June Guest Picks: Home with Jon Elias Guest: Jon Elias of Lost & Found 1. Choemon Cups "Hand painted Skateboarder and Boombox on Japanese tea cups. Need I say more?" 2. Ratio Eight Pour Over Coffee Machine "I've been pretty obsessed with this coffee machine for the past year or os. Hand blown glass, no plastic and every single one is hand made in Portland." 3. James Jarvis Teapot "I grabbed this last year and literally leave it out as a display piece. Haven't made tea in it yet...It's just so amazing to look at [laughs]." 4. Javier Calleja "No Art Here" + Haroshi "I've been pretty obsessed with Javier Calleja and Haroshi's work of late. Javier Calleja just released a set of Toys about two months ago through the Nanzuka art gallery called No Art Here and Haroshi will be dropping two marble pieces in June that are incredible." 5. AALTO Copper Vase "This was all my mom. I saw it at her house and wanted to add it to our collection at home. Part of a limited series done by Aalto." Check out all of our guest picks for June here and stay tuned to Pier Five for more stories and interviews with the coolest people around.

2024 Recipient: Paintillio Explore the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund Introducing Paintillio, one of the ten recipients of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2024! Founders: Lyssa Kayra & Jess Devenport Location: Vancouver, BC Discover Paintillio online: Website // Instagram About Paintillio Since its founding in 2017, Paintillio has been dedicated to creating high-quality, collaborative paint-by-numbers projects that foster community growth through artistic expression. As Canada’s only provider of large-scale, premium paint-by-numbers murals, made possible by proprietary software, Paintillio empowers people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to contribute to a shared creative goal. These projects build teamwork and a sense of accomplishment, whether at corporate teambuilding events, festivals, or public mural installations sponsored by companies to strengthen local communities. Paintillio’s unique approach has attracted major clients like Coca-Cola, Amazon, and Toyota and earned the company nominations for awards like the BC Small Business of the Year. With support from Mastercard and the Pier Five Fund, Paintillio plans to bring even more communities together through the power of shared artistic expression. How will the fund make an impact with your business? With $10,000 from the Mastercard x Pier Five Fund, Paintillio will be able to scale its production capabilities through the development of an advanced software program. These funds will be used to hire a full-time developer for two to three months to work alongside Paintillio’s current developer, enhancing the software to meet both current and future demand. The goal is to increase production capacity to 100 murals per day while reducing project turnaround times from 3-4 weeks to 1-2 weeks, ensuring Paintillio can meet the needs of time-sensitive clients and event planners. By investing in this critical upgrade, the team will also be able to redirect resources toward marketing campaigns and business development in the U.S., supporting the company’s ongoing growth and international expansion. What is your long term goal for the company? One of our long-term goals is to reach $2 million in revenue within the next three years, and our current demand puts us on track to achieve it. However, our in-house software, which transforms client images into custom paint-by-numbers murals, has become a bottleneck. It can take up to 24 hours to render large-scale images, limiting us to one mural per day and a 3-4 week turnaround time. Upgrading this software is crucial to meeting demand, reducing turnaround times, and unlocking new business opportunities. Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2024 recipients here.

The Difference Maker: How Canadian Small Business Owners Turned AI Into Action In April, Pier Five partnered with HP Canada, with support from Microsoft Canada, Qualcomm Snapdragon and CDW to bring together small business owners for a two-part experience exploring one key question: What does the future of your business look like with AI? What followed was a full-circle program combining education, application, and community - showcasing how Canadian entrepreneurs are beginning to integrate AI into how they build and grow. Part 1: From Curiosity to Clarity The program began with two intimate, hands-on workshop sessions, each bringing together 10 founders from a range of industries. The goal was to move beyond AI as a concept and into practical application. After kicking off the session with a bit of networking, HP Canada shared how their latest technology is enabling smarter, more efficient ways of working, with a focus on innovation and sustainability. The sessions were powered by HP’s AI-enabled devices built with Qualcomm Snapdragon technology, allowing founders to explore real-time workflows. The core of the experience was a guided workshop using Microsoft Copilot. Founders were led through structured prompts to: Analyze their business and positioning Identify market opportunities Break down competitors Clarify their differentiation Rebecca Prime, CEO, Beck's Broth: "Right now, SMBs have