Come all ye Newfoundlanders
Newfoundland Trading Company looking to share the province with the world
Josh Taylor, founder and CEO of the startup Newfoundland Trading Company, burns with a passion for his province.
“We’ve got a wild, raw pristine place here. It’s a part of my DNA,” says Taylor. “When you’re away, you can’t help but wear Newfoundland on your sleeve.”
Taylor, originally from Grand Falls-Windsor, is now trying to turn provincial pride into a business.
He says he hopes his company will serve as a platform for local artists to share their talents with the world.
The idea for Newfoundland Trading Company stemmed from Taylor’s work as an IT strategy instructor at MUN.
While consulting with entrepreneurs across the province, he says he came to a simple conclusion.
He says that artists were continually messaging him looking for new ways to market their goods.
Artists were spending so much time on the business side that their creativity was suffering, says Taylor.
Taylor, 37, says that Newfoundland Trading Company is removing pressure from collaborating artists by centralizing everything on his platform. He will be responsible for marketing and maintaining an online presence. The company is looking for high-quality, local products focusing on things that you wear, eat and enjoy.
He says he believes that focusing on pure, natural products will draw consumers in.
“We’re a very untouched place and hope to offer elemental things like salts and honeys to the food industry.”
Working with wood Handcrafted wood products are another specialty that Taylor says was an easy choice.
The company’s website is in its trial stages but is already collaborating with a local craftsman.
Louis House, 24, who was born in Corner Brook, met Taylor through Futurpreneur Canada a year ago.
House was among the first approached by Newfoundland Trading Company.
House now lives in St. John’s and says when he originally started his business he struggled.
“I found it difficult to find time to do what I’m good at. This kind of relationship takes the pressure off me and lets me work,” says House.
House specializes in home decor and mainly produces kitchen products. His cutting boards are among the first products featured on Newfoundland Trading Company’s website.
As a result of his collaboration with Newfoundland Trading Company, House says he has more time.
“Before, I couldn’t grow because all my time was taken up just meeting the demands of my business as it was. Now, I spend more time in the workshop,” says House. “The biggest thing for me now is that I have time to try out new designs.”
House says that he will be producing three products for the website, a total of 210 pieces.
He says he’s happy to be working at his trade.
“I feel like I can express myself more through wood than through any other media,” says House.
David Hayashida, co-owner of King’s Point Pottery, says he likes the idea of the Newfoundland Trading Company but notes that there are many hurdles.
“It is for a very specific segment of producers who can and want to scale up their production,” says Hayashida via email.
King’s Point Pottery, which has been opened for 25 years, showcases the work of 365 artists mostly from across Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as producing their own products.
They have some presence on social media and a website, but Hayashida says they need to be updated. The Newfoundland Trading Company website is expected to be fully operational in the fall.
Taylor says he wants anyone to be able to feel a part of the project.
“We want to share a really cool version of Newfoundland. We want (customers) to be able to own a piece of this place.”