Here's a message from our sponsor, Alberta Catalyzer:
Event merchandise often comes with hidden costs: inhumane labor practices, manufacturing waste, and non-biodegradable materials. Last Shot Apparel, a sustainable company based in Alberta, Canada, is revolutionizing the industry by offering ethically-made, eco-friendly merchandise for companies and events. Brands and shareholders increasingly demand green technology and sustainability, and Last Shot Apparel delivers.
Before joining Alberta Catalyzer, Last Shot Apparel faced a significant challenge: narrowing down their target market. They were initially hesitant to introduce a minimum order quantity (MOQ), fearing it might deter potential sales.
The founder and CEO Briggs Gibbins shares, "We needed assistance in narrowing our target market. Alberta Catalyzer gave us the confidence to go from 0 MOQ to 50+ MOQ." By introducing an MOQ, Last Shot Apparel shifted their focus from B2C to B2B, attracting enterprise clients.
Briggs noted, "On the flip side, by implementing an MOQ, enterprises started to reach out because we targeted only B2B sales and stepped back from B2C." Through Alberta Catalyzer, access to key figures in Alberta Innovates, venture capital firms, and national lenders like Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Futurpreneur, as well as getting to attend the Inventures Canada convention, were pivotal resources that significantly impacted their growth.
After achieving profitability just 16 months after its launch, Last Shot Apparel is primed for sustained success. Briggs expressed newfound confidence and a deep understanding of business operations, from financials to branding and marketing. Reflecting on her Alberta Catalyzer journey, Briggs humbly noted "I used to watch shows like Dragons Den and Shark Tank every Sunday with my dad. I always thought it was a pipe dream. I never imagined I would understand the way a company works from the financials to the branding and marketing to the operations."
As Last Shot Apparel looks to the future, Briggs is inspired by the wisdom of Dory from Finding Nemo: "Just keep swimming". Follow their traction by visiting www.lastshotapparel.com.
Join Alberta Catalyzer to fast-track your startup with know-how and expert guidance. Alberta Catalyzer offers merit-based, pre-accelerator programs for early-stage tech entrepreneurs in Alberta at no cost. These programs are developed and delivered by Platform Calgary and Edmonton Unlimited, with support from partners and organizations across the Alberta Innovation Network. They are made possible by the generous support of the Alberta Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program, run by a consortium led by Alberta Innovates. The consortium includes the Government of Alberta, Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), The City of Edmonton through Edmonton Unlimited, and the City of Calgary's Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund allocated $35 million over three years to retain business accelerators. It's part of the Alberta government's goal to help create 20,000 jobs and increase technology firm revenue to $5 billion by 2030.