a real edge with AI, especially in driving efficiency across admin, sales, ops, and beyond. In my own work, I’m using it to build SOPs across the board and gradually develop a more structured, scalable business manual." Using these insights, each participant created an AI-generated “Difference Statement,” which was then transformed into a visual poster - a clear representation of how their business can evolve. Kin Ho, Business Manager, HP: "One of the biggest barriers for small business owners we heard throughout this campaign is knowing where to start when it comes to AI. HP is focused on making these tools more accessible and practical, so founders can explore them in the context of their own business. When AI feels approachable and relevant, that hesitation quickly turns into confidence and that’s when real adoption begins." What started as exploration quickly became clear and set the groundwork for Part 2. Part 2: A Showcase For the SMB Community Two weeks later, Pier Five hosted The Difference Maker: Gallery Night, an exhibition space featuring all 20 founders’ work as well as a panel discussion from Canadian entrepreneurs and experts. The workshop participants and experts were joined by over 70 entrepreneurs, creatives, and community members, creating a highly curated and energetic room. Kane Willmott, CEO, iQ Offices: "The event was a powerful reminder that the future is being built right now by a remarkably ambitious generation of entrepreneurs. It was inspiring to meet founders across such a wide range of industries, each bringing different products, ideas, and perspectives to the table at various stages of growth." The panel discussion was a highlight of the night, discussing topics around AI adoption and the future of small business, moderated by Pier Five Co-Founder, Julian Golden. Speakers included April Marshall, VP of Inside Sales at HP Canada, Rebecca Prime, Founder of Beck’s Broth and workshop participant, and Kane Willmott, CEO of IQ Offices The conversation grounded AI in real-world use, focusing on how founders are applying it today and where it’s heading next. April Marshall, VP of Inside Sales, HP Canada: "What we’re seeing at HP is a shift from AI as a concept to something small businesses are actively using to solve everyday challenges. The biggest unlock is starting with the problem - whether that’s saving time or improving decision-making - and applying the right tools in a practical way. The businesses that will stand out are the ones building a strong foundation now by investing in technology that supports how they work and grow." Building What’s Next, Together What made this program resonate was its format. By combining education, hands-on application, visual storytelling and community, Pier Five and HP Canada created a space where ideas were not just explored but activated and shared. The program highlighted how collaboration between technology partners and community platforms can create real impact for small business owners. As AI continues to evolve, it’s clear that entrepreneurs aren’t waiting, they’re actively shaping what comes next; and they’re doing it together. Learn more about HP's Next-Gen AI PCs, discover the world of One HP here and follow Pier Five on Instagram for updates on all of the latest events.

July Guest Picks: Kicks with Mario LoConte of ThriftCon Guest: Mario LoConte, co-founder of ThriftCon 1. KidSuper x Puma Mirage Mox Forever Blue "Colm (KidSuper) is one of my good homies and one of the most genuine and creative people in fashion right now. I’ve copped at least one pair from all of his drops with Puma, but the Mirage Mox’s have seen the most wear for me. It’s not a shoe that I thought I would have gravitated to as I typically wear more toned down sneakers but this shit goes with everything in my closet [laughs]." 2. Nike SB x Carpet Company "These were one of the coolest SBs to drop this year in my opinion. I’m a sucker for small details and they really went all out on these. There are hidden hits and details everywhere. Every piece of the shoe was calculated and really thought about." 3. Jordan 4 ‘Oreos’ 1999 "These are one of the only pairs of Jordan’s that I own and wear. I pulled them out of the Goodwill bins for $2; no heel drag or anything. I couldn’t believe it. These aren’t the originals but the retro from 1999, so they still have some history to them and the quality of the leather is unmatched." 4. Spike Lee Dunks "This is another pair that I thrifted. I got these at the flea market in Denver so I call them my ‘Spike Fleas’ [laughs, also known as the poor man’s Chicago 1s. These virtually look like 1’s aside from the fat Nike hit on the heel (which I love) and they have that good wear on them, the type of shit people are trying to recreate now for the “weathered look”. 5. Madhappy x Vans "Madhappy just dropped these and they are too clean. The icy waffle sole instead of the typical gum was a crazy swap and the small embroidered details throughout and on the tongue with the hand embroidered feel are fire. I haven’t even gotten a chance to wear them yet and don’t know if I even want to because they look so nice deadstock!" Check out all of our guest picks for July here and stay tuned to Pier Five for more stories and interviews with the coolest people around.

