Starting Here – Report 2018

STARTING
HERE

Colin Shears

Sean St. George

Building businesses in ‘one of the most beautiful places in the world’

In its first year of operations, Colin Shears’ adventure tourism business, Out East Adventures, almost tripled the previous owner’s record for hiking tours in one season.

“We went from a record of 220 tours to a new high of 611 in our first season,” said Mr. Shears.

In the same year, Mr. Shears bought a bed and breakfast in Norris Point.

“That’s when I got involved with Navigate, because it became more than just running hiking trips in the bush; it became a bed and breakfast and a small hiking company,” said Mr. Shears. “Both of them grew more than I expected, so I needed a lot of advice.”

Mr. Shears connected with Sean St. George, Navigate’s centre manager. Mr. St. George works with both Navigate locations: one on Memorial’s Grenfell Campus and one on College of the North Atlantic’s Corner Brook campus. Navigate is designed to address the needs of potential entrepreneurs in the pre-startup phase of business development, and connect those individuals with various resources, programs and agencies that exist to meet their needs.

“Sean St. George was very helpful and instrumental in helping me get the funding and getting everything going, because I’m an experienced hiking guide, but I don’t have a lot of experience in payroll or trying to find sources of funding.”

Mr. Shears says he’s an international traveller at heart, and he’s passionate about the tourism potential of the West Coast.

“We have a lot to offer the world in terms of tourism, natural beauty and culture, but it’s completely inaccessible to a large portion of people just because of how expensive it is,” said Mr. Shears.

A new opportunity

His business expansion adventure began when he came across a vacant grocery store property for sale in Rocky Harbour, and he had visions of a trail gear store and affordable hostel accommodations. In order to make his dream of a multi-dimensional adventure tourism business a reality, he needed funding.

“If anyone knew the sources of the funding here, it would be Sean,” said Mr. Shears. “I went to Navigate for advice on where I could find funding and financing options. He had that and a whole lot more advice, especially on marketing and labour market, and it’s been very helpful. Because of Sean’s references, I got a loan through Futurpreneur Canada and another one through the Community Business Development Corporation, which provided the funding to purchase the building.”

Since Mr. Shears purchased the building in Rocky Harbour, he has opened his trail store and is opening a hostel in 2019 to meet accommodation demands.

Mr. St. George says that Mr. Shears has established a successful adventure tourism business, and that he’s bringing multiple services into the region.

“Colin is talented, has excellent people skills and a good eye for marketing,” said Mr. St. George. “He’s very much able to engage people. His challenge was financial. I worked with him to identify financial opportunities and resources. I was a guide and I helped him connect.”

"We’re growing something here."

- SEAN ST. GEORGE

Mr. St. George says it’s important to create a better climate for young people to choose entrepreneurship. His aim is to build entrepreneurial awareness and to show young people that they can start a business.

“Six years ago, when I went into a class and asked ‘How many people are interested in starting a business?’ not one hand went up,” said Mr. St. George. “When I went into a class recently and asked the same question, about 25-30 people put their hands up. We’re growing something here.”

Mr. St. George says the administrations of Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic have been very supportive of the cultivation of entrepreneurs.

“We need to create a receptive attitude toward entrepreneurship,” said Mr. St. George. “We’ve lost more than 20 per cent of our business community in Western Newfoundland in the last 20 years. We’ve been losing our population and people have been shutting down businesses because they don’t see the entrepreneurial potential for the future. There’s a big need to promote entrepreneurship because government and big business can’t employ all of our citizens. We need people to create their own work. Our communities need people to think differently.”

"We’re providing access to one of the most beautiful places in the world."

- COLIN SHEARS

A new opportunity

His business expansion adventure began when he came across a vacant grocery store property for sale in Rocky Harbour, and he had visions of a trail gear store and affordable hostel accommodations. In order to make his dream of a multi-dimensional adventure tourism business a reality, he needed funding.

“If anyone knew the sources of the funding here, it would be Sean,” said Mr. Shears. “I went to Navigate for advice on where I could find funding and financing options. He had that and a whole lot more advice, especially on marketing and labour market, and it’s been very helpful. Because of Sean’s references, I got a loan through Futurpreneur Canada and another one through the Community Business Development Corporation, which provided the funding to purchase the building.”

