When Elise Woodworth of Erin faced difficulty securing a summer job, she decided to create her own opportunity. With guidance and support from the Business Centre Guelph-Wellington, Woodworth is now launching her own small business venture.
Her project centers on upcycling second-hand clothing—giving new life to old garments. Woodworth successfully applied to the Summer Company program, an initiative that provides funding, mentorship, and coaching to high school or post-secondary students looking to start their own businesses.
“My mom has been telling me about it for a couple of years now,” said Woodworth, recalling how she first heard about the program.
A third-year business student at Trent University, Woodworth had been actively applying for internships but wasn’t finding much success. Encouraged by her mother’s suggestion, she decided to take a different approach.
“I thought I could make my own internship or job experience,” she explained.
Her business idea stemmed from something she already enjoyed and knew well.
“I’ve loved thrifting since before it was cool,” said Woodworth.
She began reworking second-hand clothes to reflect her unique, quirky aesthetic. One of her early creations featured a lobster holding a martini appliquéd onto a hoodie—a piece she made for a trip to Nova Scotia.
“You can make a piece of clothing your own just by adding some fabric,” she noted.
Woodworth learned to sew on her grandmother’s machine, gradually developing her skills through practice.
Her company, FrancEl Studio, pays tribute to both of her grandmothers: Francine (on her father’s side) and Elizabeth (on her mother’s). The brand emphasizes personalization, something Woodworth believes resonates with her target audience.
“A lot of the demographic that I’m targeting likes a personal touch,” she said.
She draws design inspiration from Pinterest and experiments with motifs. Many of her early designs feature themes from nature—plants, fruits, and vegetables—which she feels suit the summer vibe. Examples include denim shorts embroidered with a strawberry and a sweatshirt featuring a strawberry-eating alligator, complete with a tail running down the sleeve.
“I really like strawberries,” Woodworth admitted with a smile.
But creating the clothes is only part of the business. The Summer Company program also required her to write a comprehensive business plan, applying much of what she has learned through her university studies.
Beyond planning, the program offers both virtual and in-person training sessions, along with personalized coaching.
Woodworth received $1,500 in start-up funding, which helped her purchase a new sewing machine. To stretch her budget, she sourced much of her home studio setup through thrift stores.
She also made a public request on social media for donations of used clothes and fabric. She accepts even damaged or stained items that thrift shops typically reject, finding value in their usable material.
“This morning, I picked up from an elderly lady, and she was just so grateful,” Woodworth shared.
Given that local thrift stores, such as New 2 You in Erin, often place limits on how much clothing they accept, Woodworth sees a chance to collect more materials at little to no cost.
Since material costs will influence her pricing, she hasn’t settled on final prices yet.
“It’s kind of going to be a trial-and-error thing,” she explained.
Currently, Woodworth is preparing to sell her products by applying to local markets and building a presence online through Instagram and Depop.
As for future designs, she plans to continue evolving her style while staying connected to her hometown.
“I’m thinking I could do some clover T-shirts,” she said. “People love Erin and they want to wear a shirt with a clover on it.”
Although she doesn’t expect booming sales immediately, Woodworth is optimistic about continuing beyond the Summer Company program.
“This is something I really enjoy doing and I’m really passionate about,” she said.
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