A Conversation With Photographer Wade Hudson As a creative, there are many avenues that you can take to turn your passion into a career. More often than not, this will require others and understanding how to balance personal efforts and the inclusion of those around you will take you to great heights. Toronto based photographer Wade Hudson understood this early on, partnering with those whom he enjoyed and shared passions with, creating equal value and fostering growth for one another. The secrets of finding great people to work with take time to uncover and we got the chance to catch up with Wade to learn about how he identifies talent around him, capitalizes on opportunities at every moment and produces the best possible outcome within each situation. Take a read through the conversation below to hear from one of Toronto’s best shooters. In 2013 you did a shoot with a wee youngster by the name of Joey Bada$$. How does it feel shooting people at an early age and then watching them blow up into huge superstars? Nearly every person I shoot I am a big fan of so watching them come up is really quite fascinating to me. When I heard [Joey] bada$$, I was like “this guy is going to be a huge star”. It’s obviously hard for me to know at the moment where they’ll be down the line but that doesn’t matter to me when I’m working. When I’m around people like that I try to just be myself and show my interest in them. Joey and so many others are so genuine and great people and that makes it really fun to follow their careers and growth. The best thing is seeing where they are years later and know that their attitudes haven't changed and that they’re still humble. What are some tips you’d give to creatives looking to connect with talent to work with? If you’re seeking out talent to work with, make sure that your skill is at the level that it needs to be to execute your vision with the talent. After that, be ready to move quickly. Opportunities don’t always come with a lot of advanced notice. Be ready to move on things at any moment. I’d also say, from a mental standpoint, know that anyone is accessible if you persevere. This doesn’t mean they are accessible today but if you work hard enough, anyone can be accessible and so you should always shoot your shot. You won’t get anywhere if you never ask. Another way to get buy-in from talent is to remember that someone’s time can be more valuable than money. Don’t overlook experience and the impact that personal connections can make in the long term. Lastly, be patient. Things take time so don’t give up. When you have the time to plan with someone, how long does it take to ideate a shoot? It’s really as long as I have. I usually don’t have a ton of time so I work with the elements in the moment. When I do have time, I’ll just make sure I can complete all the needed - or ideal - steps in that amount of time. Finding references, finding the right people to bring in like stylists, creative directors, etc. is all important. I’ll try to get calls or meetings together beforehand to discuss how we can make the best product possible and how we can cater the shoot to the subject. How involved are the subjects in creating the story for the shoot? For the most part, when I reach out to people I have the concept of what I want them to look like already in mind. If it’s my creative shoot, it has to follow my style and I need you to do what I have envisioned. Obviously I'm open to ideas depending on who you are, like if you’re a creative director you might have good ideas, but if I simply approach you because I like your look, I will have the concept down. This is different though if I’m shooting for a client and their ideated project. In that case, I’m helping execute their vision. Would you say more of your work is client focused or your creative work? It depends on the time of year so that’s hard to say. They go hand in hand though for my career so it’s not too big of a deal to do one more than the other from time to time. My creative work is how I pull clients in and my client work pays for my creative work. I’d always like to do more creative work but client work is needed. Right. That’s a good outlook on the two. Do you think you could ever get to a point where you’re only doing creative work? I think there are photographers that have found a great balance where the work they do on their own and the work they do for clients are very similar but it’s hard to only ever do your own thing, if only due to money. I’m always working to bring my ideas into the client work to make it fun and reduce the space between that and my client work but I don’t think I’d ever stop doing client work. Interesting, and I guess client work also brings new sets of challenges that can make you a better photographer. Changing gears now, what are 5 do’s or don’ts of shooting with someone for the first time? That is true and a great question. I can only give these tips from my perspective but... DON’T have your camera in hand when you first meet someone. This helps to remove the power dynamic of the subject and photographer. DO have a conversation with the subject before you shoot. Learn about them and what they are comfortable with. This will make the shoot much better for everyone and deliver the best results. DON’T talk about why you’re qualified or who you’ve worked with in the past. In that moment, nobody cares about who you’ve shot in the past. DON’T show the subject the shots when you’re shooting. It often makes the subjects less comfortable. Instead, talk to them as you shoot. Sometimes you can’t follow this depending on the subject but this is what I find is typically best. DO discuss what the subject should be doing in the photograph before they sit in front of you. You want to make sure everyone knows what they’re going into. You recently became a father (congratulations!). Has that journey with your wife and now your newborn son influenced your work? Thank you! Right now, not too much has changed but I imagine as he grows, it may impact the work, what jobs I take, how I see things, etc. Just a crazy time learning to be a father [laughs]. Although it was published over 7 years ago, your Jamaican Proverb Series still lives as one of the best photography series that we have ever seen. Do you have a proverb that you live by? A lot of these are just kind of always relevant but one that I think back on a lot is “Ebry dawg ave im day, ebry puss im four a clock.” which translates to “Every dog has his day, every cat his 4 o’clock.” This has a few meanings. Some days you win and some days you love. Good fortune comes at different times for everyone. Do not behave as if you are better than others. Oh, love that. Super important as a creative for sure. Do you have a favourite story from your time as a photographer? Yes! About 5 years ago I went to London because I was interested in potentially moving out there and wanted to check out the scene. Some of the modelling agencies out there were having these openings where you can just go and shoot their models. They basically invite you out, introduce you to the models and you shoot for the day. I went out and shot about five or six models that day and got some shots that I really liked. After the shoot I went onto the agency websites to find all of the models I had shot but there was one person I couldn’t find anywhere. It turns out that it was Grace Bol who is a big time model, like she’s been on iPhone backgrounds including my own [laughs] and has modelled for so many major brands. She’s huge! I don’t even know why she was there that day and I had been speaking to her for about twenty minutes without a clue of who she was and it was such a wild moment realizing it after the fact. Honestly, it was probably better that I didn’t know at the time or I likely wouldn’t have had the confidence to ask her to shoot. Wow! That’s insane. I guess sometimes it’s better not knowing all [laughs]. Lastly, now that we are starting to return to some normalcy in the world, what are you most excited for work-wise? I just want to go back home to Jamaica. I have a ton of ideas and people that I want to be with and I just can’t get down right now so that will be the first thing I do when I can. I lived there until I was sixteen and then moved here. Before Covid I was there a few times a year so I really want to get back. Check out more of Wade's work on his website and follow him on Instagram to catch all of his latest work. Keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more.

