Yes, We Are Open! 🍁

Helius Originals

In the season 9 finale of ‘Yes, We Are Open’ Al visits Bilqees Grant, Co-Founder and CEO of Helius Originals. She tells her story of starting her unique business, which specializes in sustainable smoke barware, including equipment to smoke food and drinks using wood sourced from Ontario.Bilqees shares the challenges of manufacturing, marketing, and scaling her business amidst the pandemic and trade tariffs and her plans to launch a new automated smoker.  This is her inspiring story.You can learn more about Helius Originals at HeliusOriginals.com.Credits:Amy Blundell - LeadershipDarren Leroux - LeadershipCaleigh Ellis – Graphic ArtistNiyati Budhiraja – WebmasterCheyenne Jenkins - Social MediaThe rest of the Moneris for their support! Subscribe now!If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at podcast@moneris.com.Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

The Sweetest Thing

This week, Al is in Oakville, Ontario visiting Erin Nocent, owner of The Sweetest Thing bakery. Erin transitioned from baking cakes and cupcakes from home in 2009 to opening her own brick and mortar business in 2018.She talks about overcoming her struggles with work-life balance and rising ingredient prices on her way to building a family legacy with her bakery. How did she do it? Listen now, to find out.You can learn more about The Sweetest Thing at TheSweetestThing.com.  Subscribe now!If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at podcast@moneris.com.Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Lynx Music

This week, Al is back in Toronto visiting Ryan Altschuler, co-owner of Lynx Music. Ryan shares his story of building and running an innovative music and recording studio in Toronto and the significant challenges he faced.How did Ryan do it? Listen now to find out.You can learn more about Lynx Music at LynxMusic.ca.  Subscribe now!If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at podcast@moneris.com.Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Diefenbunker

In this episode, Al goes deep underground to visit the Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum. He speaks with Monique Goffinet, Executive Director, and Jordan Vetter, Marketing and Communications Manager about the history of the bunker, its role during the Cold War, and its transition from a military site to a museum.Listen to this historic and fascinating story!You can learn more about Diefenbunker at Diefenbunker.ca.  Subscribe now!If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at podcast@moneris.com.Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

The Record Centre

This week, Al visits  John Thompson, owner of The Record Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. John traded the grueling heat of a paper mill for the warm crackle of vinyl.In 2011, John bought The Record Centre from a friend—starting with just six bins of records in the back of a video store. He has turned it into a thriving destination that's part record store, part vintage audio showroom, part concert venue, and part record label.  This is John’s story.You can learn more about The Record Centre at TheRecordCentre.com.  Subscribe now!If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at podcast@moneris.com.Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.