Rosebud business owners: diversification, creativity

By Laureen F. Guenther Times Contributor

When Rosebud Theatre ticket sales were slow this spring and fall, other Rosebud businesses also felt the impact.
But the response of at least two business owners diversified their income and strengthened their community’s economy.
“We’re in this precarious place where we’re so reliant on ticket sales in Rosebud,” said Travis Friesen, owner of the gift shop, Kith and Kin. “All the businesses thrive around the hours when the patrons come to see the shows.”
When fewer patrons bought tickets for Rosebud Theatre’s spring and fall shows, Kith and Kin also saw a drop in customers.
Valerie Speer, owner of Arbor Guest house, saw a similar decrease in guests. “When (the spring show) had difficulty selling tickets, I felt the impact as if I was back in my first year of running a bed-and-breakfast.” She added that was before her business had an online presence, so few people knew it existed.
Speer also saw lower attendance at the Akokiniskway Gallery, where she is curator. “That’s really difficult because it can be very disappointing for the artists who’ve worked so hard to have their work here.”
When that happens, “you feel panicky, a little anxious,” Speer admitted. “But it also made me feel, OK, what can I do? And then we started getting more creative. So I don’t think that’s a bad thing, overall.”
Speer couldn’t fall back on casual shifts as a server in the Haskayne-Kenney Mercantile, as she often has, because, with low dinner theatre ticket sales, they didn’t need the additional staff.
But that was a gift, because it allowed her to focus more time on her work as a landscape painter. “I got more (painting) done than I have in a few years. I would like to try and keep that momentum going.”
She also organized and hosted the Rosebud Artisans Market, selling her artwork and that of other local artists, where she surpassed her own sales goal.
Friesen also worked on a variety of creative projects. He acted the role of Sheriff Joe Sutter in Rosebud Theatre’s Spitfire Grill this summer, performs with the Wheatland Band and acts in television commercials.
Speer is optimistic 2018 will be a better business year.
“Looking at the lineup of shows (in 2018), judging from the reaction of my guests, I feel like it will be a much stronger year for attendance and for the resulting business,” she said.” So I’m really encouraged.”
But Speer and Friesen won’t sit back and relax.
Speer plans to promote her bed-and-breakfast more actively on social media.
“The more exposure we’ll get for Rosebud, even outside the theatre, is helpful,” she said. “We hit a different genre of people, who then in turn may fall in love with Rosebud as well.”
She also plans to expand the Rosebud Artisans Market and host it twice during 2018.
Friesen will also continue promoting Kith and Kin on social media, and expanding the display of local wares, including products that he and manager Kyla Ferrier make themselves. He’s also finishing a bed-and-breakfast cabin, to open with the 2018 Rosebud Theatre season. Also in April, he plans to move a windmill into Rosebud, and he hopes that will become another tourist attraction for the village.
“Financially speaking, it’s just important to diversify,” Friesen said. “The realities that we come up against cause you to be creative. If I want to live in Rosebud, I have to be creative to figure out a way to do that.”