Ten years. It’s an incredible feat in business. It’s a landmark anniversary that we all strive for and while many meet and surpass this mark, maybe succumb, oftentimes to factors outside of their control. In 2012, I started this business with an idea, that was it. I figured, why not provide event staff catered to the motorsports and outdoors industries? I like riding motorcycles, so working at a motorcycle event would be  a fun opportunity, right? It’s amazing how one idea can become so much, and how I can now look back at ten years, in wonderment, disbelief and honestly just sheer pride, to reflect on the amazing clients, staff and people we have met along the way. We didn’t get here by ourselves, it took an entire village and for that I am forever indebted to you all.

I still remember that conversation, where I told my Dad, “I’m going to start a business and name it after your race team”. For those of you who don’t know the origins of our name, we were named after a family race car team called “Backwoodz Race Team”. That “Z”, nostalgic logo and neon car wrap indicative of the 1990’s is now iconic. 

Starting a business in 2012 was an interesting time. It came after the recession had settled, and at a time when social media was just getting off the ground after the My Space generation. We got into Facebook and Instagram early, and benefitted from that initial exposure. That, combined with the sheer hustle of getting out to events and meeting people, and making those connections, is what led the growth we have experienced over the years.

I previously wrote about finding the original business plan I wrote for Backwoods Promotions, then named "Backwoods Girls Promotional Staffing", and while it was fairly simple and rudimentary at the time, there are components of it that haven't changed. Here is an excerpt from that business plan that I wanted to share: "it is this company's goal to transform the image of promotional models to include knowledgeable staff who are also experienced in the fields of sales, marketing and promotions...our staff are hand-selected based on their knowledge and passion in the targeted industries".

That has continued to be our goal; to transform and get away from traditional stereotypes, to be trailblazers, disrupters, and adapters (to an ever changing world). I mentioned before that the past ten years have been filled with learnings. With each new lesson I learned, I changed, and adapted to accommodate an ever changing industry. That’s one of the most important takeaways I can offer to anyone starting their own business: change and adapt. That, and work harder than you’ve ever worked before. It will pay off. And it has.

I gave myself five years. If this business wasn’t turning a profit by then, I would bow my head and retreat. Fortunately, I didn’t have to do that. With each client, came new business. With each new staff  member we hired, came new referrals and positive reviews. We were clearly doing something right. Some of our clients we have worked with since the beginning. The relationships we’ve built have been solid and unwavering to an ever changing industry and for that I am incredibly grateful.

Just as our staff and clients have watched us grow, we’ve also watched them grow too, whether moving up the ladder in their respective jobs, growing their families, or at times, changing career paths entirely or expanding their businesses. And yet, we’ve kept in touch along this crazy journey. You see, this company, this business we’re in, is more than just a single or series of events we attend. It’s personal beyond anything I can even explain. There are times I hear from a staff member about how working for our company has changed their life, whether it was a confidence boost they needed, a lifelong friend they met, or a complete 360 career change. The stories keep coming, the affirmations continue, and each time I’m bewildered at what I’ve created because, let me tell you, I didn’t have a clue ten years ago what this would look like today. I had a dream, and a vision, and I didn’t let up for even just a minute. Of course there were challenges, but each challenge fuels us to become better. For me, the challenges are my motivation to continue to strive for the best.  

Let’s go back a bit here because there are truly some great stories and memories that I just can’t keep in the archives. It was at a bar after the Novi Snowmobile Show where I met with a snowmobile industry contact. After a cold beverage and a great chat about snowmobiles, the industry and avalanche safety, an offer to make a connection was made (I’m pretty sure it was a name and number or email written on a napkin!) I am forever grateful for that conversation and that connection and opportunity. It is what ultimately led to us securing work with Bombardier Recreational Products and helped put our name in the game for other clients. That conversation also led to additional connections, lifelong friends, and several trips to go mountain snowmobiling which was ultimately lifechanging.

It was after that point in 2013 that people started to take me and Backwoods more seriously at events. I’m thankful to another contact with Fox who I met at Hay Days, and after a quick dance competition to win a hat, I handed him my card and asked for a later phone call to chat about staffing. To this day, eight years later, I’m still proud to call Fox one of our longest standing clients. At the end of the day, our staff worked hard, and others took notice. Referrals and word of mouth took us far, where we spent nothing on advertising for years. I’ll still shake my head at all of that.Then 2020 happened, and while it changed everything, or so it seemed, we held strong. Supported by our longstanding clients, our roots and values (don’t back down, ever.), we held on and prepared for the best storm we’ve ever had to endure. On the plus side, the down time allowed for me, personally, to get lots of riding time in and reconnect with my family. It also allowed us to regroup as a company; to reflect, grow, change and above all, be appreciative and grateful for what we did have. During that time we received several Stevie awards in both the International Business Awards and Women in Business Awards, plus a People’s Choice Award, in recognition of the work we’ve done within an incredibly niche market. We also received certification as a Women Business Enterprise by WBE Canada, allowing us the opportunity to connect with a strong diverse supplier network in Canada and the US. In addition, our involvement with Forbes Business Council has given us the opportunity to connect with a number of other like-minded business professionals, especially in the HR & Staffing fields. Sometimes the tougher times can become a positive, if you let it. After 2020, we were able to bounce back, until 2022 when Meta/Facebook allowed a hacker to gain access to our accounts despite two factor authentication and other security measures in place. We took a break from social media which was a great time to refocus, continue providing great service to clients and to ultimately rebrand. So here we are, ten years later. With so many changes, it’s felt like a lifetime ago that this business was started; yet in some strange way it also feels like the beginning, a fresh start, a good time to reflect on how far we’ve come, what we’ve accomplished, and best of all, the people we’ve met along the way.

I can’t thank you all enough. I can’t begin to start listing names because there are so many. Please just know that every conversation, every message, kind word, thought, it’s all appreciated. I look forward to the next ten! Let’s do this!

With gratitude,