Welcome back! Chris here, checking in with another edition of the Asper Scoop. Now I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m having a hard time believing that summer is nearly halfway done! It feels like just yesterday that work terms started, summer classes kicked off, and construction season began (well, maybe that’s a year-round thing at this point). Insert inspirational quote about time going by here.

That being said, we had a jam-packed month here in Winnipeg! June is Pride Month and the city showed out on June 4th: an estimated 10,000 people registered to march in the annual Pride parade, making it the biggest in Winnipeg’s history. In celebration of Pride, we heard the stories of two 2SLGBTQIA+ owned businesses that are thriving in our city.

Later in the month on June 21st, we celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day! Inaugurated in 1996, National Indigenous Peoples Day is an official day of celebration in honour of Indigenous cultures, traditions, and the contributions of Indigenous people across the country.  This month, we sat down with Kristin Fiddler, President of the University of Manitoba Indigenous Commerce Students (UMICS), to learn more about UMICS and her new role this year.

All this and more in this month’s scoop!

 

Celebrating Pride Month

June marks Pride Month in Canada, a time to celebrate the diversity, culture, and contributions of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Whether you identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ or as an ally, everyone is welcomed and encouraged to celebrate this June!

Pride Month is also a time of reflection and education, particularly on the struggles that members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community have faced throughout history. Through education and awareness, we can both acknowledge the progress made and recognize how much work is left in the fight for equal rights. Though a heightened awareness during the month of June is certainly important, it’s critical that we remember to uplift and support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community year round. 

In celebration of Pride Month, we’re highlighting two 2SLGBTQIA+ owned businesses that are thriving in Winnipeg: here are the stories of Vantage Vintage and Mai Creative Co.

 

Vantage Vintage: Sustainable Fashion in a Safe Space

Ever since Josh Alderson and Michael Duchon met, vintage clothing has been a huge part of their lives. What started off as Michael’s lifelong passion for fashion quickly blossomed into a shared appreciation of high-quality, sustainable vintage clothing, an appreciation that would become a central theme of their future store. As their interest in fashion continued to grow, so too did their idea for a business: Vantage Vintage, a sustainable, quality alternative to purchasing quickly discarded fast fashion.

First taking shape as an Instagram page, the pair worked to showcase their garments through markets and pop-ups around the city. Customers were responding in a big way, leaving Josh and Michael almost completely sold out after just one day of in-person sales at a local market. After making a guest appearance selling alongside Nettie and Min, another local vintage brand, Vantage was invited to become a full-time collaborator in their space. The time was right to make their dream a full-blown reality.

Fast forward to a year later and the owner of Nettie and Min had moved onto a new venture, leaving the store solely in the hands of Josh and Michael. Vantage Vintage as you see today began to take shape, with decor and clothing fully customized to the Vantage vision. Since then, the pair haven’t looked back, taking the Exchange by storm with a wide variety of fashion styles.

From the very beginning, Josh and Michael have taken pride in being able to provide a safe space for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities in their store. When the pair were growing up, self-expression was made difficult and there weren’t many, if any, safe spaces available in the city. By creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for everyone that walks through the doors of Vantage Vintage, Josh and Michael hope to let their patrons know that they are safe and loved for who they are. 

Josh’s advice to future entrepreneurs mirrors what himself and Michael did with Vantage Vintage: go all in. He recalls when he and Michael made the decision to fully commit to their dream, and he encourages others to not be afraid to make a decision when the choice presents itself. He noted a lot of people are afraid to take that leap, but he’s seen first hand that people will respond and will recognize your effort. In the case of Vantage Vintage, Josh and Michael’s effort has certainly paid off.

 

Mai Creative Co: Flourishing with Freelance

Thriving on creativity, marketing was a perfect fit for Winnipeg-born Lauren Lee. After graduating from both Red River College and The University of Winnipeg, Lauren found herself on a path not atypical of a marketing student, holding roles such as Digital Marketing Manager, Social Media Specialist, and Brand Manager post-grad. Lauren was gaining experience and making a name for herself in the marketing world; however, as is common with many stories that run through 2020-2021, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted her focus. When the company she worked for restructured, Lauren made the decision to take a crack at freelance work full time – thus, Mai Creative Co. was born.

Since then, Mai Creative Co. has flourished, working with countless small businesses in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Montreal. While the shift from 9-5 to 24/7 work took some adjusting to, Lauren is relishing in being able to help bring brand voices to life with her work. 