The July Roundup Welcome to Pier Five monthly round ups, a look back at some of the people, brands & things that caught our eye this month that we thought you should know about. Dime x Vans Montreal based skate brand Dime has launched another perfect collaboration, dubbed the Wayvee, as part of their ongoing partnership with Vans. This collab is brought to life in two colorways: evening blue and egret. Complemented with luxe suede, embroidered Vans and Dime logo hits throughout and an all-new upper construction with reinforced translucent mesh panels, this model delivers luxury design and performance construction in the perfect shoe. Hopefully you were lucky enough to get a pair on the initial July 17th but if not, make sure to check your local skate shops, which dropped the shoes on July 24, for any remaining sizes. Adidem Astericks* Collabs The month of July has been a busy one for up and coming Toronto based fashion brand Adidem Astericks* who has recently made waves with refined luxury aesthetics similar to brands like Aime Leon Dore and Todd Snyder with a more street twist. This month, Adidem Astericks*partnered with two heavy hitters for some big collaborations. In partnership with Roots, they redefined the Canadian classic Awards Varsity Jacket with elevated multi-patch embroidery work and thoughtful colour blocking in two colourways; piston blue & merlot. The jacket has been seen on the likes of Toronto rappers, Jazz Cartier & Pressa to name a few. The second collab tapped into the hand painted illustrations of fellow Toronto artist Moya “Gang Box'' Garrison-Msingwanaon a collection featuring tees, caps, pins & even a coffee table book! Both collaborations are available on their webstore here. Vandy The Pink Carpenter Mules When it comes to customizing sneakers & clothes, Junghoon Son, the man behind Vandy The Pink, is at the forefront of it all. From hawaiin summer shirt-short sets with Hidden.NY to playful fast food burger inspired sneakers, Vandy doesn’t miss and we’re here for it all! His latest creation gives the Vandy treatment on a pair of mules called the VTP Carpenter Mule, taking design inspiration from the popular Carhartt workwear brand. From the soft suede upper to the gold rivets & zipper detailing, the attention to detail is A1. These dropped July 15 and are unfortunately sold-out but make sure to follow Vandy The Pink on instagram for all of their feature releases! Matty Matheson Summer Merch Collection Canadian chef & internet personality Matty Matheson launched his latest merch line, perfect for the summer, called “Camp Matty’s World”. This full collection has everything from tees to truckers & dad caps, basketball jerseys, shorts & more. As you can tell by the name of the collection, it’s design theme and graphic inspiration comes from throwback summer camp style bringing back the little kid in all of us. The designs are on point and the full collection is available for purchase on Matty’s webstore here. norda™ 001 Our monthly roundup wouldn’t be complete without including the world’s first seamless, lightest, trail running shoe from our friends at norda™. The norda™ 001 comes in two colourways, black or white and is made from Dyneema®: the world’s strongest and lightest fiber™, delivering the lowest carbon footprint per unit strength of any material. The sole of the shoe is a brand new design made in collaboration with Vibram, a leader in shoe design and footwear soles, and was inspired by the Canadian Shield, the largest and strongest pre-Cambrian rock formation on Earth. The technology in this shoe is unlike any other trail running shoe that exists and was made to prove that high performance and sustainability should always run together. The shoe is available for pre-order on norda’s website and will hit local running shops in August. Also check out our latest interview with Nick Martire, founder of norda™ here! Stay tuned to The Roundup series to discover the coolest new people, brands and releases each month and keep it locked to all of Pier Five for stories and interviews with our favourite designers, entrepreneurs, creators and more.

