Female entrepreneurs take part in empowering holiday shopping event in Montreal

A diverse group of female entrepreneurs came together in Montreal’s Maison Principale Tuesday to shop their way through their gift list, and empower others to help make their business dreams a reality.

Andrea Soueidan, the CEO of Altitude Connections – the main organizer of “Sip N’ Shop” Montreal – says it’s about supporting other women entrepreneurs.

“This is a perfect way to give them awareness,” said Soueidan. “Give them a showcase, visibility, help them sell. And just to put a name out there.

“I hope they get to sip, they shop, they network, they get to know each other, rebuild the social networking among people, especially after COVID. And it’s a great start for the holiday season.”

Soueidan says the pandemic has certainly changed the dynamic of entrepreneurship in the city, especially when small businesses are concerned.

“Not everybody was online and doing e-commerce five years ago when we started,” she said. “We wanted to support local business and bring businesses to a community and bring them together. And that’s why I wanted to showcase them. And it’s really to support also the small ones because we all started somewhere.”

Diana Antonacci, the owner of Biscotti Diana, says it was a no-brainer to take part in the event.

“I just really loved the idea of everybody getting together and sharing in Montreal,” said Antonacci. “Especially after such difficult times, being given the opportunity to share some of our passions and artistry and all the things that we’ve been working so hard to do in an entrepreneurship.

“There are a lot of things that scaling the business at my level has definitely had some challenges with that. Getting out there, getting people to appreciate my products, something that is authentic Italian and gluten free. So it usually has a very bad reputation. So getting people to know that it’s really good has been challenging and COVID has really had an impact on the industry, the food industry. There have been food shortages, supply and demand. So that’s been a challenge as well.

“You have to really believe in yourself and keep going because there’s always going to be that little voice and you’re always going to look around at the people around you that might seem like they have it together a little bit more than you do. But you have to be your own cheerleader and just don’t give up. If you have a great idea, keep going. There’s going to be lots of hurdles, but you could do it.”

Melodie Roukoz, the co-owner Café Chez Teta, said her business honours a family member.

“We wanted to create this heartwarming experience as if we go to our grandma’s,” said Roukoz. “Because our restaurant is called Café Chez Teta and ‘teta’ means grandma in Lebanese. And the person that we see on our logo is actually my husband’s grandma. So we wanted to create this heartwarming place with this authentic experience in the heart of Montreal.”

Manny Sgourakis, the owner of Luluthia Design who’s known as the flower boss in Montreal, shared his thoughts as one of the few male vendors at the event.

“Focus. Look forward. Don’t listen to negativity. And listen to your gut,” said Sgourakis.