joseph WHAT? Buds and Bees Baby Shop WHERE? 1970 Rymal Road E WHEN? Coming Soon WEB? Coming Soon
Michelle Both works as the Communications Coordinator at the Immigrant Women’s Centre and is Managing Editor for Unpack Magazine. Follow her on Twitter: @MichellelBoth.
L T I O M
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