Wednesday November 20, 2019 – Sweet Cherry Spa held its five year anniversary Wednesday evening in Victoriaville Center. Scotia Kauppi, owner, started her business offering Smart, Safe & Sweet spa services in a small esthetics room within a hair salon in Westfort.

Coming from teaching esthetics and makeup artistry at Everest College, starting small and building up her place in the community was her next step. Sweet Cherry received a place in the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre (EC) Starter Company program, being awarded with their grant for young entrepreneurs. 

In the five years since; she has expanded into her own (current) location, working on award winning films, winning top three nail salon 2017-2019, voted best Brazilian wax in Thunder Bay 2018 and expanded into giving lectures and presentations about combining makeup artistry and entrepreneurship. 

Wednesday, November 20th  Kauppi hosted her open house where Councilor Brian Hamilton awarding Sweet Cherry with a Mayoral scroll recognizing five years of success. Sweet Cherry also made the highly anticipated launch of exclusive merchandise featuring art by local artists Micro VonFrankenstein & Sonya LaCroix of High Tide Tattoo Parlour, Boy Roland visual artist and fan art by 12 year old Zyrus Watson (of Ottawa). Catering was provided by Bay Village Coffee. Surrounded by family, friends and clients the Sweet Cherry Spa anniversary was a success! 

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Contact: Ryan Moore, Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre (EC), 807-625-3960 or rmoore@thunderbay.ca

Scotia Kauppi, Owner – Sweet Cherry Spa, 807-251-2891 or scotiamua@gmail.com 

About CEDC: The CEDC is responsible for business development, retention and expansion, entrepreneurial support, opportunity promotion, and the collection and assessment of key business data. The CEDC receives formal proposals for projects that will contribute to economic development. It responds quickly to new opportunities and initiatives to attract direct financial involvement from the government and private sectors. For more information, visit www.ThunderBayCEDC.ca.

About the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre (EC)

The Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre is funded through a partnership between the Province of Ontario and the City of Thunder Bay. We exist to offer free and confidential small business counselling services to both new and existing small businesses. Our services vary from providing information on various business topics to one-on-one consultation with a Small Business Counsellor.

About The Starter Company: This program is currently closed but will start up again soon! Starter Company Plus provides training sessions on important business topics. Program participants work with the Programs Coordinator to complete a business plan for their new start up, business purchase, or expansion.

Upon completion of a business plan, participants may apply for a grant of up to $5,000. Grant recipients also receive mentorship as part of the program.