A Conversation With Kyron Warrick aka Gotsweige Montreal based creative entrepreneur and modern renaissance man, Kyron Warrick, also known by his social channels Gotsweige, has created a name for himself as one of Canada’s fastest growing talents in fashion. As an advocate of the “don’t knock it until you try it” mentality, Kyron has made a strong effort to explore all facets of the fashion industry including styling, creative consulting for brands, content creation, product design and modelling, to develop his skills, identify what he loves and put one-hundred percent of his energy into his success. Now after nearly a decade as a Fashion Youtuber, an impressive following on Instagram and a growing portfolio of impressive clients, Kyron is on a roll and showing no signs of slowing down. Before he outgrows us all, we got a chance to link up with Kyron in his hometown of Montreal to discuss his come up, life as a YouTuber, the need for supporting local brands and never being afraid of what you love and then of course, we had to shoot some street style pics and break down his fits. You’ve been on YouTube for nearly 10 years now. What has that journey been like? It’s kind of crazy that it’s been this long. The first five years were more casual for me but the last five, I have been really focused. Content creation was something I could really take into my own hands which I liked. A lot of fashion is actually slow moving and there’s a lot of waiting around. With YouTube, I didn’t have to do that. I could make content, have fun and create new opportunities for myself through that. You’ve been really ramping up the amount of content lately and the channel has been growing at a really consistent pace. What are 5 tips you’d give to aspiring content creators to increase their success on YouTube? Consistency is definitely the biggest thing. I know people say this a lot but it’s really true. Once I got out of school and could start putting more time into content, things really started progressing. I saw the results of consistency first hand. Have your own thoughts. People will consume your content if there are your own thoughts throughout. Be inspired but make it your own. Do it because you like it and not because you’re looking for validation or growth. Know yourself. Understand what you’re good at and what you’re not good at. Once you identify your strengths, you can go full force into that. On the note of making things your own, your style has always been very unique. Did you ever face criticism for doing things a little differently? Definitely. In high school, while I did have a bunch of friends, people definitely kind of looked at me as the weird kid. I was the only person that I knew who was into fashion but didn’t let that bother me. I was so focused on learning about the industry that I didn’t care about what people thought. One of your more popular content series highlights low-key/up & coming streetwear brands. Why is shining a light on these smaller/local brands so important to you? Any you’d want to shout out today? When I was coming up, I always wished there were people that would shout me out and help me get exposure so now that I have a bit of an audience, I want to be able to be that person for others. Starting from zero is really tough so I want to help lift those people up. I also think that a lot of these brands are really cool and it’s sustainable for me to consume as well because it’s often a bit more affordable and I like knowing that my money is going to someone local and not just into the pockets of big corporations. One of the brands I really love is Wun-Off, they do a lot of pop-culture installments and have a philanthropic side to the brand as well. They recently dropped the “Covid Ruined My Spring Break” hat and used proceeds to buy toys for children in need. installments. Just did the covid ruined my spring break trucker. Grimey MTL is another one I’m really into as well. It’s a pretty common progression for content creators to start their own brands. You’ve done collabs with some in the past but would you ever consider starting your own brand? It’s definitely something that I’m thinking about. Through working with so many others, I’ve learned a lot about what I would need to put into starting my own brand and what I would and wouldn’t want it to be about. A lot of creators are making merch and I definitely don’t want my stuff to be just that. I think about this as a long term play. I won’t be doing Youtube when I’m 40 so if it’s just merch then it ends when Youtube ends. I want my brand to be something that can grow with me and outlive things that I might be doing now. Let’s talk about style now. How would you describe your personal style? What are you wearing these days? My style is very situational based but is often a combination of lively vintage 70’s style and darker silhouettes from brands like Rick Owens. I like to mix bright and dark together. Your style has followed a number of trends, from hype, to sneakerhead to luxury. Looking back on it all, what do you think were some of your best and worst moments in your fashion career thus far? I think my best moment, and potentially also my worst, was the Pyrex-Hood By Air phase. I really wasn’t aware of all that it represented. I was super impressionable, like all kids on the internet were, but it was good for me to go through that and start experimenting with things. It helped me start to really learn about what I do and don’t like. It also exposed me to some black designers who are now making huge waves. (break down Kyron’s fit with pics and labels of the items/brands) Do you think Montreal was integral in developing your style and business? I used to think that I had to get out of Montreal to make it but the internet has so much power so I have always been able to tap into cultures and people around the world without leaving. Montreal is also great as well though. It has given me so many opportunities and really shaped who I am today. In addition, whenever I go visit my family in NY or Philly I can bring that different perspective too which I think plays to my advantage. Overall, Montreal really is a power city and I think that a few more icons coming out of here will be big for putting it on the map. Justin Saunders [JJJound] is doing a lot for the city. I think a big musical figure would be huge too. Totally agree! Lastly, what's next for you? Honestly, I’m taking things day by day. Whatever I enjoy, I’ll work on. The brand is definitely in the works but I don’t have a launch date. I’m going to work on getting even more opportunities in styling as well and just see where things go. And of course, more video content! Make sure to follow Kyron Warrick on Instagram and YouTube to follow his journey and get updates on all of his new work and don’t forget to keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more.

