Bill Stewart had just been laid off when he went to his wife with the idea – posed to him by a lawyer friend – of starting a clean energy company.
Her first reaction was to remind him that, “You’re not green. You have to go back and tell him you’re the wrong guy.”
Not a great start. But three years of research and trial-and-error later, he opened Terra20, which attempts to provide green and sustainable products for the average consumer.
Stewart’s experiences starting and subsequently running the store were showcased during a seminar organized by four business management and entrepreneurship students held on Nov. 23 at the AC Hub.
Stewart, president of Terra20, Sihem Benali, founder of Biosecrets and Rick Payant, owner of three Natural Food Pantry locations, provided advice for the students.
Stewart was the keynote speaker for the seminar. During his informal speech he talked about his experience as the co-founder of Terra20.
After Stewart’s presentation, that included a large slideshow of statistics and observations, he was joined by Benali and Payant for a question and answer session.
Most students in attendance were from the business management and entrepreneurship program. Several seemed interested in Benali’s product, a hand-made, Moroccan argan oil.
Benali, born Algerian and currently living in Ottawa, brought the oil to CBC television program Dragons’ Den in Nov. 2014, and initially walked away with a deal to help distribution across Canada. When it came time to sign a contract, however, Benali was unhappy with the terms of the deal.
Throughout her time talking at the seminar, Benali implored students to go into a business that they believe in, and stay true to themselves.