Last week, Pier Five hosted an incredible Community Dinner event at Hong Shing in Toronto, and it was nothing short of a resounding success. The event, which featured a 7-course Chinese family-style meal and a panel discussion with distinguished business owners, drew an enthusiastic crowd of creatives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Tickets sold out quickly, and the room was buzzing with inspiring conversations and valuable insights. Being a small business owner comes with its own set of challenges, especially in times of economic uncertainty. The goal of the event was to support and encourage the small business and creative community by sharing experiences and strategies for success. The evening began with a welcome cocktail, setting the tone for a night filled with networking and camaraderie. The 7-course dinner was a delightful journey through Chinese cuisine. Each dish was a testament to Hong Shing's culinary expertise, enhancing the atmosphere of collaboration and connection among attendees. The food was paired perfectly with delicious beer and wine courtesy o f Madri Excepcional & Charton Hobbs . The highlight of the evening was the panel discussion, featuring three remarkable business owners who have recently achieved incredible success in their respective industries. Carolyn Chen, Founder of Dandylion , shared her journey of innovation and resilience. Jess Miao and Chloe Beaudoin, Co-Founders of Apricotton , captivated the audience with their entrepreneurial spirit and insights into building a brand that resonates with young consumers. Justin Veiga, Co-Founder of Lost & Found , provided valuable perspectives on navigating the challenges of the retail industry. The panel discussion was not just a monologue; it was an interactive session with a lively group Q&A. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the panelists, asking questions and seeking advice tailored to their unique business situations. This exchange of ideas and experiences fostered a sense of community and mutual support among all present. One of the key takeaways from the event was the importance of collaboration and community in overcoming challenges. The entire group emphasized this, sharing knowledge, and supporting each other, showing that the small business community can thrive even in uncertain economic times. In addition to the dinner and discussion, attendees were all connected via the Pier Five community channels post-event. This feature has allowed for continued networking and support, ensuring that the connections made during the evening can develop into lasting, beneficial relationships. The success of this event is a testament to the vibrant and resilient spirit of our small business community. Pier Five is committed to hosting more events like this, fostering an environment where entrepreneurs and creatives can learn, grow, and support each other. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making this dinner event a memorable and impactful experience. We look forward to seeing you at our next gathering! If you're interested in joining the next Pier Five Community Dinner, follow us on Instagram or send us an email at community@pier-five.com !

Earlier this month, Pier Five proudly hosted its first ‘Community Court Day’ event in Toronto in partnership with PUMA. The event was designed to give entrepreneurs and creatives a new way to connect outside of the office in a space that was conducive to conversation and relationship building. As big proponents of 'breaking up the work week', Pier Five brought out 25 of Toronto's cultural change-makers, including business owners, artists, content creators and brand leads to spend a day on the court, a place that fostered so many relationships for us growing up. The day got started with guests arriving to a care package with some of PUMA's newest basketball gear; of course we had to hook them up in the best. From the beginning, strangers instantly started becoming friends and learning about each other. There's something about trying on new sneakers with others that get spirits high. After some introductions, basketball coach/trainer and founder of Core Basketball, Ali Nizam, started the day with warmups and partner drills designed to get people out of their comfort zone. Regardless of experience, every single person was sweating by the end of it. Spirits were definitely high, and safe to say we were all on an equal playing field after that. The warm ups were followed up refreshments from our friends at Neutria and Barbet who kept us hydrated throughout the day and a good 'ol fashioned 'name game' - of course we had to bring some summer camp memories back - to help everyone learn a bit more about who was in the room. After that, guests were put into teams to put their skills to the test. Every single person was playing hard and throwing it down! Lastly, we wrapped the day with a roundtable-style discussion focused on getting out of your comfort zone , something that is key for entrepreneurs and that every guest of the day demonstrated so well that day. The #1 goal of the day was give creatives and entrepreneurs a unique space to get to know each other and we couldn't be more proud of how much that was accomplished. In an age of social media connections and a non-stop grind to the top, finding time to meet likeminded individuals in-person, even those in our own backyard, can be very difficult but when you find a way to do it, break down all of the walls, and just let people jam, the results are incredible. A major thank you to every single person who came out with an open mind and willingness to learn. We can't wait to see how these conversations turn into incredible things outside of the gym doors. As well, thank you to Neutria and Barbet for the incredible drinks and of course, thank you so much to PUMA for supporting our vision of creating unique spaces for inspiring people to connect and grow. We can't wait until the next one!

