The clothing brand started by a young local entrepreneur from Sweetgrass First Nation continues to gain recognition at home and around the globe.
2015 is an “outstanding year already for us,” said Kendal Netmaker, founder of Neechie Gear, the clothing line that has store locations in Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
He’s already picked up two awards in the past month. Early in February he accepted the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business award for National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year. That was presented in Toronto.
More recently, at the end of February, he accepted an Indspire Award (formerly National Aboriginal Achievement Awards) in the Youth — First Nation category.
“They’re blessings to what we’re doing,” Netmaker said of the awards in speaking to the News-Optimistin North Battleford Thursday.
This week, Netmaker was due to go on a major trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he was a finalist in the category of Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the global Young Entrepreneur Awards hosted by Youth Business International. The awards are part of their Entrepreneur Roadshow happening in Dubai between March 8 and 11.
“There was about 80 entries from around the world that were nominated by institutions, or lending institutions to their entrepreneurs that are successful” said Netmaker.
“We just happened to be one of the lucky four chosen. We’re up against Hong Kong, Peru and Russia.”
While in Dubai, he plans to meet with the different Chambers and different entrepreneurs, and share with them his business’s story. He’ll also get a chance to speak there as well, “which is amazing,” he said.
It’s more recognition for Netmaker and Neechie Gear, the lifestyle-apparel brand he founded which has proven particularly popular among aboriginal youth.
“It’s a true grassroots success story so far,” said Netmaker.
“It inspires people that anything’s possible. People always see the positives in the things, but they don’t realize all the hard work and sacrifice that’s had to be required every day.”
Netmaker noted he had his own struggles in launching his business, and times when he was ready to give up.
“But I just kept going and just tried to keep positive people around me, and to think positive, live positive,” he said.
Netmaker pointed to the latest trip to Dubai, as well as a trip to Russia the year before to the Global Entrepreneurship Conference, as more positives.
“I think these two things gave me reinforcement that we’re on the right track, that we’re doing things that matters and people are catching on to it. Because I wouldn’t be going if it were just my own doing. People are recognizing, so they’re nominating me to go and they’re wanting us to go, to show up and be successful.
“So it’s really encouraging, because entrepreneur life, people think it’s a high life. It’s a lonely life, right? You have to make your own positivity. You have to motivate yourself and your team. And it can become a struggle during the hard times, but it can be the best during the best times, so you’ve just got to try and stay positive and take every opportunity you can.”
These days, the opportunities have been opening up for Neechie Gear. Netmaker said they are now selling online across Canada and North America, and they wholesale distribute their brand across Canada.
There’s a retailer carrying the brand in almost every province, said Netmaker. Locally, it is FF2 in North Battleford carries their line of clothes, hats and accessories.
In addition, Netmaker finds himself doing motivational speaking across Canada.
“I’ve been blessed by this journey, and people are taking note of it and they want me to come and inspire their kids and their colleges.”
He’s going to two colleges to do more speaking this month, though he tries to make sure not to take on too much outside of his own business.
Netmaker himself came from a single-parent low-income background on Sweetgrass First Nation. Despite those modest means he was able to register in sports through the help of a South African friend whose family covered his registration fees so he could be able to play soccer.
That back story is part of the mission of the company as they strive to be a positive role model for youth. Neechie Gear gives back five per cent of its net profits to help underprivileged youth get involved in sports.
A section of their website also profiles positive role models and First Nation success stories to inspire others, and the company takes pride in celebrating its aboriginal roots.
“It’s part of the reason why we’re successful and we stay true to it to this day,” Netmaker said.
Netmaker’s story is one that inspires not just his aboriginal peers. “We’re inspiring everyone, you know, every background is inspired by how this one kid grew up on the ‘res’ on welfare and created something from nothing.”
He also realizes he has not accomplished it alone. “We’re really making an impact. I say ‘we’ because everyone’s helped create this brand,” said Netmaker, paying tribute to the staff and distributors and customers who have helped along the way.
Thursday, Netmaker was back in North Battleford where he was one of the several invited guest judges for a business planning competition at Sakewew High School.
Three Sakewew students — two presenting as a partnership and one as a sole proprietor — pitched their business plans to the judges, who then provided their feedback and observations.
One of the plans presented was for a business brand called Fiercely Female, which promoted female empowerment. The other was for a gift-basket business called Flirty Fruit.
The students had to show to the judges how they intended to sell and distribute their products and what their costs were, their target market of customers and what their profit margins would be as well.
“I think they’re all winners if they’re taking this step to do this,” said Netmaker. “You know, it’s tough, you know, writing a business plan and everything.”
It was also something Netmaker wished he had an opportunity to do when he was younger.
“I wish I would have had a class like this. It would have been an instrumental help, at least to get my brain wired at an early age.”
