Georgia Hammond | Axe & Crocus | June 25, 2020

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Georgia Hammond owner of Axe & Crocus, a small batch food product company based in Dawson City, Yukon. 

 

https://www.axeandcrocus.com/

 

(0:30) Georgia is a cook by day and has a side-hustle as a small batch producer of hand-crafted culinary delights using locally-foraged ingredients called Axe & Crocus.

(1:40) For the most part, Georgia hasn’t operated within a rigid business planning structure. Her company has evolved and adapted rather organically over time. She’s finding that the inherent adaptability of her model is proving very beneficial right now in the midst of a pandemic.

(2:50) Georgia’s realizing just how supportive her customer base is here in the Yukon. Typically March-April is her slowest time of the year but this year she saw a jump in sales. She really felt the love from our community as people purchased her products as an indicator to her that her market-base was still strong and to persevere. 

(4:30) Georgia’s primary revenue source is through summer/holiday markets and online sales. She has hopes to expand into wholesale markets soon.

 

(5:40) Georgia is a small batch producer which means she will always be limited in what she produces each season by how much she forages. Once she makes a product and sells it all there won’t be more until that product is in season again. There is always (and intentionally) a limited supply.

(6:45) For leadership insights, Georgia finds herself looking to other Yukon businesses. For example, she loves the work Joella Hogan is doing with Yukon Soap Company. Through Joella’s leadership she sees that “It isn’t enough to just keep your business going you also need to find out how your business fits into what’s happening and find a role for it.”

 

(7:55) Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? It’s so important to be flexible and to build flexibility into your business. And think small.

 

(9:25) Being on the land, in the garden and being part of a community is where Georgia draws her wellness practice as an entrepreneur.

(10:30) Georgia’s hope for the Yukon economy? That there is an opportunity for a community like Dawson to rethink how they market their tourism product. To think a bit smaller and more authentic to what Dawson is today. To focus on a diversity of experiences like outdoor adventures, culinary experiences, First Nations cultural activities and a little less on the Gold Rush. This would create a far more authentic experience for travellers as they discover all that Dawson City has to offer by the people who live there right now.

(13:05) As the early effects of the pandemic started to take shape, Georgia felt some panic about food security. She was pretty impressed with how much seed sharing and food-resilience Dawson City was able to demonstrate. Focusing on Yukon food security is a passion for Georgia and she hopes we continue to grow and show our resilience.

(15:00) Georgia listens to a lot of audiobooks while working in the kitchen and recommends the novel the Vanishing Half.