THUNDER BAY - Julaine Trudeau was waiting for something to inspire her.
A second-year business student at Lakehead University, Trudeau was exploring the possibility of starting a small business, but didn’t know what to monetize.
That’s when she rediscovered her childhood hobby of beading.
“I was doing it because I needed to get something started,” Trudeau said. “The more I did it, the more I started loving it.”
Just two months later, with the help from the Summer Company at Staples program, Trudeau launched ‘lazy.pearl jewelry,’ which specializes in dangle earrings.
Trudeau, originally from Muskrat Dam First Nation, learned how to bead at the age of nine from the elders of the community.
“(Beading) wasn’t something that stuck with me throughout the years, but it’s something that I picked up again this summer. It’s been really cool to reconnect with this skill I had as a child.”
Trudeau uses a technique called anodization which changes the colour of a metallic solution.
“I usually start out with a design in mind and it rarely comes out the way I want it to, but it comes out in a really cool and special way.”
“It’s been a big learning curve. I’ve learned a lot. But being my own boss was something I always dreamed about.”
Pasquale Coccimiglio, general manager of Staples helped launch the Summer Company at Staples program six years ago in Thunder Bay.
Now, students like Trudeau are one of the hundreds who display their businesses at Staples across Ontario.
“If they were doing this on their own, they wouldn’t have the level of publicity and customer engagement and real live potential customers for them to gain,” Coccimiglio said.
Summer Company applicant can earn up to $1,500 to assist with their business start-up and an additional $1,500 for completing the program.
Coccimiglio said the inspiration was being able to support entrepreneurship.
“It takes a certain level of drive, and courage, and initiative to start your own company, especially at the young age some of these student entrepreneurs are at.”
Requests to purchase Trudeau’s jewelry can be made on the Instagram page @lazy.pearl.jewelry.
