In this episode of the Business in the Open podcast, host Vanessa Smith sits down with Brett Poirier to unpack his journey from a media and journalism background to building Red Sands Group, which began in property management and has now expanded into vacation rentals, plumbing, electrical, cleaning, insulation and pest control divisions.

Brett shares how buying his first duplex in Charlottetown at 19 helped jumpstart his real estate path, how the business grew through necessity and referrals, and why clear vision and strong customer service matter as much as operations. He also discusses working with friends, learning business through books and mentoring, the demands of managing multiple companies, and plans to expand Red Sands Vacations beyond PEI into New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Connect with Brett & Red Sands here:

https://www.redsands.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/RedSandsProperties

This episode was audio-produced by Adam Ramsay.

A big thanks to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Learn more about them here:

Fiddling Fisherman Lookout

Provincial Credit Union

Want to support the show? Click follow wherever you are listening and leave us a review! And lastly, head on over to our Instagram so we can connect https://www.instagram.com/business.openpod/.

For Episode 29, we chat with PEI restaurateur Richard Court, owner-operator within Oyster Island Hospitality, including Pilot House, Sea Rocket, and Pink Crow in downtown Charlottetown, and opening this summer on the Rustico harbour, The Rustico Cannery.

Richard shares how he started in restaurants at 13, later joining the Pilot House and eventually taking over ownership from founders Doug and Judy Harvey.

He describes expanding post-COVID as opportunities arose, building Sea Rocket in six months in a challenging heritage space, transitioning the former Piatto restaurant into what is now known as Pink Crow, and opening the seafood-focused Rustico Cannery this June.

Richard emphasizes hands-on hospitality, coaching teams, reading guest needs, and balancing growth, family life, and operations while expecting another busy tourism season.

Connect with Richard's businesses here:

https://www.instagram.com/thepilothouse/

https://www.instagram.com/sea_rocket_oysters/

https://www.instagram.com/pinkcrowcharlottetown/

https://www.instagram.com/rusticocannery/

This episode was audio-produced by Adam Ramsay.

A big thanks to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Learn more about them here:

Fiddling Fisherman Lookout

Provincial Credit Union

Want to support the show? Click follow wherever you are listening and leave us a review! And lastly, head on over to our Instagram so we can connect https://www.instagram.com/business.openpod/.

For Episode 28, we welcome 24-year-old Harrison Duffy, owner of Somerset Ice Cream Bar (opened July 7, 2018 at age 16) and the Harry's Dairy Bar brand. Harrison shares growing up around entrepreneurs, starting a car detailing business at 10 and working various hospitality jobs before planning his dairy bar at 15. He describes researching and refurbishing used equipment, securing land with his parents' financing help, and his growth from three employees to now 30 across his locations.

Harrison discusses lessons from mentoring young workers, learning to delegate and the importance of reinvesting to streamline operations. He also shares insights into renovating Somerset to more than double its size ahead of an April 18 opening and announces the Harry's brand is moving to the Mariner's Cove boardwalk in Cavendish this summer.

Connect with Harrison & Somerset Ice Cream Bar here:

https://www.facebook.com/somerseticecreambar

https://www.instagram.com/somerseticecreambar/

This episode was audio-produced by Adam Ramsay.

A big thanks to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Learn more about them here:

Fiddling Fisherman Lookout

Provincial Credit Union

Want to support the show? Click follow wherever you are listening and leave us a review! And lastly, head on over to our Instagram so we can connect https://www.instagram.com/business.openpod/.