Playing the Game Better With Drew Stevens of Margin Skincare "You're never going to please everyone" is a phrase that set Drew Stevens, founder of the skincare brand Margin, free. In the era of amplified social judgment, and hundreds of new competitors popping up every week, it is more important now than ever to understand what you're in it for, and if that reason is guided by passion, like it is for Drew, then the only way forward is up. Backed by the creative minds of Benjamin Edgar, Chris Black, Ben Sehl (KOTN) and Sam Jayne, Drew has assembled the creative avengers to release what is currently one of the most exciting science-first, aesthetically beautiful skincare brands on the market. We spoke to Drew about his learnings as an entrepreneur, his tips for assembling a great team and how he deals with the competition; good and bad. Scroll down to read! Hey Drew, for those who aren't too familiar with you and Margin, can you tell us how it came together? Hey guys! My name is Drew Stevens and I'm the founder of Margin. I've always been really into skincare, and prior to starting Margin had the chance to spend a lot of time with with the founders of bootstrapped and venture backed businesses both inside and outside the beauty industry through my work in private equity. I was lucky enough to get to know some of the best skin scientists in the world, and in getting to know them had the chance to share (and confirm) a set of beauty industry observations that I thought left a gap serving me effectively and honouring my interest in skin.. Ultimately, Margin was launched as a way for my to offer myself and my peers a skin solution that incorporated best-in-class-ingredients, logic-driven formulations, and product design that I could be confident using and displaying in my home. The whole process started in 2020 and from there, we’ve put together a great team and had a lot of fun working on what is now Margin (which we launched in 2022). With all of the R&D and trials to get the product to be what you envisioned it to be, how do you know when it's finally right? It's really hard to figure out when it's right. I think a lot of it has to come down to me being really proud of the product. If I can stand behind it, and I really love it, and we put it out in the world and it bricks, I'm fine with that because this was me and the team's decision. I don't think I would sleep well at night if we conceded based on a product to try and make everyone happy and didn't put out what we loved the most. Realistically, you're not going to make everyone happy. If you go to a major beauty website and look at their top trending products, what you'll find is that for virtually every product in the world that's ever been released, reviews are normally distributed on both ends. You'll have 20% of people that say that they are absolutely obsessed, you'll have a bunch of people in the middle saying it's pretty good and then you'll have 20% to 30% of the audience saying "I wouldn't put this on my worst enemy", and yet it's a best selling product. At the end of the day, there is no such thing as universally loved anything, so I just try and put out what we really like and if it works, great. You have some pretty established names on your board/co-founder table. What was your process to getting in touch with them and getting them on board? From a cold calling perspective, you'd be surprised at how easy it is to get in touch with people. Social media has totally changed that over the years. If you have a tweet that bangs and somebody replies to it and they're an interesting person, boom, be in their DMs immediately. Same with Instagram and then if you're doing something interesting, offer somebody a little bit of value and something tangible they can act on. Meeting Chris the first time, I had never interacted with him, not on a social platform, nothing before. I knew who he was and I thought he'd be an interesting partner in a venture like this. It was literally me just sending him an email and saying, "This is what I do now. This is what's interesting about what I do now. This is an insight that I think I have that I think would be compelling and I'd love to know your take on it because I think of you as x, y, and z". The biggest thing though is just come to them with a good idea. I came to him with "Here's my insight about skincare and here's what I think we can do about it. Tell me I'm crazy". It wasn't just like, "hey, bro, skincare is really hot right now. Want to do something?" because that's not really actionable and that's not like a nutritious little bite for them or a hook in the water that they may find interesting. You've mastered skincare and the art of networking. What is on your list of things to master in 2024? I'm really trying to master my energy output in the most efficient way. My default is to try and move 30 footballs an inch up the field every day and then at the end of the week, I look back and the 30 footballs have only moved a few inches and that's not really that noticeable of an improvement. I think the right way to work is actually for me to run one football ten yards down the field for like a half day, run another one five yards down the field for a part of the day, and, be very focused on trying to really make progress on a few tasks in a given time period versus trying to do so many tasks at once. That's very difficult, as I'm sure many people reading can relate to this when you're running your own thing or have a side project that you're working on too. It becomes easy to feel busy and tired and feel like you spent energy, but not really have a lot to show for it. So this is what I'm trying to focus on and master in 2024. The beauty industry, like many others, has a ton of players that seem to care more about making a quick buck than an impactful product. What do you think about those types of brands? This is very true. The reason I'm doing this is because I care about products so much and I want the product to be the best it can be. I have a visceral reaction to the idea that someone would try and enter the market with a product that's trendy but potentially ineffective or harmful, but I also know that the answer isn't just for me to go around and say "hey,, that's not OK." There's a game being played, right? We're on this giant field and the way for me to make a point is to just eat their lunch, right? The way to do it is to play the game better than them. If in five years or ten years or twenty years, we've played the game better, then we will be rewarded for that and if we didn't play the game well or the game changed on us and people actually didn't care what they put on their skin then, you know what, I wasn't playing the right game and I lost. However, I can lose feeling good, right? This is my passion, but at the end of the day, I try to remember that there's an element of sports or gamesmanship to this and any other business as an entrepreneur, and just focus on what I can do to play the game better. I think that's a healthier attitude and so when I hear about competitors like that, it's like, okay, great, you're playing the game well right now. Let me see if I can't outscore you. Make sure to check out Margin and keep it locked to Pier Five for more founder interviews just like this!

