The winner of this year's "Win This Space" contest for one year's free space in the village of Vanastra, says she'll set up a jewelry manufacturing business there that will supply jewelry stores throughout Midwestern Ontario.
Gerrie Huenemoerder says she's found the location she wants and it will give her room to grow as she expands her business over the next two years. By then she expects to have about ten employees, and she explains she will be offering skilled positions, but she will train her employees to manufacture custom-made jewelry for retail stores as well as sales from her web page. Huenemoerder says she expects to be up and running within four to six weeks.
The first prize for winning the contest includes further mentoring through Huron East Economic Development Officer Jan Hawley.
The judging was held Friday night at the Seaforth Golf Club.
This is the second year for the "Win This Space contest."
Last year's winner won retail space for a year on the main street in Seaforth, and that contest resulted in nine new businesses starting up.
Huenemoerder says she started a crowd-funding page to raise money to buy a 3D printer, and offered a piece of her jewelry as an incentive to donate. Only a few people actually donated, but they all bought some of her jewelry so she's confident there is a market for what she's offering. More information about her business and her jewelry can be found on her avelinajewelry.com website.