"You get out what you put in" is something we all need to remind ourselves of more often. Nishal Kumar, founder of the wellness supplements brand, No Days Wasted, that helps anyone maximize life's moments after a night out, has made a living off of this mantra and his story is an incredible example to emulate. From becoming the sponsor for some of the biggest podcasts in North America, to locking in over 1200  retailer partners, Nish knows a thing or two about making your own opportunities and we got to speak to him to gain some fresh insights that are very applicable for any new founder. Check out the conversation below! Hey Nish! Thanks for taking the time to chat. One of the first things we want to know is how the partnership with Barstool, which was huge for the brand in the early days, got off the ground. Oh ya, that was great! Over 5 years ago, we connected with Paul Bissonnette 'Biz Nasty' who was spending a summer in Vancouver after he retired from the NHL and was working with a couple buddies of mine. There was one night, we're all out, and my buddies told me Biz was going to be there and to come out. I went and I had a couple packets on me and I gave them to him, and that was my first touch point. A couple days later, I saw him at the gym and I gave him a full box of product. He ended up going to an event the next day and calls me, and he tells me he tried the product, had about ten beers and woke up the next day like nothing happened. He mentioned he was joining this podcast called Spittin’ Chiclets and introduced me to Barstool Sports. We started working with them and Spittin’ Chiclets was a home run out of the gate. I asked Barstool if they had any female demo shows and they mentioned Call Her Daddy which was just launching at that time. They were like "it's pretty crazy. It's pretty out there, but it might just work." so we tested with them and saw instant return, like 7-10x right out of the gate. We were the first brand to sponsor Call Her Daddy, which ended up blowing up and becoming the biggest female podcast in North America. The big learning was really, you need to make that investment and take a chance on things early on when and if something works, double down on it. It seems like now there are so many brands doing this? What do you think of the competition? Yes the space got very crowded but in general but between those days and now, my view on competition is very different. Early on, I was actually very averse to competition and I was concerned about what all of our competitors were doing. I would be offended if they did anything too close to us. These days, things have shifted. I really welcome the competition from players that have staying power and are creating a meaningful product and brand. The reason being is because ultimately, this competition drives awareness to a category that's emerging. If we're the only player on shelf, who's going to know about the category? Only the people that know about us. But, if you think about the value that competition provides, it's that they're providing extra eyeballs onto us for free and we are validating a new category together by creating great products with high efficacy, safety and value for consumers. That's a very good attitude to have and regardless of the competition now, it's incredible to hear about how you created that opportunity for yourself. If you're proactive, you're assertive, you are charismatic and personable, good things will happen. That's why I spent quite a bit of time in New York, and continue to do so. It's the epicenter of chaos, and there are a lot of people doing great things out there. My focus is always to meet cool people doing great things. At the very least, I could just make a friend, or on the other end, we could do something meaningful together from a business point of view. If you're not there, if you don't show up, if you're not putting yourself out there, it won't happen. As an emerging brand, use what you have. You may not have tons of capital behind you, but you have your energy that you put out to the world, and the best way to showcase that is by actually going out there and doing it. Would you say that's your big tip for brands, especially ones in the early stage of their business? I have a few tips but the biggest thing is to remember that how you do anything is how you do everything. For me, whether that's going to the gym every day and staying focused or playing ball and putting my best foot forward, I just want to be consistent, I want to care about what I do, and I want to solve problems. That's the same way I treat my business and that's not just work, that's life. Your success and your achievements are going to come from your efforts. So top three things; give a damn about what you do, be consistent and just do it well. We couldn't agree more. Before we finish off, any other advice for new founders? You need to go where you're wanted. For example, maybe you have a dream retailer or dream partner that you want to work with but at the end of the day, make sure it's not a delusion. It's like when you're growing up and there's that girl you see that you're into but turns out they're the most toxic person in the world. You don't want that. You want to go where you're wanted. That's been a big part of our retail strategy. We always want to hear a no from a retailer rather than a maybe, because that will allow us to move on to the yeses and find the places where we're wanted. Make sure to check out No Days Wasted and keep it locked to Pier Five for more founder conversations just like this!

