Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jill Footz, founder of Edmonton Playgrounds, located in Edmonton, AB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My daughters and I run a website called EdmontonPlaygrounds.net. We share our own photos and experiences at playgrounds around Edmonton on our website and Instagram account. We've been to 360 playgrounds (and counting!) in the capital region and have a page dedicated to every single one of them on our site! Playgrounds are our first love, but we also share our experiences at Edmonton attractions, activities, festivals, and more, as well as share travel tips with families!
Tell us about yourself
My daughters have always loved playgrounds, and for years I've been snapping photos of them enjoying parks as we explored different spots around the city. When the pandemic hit, playgrounds were closed, and when they reopened a couple of months later, they were among the only thing available to families for fun. (a lot of venues were still closed). We started sharing photos of playgrounds on our Instagram account, and it took off from there! We built the website to be a tool and resource to help families find cool playgrounds.
At its core, Edmonton Playgrounds is a celebration of the incredible community in which we live. Edmonton is an amazing place to raise a family, and there are so many cool things to do here. We want to share our experiences so that other families can find fun things to do together!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
At this point, I am only on the precipice of turning Edmonton Playgrounds into a business, so I think taking the leap of faith is something I'm proud of! I'm learning so many things as I go, but ultimately I'm so glad that I decided to just jump in and get started on turning what was just a big pile of playground photos into something that is truly a tool that I think will be very useful for families!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
For me, it's to stop working. Working on Edmonton Playgrounds doesn't feel like work to me, so I often will be caught sitting at my desk all night doing EP work after a full day of working at my "real" job!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
For me, first and foremost, it's about finding something you truly love finding the right people who can help you take the next steps, and ultimately believing in yourself and working your butt off!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://edmontonplaygrounds.net/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Edmontonplaygrounds/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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