Creators Grant About the project Since day one, Pier Five has striven to inspire and educate its community by sharing insightful conversations with, and the works of, its favourite designers, creators, entrepreneurs and subject matter experts. This year, we are excited to take this a step further with the launch of the Pier Five Creators Grant , a financial grant and mentorship opportunity that will be presented to an emerging creative, selected by both Pier Five and its community. To raise funds for this grant, we have collaborated with eight incredible creatives on a capsule collection of limited edition products, from reworked and handmade apparel to home goods and original art works. Before launching the collection, we will spend some time telling the stories of the eight masterminds behind the works and you can read more about them below. The collection will launch for a limited time in early July and all proceeds from the sales will go towards the financial grant which creatives (worldwide) can apply for in August (more on the applications coming soon). Timeline We are excited to have you along for the journey as we continue to grow this incredible community of designers, artists, entrepreneurs, creators and many others around the world and hope that you can learn something new and maybe even cop something cool along the way! - Jeff + Julian Meet The Designers Click on a designer to learn more. Congratulations Nick Vo of Nick's Jewellery! Learn more about Nick Shop the Collection (Closed) View The Lookbook

5 Essential Tax Strategies for Small Business Owners to Save Money Managing your small business taxes effectively can mean the difference between keeping more of your hard-earned revenue or overpaying the government. We partnered with tax expert Mark Solis, Founder of Solis Financial , to bring you five essential tax-saving strategies for small business owners that can help maximize savings and build long-term financial security. 1. Incorporate Your Business & Pay Yourself Smartly If your business is generating consistent revenue, incorporation can help you take advantage of lower corporate tax rates. Instead of taking all earnings as a salary, consider a mix of salary and dividends to lower your personal tax bill. A salary is subject to payroll taxes but provides RRSP contribution room, while dividends are taxed at a lower rate but do not generate RRSP room. This strategy provides flexibility and can help optimize your tax situation. 2. Maximize Small Business Tax Deductions Every eligible business tax deduction you claim reduces your taxable income. Common small business tax write-offs include: Home office expenses (if you work from home) Vehicle costs (if used for business) Advertising and marketing Office supplies and business meals Tracking and categorizing expenses properly ensures you don’t leave money on the table when filing your business taxes. 3. Use an Individual Pension Plan (IPP) or RRSP to Reduce Taxable Income Saving for retirement while lowering your small business taxes is a win-win. If you’re incorporated, an Individual Pension Plan (IPP) allows for higher contribution limits than an RRSP and is a great tax-deferral tool. If you’re a sole proprietor, contributing to an RRSP helps reduce taxable income while building long-term wealth. 4. Set Up a Health Spending Account (HSA) for Tax-Free Medical Expenses Health and dental expenses can add up, but with a Health Spending Account (HSA), you can cover these costs 100% tax-free. HSAs allow small business owners to deduct medical expenses as a business expense, reducing taxes while providing essential health benefits for themselves and their employees. However, to qualify, business owners must earn more than half of their income from the business. Be sure to review all HSA eligibility criteria to ensure compliance. 5. Split Income with Family Members to Reduce Your Tax Burden If your spouse or children help out in your business, consider paying them a reasonable salary for their work. This strategy shifts income to lower tax brackets and helps reduce your overall tax burden. Just ensure their compensation aligns with the work performed to meet CRA requirements. About Mark Solis – Small Business Tax Expert With over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, Mark Solis founded Solis Financial Services to help Canadians maximize tax savings and achieve financial security through proven insurance and investment strategies. His career began as an Associate Financial Advisor with The Co-operators, where he eventually managed his own office before launching his independent brokerage. Today, he partners with Canada's top insurance and investment companies to deliver the best financial planning solutions to his clients.

