Young Entrepreneur Makes Music and Good Business

Chris Griffiths is the young entrepreneur that could -- and did. The 24-year-old Newfoundlander is the owner of three successful businesses. He will share some of the secrets of his success at the fourth annual Young Entrepreneurs Going Places Conference. The event will be held at the World Trade and Convention Centre May 7 -9.

"It is important for young people to reach for their dreams but it's much easier to achieve those dreams if you have the opportunity to learn first hand from others," said Mr. Griffiths.

He started his first business, Griffiths Guitar Works, in St. John's when he was only 19. Mr. Griffiths custom-builds acoustic and electric guitars and has the only full-service repair shop in Atlantic Canada. He also buys and sells used guitars, rents guitars to first-time players, and brokers vintage guitars between Canada and the U.S.

Two years ago, Mr. Griffiths opened Beaconsfield Property Management, a real estate holding company. This year he started Rock Factory, a summer camp for young musicians.

"If you love what you do and do what you love, you will never have to work a day in your life," Mr. Griffiths said.

After only six months in operation, his love of business and sharp business sense earned him the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Newfoundland from the Business Development Bank of Canada. Less than a year after opening Griffiths Guitar Works, the young entrepreneur prepared a business plan that beat out hundreds of others in the Atlantic Business Plan Awards for the $15,000 first-place prize. Last year Mr. Griffiths was a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The Young Entrepreneurs Going Places Conference will be hosted by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED). It is the largest of its kind in North America and is expected to draw more than 500 young entrepreneurs from around the region. The event will be emceed by Liz Rigney, co-host of Breakfast Television.

The conference is designed to motivate young people to explore entrepreneurship as a way of life, to share ideas with others and to provide networking opportunities. Seminars, workshops and forum discussions led by professionals and successful entrepreneurs will show young people the ropes of the business world from start-up to sustaining success. There will also be a trade show at the Halifax Shopping Centre for participants to showcase their talents and gain valuable hands-on experience in marketing and selling strategies.

The charge for the conference is $100 for all delegates. This includes transportation within Nova Scotia, accommodations, meals, entertainment and all conference sessions. The major sponsors of the event have provided funds allowing young people from the province to attend at a reduced cost.

The conference is sponsored by Nova Scotia Economic Development and Tourism, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Human Resources Development Canada, Royal Bank, Clearwater, Sobeys, and MT & T Business Communications.

The Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development has a broad mandate covering many facets of entrepreneurship. CEED is a joint venture funded by the Department of Education and Culture and the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification, managed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Nova Scotia Economic Development and Tourism.