Saydee Lorencz, owner of Timeless Tatts in Manning, is a 22-year-old Métis woman. She grew up in High Level, with family roots in Manning. Timeless Tatts is the first business she has owned, though she is a third-generation business owner in her family. Saydee has always been an artist, but says she never knew how to channel her talents into a career. It wasn't until a close family member suggested tattooing as a profession that she began to explore it as a potential career path.

𝗤: 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?

A: I opened my tattoo studio on September 30th, Truth and Reconciliation Day, and I am the first ever official tattoo studio in Manning, AB! I started my journey by completing my certificate for tattooing at The Alberta College of Body Art in Grande Prairie, AB. After that, I spent two more months at Cree8iv Ink Studios located in Grande Prairie as well. I then completed my Therapeutic Recreation Diploma, and after that, I went straight to work setting up my own studio! Besides tattooing services, I also sell knitted and beaded crafts that I make myself, local crafts from my community, and piercing jewelry.

𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?

A: I always knew I had to open my own studio if I wanted to live closer to my family, as there were no tattoo studios nearby. I also always planned to work in a studio due to the stigma involved with tattooing from home. What I love most about owning my own business is that I can work for myself. Everything I do is for my future and my business. I love having control of my hours, creating my own systems, and working with clients to meet both our needs.

𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻?

A: My greatest challenges so far have been starting up my business. It took a lot of time, patience, and effort to make everything work. Sourcing experienced people as references and using their advice helped me make my business work just as well. My greatest successes have been how smoothly I’ve started my business and how little I’ve had to advertise, as my community has been so encouraging and excellent in being a great advertisement for me.

𝗤: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗿?

A: The support thus far has been incredible! I hadn’t even opened my studio yet, and people on the street already knew who I was and that I was opening a shop. I have people coming in all the time saying they heard from one of my previous clients how amazing I did on their tattoo and wanted to get one as well! I couldn't be more pleased with the support of my community and how welcomed I've been in my journey so far!

𝗤: 𝗔𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?

A: My advice for others looking to start their own business is to find people who are successful business owners or people who have owned businesses in the past, and learn everything you can from them. Ask questions, use resources, and compare and contrast options. Lastly, always carry a notebook with you. You won’t realize all the tidbits and information you’ll come across, and writing them down makes it easier to search for and locate the information you find.

Born and raised in the Peace Country, Tatum Small developed a deep connection to her community from a young age. She grew up coaching gymnastics and working at the local ski hill, both of which taught her the value of hard work, leadership, and community involvement. By 21, she took her first big entrepreneurial leap and opened her first (of four) cannabis stores. We asked Tatum to answer a few questions for us for our January Client Feature:

𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘀?
А: Plain Jane Cannabis’ journey began with a passion for retail that was nurtured over the years, but like many, I faced challenges when the pandemic disrupted the industry. As the world shifted, I recognized that cannabis stores were considered essential businesses, providing an opportunity to stay connected to the retail world I loved. This inspired me to pivot into the cannabis industry. I opened the first Plain Jane Cannabis location in Falher in May 2021, followed by Spirit River in September 2021, Beaverlodge in September 2022, and most recently, Peace River in November 2023. Each location reflects not only my dedication to providing quality cannabis products to Northern Alberta, but also my commitment to growing a business rooted in resilience and community.

Q: How did you build an empire so quickly?
The rapid expansion of Plain Jane Cannabis wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support from my family, the communities we serve, and organizations like Community Futures. From the beginning, my family played an integral role, offering guidance and hands on help every step of the way. The communities, too, embraced our business with open arms, and their trust and loyalty have been key to our growth. Additionally, Community Futures provided invaluable support through funding, mentorship, and resources that helped bring our vision to life. However, the journey hasn’t been without its challenges. One of the major hurdles I faced was navigating the complexities of zoning regulations. In some cases, I had to work through lengthy processes to change zoning laws in order to open the doors, which added unexpected delays and additional costs. Adding to these challenges was the 17-month process with AGLC to secure the licensing, a rigorous and time-consuming step critical to the operations. These struggles only strengthened our resolve and deepened our commitment to providing a valuable service to our communities. Each new location was made possible through perseverance, community support, and the partnerships we’ve built along the way. Our success is a testament to the power of collaboration and resilience, and I’m deeply grateful for the ongoing support that has allowed us to expand quickly while remaining true to our roots.

𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿?
A: Being an entrepreneur is incredibly fulfilling because it allows me to turn my vision into reality and create something from the ground up. I love the freedom and creativity that come with building my own business, where every decision I make has a direct impact on its growth and success. The challenges I face push me to grow, learn, and innovate, making every day an opportunity to evolve both personally and professionally.

𝗤: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻?
A: The support has been nothing short of incredible. My family has been my rock, offering unwavering encouragement, guidance, and hands-on help from the very beginning. Their belief in my vision has kept me motivated, even during the most challenging times. The communities I serve have been equally inspiring, welcoming my business with open arms and showing trust and loyalty that have been instrumental to my growth. Organizations like Community Futures have also played a pivotal role by providing funding, mentorship, and resources that have helped turn my ideas into reality. Their support has not only eased some of the burdens of starting and expanding a business but has also been a constant reminder of how collaboration and community can empower success. Overall, the support I’ve received has been a cornerstone of my journey, and I am truly grateful for every person and organization that has contributed to my growth