Pier Five interviews and founder conversations. Conversations Explore Pier Five's latest conversations with our entrepreneur community. Business (84) 84 posts Art & Design (65) 65 posts Streetwear (63) 63 posts Sneakers (43) 43 posts Wellness (30) 30 posts Food (21) 21 posts Activism (19) 19 posts Sports (19) 19 posts Photography (16) 16 posts Music (12) 12 posts Small Business Activation Grant Runner Up: Yueh Tung Restaurant Jun 22 Small Business Activation Grant Runner Up: Stimmie Jun 22 Small Business Activation Grant Winner: Grays Jun 22 5 Essential Tax Strategies for Small Business Owners to Save Money Mar 7 5-Tips On Brand Building From Kuwalla Tee's Founder Yaniv Abecassis Nov 26, 2024 Pier Five Community Canvas For Kuwalla Tee Sep 25, 2024 Your Number One Resource With Nishal Kumar of No Days Wasted Apr 24, 2024 Playing the Game Better With Drew Stevens of Margin Skincare Mar 11, 2024 Doing It Yourself With Carol Pak of Makku Feb 7, 2024 Creating Your Identity With Jun Arnaiz of Neutria Jan 9, 2024 Ready For Anything With Bimma Williams Nov 21, 2023 Building Your Own Spaces With Monday Girl Nov 8, 2023 Protecting Your Brand With Zak Kurtz of Sneaker Legal Oct 9, 2023 Embracing Your Community With Sarah Sukumaran of Lilith NYC Sep 9, 2023 A Strong Foundation With Carlo Aragon of Salomonology Aug 25, 2023 Embracing Impermanence With Sandro Petrillo of SSSOAPS Aug 11, 2023 Doing It His Way With Rae Mendoza of ICYT Jul 28, 2023 Slow & Steady with Josh Heares of Porter James Sports Jul 15, 2023 Putting In The Hours With Jess Sanchez of Santa Isla Jun 21, 2023 A New Chapter With Jason Faustino Of Saucony Mar 21, 2023 Chasing Your Curiosity With Carolyn Chen of Dandylion Mar 8, 2023 Keeping It Authentic With Katherine Johnsen Feb 16, 2023 Easy Going With Lorenzo Brunetti Of END. Clothing Feb 8, 2023 Shaking Up An Institution With Colin Li of Hong Shing Jan 26, 2023 Loving The Journey With Adam The Illustrator Jan 17, 2023 Doing It Yourself With Glory Allan Nov 27, 2022 Ball Talk With Albert Nguyen of Double Dribble Nov 15, 2022 Continuing The Legacy With Nick Vo Aug 30, 2022 Writing History With Sam Le Roy of Hartcopy May 10, 2022 Alpha/Beta: The Next Chapter With Raised by Wolves May 2, 2022 On The Map With Free Agent Wearhouse Apr 20, 2022 Showing Up With Liz Beecroft Apr 4, 2022 Earning Your Place With Titi Finlay Mar 20, 2022 Outworking The Competition With Eric Chong of R&D Mar 7, 2022 Staying Curious With Patrick Stangbye Feb 25, 2022 Putting In The Hours With Dan Climan Feb 10, 2022 1 2 3

Interviews Explore conversations with our esteemed guests from around the world. Business (84) 84 posts Art & Design (65) 65 posts Streetwear (63) 63 posts Sneakers (43) 43 posts Wellness (30) 30 posts Food (21) 21 posts Activism (19) 19 posts Sports (19) 19 posts Photography (16) 16 posts Music (12) 12 posts 5-Tips On Brand Building From Kuwalla Tee's Founder Yaniv Abecassis Nov 26, 2024 Playing the Game Better With Drew Stevens of Margin Skincare Mar 11, 2024 Doing It Yourself With Carol Pak of Makku Feb 7, 2024 Keeping It Authentic With Katherine Johnsen Feb 16, 2023 Dancing Through The Yarn With Trish Andersen Dec 17, 2021 From The Streets To The Big Stage With Kizmet Dec 10, 2021 Behind The Curtain With Nicko Bruno Dec 6, 2021 A Conversation With Ostrya Equipment Nov 24, 2021 A Conversation With Estudio Niksen Nov 14, 2021 A Conversation With Photographer Wade Hudson Nov 4, 2021 A Studio Visit With Simon Petepiece Oct 27, 2021 Finding That Secret Sauce With Tam Vu Oct 22, 2021 A Conversation With Daniel and Caleb of Circle Author Oct 19, 2021 A Day In Montreal With LeBicar Oct 14, 2021 A Conversation With Kyron Warrick aka Gotsweige Oct 7, 2021 Behind The Brand With Gerard Cleal of norda Sep 24, 2021 A Conversation With Cal Green of Raised By Wolves Sep 21, 2021 Street Stylin’ With Editorial Boutique Sep 15, 2021 A Conversation