Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Donavan Robinson, co-founder, and co-owner of The Good Will Social Club, located in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We believe in creating experiences that are unique and meaningful.
Since opening in 2015, The Good Will Social Club, better known as The Good Will, has become the preeminent space for people of all walks of life to have fun in. If you were to stop by on a Friday afternoon, you would see folks having meetings, students studying, and people enjoying the start to their weekend. Come back a few hours later, and you will find a totally different crowd. Depending on the night, it could be a metal or rap show, a queer dance party or Drag Queen Bingo, or a poetry reading.

The Good Will has hosted sold-out shows from both local and touring musicians and DJs from all over the world. More than just a venue for bands, book launches, film festivals, and community events have also graced the stage of our main room. If you can think of a fun time you had at a show over the past six years, chances are it was at The Good Will.

At the heart of everything we do is our House Rules. These rules govern what is and isn’t acceptable in the space, but they also form the ethos of how we operate. Through the generosity of folks from the Queer community, from the Black community, from the Indigenous community, and many others, we’ve learned and continue to grow. We would be nothing without our community.

Tell us about yourself

The Good Will was created by a group of like-minded individuals who came together to build a space that supports local bands, the community, and an inclusive and safe space.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We have successfully survived a pandemic created a unique place that is meaningful to the community both geographically and in industry.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

We have successfully survived a pandemic created a unique place that is meaningful to the community both geographically and in industry.

When building a business from the ground up, you do not have the processes documented, so these need to be created in order to manage a business properly. The day-to-day operation is a big part of the business, but the things that go on behind the scenes can be challenging and do not always gets the credit it deserves. Make sure staff is paid, rent is paid, permits are in place, and up to date, financials are kept up to date, etc.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Ideally, your personal finances are in order; you don't want to have to worry about having to worry about your personal bills and finances while also dealing with a start-up. Get a good accountant and bookkeeper; unless you are an accountant yourself, do not try to handle these tasks yourself, focus on what you do best. If you have partners, make sure you are all on the same page. Your goals and objectives align and document this and keep it visible. If you notice some partners moving away from this, you can revisit why you started this business in the first place.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

We’ve been featured in numerous media outlets across the country because The Good Will has raised the bar and set a precedent for what a venue can be in Winnipeg. This positive media attention is nice, but it’s the regulars who we know by name, the community organizations who choose to have their events in our space, and the bands who only want to work with us that we really appreciate.

We are excited for the future of The Good Will Social Club and The Good Will Brand. Our objective will be to support the community that has given us so much support and keep the independent music scene alive.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thegoodwill.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatgoodwill
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatgoodwill/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thatgoodwill

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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