Ready For Anything With Bimma Williams For almost any creative, the dream is to be your own boss and turn your side-hustle into your career. It's shiny, there's freedom, more money if it's successful and so many other possible upsides. When Bimma Williams, sneaker professional turned expert conversationalist and host, left his stable career in the footwear industry to pursue his passion project Claima Stories full-time, these were the things he was after; and over time, he's been getting them, but not without some surprises along the way. Now with nearly fifteen years under his belt as an entrepreneur, five of which on Claima working with and interviewing some of the biggest names in the culture, Bimma has some stories of his own to tell and secrets to share with our community. Read the conversation below! Having left your 9-5 for a life as an entrepreneur and freelancer, what's something others thinking about doing the same should know? When most people consider freelance or starting a business, they often fail to realize what they are agreeing to take on. My creative expression is being a host, speaking, holding conversations, and now teaching as well. When I took that on, I'm not just taking that on. I'm also taking on, "how do I market and put myself out there?" Then you're in on finances. "How do I price myself?" Then you're taking on Operations because you need to figure out how to pay expenses and work on taxes and all of that stuff too. You're very involved in a lot of different things. You need to have the ability to harmonize all these different things. One thing to remember though is, yes, it is challenging but it's not impossible and there's also the opportunity for greater reward. You seem to be very humble with money and smart around spending on creativity. Are you thinking about that a lot? With any creative, when you get access to funds, the first thing you probably want to do is the biggest, shiniest thing possible. If you had all the resources in the world, you would leverage them but the interesting thing about that is, it's a mistake. We've seen it time and time again. When folks get too many resources, it actually diminishes their creativity. Some of the most creative projects and some of the best albums, did not have these glorious, gigantic budgets. They were just pure passion. When we did get that funding and that investment, we made some investments and some enhancements to production, but at the same time, we tried not to spend too much of that revenue. We would reach out to a brand and see if they would send us some microphones or some cameras or anything to keep the cost down. That money goes fast and you want to be super cognizant of how you can leverage it to get things to the next place over and over again. You've spoken about this concept of 'being ready' for opportunity. How does one do that? First of all, no one likes to hear this but you're never ready. It doesn't matter what the opportunity is because likely the opportunities are going to come from a place that you couldn't predict. Secondly, the opportunities are likely going to stretch you and so you have to make a decision on if you feel like you can rise to that occasion. One of the things that Will Smith spoke about in his book, that I love, is when you also are determining if you're ready or not, it also comes down to not being overly analytical and not overthinking the opportunity. When it's someone that you trust and they're bringing you an opportunity, to me, that opportunity is the one you need to say yes to and so sometimes being ready is purely just a mindset thing. You have to be ready in your heart. You need to be ready when it comes to how you want to put yourself in that situation. When you think about being ready, those are the things you need to think about. Once the opportunities and the audience come, it can feel tough to keep up with output demand. Have you every struggled with that feeling? All of these major media companies like Hypebeast or Complex, they all have huge content teams. This is why they can execute so much all of the time but as an individual, execute where you can execute. We've seen time and time again, so many different young creatives that may not have those systems, but they cut through with their thing. One of my favorites is Lynae Vanee. She puts out one video a week, and that thing cooks. She does her thing and she's not trying to compete with volume. She's competing with quality. I think when you have quality and you know your audience and you're hitting that sweet spot, people are always going to respond. They're always going to show up. When I came back, folks had missed me. It was clear. The response was there. So if I go away, it's not like I'm being forgotten in this sea of content or storytelling that's going out. So I think it's just important to remember that. Lastly, what do you think is the most important thing for any creative to understand, regardless of the industry? It's really important to develop a 'no bullshit mindset'. We can come up with a number of reasons why we won't do anything but I made an agreement with myself a long time ago was that there's nothing that's going to replace doing the work. That being said, I'm not going to feel 100% every day and it's okay if I decide, like, today I ain't got it. I'm going to take that break. If I can't put out something meaningful, what's the point? The world's not going to end and my audience isn't going to disappear because I needed to make sure I took care of myself. You can't do anything right if you haven't taken care of yourself first. Make sure to follow Bimma's Instagram for news on all of his upcoming projects and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations just like these!