With Albert Nguyen of Hudson's Bay Sep 8, 2021 norda x ciele "Cooper's Hawk" Launch Recap Sep 3, 2021 Never Too Comfortable With Louis-Martin Tremblay Aug 11, 2021 A Conversation With Garret "GMAN" Louie of TAIKAN Aug 4, 2021 A Conversation With Olivia Ho of The Give and Grow Jul 26, 2021 An Introduction to norda™ Jul 16, 2021 A Conversation With Carlos Ortiz of 8Point5 Agency Jul 6, 2021 Good Fashion Starts With Function w/ Jay Yoo Jun 18, 2021 A Conversation With Addam Rodriguez of The Arrivals Jun 10, 2021 The Tale Of A Sneakerhead Who Found Running Jun 3, 2021 A Conversation with Sylvia Hoang of Studio S May 21, 2021 Making It Personal w/ Watch Parts Motorcycles May 13, 2021 Developing Your Style Formula w/ Matthew Spade May 7, 2021 A Conversation with Jarah Stoop of Peterson Stoop Mar 27, 2021 A Conversation With Air Vegan Mar 20, 2021 A Conversation With Jazz Alba Mar 13, 2021 A Conversation With Vinyl Art Not A Toy Mar 6, 2021 A Conversation With Titi Finlay Feb 27, 2021 A Conversation With Liz Beecroft Feb 20, 2021 A Conversation With Post Design Collective Feb 13, 2021 A Conversation With Tara Miller of Health Hut Feb 6, 2021 A Conversation With Aran Raviandran of Get Fresh Company Jan 30, 2021 A Conversation With Obra.Jay Jan 23, 2021 A Conversation With Blume Jan 16, 2021 A Conversation With Tristan Banning Jan 12, 2021 A Conversation With Sean Go Jan 9, 2021 A Conversation With Cereal Artist Jan 5, 2021 A Conversation With Jon Elias of Lost & Found Jan 2, 2021 A Conversation With Kishan Mistry Dec 29, 2020 A Conversation With Julie Clark of Province Apothecary Dec 26, 2020 A Conversation With Chris Casuga of CNTRBND Dec 22, 2020 A Conversation With Florence Tang of Lot Stock & Barrel Dec 19, 2020

2023 Recipient: Cubed Style Inc. Introducing Cubed Style Inc, one of the ten recipients of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2023! Who: Christine, Candace & Camille Oliver Where: Toronto, ON Instagram / Website Cubed Style Inc. was founded in 2020 out of necessity. The three sisters behind Cubed Style Inc. searched for an eczema solution , but struggled to find success in doctor prescribed ointments and creams, so they took matters into their own hands, formulating natural body and hair butters for all skin and hair types. Driven by the connections they make with parents desperately looking for solutions and adults and children suffering from eczema local markets, Cubed Style has become an award winning brand and is recognized by their community as one of the leading Black companies in Toronto. How will you use the $10,000 CAD for your business? The majority of the $10,000 fund will go towards new packaging inventory that is 100% eco-friendly. Currently, we use recyclable glass jars as well as recycled cardboard boxes and biodegradable packing peanuts for shipping. We would like for us to go completely eco-friendly by purchasing 100% biodegradable pouches. We would also like to purchase new ingredients to expand our offerings and fulfill with some major beauty retailers. Lastly, with such a big part of our marketing strategy involving markets and pop-ups across the country, we hope to enhance our vendor set up with new and improved signage, banners, tables and decor. What is your big goal for the future of the business? A big goal of ours is to increase our product range with a natural shampoo and conditioner, still falling in line with our pledge to create products with no more than 5 ingredients. As a black woman with curly 4C hair, I (Christine) have used countless shampoos and conditioners, all of which claim to be natural or organic but they have left my hair extremely dry and dehydrated. We want to make a full collection that our customers can use from head-to-toe, which will keep their skin and hair moisturized daily. Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2023 recipients here .