As her business continues to grow, Lauren emphasizes a focus on spotlighting 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC-owned businesses. She especially appreciates working with brands and businesses that do a lot of community work, shouting out Black Market Provisions and So Over It Luxury Consignment. Through her photos, designs, and content creation, she hopes to uplift businesses that deserve to have their voices heard.

With Pride Month taking place this June, the term “slacktivisim” has certainly become a hot topic in the marketing world. With select businesses and marketers supporting a cause through social media but failing to put the proper effort in, Lauren emphasizes that it takes so much more than simply switching to a rainbow profile photo in June and calling it a day. She suggests that marketers improve the impact of their pride month campaigns by consulting with 2SLGBTQIA+ identifying individuals, spotlighting 2SLGBTQIA+ owned businesses, and elevating voices within the community.

Lauren’s advice to any young entrepreneur is to seek out inspiration online and in everyday life. She recommends students to align themselves with people they’re inspired by and to not be afraid to ask questions: it never hurts to send an extra LinkedIn message or email (that’s how I ended up getting this interview in the first place!). Curiosity and creativity go hand in hand in marketing, and Lauren continues to demonstrate this daily.

 

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day

On June 21st, we celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day to recognize and commemorate Indigenous cultures, heritage, history, and resilience. Instituted across Canada in 1996, many Indigenous groups and communities have historically celebrated their culture on June 21st (or around that time), in correlation with the summer solstice.

 

This month, in honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day, we had the chance to chat with Kristin Fiddler, President of the University of Manitoba Indigenous Commerce Students (UMICS). Hear her journey of getting involved and her perspective on the upcoming year with UMICS.

 

UMICS: Creating Community on Campus

When Kristin Fiddler, a fourth-year student at the Asper School of Business, transferred to the U of M from Red River College, she didn’t really know what to expect. Coming over with two friends from RRC, she was unsure of what classes to take, who the best professors were, and which student groups she should join. It wasn’t until one of her friends recommended joining the University of Manitoba Indigenous Commerce Students (UMICS) did she truly find a community within Asper. Soon being offered a position on the 2021-22 UMICS Executive Team, Kristin jumped right into a role as VP Marketing, never looking back. This year, Kristin is gearing up for a term as President of the very same organization she joined at the start of her degree.

UMICS, a group of students who identify with or have a common interest in enhancing Indigenous culture within the Asper School of Business, was originally formed in an effort to create a sense of community support for Indigenous students within the Drake Centre. From Kristin’s perspective, Indigenous people face unique struggles and barriers in the business world, and UMICS is there as a support system full of students with shared experiences. With access to the IBEP (Indigenous Business Education Partners) lounge on the Drake Centre’s third-floor, UMICS members are always welcomed to study, chat, and hang out with fellow students. 

As UMICS heads into a new year, Kristin and her team have big plans for the organization. Coming back for their second year of in-person events after COVID, Kristin recognizes that there is still work to do to rebuild the awareness of UMICS within the Drake Centre. Her team wants to emphasize that there is an Indigenous community within Asper and increasing visibility will be key in making sure students know that. 

As she transitions from VP Marketing to President, Kristin is reflecting on how the President role has evolved since 2021 and is looking forward to putting her own spin on things. This year, Kristin’s focus is on providing support to her team and overseeing the organization as a whole to ensure a successful year. Having experience with both online and in-person events, Kristin is incredibly excited to get to work on a new term.

If you’re looking to get involved with UMICS this year, Kristin emphasizes that everyone is welcome at UMICS events. Especially with their on-campus initiatives, students are encouraged to drop by to meet new people, have some fun, and learn more about what UMICS does across campus. Keep your eye out for their annual bubble soccer event on the Quad!

 

Extra Credit: Get Involved with Case Competitions!

Looking to get involved with Asper? We have just the opportunity for you! The CSA is currently recruiting for the new Case Competition Committee, where members would assist in planning and executing multiple internal case competitions throughout the year. Available positions including two Directors of Logistics and one Director of Graphic Design: applications are open to all Asper students, no experience required!

Why enter your committee era? Not only will you be helping to plan some of Asper’s most important events, but you’ll also have the chance to make connections and memories along the way! 

Applications are open now at committees.aspercsa.com/apply: the deadline to apply is July 3rd at 11:59 PM.

 

That wraps up this month’s edition of the Asper Scoop! Special thank you to Josh and Michael from Vantage Vintage, Lauren from Mai Creative Co., and Kristin from the University of Manitoba Indigenous Commerce Students for sharing your stories with us. As well, a giant thank you to you for reading: I’m so excited to show you all what we have in store over the coming months!

 

See y’all in July,

Chris