WIN THIS SPACE
Herbal remedy retailer wins downtown storefront contest for entrpreneurs
Nadine McCallen is ready to roll after winning Win This Space on Thursday night. She’s already been operating her own business, Willow’s Bark, online for the last two and a half years — all she needed was her own space. “All I’ve got to do is open some doors,” McCallen said. The 30-year-old was announced as this year’s Win This Space winner at The Venue. The top spot earned the McCallen a downtown storefront rentfree for a year and a $45,000 prize package, including marketing and advertising packages, office supplies and accounting assistance. McCallen hopes to open Rowan Apothecary by July. The store will sell her herbal remedies as well as her organic beauty and skincare products. She also plans to create a social space within the apothecary where residents can blend their own teas, sit and read, or take part in a workshop. The former Barrie resident moved to Peterborough three months ago, just in time to be enter the contest. “As luck would have it the contest just happened at the right time.” McCallen was one of the top 10 finalists, going up against entrepreneurs with businesses or ideas such as a bicycle museum, an escape maze, a natural health clinic and baby teething accessories. She said she was shocked to hear her name called Thursday night, but also found it comforting. “It let’s me know that what I’m doing, is what I should be doing … it gives me the hint that I have a successful idea,” she said. McCallen and the other nine finalists spent the last three months fine-tuning their business proposals at Win This Space workshops focused on marketing, financial planning and business plans. The knowledge gained during that time was invaluable to McCallen. “I’ve learned so many things I wouldn’t have learned otherwise.” Win This Space is a contest for new or prospective business owners. The Downtown Business Improvement Area launched the initiative in 2016 in partnership with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development, Community Futures Peterborough and Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs. Five contestants from last year’s competition have already opened shops downtown. Last year’s winner was Tina Bromley, of Tiny Greens. Bromley opened the microgreenery on George Street last summer.
It let’s me know that what I’m doing, is what I should be doing NADINE MCCALLEN Willow’s Bark