Flourish and Grow

Flourish and Grow (F&G) was a sole proprietorship based out of London, Ontario, retailing handmade fine art, jewelry, and apparel that conveyed a narrative of the founder’s Indigenous Mi’kmaq culture and values. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mikaila Stevens, founder of F&G, had ample time to spend at home and developed a newfound passion for beading and creating art as a way to connect with her Indigenous Mi’kmaq culture and values. In the next year, she created a collection of fine art products to expand her business. After obtaining government grants, Stevens was able to expand F&G and forge connections with her customers through her expression and personal creations. Stevens sought to explore her Mi’kmaq ancestry and had a strong desire to create unique introspective pieces that showcased techniques from her heritage. Reflecting on the next steps for F&G, Stevens recognized the urgent need to optimize the product, pricing, promotion and distribution of her sole proprietorship to remain competitive and increase revenue to sustain full-time F&G employment and continue her work of passion. Where should she start?