JA British Columbia Alumni’s current success tracks back to her JA experience over a decade ago
Despite the fact that she’s never had a real job (in the traditional sense), Jenna Herbut has made quite a career for herself. The 36-year-old entrepreneur from Edmonton is the co-founder of Make It, one of the most popular and well-attended craft fairs in Canada with biannual shows in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary.
Jenna first discovered her entrepreneurial aspirations while participating in the JA Company Program. The student start-up she was part of made picture frames using smashed tiles that were formed into a mosaic pattern. She says she gained a lot of confidence in the program and learned the steps needed to launch a business. “The longer you wait, the scarier it is,” says Jenna. “Risk-taking is easier when you’re young.”
While in University, she founded an accessories company which made beaded belts for women. She wrote her business plan in her parents’ basement and coldcalled boutiques in Edmonton to convince them to sell her product. She managed to get into 30 shops and then began getting into bigger stores and apparel shows. But she soon realized she missed meeting people and selling to individuals. Her solution? Craft fairs. She saw that craft fairs were changing and was confident in her ability to put a successful one together. Thus, the first Stop and Shop was born in Edmonton and it wasn’t long before she brought it to Vancouver with her brother Chandler Herbut, her co-founder whom she recently bought out. Stop and Shop eventually became Make It.
She says the rise of social media in the early days of Make It helped grow the show and its popularity. Using Facebook and Twitter as marketing tools meant lower overhead costs and the ability to quickly spread the word.
In addition to running her company, Jenna is a JA Volunteer and mentors student start-ups in the JA Company Program, the very program that inspired her to become an entrepreneur. For the last two years she has invited JABC Company Program students to showcase, and sell, their products at Make It. This past year 16 JA student companies were at Make It, selling over 600 items that ranged from trendy socks to reusable food wraps and yes, homemade slime! In 2016, over 1200 students participated in the JABC Company Program. Approximately 50% of these youth will go on to open their own business.
Jenna can’t say enough about the importance of mentorship. She challenges business leaders to reach out to JA and inquire about how they too can get involved and help inspire youth to become the Laureates of the future.