Calgary may be known as Canada's "energy capital" but a growing number of entrepreneurs, armed with an innovative spirit and desire to make their passion their career, are also doing their part to grow and expand the city's economy! With the oil and gas sector showing its vulnerability this past year it's no surprise more and more people are investing less in commodities and more in themselves by starting up their own home-based business!

Jennifer Mazerolle, owner of CANOAK Clothing , was certainly onto something when she decided to organize the first Calgary Home Business Show earlier this year! With a professional background in accounting and finance, Jennifer quickly realized that working in a corporate environment would never make her happy. She started CANOAK Clothing in September of 2014 to highlight local clothing designers showcasing Canadian-made one-of-a-kind (CANOAK) products. An encounter with a very "unethical" online entrepreneur (who sold event marketing ... with NO tangible results) motivated her to start up an "ethical" home business event group and launch the very first Calgary Home Business Show in January.

Six shows later, and many lessons learned along the way, the Calgary Home Business Show has made its place at the Delta Calgary South Hotel , featuring 40+ vendors once a month.

About the Calgary Home Business Show

The mission of the Calgary Home Business Show is to provide home-based businesses in Calgary the following:

1. A way to connect with other Calgary-based entrepreneurs building a business from their homes
2. A central venue to sell their goods and services on a regular basis (monthly)
3. Local marketing assistance to get Calgarians to the event

Owning a home-based business of her own, Jennifer knows most small businesses struggle because they can't compete with retail locations that have a fancy store front (and associated budget). Her goal, with the help of her business partner, Tiffany Kuntz, is to connect Calgarians with unique local businesses. As her home-based business (and customer) community grows she hopes to help boost the local economy as well!

Building Long-Lasting Relationships

We are all consumers. If we were given a opportunity to choose between purchasing from a familiar face or a complete stranger, we are more likely to open up our wallets to someone we know and trust. The goal of the Calgary Home Business Show is to help foster long-lasting, trusting relationships between vendors and their customers.

This weekend I got a real taste of what this show is about when I spent the afternoon wandering through the room and meeting many of the vendors, including:

• Amanda Palmer - Thirty One (purses, totes and bags)
• Celynn Vant Erve - Young Living (essential oils and more)
• Chantelle Everett - South Hill Designs (personalized lockets; her son, "Red", also joined in on the fun with his Sparkle Tattoos)
• Dee-Dee Rebitt - Violet Aura Holistic Healing Centre
• Maryann Thrower - A Charm'd Life (jewelry and accessories)
• Nicole Laursen - Stella & Dot (fashion jewelry, bags and more)
• Rachel Prete - Jamberry (nail wraps)
• Sarah Anderson - Origami Owl (custom charms, lockets and bracelets)
• Terry Braid - Arbonne ("good for you" products)
• Tiffany Zurkan-Anderson - SweetLegs (leggings for everyone)

The next big event is on August 22 and 23 at the Delta Calgary South Hotel and Convention Centre. For more information on the event (or to inquire about becoming a vendor) visit www.calgaryhomebusinessshow.com .

If you would like to see images from the Calgary Home Business Show y ou can check out the images on social media using the icons at the top of the page.

(This post was originally posted on www.sixfootcanasian.com on July 28, 2015)