Since Mr. Shears purchased the building in Rocky Harbour, he has opened his trail store and is opening a hostel in 2019 to meet accommodation demands.

Sean St. George says that Colin Shears has established a successful adventure tourism business, and that he’s bringing multiple services into the region.

“Colin is talented, has excellent people skills and a good eye for marketing,” said Mr. St. George. “He’s very much able to engage people. His challenge was financial. I worked with him to identify financial opportunities and resources. I was a guide and I helped him connect.”

"We’re growing something here."

- SEAN ST. GEORGE

Mr. St. George says it’s important to create a better climate for young people to choose entrepreneurship. His aim is to build entrepreneurial awareness and to show young people that they can start a business.

“Six years ago, when I went into a class and asked ‘How many people are interested in starting a business?’ not one hand went up,” said Mr. St. George. “When I went into a class recently and asked the same question, about 25-30 people put their hands up. We’re growing something here.”

Mr. St. George says the administrations of Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic have been very supportive of the cultivation of entrepreneurs.

“We need to create a receptive attitude toward entrepreneurship,” said Mr. St. George. “We’ve lost more than 20 per cent of our business community in Western Newfoundland in the last 20 years. We’ve been losing our population and people have been shutting down businesses because they don’t see the entrepreneurial potential for the future. There’s a big need to promote entrepreneurship because government and big business can’t employ all of our citizens. We need people to create their own work. Our communities need people to think differently.”

"We’re providing access to one of the most beautiful places in the world."

- COLIN SHEARS

A new opportunity

His business expansion adventure began when he came across a vacant grocery store property for sale in Rocky Harbour, and he had visions of a trail gear store and affordable hostel accommodations. In order to make his dream of a multi-dimensional adventure tourism business a reality, he needed funding.

“If anyone knew the sources of the funding here, it would be Sean,” said Mr. Shears. “I went to Navigate for advice on where I could find funding and financing options. He had that and a whole lot more advice, especially on marketing and labour market, and it’s been very helpful. Because of Sean’s references, I got a loan through Futurpreneur Canada and another one through the Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) which provided the funding to purchase the building.”

Since Mr. Shears purchased the building in Rocky Harbour, he has opened his trail store and is opening a hostel in 2019 to meet accommodation demands.

Sean St. George says that Colin Shears has established a successful adventure tourism business, and that he’s bringing multiple services into the region.

“Colin is talented, has excellent people skills and a good eye for marketing,” said Mr. St. George. “He’s very much able to engage people. His challenge was financial. I worked with him to identify financial opportunities and resources. I was a guide and I helped him connect.”

"We’re growing something here."

- SEAN ST. GEORGE

Mr. St. George says it’s important to create a better climate for young people to choose entrepreneurship. His aim is to build entrepreneurial awareness and to show young people that they can start a business.

“Six years ago, when I went into a class and asked ‘How many people are interested in starting a business?’ not one hand went up,” said Mr. St. George. “When I went into a class recently and asked the same question, about 25-30 people put their hands up. We’re growing something here.”

Mr. St. George says the administrations of Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic have been very supportive of the cultivation of entrepreneurs.

“We need to create a receptive attitude toward entrepreneurship,” said Mr. St. George. “We’ve lost more than 20 per cent of our business community in Western Newfoundland in the last 20 years. We’ve been losing our population and people have been shutting down businesses because they don’t see the entrepreneurial potential for the future. There’s a big need to promote entrepreneurship because government and big business can’t employ all of our citizens. We need people to create their own work. Our communities need people to think differently.”

"We’re providing access to one of the most beautiful places in the world."

- COLIN SHEARS

A new opportunity

His business expansion adventure began when he came across a vacant grocery store property for sale in Rocky Harbour, and he had visions of a trail gear store and affordable hostel accommodations. In order to make his dream of a multi-dimensional adventure tourism business a reality, he needed funding.

“If anyone knew the sources of the funding here, it would be Sean,” said Mr. Shears. “I went to Navigate for advice on where I could find funding and financing options. He had that and a whole lot more advice, especially on marketing and labour market, and it’s been very helpful. Because of Sean’s references, I got a loan through Futurpreneur Canada and another one through the Community Business Development Corporation, which provided the funding to purchase the building.”

Since Mr. Shears purchased the building in Rocky Harbour, he has opened his trail store and is opening a hostel in 2019 to meet accommodation demands.

