Ep. 109 Tess Boehm from TotallyTess Tradeshows

Barb 0:00
Are you ready to make the door swing, the phone ring and the website ping?

One of the best kept secrets in any community is its network of local businesses, businesses that rely on foot traffic, phone calls, website visitors, those same businesses that support your kids sport teams and donate to all of those fundraising efforts. But no more secrets from the skinned knee lessons that will make you wince to the tell all exposee. These everyday people are doing extraordinary things in their business.

Welcome to The Secret Life of Local. I’m your host Barb McGrath, Google girl and local business cheerleader. Today, we’re sharing the secrets and going behind the scenes to some of Regina’s biggest events and talking to one local business owner about how in the heck she does it all. This woman is a powerhouse of getting things done. I want to welcome Tess Boehm to the show and her business TotallyTess Tradeshows and Events. Welcome Tess. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

Tess 0:35
Well, let’s see. I grew up in Saskatoon. And I’ve always been very involved in the community very much. So a lot of things from very young. I started as a candy striper in Saskatoon actually at the hospital. Oh, we were supposed to do one day a week. And I met a girl who was just really interested in as well. And we ended up going three days a week. And we spent and it’s funny, because these are the things that are still part of my passion. We spent one day in the children’s ward, we spent one day in the longterm ward with the seniors. And then on our Sundays, we always worked in admitting so my whole life when I think about it has been focused on, you know, helping others working with children working with seniors. And this has just continued on.

Barb 0:46
Wow. And community. The thread I see, even from, you know, wanting to be kids, seniors, it’s a community. Right, absolutely. All comes back to community. So how does totally test trade chosen events? How does that fit into the bucket that fills you up?

Tess 1:05
Well, I think that part of it originally, when I first started, we were doing trade shows for different causes to raise money for a school that needed a playground for the food banks, that type of thing. And then I was just doing them from 2003 on I did a lot of fundraising for my own surgeries that I’ve gone to Brazil for and people just started to see us raising money for different things. Okay, so I did that for quite a few years. And then finally in 2012, I just incorporated got the business licensing all done PST, GST, you know, all the different realms of requirements that you need. Exactly.

Barb 1:40
Yes. That becomes a full time job in and of itself.

Tess 1:44
Sometimes, yes. So I think I just went from there, I saw different charities. One of the things that is close to my heart, and always has been is Caitlin’s Hope for Sight. Kaitlyn Beston has a rare eye desire disease, it’s optic nerve hyperplasia. And at the time, her only option for treatment was to go to China for stem cell implants. Now, they still don’t have all the funds they need for this surgery in China. However, I don’t know if that’s really the only option anymore.

She’s in high school now, doing her own charity work, she just finished cutting off her hair for charity. She’s a brilliant young, young, caring woman who has like a desire to be something she’s amazing. I love her. And she’s brilliant. But she also has always helped doing, you know, doing things for other people. So I really jumped on board early years with that project. And then, you know, we just continued on.

In February of 2020, totally tests brought the very first drag show to the battlefords pride, okay, they were having some issues, trying to get people you know, supporting the whole thing. We had lieutenant governor, Russ Murasty attend. And so that was exciting, because we really got them going. And now if you look at their Facebook page, they’re doing like unimaginable things all the time. And it’s fabulous.

So I think sometimes it just takes a little bit of like, a start, right. And someone to bring it in. So one of the other things is I’m Mary Moosomin . And so that’s this is my 10th year of Mary Moosomin and trade show and mMoosomin. I love Moosomin, it’s such a great community.

But every year we go out there and we collect food for the Moosomin Food Bank. Last I heard from them, they estimated around we we raised about 400 pounds for food so far. Oh, oh, so I know, it’s so good. And the thing is, is that all of my totally test trade show events are free to attend. But sometimes I do ask you for a little item for a food bank, or some school supplies for charity or whatever. And we just try to bring people together for a cause. And then I offer that cause of free trade show at my table.

Barb 3:52
Very cool. Okay, so make this connection for me. So you have this tradeshow business, attendance is free, like how do you find the events that you’re supporting? Or rather, how does a community organization that needs support? How do they find you? Like how? Yeah, how does that piece come together?

