We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tammy Reimer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tammy below.

Tammy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I really love helping people. I was very fortunate to stay home with my kids when they were little. I was able to volunteer and help those in need because I had the time. Now my little babies are teenagers and I found myself wanting to get into the workforce. I was mainly a waitress before I had children, and this did not seem a feasible job at my age. So I was thinking about what I could do, Being in customer service was really my only option. So I thought I could be a cashier for some company but I would be wasting my true talents of helping people; thus started my wheels of running my own business. I had no idea what I was doing; thankfully I met Heather Inwood-Montrose who mentioned this Start-Up Business Course through Enterprise Renfrew County. This was a game changer for me and put me on the right track. I had many ideas at first but with the guidance and support from Heather, I narrowed it down to Decluttering, Organizing and Companionship. And a slogan “Hands that help!” This course was so valuable to me, learning about all aspects to start a business, from a Business Plan, cashflow projections and so many computer and social media skills. I would not be where I am without that course!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a very caring, compassionate person who loves to help make a difference in enhancing people’s lives. My mission is to “work from the heart and lead with compassion.” I offer Decluttering, Organizing and Companionship services in the Madawaska and Ottawa Valley. All of these services are based on the clients’ individual needs and sometimes both are needed. Valley Angels provides emotional support and friendship, while performing jobs around the house to be beneficial to the clients’ well-being. ( laundry, light housekeeping, meal prep and walk or time outside.) This can be decluttering and organizing the home spaces, (closets, fridges, individual rooms) or basements, garages or sheds. And also includes companion sitting with Seniors, spending time playing games, doing crafts and listening to their stories, most of all. With an aging population on the rise, and more families living apart ,Valley Angels aims to help isolated Seniors get the non-medical compassionate care they need to thrive and live their best lives. Also with the shortages of PSW’s in our area, Valley Angels wants to fill this gap with our non-judgmental, reliable
and consistent home care services.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

When I first launched my business, I put up posters the old fashioned way, ( laundromats, grocery stores, libraries, senior retirement homes) thinking this may get the word out there fast. No responses! Than I posted on Facebook and Instagram a month or so later. And that is when I got new clients. Even word of mouth did not help in the beginning, as much as I thought it would. Now after being in business for a year, I can see word of mouth clients improving. I was surprised that social media had that much pull to be honest. Now that I have a steady client base I don’t use social media as much. And rely on referrals and recommendations.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I was very fortunate to receive a grant from the Starter Company Plus business development program to help with the initial capital I needed to start my business. With my business there is not a lot of overhead so it was enough money to give me a good start on business cards and other promo stuff and some needed essentials for my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.valleyangels.ca
• Instagram: valleyangels.123
• Facebook: valley angels

Image Credits
Gal Capone Photography