Mr. St. George says that Mr. Shears has established a successful adventure tourism business, and that he’s bringing multiple services into the region.

“Colin is talented, has excellent people skills and a good eye for marketing,” said Mr. St. George. “He’s very much able to engage people. His challenge was financial. I worked with him to identify financial opportunities and resources. I was a guide and I helped him connect.”

"We’re growing something here."

- SEAN ST. GEORGE

Mr. St. George says it’s important to create a better climate for young people to choose entrepreneurship. His aim is to build entrepreneurial awareness and to show young people that they can start a business.

“Six years ago, when I went into a class and asked ‘How many people are interested in starting a business?,’ not one hand went up,” said Mr. St. George. “When I went into a class recently and asked the same question, about 25-30 people put their hands up. We’re growing something here.”

Mr. St. George says the administrations of Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic have been very supportive of the cultivation of entrepreneurs.

“We need to create a receptive attitude toward entrepreneurship,” said Mr. St. George. “We’ve lost more than 20 per cent of our business community in Western Newfoundland in the last 20 years. We’ve been losing our population and people have been shutting down businesses because they don’t see the entrepreneurial potential for the future. There’s a big need to promote entrepreneurship because government and big business can’t employ all of our citizens. We need people to create their own work. Our communities need people to think differently.”

"We’re providing access to one of the most beautiful places in the world."

- COLIN SHEARS

A new opportunity

His business expansion adventure began when he came across a vacant grocery store property for sale in Rocky Harbour, and he had visions of a trail gear store and affordable hostel accommodations. In order to make his dream of a multi-dimensional adventure tourism business a reality, he needed funding.

“If anyone knew the sources of the funding here, it would be Sean,” said Mr. Shears. “I went to Navigate for advice on where I could find funding and financing options. He had that and a whole lot more advice, especially on marketing and labour market, and it’s been very helpful. Because of Sean’s references, I got a loan through Futurpreneur Canada and another one through the Community Business Development Corporation, which provided the funding to purchase the building.”

Since Mr. Shears purchased the building in Rocky Harbour, he has opened his trail store and is opening a hostel in 2019 to meet accommodation demands.

Mr. St. George says that Mr. Shears has established a successful adventure tourism business, and that he’s bringing multiple services into the region.

“Colin is talented, has excellent people skills and a good eye for marketing,” said Mr. St. George. “He’s very much able to engage people. His challenge was financial. I worked with him to identify financial opportunities and resources. I was a guide and I helped him connect.”

"We’re growing something here."

- SEAN ST. GEORGE

Mr. St. George says it’s important to create a better climate for young people to choose entrepreneurship. His aim is to build entrepreneurial awareness and to show young people that they can start a business.

“Six years ago, when I went into a class and asked ‘How many people are interested in starting a business?,’ not one hand went up,” said Mr. St. George. “When I went into a class recently and asked the same question, about 25-30 people put their hands up. We’re growing something here.”

Mr. St. George says the administrations of Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic have been very supportive of the cultivation of entrepreneurs.

“We need to create a receptive attitude toward entrepreneurship,” said Mr. St. George. “We’ve lost more than 20 per cent of our business community in Western Newfoundland in the last 20 years. We’ve been losing our population and people have been shutting down businesses because they don’t see the entrepreneurial potential for the future. There’s a big need to promote entrepreneurship because government and big business can’t employ all of our citizens. We need people to create their own work. Our communities need people to think differently.”

"We’re providing access to one of the most beautiful places in the world."

- COLIN SHEARS

Colin Shears

Mr. Shears is one of those who thinks differently. His vision is to help make his region a more attainable destination for global travellers on a budget.

“Part of what I’m trying to do is make the national parks here more accessible,” said Mr. Shears. “I’m building this hostel to help do that—make it accessible and cheaper for lower-budget travellers to get here and see what this place has to offer.

“My company is the only way to get up to the Western Brook Pond Gorge in one day, which gives you that famous viewpoint where you’re looking out at the lake twisting in and out of the cliffs,” said Mr. Shears. “We’re providing access to one of the most beautiful places in the world through our tours. Next we’re going to provide more cost-effective options for accommodations. I don’t see why this place can’t be accessible on a budget. The only reason why is because no one has done it before.”