The Sault’s Emily Arbour is putting her artistic talent to use.
The Grade 11 student at St. Mary’s College designs stickers for businesses, organizations and individuals, running her own business appropriately entitled Stick ‘Em.
Emily’s work, consisting of slogans and logos, can be seen on T-shirts, jerseys, mugs, cup holders, shopping bags, signs and other items.
She is one of 12 young entrepreneurs who were able to launch their own businesses this summer thanks to funding from the Summer Company program.
The program provides business training and mentoring to young entrepreneurs in high school or at the post-secondary level to help them start up a seasonal business.
The initiative is administered by the economic development division of the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
With summer gone, Emily is still successfully selling her wares.
“My mom has a business and I thought it would be cool to follow in her footsteps and follow a business path,” Emily told SooToday at the 11th annual Holiday Gift & Craft Show at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in November.
“I’m proud of her. She’s always been very artistic and loves crafts and painting. When this business opportunity came up I knew this was something she would be very passionate about,” said her mother, Krysten Arbour.
“I like being creative. I’ve made stickers for hockey helmets and I’ve made logos for hockey teams,” Emily said, listing the Winmar Wild hockey team as one of her clients.
Emily also added the Sault College Students' Union logo to T-shirts worn by SCSU members during this year’s Rotary Community Day Parade and has produced stickers and T-shirts for the Lake Superior Figure Skating Club.
The young entrepreneur said owning her own business is good for self-discipline and her artistic side will form part of her future plans.
“This is good for a side job but I want to be an elementary school teacher. Being creative will help me teach art to elementary school children,” Emily said.
Until then, she is enjoying running her own business. Her merchandise is available at vendors' events and through her social media pages.
“I’ve been very successful with my business. I get the word out through social media and I hand my business cards out,” said the busy teen, who also spends time on the ice as a member of the Lake Superior Figure Skating Club.