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Pitch perfect: Entrepreneurs behind Shuswap product reveal pathway to the Dragon91裸聊视频檚 Den

Canadian Barley Tea Company91裸聊视频檚 Janice Ishizaka and Cilla Watkins to appear on upcoming episode
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Sisters Janice Ishizaka and Cilla Watkins are unable to discuss the details of their time in the Dragon91裸聊视频檚 Den, but they91裸聊视频檙e happy to share how they got there.

The Canadian Barley Tea Company founders were chosen to take part in season 15, now airing, of the CBC TV series in which Canadian business owners pitch to win the financial support of the program91裸聊视频檚 experienced entrepreneurs.

91裸聊视频淲e were always Dragon91裸聊视频檚 Den fans and we knew it could be great for exposure and to, of course, meet the dragons,91裸聊视频 said Ishizaka. 91裸聊视频淲e always had it in our minds we wanted to do it.

91裸聊视频淭he issue for us is we were a little bit worried we were too small.91裸聊视频

After some discussion, Ishizaka, who lives in Japan, and Watkins, who resides in the Shuswap, decided to go for it.

91裸聊视频淲e applied and they said yeah, you passed the first stage,91裸聊视频 said Ishizaka.

The next step in the audition process, due to COVID-19, involved a video pitch. The sisters each made videos on their cell phones, editing them together for a 91裸聊视频渟hort, sweet introduction to themselves and the company.91裸聊视频

In response, the sisters received an enthusiastic email from the Dragon91裸聊视频檚 Den production team, stating they were impressed with what they saw. From there, Ishizaka and Watkins were on their way to meet the dragons.

Originally from Salmon Arm, Ishizaka, who lives in Tokyo, got the idea for a Canadian roasted barley tea brand to remedy a problem she encountered whenever she91裸聊视频檇 return to Salmon Arm. Since the tea was a household favourite for her family, she would bring home a suitcase full of mugicha (barley tea) bags, as she couldn91裸聊视频檛 buy them in Canada.

Ishizika contacted her sister with the idea of making mugicha locally and the pair discovered they could source the barley in Armstrong.

Not long after, the sisters entered Okanagan College91裸聊视频檚 Launch-A-Preneur event. Watkins91裸聊视频 live pitch earned the sisters two awards and the support of local businesses including Askew91裸聊视频檚.

91裸聊视频淲hat really helped was the experience of doing Launch-A-Preneur because Cilla had to get up on the stage in front of all of those people and pitch,91裸聊视频 said Izhizaka, sharing how the local experience prepared them for Dragon91裸聊视频檚 Den. 91裸聊视频淪o she91裸聊视频檇 done it before. Or course it91裸聊视频檚 nerve-wracking to get up and pitch in front of the six dragons, but Launch-A-Preneur preps you. I totally recommend that program.91裸聊视频

Watkins and Ishizaka are also very grateful for all the support they have received through the Tsuts91裸聊视频檞eye Women91裸聊视频檚 Entrepreneur and Innovation Network. This included the opportunity to do a practice pitch with Tsuts91裸聊视频檞eye91裸聊视频檚 entrepreneur-in-residence Andrew Klingal and his team of business professors from the Okanagan School of Business via Accelerate Okanagan.

91裸聊视频淚t was a zoom call with five of us and really helped us to become pitch perfect,91裸聊视频 said Ishizaka.

Having gone through the Dragon91裸聊视频檚 Den experience, the sisters have some advice for other entrepreneurs who might attempt to follow in their footsteps. Their first point is just do it.

91裸聊视频淲ho is stopping you? You are stopping yourself. No one else is stopping you,91裸聊视频 said Isizaka and Watkins. 91裸聊视频淭hey can always tell you no but until you try you never know.91裸聊视频

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Another point the two stressed is to be prepared and know your numbers.

91裸聊视频淎lmost every day Cilla and I were talking to each other, practising, writing questions, repeating the questions, because you know, if you91裸聊视频檝e seen the show, when you go on, if you don91裸聊视频檛 know your numbers and you don91裸聊视频檛 have any answers to their questions, you91裸聊视频檙e dead in the water pretty much instantly,91裸聊视频 said Ishizaka.

91裸聊视频淓veryone tells you know your numbers. You may think that means how much you want to ask for and what percentage and how much you91裸聊视频檝e sold. But numbers are so much deeper than that,91裸聊视频 added Watkins.

One more point, something Ishizaka and Watkins have learned through a number of experiences now, is that it is important to practise your pitch.

91裸聊视频淚 really think it91裸聊视频檚 so important to practise pitching, pitch to your friends, to your mom or your dad or whoever,91裸聊视频 said Ishizaka. 91裸聊视频淎nd you videotape yourself and watch your video and practise and rehearse. Everything is pitching these days.91裸聊视频

91裸聊视频淣obody likes standing in front of people,91裸聊视频 added Watkins. 91裸聊视频淧itching is uncomfortable, but once you get into it, it91裸聊视频檚 exciting and you are happy to share your experience and to teach them about what you have to sell and why your product is unique and why they should like it. So the nervousness dissipates rather quickly when you see their interest.91裸聊视频

Watkins and Ishizaka expect to know soon when their visit in the Dragon91裸聊视频檚 Den will be aired.

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Lachlan Labere

About the Author: Lachlan Labere

Editor, Salmon Arm Observer
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