Speech Hens owners Laura Downey (centre) and Marianne Ward (to Downey’s right) stand with staff members in front of their Argyle Street, Simcoe facility. Downey and Ward founded Speech Hens to address a gap in the community.
By Lisa Timpf
Advocate Contributor
A number of Norfolk businesses are owned and operated by female entrepreneurs.
In honour of International Women’s Day, held March 8, the Simcoe Advocate contacted a few of them to talk about their businesses, their biggest challenges, and advice for those who aspire to follow in their footsteps.
Speech Hens, which has been operating at their Argyle Street facility in Simcoe for five-and-a-half years, is co-owned by Laura Downey and Marianne Ward. The company specializes in speech therapy, literacy, and a range of other services for all age groups, including adults.
Downey and Ward started the business to bridge a gap in the community, as there were no other private services of this sort in the area.
“We’ve had a wait list since the day we opened,” Ward says.
One of the features both Ward and Downey like about owning their own business is the ability to customize their programs to best meet the needs of the client.
Their road hasn’t been without challenges.
“We opened our doors six months before the pandemic,” Downey says. “We had to switch to online services. Then when restrictions were lifted, we had to use masks, visors, and personal protective equipment.”
Ward and Downey also note that recruitment is another issue.
“There’s a shortage of workers in this field in rural areas,” Ward says. “It’s one of our biggest hurdles.”
To combat this problem, Speech Hens has done ad campaigns to recruit workers.
“We’ve tried to play the long game,” says Downey. “We take on co-op students, volunteers, and placements from universities.”
When it comes to advice for female entrepreneurs, Downey suggests that it’s important to build connections.
“There are lots of free resources out there that we didn’t necessarily know about.”
Ward agrees that networking is important.
“Meeting people face to face, in female entrepreneur groups, you can hear about opportunities like grants and funding resources. Take any opportunity to get out there rubbing shoulders with other entrepreneurs.”
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Ashley Ferrell, owner of Polished Paws Dog Grooming, came by her profession naturally.
“My mom is a dog groomer,” Ferrell says. “I’ve always been an animal lover, and from a young age I was around her business. I got to witness the joy of working with animals from a young age.”
Polished Paws is located just outside of Langton, and has been in operation for about a year-and-a-half. Asked what she liked most about owning her own business, Ferrell noted that “the opportunity to feel proud about what I do,” is an important factor. “It’s a cliché, but it’s also nice to make my own schedule.”
She also feels good about the level of trust owners, and their pets, place in her.
“I have a lot of dogs that come in that are nervous, and it feels good to have them trust me.”
Ferrell says her biggest hurdle was taking the first step. She had to accept that, “I was going to be uncomfortable for a little while. I had to build the courage to take the leap and go all-in.”
Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is “Don’t be afraid to start. Now that I’m comfortable with everything it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Give yourself a good plan and mentorship and don’t be afraid to go for it.”
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Sandra Aultman operates Bee at Home, which offers personal services for seniors including home organization, meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, errand running, and other day-to-day tasks. She customizes her offerings to the client’s personal preferences and needs.
Aultman worked in roles managing clinics and businesses for other people, with long hours, lots of responsibility, and little chance of advancement.
“I wanted to be more fulfilled with what I did all day,” Aultman says. “If I was tired, I wanted it to be from doing something useful for people, where I could see I was helping them.”
She decided to start her own personal services business, Bee at Home, in 2023 in the Ottawa area where she was living at the time.
“My clients have told me that I make a difference in their lives, which is most fulfilling. Providing care to seniors in their homes, making them more comfortable, and bringing peace of mind to their families is also fulfilling,” Aultman says. “Knowing you’re doing what you want to do is exceptionally satisfying. It’s freeing not to have the ‘Sunday blues,’ as one friend says.”
A few months ago, Aultman relocated to Norfolk County. She had established a solid client base in the Ottawa area, and reached the point where she was turning people away. Now, she’s faced with the challenge of building a new clientele locally. However, she’s firm in her belief that the service she offers is important for both clients and their families.
Aultman’s advice to female entrepreneurs: Give it a shot.
“It’s always worth a try. You never know when you will bring joy to clients and yourself.”
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Nifty Gifty Norfolk started up in October 2016. The store, located on Alice Street in Waterford, is a curated artisan shop that offers home décor and a wide variety of gifts, all handmade by local makers.
Nifty Gifty’s current owner, Brenda Forsyth, started out as an employee. The shop was initially opened by Robin Reitz of Ritzy Cakes, also located on Alice Street. Reitz, Forsyth notes, “saw a need for local artisans to have a venue to showcase their handmade creations.”
Reitz hired Forsyth to run the store.
“It was a dream job, as I really enjoy retail, working with the public, and meeting so many creative people,” says Forsyth. Four years in, she was given the opportunity to take over Nifty Gifty.
“It was a fairy easy decision to make,” Forsyth says, noting that she “loved the atmosphere.”
“I enjoy coming in to work each day. I refer to the shop as my home away from home.”
Personal satisfaction is a big motivator.
“The more effort I put into the business, the more successful I will be. I enjoy being creative and changing things along the way to better suit the business.”
The store also supports other female entrepreneurs.
“Several artisans within this shop are women running their own individual small businesses,” Forsyth says.
Despite the positives, it hasn’t always been easy.
“I took the store over during COVID times,” Forsyth says. Dealing with restrictions on being open and closed was a challenge. But encouraging people to shop local and support their neighbours gained some traction.
Her advice for female entrepreneurs is multi-pronged.
“Research the costs associated with your specific business,” Forsyth advises. “Prioritize time management, embrace challenges, and maintain a confident mindset.” But with all that said, it’s also important to “balance work and personal life.”
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