A Spring Clean-Up Day to Remember This past weekend, more than 70 creatives and entrepreneurs in our community came together to make a meaningful difference in our city. Hosted in partnership with our friends at Lost & Found and Sonndr , the Pier Five Community Clean-Up Day was more than just a feel-good networking event. It was a powerful reminder of what can happen when community shows up, rolls up its sleeves, and gets to work. With blue skies above and energy high, volunteers gathered at Sonndr, a local-favourite right above trinity Bellwoods Park, for free coffee and clean up gear before spreading out across the park to clean up ahead of the upcoming summer season. This clean-up day wasn't just about waste removal, it was about building pride in where we live and making space for connection. It was about being outside, doing something hands-on, and creating a ripple effect of impact. Thank you to everyone who came out, brought good vibes, and made this event such a success. And big love to Lost & Found and Sonndr for being the perfect co-hosts, offering coffee, warmth, and a hub for connection. We’re already thinking about the next one. Until then, stay connected, stay community-minded, and stay BIG on the little things that make a big difference. To learn more about upcoming Pier Five events, follow us on Instagram !

2024 Recipient: Mahara Mindfulness Explore the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund Introducing Mahara Mindfulness, one of the ten recipients of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2024! Founders: Sheba Zaidi and Genevive Savundranayagam Location: Toronto, ON Discover Mahara Mindfulness online: Website // Instagram About Mahara Mindfulness Mahara Mindfulness is a Canadian, female-founded business dedicated to improving mental health through mindfulness. Their flagship product, The Human Being Journal , is a guided monthly journal designed to help users manage mental health, gain perspective, and live more fulfilled lives. Inspired by the pandemic’s impact on mental health, Mahara sought to create an accessible, scientifically backed tool for stress and anxiety management. Featured in outlets like The New York Times and Oprah Daily , and endorsed by wellness icons like Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Alba, the journal bridges the human and being aspects of life to unlock true potential. Committed to sustainability and inclusivity, the journals are made in Canada from recycled materials, with diverse quotes and gender-neutral designs. Mahara also partners with organizations like CAMH, Restorations Second Stage Homes, and Holt Renfrew’s H-Project, aligning with their mission to support underserved communities and promote mental wellness. How will the fund make an impact with your business? At Mahara Mindfulness, our biggest challenge is finding the resources to build a community around The Human Being Journal . While COVID pushed us to focus on e-commerce, our vision has always been to create workshops and events to help Canadians connect, reflect, and embrace mindfulness. These events would teach journaling, meditation, and breathwork while addressing Canada’s growing loneliness epidemic. This Fund will help us launch our first event in 2025, covering infrastructure, speakers, marketing, and outreach to ensure success. With a loyal audience already engaged through social media and newsletters, we’re confident this event would spark a movement and advance our mission to improve mental health through tools and community. Winning this grant will allow us to take this critical first step. What is your long term goal for the company? We’re a small, Canadian-grown business with big dreams of expanding The Human Being Journal across North America and globally. Currently available in retailers like Indigo, Holt Renfrew, Paper Source, and Barnes & Noble, we aim to bring this powerful mindfulness tool to homes worldwide, including the U.K., Australia, and India, over the next 3–5 years. As two female, BIPOC founders who bootstrapped this business during the pandemic, we’re proud to follow our passion for making a difference in mental health. Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2024 recipients here .

