Les Powless grins as he surveys the massive 12-stitch embroidery machine that takes up one entire wall in his basement business on Sour Springs Road. "We just finished cranking out 300 shirts for the Six Nations Minor Lacrosse tournament," he says. His wife Lori adds, "Now there's a lull in the action, but it won't last long." Powless Embroidery has only been in business since March, but already the husband and wife team has been kept very busy.
Les and Lori Powless credit GREAT's Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program with helping them enter the bustling business world on the Six Nations Reserve. They wanted to open a sports clothing business, making embroidered and silk-screened team shirts, hats, uniforms, and other athletic wear. A friend who owns a sporting goods store in a nearby town had approached Les and urged him to start a business on the reserve.

Despite some doubts, Les and Lori came to GREAT with their business idea in mind. "That's all we had at the time," says Lori, "just an idea. We didn't know anything about running such a business." Then the couple went through the six-week training course offered through the Ogwehoweh Skills and Trades Training Centre (OSTTC). A business plan is required as part of the Self-Employment Assistance application and many clients find the course beneficial. During the six weeks, the Powless' prepared their business plan, did marketing analysis, established a budget, and applied for financial assistance through Two Rivers Community Development Centre and the Aboriginal Business Canada office, as well as through SEA.

"Everybody has been just great, and really encouraging," says Les. He recommends anyone who wants to start a business get help from GREAT. The couple agrees the six

week course taught them a lot about how to research and understand their market. They had to visit a nearby shopping mall and talk to people about their sports clothes needs. Next the Powless's had to interview other similar sports clothing stores to determine what the market was like, and whether it could support another such business.

Starting a company takes a great deal of work and long hours. Both Les and Lori admit they're perfectionists, and if a design doesn't look right on the computer screen, they'll work on it until they're satisfied it's the best it can be. Les recalls many all-nighters he's pulled on the monstrous embroidery machine, just to get orders out on time. "Deadlines are very important in our business," he says. "When a team needs their shirts or jerseys done by a certain day, it has to be done." The most satisfying part of the job is when either Les or Lori, who also works full-time as a teaching assistant, sees a child wearing one of the shirts the company has embroidered or silk-screened. "That's what really makes you feel good," says Lori, "are the kids. Seeing them play and wearing a shirt we did is a real thrill."

Anyone interested in the business planning course offered through SEA can contact Sheila or Roger at GREAT 445-2222.

Shelley worked for 8 years as bookkeeper/office manager for K.L. Martin and Associates, who encouraged her in her talents. She says Kevin taught her a lot and gave her opportunities to develop her skills. She has a diploma in bookkeeping from the Toronto School of Business, and found that different people would come to her for help with their record-keeping. Shelley quickly realized there was a great need for someone to assist local small business owners who have no background in finances.

That's when Shelley, with the help of a friend, drew up a basic business plan. Her next step was to head over to GREAT's Self-Employment Assistance program, and take the six-week training course through the Ogwehoweh Skills and Trades Training Centre (OSTTC) program. She revised and refined her business plan, learned how to access funding, and got a great deal of encouragement and support.

Shelley says SEA "…really taught me a
lot about my own business, what my own goals should be for my business, and it gave me a good forecast of what I should strive to achieve."The SEA course is a
must for

Shelley obviously enjoys her work. She likes the wide variety of clientele, which ranges from construction contractors to lawyers to retailers. Some are weekly clients with their payroll needs, while others are monthly. The work gives her a great deal of personal satisfaction. On top of that, she feels good about helping other Aboriginal businesses, adding, "If I can be a part of seeing other Natives succeed, then I feel I'm successful."

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