Local Business Spotlight: Short Turn
Our first local business spotlight is a celebration of one of our very own Couriers! Sheena is the founder of Short Turn, a brand new business that features Sheena’s hand sewn bags, pouches, and totes.
It all started during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when Sheena dusted off a sewing machine to supply her friends and families with reusable masks when none were available in stores. The sewing machine had been a little intimidating, but the chance to help her community encouraged her to give it a shot. To her surprise, the challenge and creativity of sewing was rewarding enough to see what else she could make, and she decided to give bags a try. These bags became the foundation of Short Turn, Sheena’s new business with a name inspired by the old Toronto streetcars.
“I enjoy working at home the most, and being able to work my own hours. As a mom, I appreciate this because I can work while my child is in school.”
Sheena Bujold
Starting a new business is always easier with a mentor, and Sheena found one in Karen Lamont, an entrepreneur and founder of Crafted by Citrus, an online store for bespoke, handmade jewellery. Karen and Sheena were paired through Good Foot’s In, Up and Out program, and began the mentorship by focusing on branding and marketing Sheena’s new business.
Karen noticed that Sheena had amazing sewing and design skills, so together they explored new ways to sell the products, including in-person markets and online platforms. During their time together, Sheena decided on a business name, created a logo and marketing assets, and developed her own website. It was a lot of work in a short period of time, and Karen was impressed by her tenacity and focus!
“Sheena is very accountable and conscientious. She takes follow-up items seriously, and stays focused and motivated to keep moving things forward.”
Karen Lamont
Sheena said that the most important thing she learned from the mentorship with Karen was to not get discouraged when things get difficult or complicated. She found the mentorship to be a huge learning process, and was thankful that Karen was always there for her with kind words of encouragement.
“My advice for those who want to start a small business is to be prepared to learn lots of new things! When you’re working for yourself, there’s a lot to know, and a lot to do.”
Sheena Bujold
The mentorship with Karen was just the beginning of Sheena’s journey as a new entrepreneur. Her online store has officially launched, and features hand-sewn bags available for purchase in a huge variety of creative designs. From a pandemic hobby to a brand new business, we’re so proud of Sheena and can’t wait to see what she’ll do next! Find her on Instagram to follow her story.