A Conversation With Daniel and Caleb of Circle Author Coming off of a very successful launch for their Olympic Collection, we caught up with the founders of Circle Author, a new brand taking the arts and fashion scene by storm with their vintage inspired designs, thoughtful story telling and positive messaging. Driven by the desire to inspire change in as many people as possible, Circle Author has become a platform for connecting like minded creatives and positive thinkers in addition to offering artistic experiences and fresh products. Read through the conversation below to learn more about the brand, the meaning behind their powerful mantras, how they connect with their audience through transparency and much more. Hey Caleb & Daniel, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. For those who may not know, who are you & what is Circle Author? Hey guys! We’re Daniel & Caleb, the founders of Circle Author. Circle Author started in 2019 when we were talking about working on a project together. We’re both very into fashion but we didn’t immediately think about a clothing brand. We just knew that whatever we started had to be purposeful. The clothing brands that we love are all very idea and community driven and not just about design and we saw that as inspiration which is what ultimately led to the start of Circle Author. Today, Circle Author is a clothing brand but our goal is to use the clothing to inspire others, spread positivity and help others to find the beauty and art in their lives, which we do through storytelling with the clothing that we make. Can you speak more about Circle Author’s mantra of “Art is Everywhere”? How do you feel it translates into the products that you make? “Art Is Everywhere” is about the idea that you can be inspired by everything. A lot of people think art can only be found in galleries or online but the truth is, anything can be art. We think it’s important for people to have an open mind to the art that is all around them and that by doing so, it will create a much more innovative and creative world. With our designs, sometimes we’ll use overt messaging to inspire people and push them to open their eyes to the “art world”. Other times we just make what we like as an expression of our own creativity. At the end of the day, this project is just fun for us but if we can inspire others in some way then that is a win as well. You both do a great job of giving a behind the scenes look into the thought process and experimentation of the brand, especially with your subpage @catalog.ca. What is the reason for wanting to give your audience that inside look? @catalog.ca was created because there was a ton of stuff that we wanted to share that didn’t always match our main feed. The way you present yourself [on your main page] is super important and we wanted to maintain that clean image but still bring people in and keep them involved with us every day. Having a secondary page helps us continue to give our following something, even when we don’t have final projects to post on the main Circle Author page. This makes a ton of sense and is definitely a great way to stay top of mind. Do you think more brands should do this? Some should. Some shouldn’t. It definitely makes brands feel more approachable which can be very valuable for certain brands but others succeed based on that exclusivity and secrecy. The brands that we really like though are more inclusive so it feels right to us. What brands are you inspired by? Aime Leon Dore. Mad Happy. New York Sunshine. They all have great aesthetics, awesome products and just an all around great vibe. We’re also both heavily inspired by vintage and reference vintage designs a ton for our own pieces. What are your favourite pieces from your collections so far and why? The Change The World pieces mean a lot to us. The design is simple but it represents a community of people making a positive impact on the world. The Good Ol’ Apple Co collab tee as well was super fun to put together. We did that one with our homie Andrew who also does mockups for Mad Happy which was very cool. We also loved making the Aged Hoodie because we experimented with new methods of screen printing and it came out really cool. We unevenly hit the screen to give it a faded vintage look and spent a ton of time making each one by hand. It didn’t actually sell as well as some of the others but we really loved it. All great pieces. The Change The World collection specifically is definitely a standout collection for Circle Author and really well