Tess 4:13
Honestly, it’s kind of word of mouth. If you’ll see on some of the Facebook pages on on the business pages in the community pages, sometimes they’ll tag me Oh ask Tess because she’ll know or they’ll reach out to me directly by email saying so and so said to reach you for a prize for my for my event or I’ve done a lot of like live auction things on Facebook or you know, trade shows to assist we did a Kinnetts one. I’ve done events to fill all the community fridges, we’ve had huge ones like that. Or we did what’s in your closet and we collected clothes for Carmichael and different items. And when the province and people just start come together. It’s amazing. And really, I see it as a spiderweb I’m just connecting all the little parts and pieces.

Barb 4:58
Yes. One of the things things that that I’ve seen as well. So we we actually teach a program that’s all geared towards community organizations. So we teach them what they need to do on Google. But what we see from a result standpoint, is when a community organization start to get that snowball rolling, it’s absolutely huge what they can do, because just like people are really committed to shopping local when they can, they are absolutely committed to supporting a community organization when they know. And too often we don’t even know that this stuff is happening. So you can’t support something that you don’t know about. Right. Right. Tell me about can you think of a time you know, where, when you look back, you’re just like, you feel this overwhelming sense of pride? You are, you’re dumbfounded by, you know, something you were able to move forward for community organization. And I know, this wasn’t one of our prepared questions. I don’t mean to put you on the spot. But it just I really.

Tess 6:04
I mean, I just don’t think it’s just one, right. I mean, there are certain things like for example, all through COVID, all the troubles and stuff, what I did was I did, I did trade shows to support the community fridges. And one of the things that was really interesting was that, you know, I, after we collected the money, like people really never knew if I took that money and put it in my bank or went to the store, right? So I had to involve people. So we went to the store, we took pictures of the groceries, I had people meet me at the fridges, and help us unload.

And you know, just telling us, I think the follow up is really important. And whenever you’re dealing with charity, because people need to see where it’s gone to. I’ve even posted a picture of like, the check that I made, you know, just anything I can do to show involvement or have an information package that says, you know, here’s what we did with it or where it went. Or here I am at Walmart buying, you know, $400 in school supplies, or whatever it is because people want to know that when you donate, and that you donate through a charity or through my organization to the money’s going where it needs to go.

And what sometimes it’s as simple as you know, St. Teresa school, for example, I’ve done their fundraiser for their school playground for a few years. And they just came back to me and said, Will you do this years again? And so? And I’m like, of course, so what’s new on the thing, because they’ve got some of their, you know, their products in their school ground already. So where’s the money going to? Oh, it’s going here. Perfect.

I mean, look at Summer Bash. Yeah, five years ago, they said, did you want to volunteer a little bit and help us on this? Now? I’m on the board of directors. I mean, I planned the whole market we just had last weekend over 100 vendors.

Barb 7:47
Oh, my God, serious. Wow.

Tess 7:49
Yes. It was amazing. And the thing is that people don’t realize that that’s probably well over 300 or 400 hours of my time. Yes. And so in two weeks, I’ve got the Regina Dragonboat Festival market that I’m doing. And it’s like, you know, Wascana park on the 27th. It’s exciting. But there’s so many places that need you. Yes, as a matter of fact, interesting enough at summer market, a charity approached me and said, Can you be on our board of directors.

Barb 8:20
And he’s like, so much time to spare at this point in time.

Tess 8:22
I know. Actually, it was funny, because I said, I just left a board that I’ve been on for 22 years. I said I just stepped back and I I’m just not ready to join another one right now. Although it’s a fabulous charity. It’s great. But but it’s just not the right time. Right. But I mean, look at how summer market like said they do 40 events every summer through the bash through the movie nights through the community events. It’s amazing. And I’m such a little tiny piece of that. And Adam Hicks and the team have just gone above and beyond in more ways than I can even imagine.

Barb 8:57
Wow. Okay, so that begs the question then, because this is an actually your full time job. How do you find time? How do you find this three or 400 hours?

Tess 9:08
I think I’m like any busy person. The busy people get stuff done. Yes. I get up every morning at five and I sit in my home office from five to seven and then I get ready for work. Okay, I go to work, come home, make supper for dad. You know, have a family moment and then I continue in my office till about nine or 10 Okay. Admittedly I do have family from my husband’s first marriage so they’re but they’re older, like they’re in their their have their own families are settled. Okay, but my husband’s father lives with us. And so there’s a little bit more work involved with him for sure. But, um, I think you just have to plan like I plan my day.