norda x ciele "Cooper's Hawk" Launch Recap A couple weeks back, we were lucky enough to get the invite out to the launch party for the norda x ciele “Cooper’s Hawk” 001 sneaker. This shoe marked the first ever footwear project for Montreal based running brand ciele and an iconic milestone for norda in regards to footwear development, with special details like the Cooper’s Hawk inspired yellow Vibram midsole, something that Vibram has never approved to any other brand in the world due to concerns around it contrasting with the Vibram logo. The launch event consisted of a community gathering at Off The Hook, Montreal’s premier sneaker boutique, where guests got to try on the norda 001s, followed by a 7km trail run hosted by Run Rite. Post-run, everyone gathered back at Off The Hook for some refreshments and music. This event marked the first launch event for norda and the first time that many got to feel and try on the norda 001 in person so we were absolutely thrilled to be able to attend. Pier Five got the chance to chat with runners and the norda team about the launch and even laced up the norda 001s to join the Run Rite run club for what was a very fun and challenging hike through the famed Mont Royal park in the plateau of Montreal. The energy was at an all time high, everyone’s feet were more comfortable than ever, and it’s safe to say that this evening solidified norda as a force to be reckoned with both in the running and lifestyle footwear space. Scroll down to watch the official event recap video filmed and edited by Pier Five, as well as check out photos from the event and run. Swipe through the slideshow for photos. To learn more about the norda x ciele “Cooper’s Hawk” 001 and purchase a pair for yourself, head to norda’s website and keep it locked to Pier Five for more stories and interviews with our favourite designers, entrepreneurs, creators, brands and more.

Subvention de Mastercard et Pier Five pour petite entreprise 2023 (cliquez ici pour l'anglais) Voir les bénéficiaires 2023 (Le programme 2023 est fermé). C’est la passion d’aider les entrepreneurs et les propriétaires de petites entreprises qui anime Pier Five. Après avoir constaté les résultats incroyables de la subvention de Mastercard et Pier Five pour petite entreprise de 2022, nous annonçons avec fierté qu’elle sera doublée cette année. C’est donc dix petites entreprises appartenant à des femmes qui recevront chacune 10 000 $ CA , et les lauréates sont invitées à vivre une expérience qui n’a pas de prix : une occasion d’accroître leurs activités et de nouer des contacts avec des mentors et des spécialistes de Mastercard. ​ Nous invitons les propriétaires de petite entreprise admissibles à soumettre leur candidature pour courir la chance de recevoir l’une des dix subventions de 10 000 $ CA et de vivre une expérience qui n’a pas de prix à Toronto, dans le cadre d’ateliers commandités par Mastercard. ​ Photos de 2023 Découvrez les gagnantes de la subvention 2022 ici. Mastercard, Priceless et le concept de cercles sont des marques déposées de Mastercard International Incorporated. © Mastercard, 2023. Tous droits réservés.

Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2023 (Click here for French) VIEW 2023 RECIPIENTS! (The 2023 program is now closed). Having an impact with entrepreneurs and small business owners is something that we are extremely passionate about at Pier Five. After seeing such an incredible impact from the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund in 2022, we are proud to announce that this year, the fund is doubling. T en women-owned small businesses in Canada will receive $10,000 CAD each in funding and a Priceless Experience to help grow their businesses and enable them to connect with mentors and Mastercard experts. ​ Women small business owners who meet the required qualifications can apply for a chance to receive one of ten funds of $10,000 CAD and a Priceless Experience in Toronto with events sponsored by Mastercard. ​ 2023 Priceless Experience Photos Learn more about the 2022 recipients here! Mastercard, Priceless, and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. ©2023 Mastercard. All rights reserved.