executed. What’s the secret to putting out a product like this that, although it is quite simple design-wise, has a bigger meaning behind it? The design at the end of the day is only half of the release. The launch and presentation are super important and that’s what makes the difference between an “Instagram brand” and a proper brand that can have longevity. So many of these “instagram brands” just slap logos and phrases on clothes and put them out. Don’t get us wrong, that can totally work for some but we try to ensure that we are building a bigger story behind each piece. We’re trying to build something that can stand the test of time. We believe the Change The World pieces can do this if it’s done right and if we can get people to understand what those words really mean to us and how they represent our community. We totally back this and are glad to see that you both put so much thought behind the product and the story. Lastly, what’s next for you Circle Author that we should all keep an eye out for? We just got an office which we’re super stoked about! All of this stuff is so new to us and things are becoming really real which is sick. We really want to start doing art installments. The dream is to go to Art Basel in Miami and do an installation there. We have this idea of a Change The World vending machine with a huge billboard that says change the world. It’s still an idea in the works but we would love to have a bigger stage to spread that message of positivity. For clothing, we aren’t quite at the point where we plan things really far in advance so it’s hard to say yet. We are looking to get more into cut and sew now that we have some money from past drops. We might do a varsity jacket and a cut and sew trucker hat. Still in the works but we’re rolling with the ideas. We never thought we’d even get to a point where we could think about making these sorts of things but it’s so cool that we can, so stay on the lookout for that. Check out Circle Author's latest release and make sure to follow their Instagram to get updates on their upcoming drops. Keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more.

Browse By Tag Business Art & Design Streetwear Sneakers Wellness Activism Sports Food Photography Music All Posts Interviews Stories Guest Picks People All but last Events Jul 31 Pier Five Community Dinner: Volume 1 May 15 Pier Five x PUMA: Mental Health Strength Day - A Triumph of Community and Wellness Apr 24 Your Number One Resource With Nishal Kumar of No Days Wasted Mar 11 Playing the Game Better With Drew Stevens of Margin Skincare Feb 7 Doing It Yourself With Carol Pak of Makku Jan 9 Creating Your Identity With Jun Arnaiz of Neutria Dec 29, 2023 Pier Five’s 2023 Food Drive: Supporting Community and Fighting Food Insecurity Nov 21, 2023 Ready For Anything With Bimma Williams Nov 8, 2023 Building Your Own Spaces With Monday Girl Oct 9, 2023 Protecting Your Brand With Zak Kurtz of Sneaker Legal Sep 14, 2023 Pier Five x PUMA: Community Court Day 2023 Sep 9, 2023 Embracing Your Community With Sarah Sukumaran of Lilith NYC Aug 25, 2023 A Strong Foundation With Carlo Aragon of Salomonology Aug 11, 2023 Embracing Impermanence With Sandro Petrillo of SSSOAPS Jul 28, 2023 Doing It His Way With Rae Mendoza of ICYT Jul 15, 2023 Slow & Steady with Josh Heares of Porter James Sports Jun 21, 2023 Putting In The Hours With Jess Sanchez of Santa Isla Mar 21, 2023 A New Chapter With Jason Faustino Of Saucony Mar 8, 2023 Chasing Your Curiosity With Carolyn Chen of Dandylion Feb 16, 2023 Keeping It Authentic With Katherine Johnsen Feb 8, 2023 Easy Going With Lorenzo Brunetti Of END. Clothing Jan 26, 2023 Shaking Up An Institution With Colin Li of Hong Shing Jan 17, 2023 Loving The Journey With Adam The Illustrator Nov 27, 2022 Doing It Yourself With Glory Allan

Shop Thank you for checking out the Pier Five Creators Grant collection. All items have been generously donated by creators across Canada and the USA. Learn more about the pieces and the designer behind them by clicking on the products. All profits from this collection will go towards a financial grant that will be issued in August. Quantities are VERY limited so make sure to grab your favourite pieces quickly! To learn more about the grant initiative, click here . To view the entire lookbook, click here . Final Sale: Due to the nature of this release, please note that all purchases are final sale and cannot be returned or refunded. We don’t have any products to show here right now.

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