Bryan Hellwig

WHAT GOT YOU STARTED?

by Burke Campbell 

Published in the Financial Post

 Nov 24, 2008

Bryan Hellwig runs Southeast Nunavut Company ( www.northerncollectables.biz ). Based in Iqaluit, Nunavut, the business sells Inuit art, and other collectables from Canada’s north. Bryan Hellwig tells the Financial Post what motivated him to become an entrepreneur.  

The saga begins: “I grew up in Niagara Falls , Ontario . At twenty-one and adventurous, I read about a job opening at a hotel in Iqaluit. Asking around for the best driving route, I discovered you couldn’t get there by road!”  

Be inventive: “In Iqaluit, I worked at a restaurant, as a waiter. For the rowdy customers I doubled as a bouncer. In that small town, I became resourceful at juggling a number of jobs, projects, business ventures.”  

Share a passion: “With Inuit art, I was fascinated how a finished piece could so well express the artist’s feelings. I’d buy art on eBay and eventually decided to sell, too.”  

Way it works: “There are a number of Inuit artists at nearby Cape Dorset . I’ve sold drawings and sculptures to North Americans and Europeans. This year, I was named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ on eBay Canada . It gave my business a big boost.”  

Emotional: “My gallery is virtual on eBay. From there I can collect, exhibit, and sell art all over the world.”