Last Thursday, Vox hosted a panel of New York City-based small business owners in an intimate Entrepreneurship, Explained panel discussion presented by Verizon Business. Nisha Chittal, Vox’s VP of development and chief of staff, was joined by luxury jewelry and hair accessory designer Jennifer Behr and fashion brand owners and designers Tanner Richie and Fletcher […]
From left: Nisha Chittal, Jenifer Beher, Fletcher Kasell, and Tanner Richie | Dorothy Hong Photography
Last Thursday, Vox hosted a panel of New York City-based small business owners in an intimate Entrepreneurship, Explained panel discussion presented by Verizon Business. Nisha Chittal, Vox’s VP of development and chief of staff, was joined by luxury jewelry and hair accessory designer Jennifer Behr and fashion brand owners and designers Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kasell of Tanner Fletcher. The panelists discussed the highs and lows of their entrepreneurial journeys — from how they started their companies to how they juggle wearing multiple hats as a founder and the advice they would give to people starting their own companies today. Here are some highlights from the discussion:
Jennifer Behr on blending creativity and business:
I do feel lucky that I am a creative person that’s analytical as well because a lot of creative people aren’t. The thing of starting a business with no money is that you have to be very practical from the beginning. You can waste money and you can’t, you know. We always make some beautiful products that I know aren’t good to sell because that’s what actually brings me joy in it. But I also know that I have to make the things that are going to pay the bills.
Fletcher Kasell on building an inclusive brand
A lot of people give you advice when you start a business, “You have to have a defined customer, and your model should look this way…” We were like, “Okay, we don’t want our customer to think that we’re catering to one customer because it might close off all these other people who would wear our clothes.” We really wanted to be broad in that way.
Tanner Richie also added:
We always say that our customer is “Bushwick meets the Upper East Side.” There’s such a wide mix — our customer is the ladies who lunch all the way down to the East Village boys. It’s just the most random mix of people but it might be the same product, right, it could literally be the same sweater but it’s just all how people style it and I think it’s just keeping the storytelling open.
Tanner Richie on what works well on social media:
Being ourselves on social media sells the products without having to mention it very much. I think they (our audience) want to see that we’re real people and they want to support. I think people are having a harder time with big corporations right now, so I think seeing that your support to our business is just going to a small operation and real people who are doing everything. … They really appreciate seeing that. And it’s fun too — because I can’t think of too many brands that actually like to show they’re kind of messy behind the scenes and I think we all have it, so let’s expose it a little bit.
Jennifer Behr on her proudest moments as a designer:
There’s obviously the press that everybody sees which people are like — oh this celebrity wore this or that which is great…but it’s actually [when] somebody has chosen to wear you is kind of amazing, like just them making that choice, or people who get excited about [your brand] or care about it is ultimately the thing that kind of means the most.
Fletcher Kasell’s advice to entrepreneurs starting out:
(when starting a brand) Find your vision and stay true to it. … It’s really easy to second guess yourself. It’s really easy to…ask for tons of opinions and change your mind; like, for example, at first we took way too much advice. … At the end of the day they’ll (our customers) buy what you are most proud of. … I think that really taught me that I need to be confident in what I see from my brand.
Ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. (AFCON) in Cameroon, Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr has called for the team’s early preparation for…
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/red-cliff-in-havre-aubert-quebec-with-waves-in-the-ocean-in-the-st-lawrence-river.jpg?id=60314630&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=132%2C0%2C132%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>If you're planning a <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/travel-advisory-canada-2025-vacation" target="_blank">summer getaway</a> but aren't looking to travel too far, you're not alone. </p><p>According to a <a href="https://news.airbnb.com/canadian-summer-travel-trends-revealed/" target="_blank">new Airbnb travel trends report</a>, many Canadians are choosing to stay closer to home this year, and three of the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canadian-cities-european-travel" target="_blank">country's most in-demand summer destinations</a> are right here in Quebec.</p><p>The booking site says nearly 9 million domestic guest arrivals were recorded in 2024, which is up more than 40% since before the pandemic. That trend is expected to continue into the summer, with more people opting for cozy cabins, lakeside cottages, and off-the-grid escapes over big hotels and international tours.</p><p>The report, released May 22, lists the following top 10 trending Canadian destinations for summer 2025 based on recent booking data. Here's who made the cut:</p><h2>Canada's top trending summer destinations:</h2><ul><li>Magdalen Islands, QC</li><li>La Haute-Gaspésie, QC</li><li>Blue Mountain, ON</li><li>Matawinie, QC</li><li>Waterton Park, AB</li><li>Algonquin Park, ON</li><li>Falcon Lake, MB</li><li>St. John's, NL</li><li>Hubbards, NS</li><li>Winnipeg, MB</li></ul><h2>Quebec's hotspots</h2><h3>Magdalen Islands</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DC9n_hyBUeW/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DC9n_hyBUeW/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Tucked out in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, this dreamy archipelago is having a serious moment. People are flocking to its wide-open beaches, red cliffs, and Acadian vibes. Located about 1,200 km from Montreal, Îles-de-la-Madeleine is about as far from city life as you can get without leaving the province.</p><h3>La Haute-Gaspésie</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFxAGOZAEeP/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFxAGOZAEeP/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>This stretch along the St. Lawrence is pure road trip gold. With steep mountains on one side and crashing waves on the other, it's a rugged corner of Quebec that feels like another world — and at nearly 900 km from Montreal, it kind of is.</p><p>Bonus: it's also prime territory for hiking, camping, and lighthouse selfies.</p><h3>Matawinie</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BngXUDZh9f0/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BngXUDZh9f0/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Matawinie is a sweet spot for anyone craving nature without the crowds. It's part of the Lanaudière region, known for its rugged terrain, hidden waterfalls, and endless outdoor activities. Whether you're staying in a yurt, a treehouse, or a rustic chalet, it's the kind of place where you can really relax.</p><p>Plus, Montrealers can drive there and back on just one tank of gas.</p><p><br/></p><p>Airbnb also noted that travellers are leaning more toward meaningful, experience-focused trips this year. The app now features revamped tools like wishlists for group planning, highlights that show if a listing is a "Guest Favourite," and easier ways to browse by location or activity.</p><p>That doesn't mean people aren't heading abroad too, though. International bookings are also up, especially to sunny and scenic places across Europe. These are the top international destinations for Canadians this summer, according to Airbnb:</p><p><strong>Top international spots for Canadians in 2025:</strong></p> <ul> <li> Thira, Greece</li> <li> Mexico City, Mexico</li> <li> Tokyo, Japan</li> <li> Bari, Italy</li> <li> Nord de Palma District, Spain</li> <li> Marrakesh, Morocco</li> <li> Funchal, Portugal</li> <li> Cascais, Portugal</li> <li> Chamonix, France</li> <li> Rio de Janeiro, Brazil</li> </ul> <p>So whether you're heading to the Maggies or making your way to the Med, one thing's clear: summer 2025 is shaping up to be all about slower travel, smarter planning, and finding places that actually feel like a break.</p>