A Conversation With Julie Clark of Province Apothecary Julie Clark is the founder of Province Apothecary, a natural beauty company founded through her experiences crafting natural, organic beauty products out of her kitchen to help her own needs battling eczema and allergies. Julie's goal is to create pure, effective products that benefit even the most sensitive complexions so that you can feel beautiful in your skin. @julie.anne.clark // @provinceapothecary There are so many products/routines out there and skincare can sometimes seem intimidating. What are 5 tips you can give for those starting off in their skincare journey? Less is more. Begin with a simple 3 step routine of a) cleansing, b) toning/hydrating and c) moisturizing/nourishing so as to not get overwhelmed with too many products or steps. Set a time in the morning + evening that makes sense for YOU so you will follow through + be consistent with your new routine. Try not to rush through your routine, rather, make it a loving self-care ritual that you enjoy doing. Talk to an experienced Skin Therapist to learn about your particular skin needs so you get on the right track with products, ingredients & approach right from the start. Try to look for clean, simple ingredients. If you can’t pronounce them, they are probably harsh chemicals that aren’t good for your skin or body as a whole. Trust that healing & caring for skin is a process, not an event. It sometimes takes time to see results, but with a holistic approach, the results are lifelong. What is your skincare routine? Of course, I always use Province Apothecary products in my daily skincare routine. I always begin with cleansing with our Moisturizing Oil Cleanser & Makeup Remover, morning & evening (even if I don’t have makeup on) as it not only removes dirt, oil, makeup & impurities on the skin, it adds moisture and calms my sensitive and dry skin. I follow up my cleanse (both am & pm) with our Invigorating + Balancing Toner to hydrate + soothe my skin, while prepping it for the next step On damp skin from the toner, I massage my oil-based custom serum into my skin using our Natural Face Lift Massage Ritual, which deeply nourishes my skin with ingredients chosen especially for my specific skin concerns. I do this step morning + evening. Next up I do our Sculpting + Toning Facial Cup protocol, that smooths, plumps & evens out my skin tone. Lastly I seal in all this goodness with either our Nourishing + Revitalizing Moisturizer (summertime) or our Protecting + Restoring Face Balm (wintertime). An extra step if my eczema/sensitivity is in full force, I layer on the Healing Eczema Balm as a night treatment. You talk about diet & nutrition playing a part in healthy skin. What are 5 recipes/ingredients you’ve been having lately that can help with skincare? During the cold, dry winter months, making sure I get enough good fats is key to healthy & protected skin. Avocados, olive oil, nuts & seeds are all good sources. Salmon is rich in Vitamin D and healthy omegas which feed skin, hair & nails. Fruits high in Vitamin C such as kiwis, oranges, pineapples help hydrate skin cells and help skin to heal. Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin A which benefit hair, skin and nails and contain more than 700% of your daily recommended intake. And last but definitely not least, Water. The best thing we can all do for healthy skin is to drink lots of water because the skin, and entire body require it to function properly. We love your blog segment “Women We Admire”. Besides those you’ve featured, who are 5 women you really admire these days? My Business Partner Natalie is constantly inspiring me, I am so lucky to work with her everyday! My mom and 2 sisters are really helping me get through this pandemic, thankful for text groups and video chats. They are always doing fun things and cooking delicious meals. What are 5 skincare/beauty products you can’t live without? Daily glow dry brush to support lymphatic drainage Dual Action Jade Roller to stimulate + smooth Sculpting + Toning Facial Cup set Nourishing oil serums-never enough oils! Healing Eczema Balm! This is how Province Apothecary all began! We hear the term “Natural Beauty” a lot these days. From the view of Province Apothecary, what are 5 important things everyone should know about natural beauty? Natural beauty is a glow that comes from within, but can be supported with the right natural skincare products & practices. Taking care of your Whole Self with proper nutrition, sleep/rest, hydration, exercise, being in nature and connecting with others ALL are important parts of achieving Natural Beauty. Natural Beauty is not forced or manipulated, but rather a loving and patient approach to supporting our bodies & our skin in a way that focuses more on acceptance and trust than trying to change something that was never wrong in the first place. Natural Beauty means being mindful & intentional about what we put on our skin and in our bodies, choosing things that are clean, healthy & good for not only US, but for Planet Earth as well. Natural Beauty means knowing yourself & your skin & trusting that IT knows how to find balance if you give it the right support.

Event page for the Pier Five Athletics Club's wellness event, Winter Refresh TORONTO WINTER REFRESH Get Tickets When: March 5, 2026: 7:30 - 9:30PM Where: NRG Haus Share: Facebook WhatsApp Copy link Let's shake off that winter chill together! The Pier Five Athletics Club (PFAC) is one of Toronto's most diverse sport & wellness programs. Catering to creatives, entrepreneurs and hustlers who crave new forms of connection and a break for the daily grind, we have developed a series of events throughout the year that will show you a new side of the city and a new side of yourself that you'll love. This is PFAC's first-ever hot & cold wellness event, and we couldn't be more excited to host it at NRG Haus, a new, sober-social wellness facility in Liberty Village. Equipped with an immersive cold plunge room, group-format saunas, a tea-lounge and mocktail bar, we couldn't think of a better place to gather and get out of that winter funk together. This event includes: 2 hour wellness experience Free-flow and guided access to saunas and cold plunges A fully equipped bar of FREE non-alc drinks from our friends at Well Juices & Geez Louise Delicious healthy snacks from The Low Carb Co Complimentary wellness gifts from our friends at MARGIN DJ's keeping the vibe throughout the full event A curated crowd of creatives, entrepreneurs and wellness lovers Come ready to sweat and plunge. Wear something you can move and get wet in (recommended bathing suits). Leave your winter woes at the door. We'll see you at NRG Haus! Doors open at 7:10PM for a 7:30PM start. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.

Change the future of small business owners and entrepreneurs! We're looking for talented people who want to help make an impact with the most passionate builders on the planet! Available Opportunities Brand Partnerships Manager (Remote) Have any questions? Send us an email to community@pier-five.com !