However, admittedly, I did hire someone to help me through the piles of paperwork for the bash and now the dragon boat and I’ve had someone come in my office In the evenings and work from like six to nine, I just posted on Facebook, I’m like, Hey, I’m looking for an admin person. And then here she is. So it’s been very helpful, because I would often, you know, rope my husband into those things, but he’s busy doing other things, too, with his own business. So you can only do so many things.

And I’m just like, the piles of paper on my desk are like three feet high. And I’m like, I just need someone to help me go through it. Yes. And do it. Because I can’t just use a computer I need I’m a ima hands on, I need to see your registration, I need to read it, I need to look at it, I need to be all involved in all parts of it. And that, in itself makes that paper. But it’s not something I can control and make sure I don’t make a mistake if it’s on the computer.

Barb 10:46
Exactly. So when you’re involved with an event, and let’s use summer bash, as an example. So when you’re involved with an event, you’re helping from the ground up through your business, you’re touching kind of everything in that event, is that what usually happened?

Tess 11:00
Well, it depends really, I mean, the summer bash has grown to, like, a way we can’t even imagine. I don’t involve myself in the 40 other events they do, because I don’t have time for those. But I will if they if there’s a little something someone can come to me with that I can help with. But generally I do the trade show portion only. But I mean, it’s to its starting, right, everybody gets a registration, then a contract, then a payment, then an invoice added to the Facebook group, proper receipts being done all the media things, you know, adding them to lists and things that need to be done.

So yeah, that in itself, like everybody has five parts for each person. Okay, so although they’re smart, and they went to planning pod, which is very helpful, okay, it’s still a computer program. And I still need to have the conversation with a person that says, you know, what is this item, and you got to make sure you don’t put too many jewelers beside like, Dude, you want a jeweler beside one jeweler and another one. Because all you do is create stress for the vendor, because then they feel their sales aren’t going to be good enough. And there’s so many parts of like caring about the person that’s coming to the event, and making sure that their needs are dealt with as well. Who needs who has health issues that might need to be close to a washroom or be close to a place where they can park because they have mobility issues, or, you know, has a product that will melt in the sun. Like there’s so many things, right?

Barb 12:28
So you know, what I think of as I listened to you, your wedding must have been the most amazingly choreographed event ever. Because for someone to have that kind of foresight to think about not putting the dealer side by side and being close to a washer. Not everybody has that skill test. Like that is a total skill.

Tess 12:51
But I think that comes out of my own need as well. Like I on another side, I was the first Canadian to go to Brazil for a specialized weight loss surgery. I used to be almost 500 pounds. And I have

Barb 13:04
Now I see you as we’re having this conversation. I only see a circle but I have seen your Facebook picture.

Tess 13:09
Absolutely. And so I’ve lost well over two, well, gosh, I’m getting close into the I’m well past 250 that I’ve lost, but I’m still losing now and like I think about those things about my health. Like, I have some mobility issues from a hip surgery I had. I have kidney stones. So I think about somebody maybe needs a washroom like I think about those things because it’s important or, you know, there’s a gentleman I just got an email yesterday from a woman who said, My husband has some you know, hip injury. Can we be close where we have to unload our tents and stuff next Saturday? Oh, yeah, no problem. Because I want someone to be thinking about those things for me. And when I was working with the bariatric community to like, I’m that person, I would go into doctors offices and say, like, there’s no bariatric chairs here. Like, it’s not a one size fits all, like things need to be changed. And I mean, they are now there’s been so much more awareness for all these things. But yes, at one time, there sure wasn’t. And when I was at sighs there sure wasn’t. Oh, wow. Okay,

Barb 14:10
so I never even thought of that. You know, right. When you and I were getting started, you started talking about also the Young Living Oils that you do. So right on top of everything else, the 300 hours just for one event plus the full time job plus the Yes, anyway, so tell me a little bit about that. And then like you were talking about some of the the health benefits there in particular, we were talking about thieves. So just give me the high level on that.

Tess 14:37
Well, Young Living Essential Oils are therapeutic oils, their quality is very good. My husband and I don’t take any over the counter medications or prescription drugs. So we basically oil everything and work on the crazy oil lady and that’s okay. But they people come to me and they buy stuff for me under you know, like underground because they don’t want people to know they’re doing it sometimes. But I mean, it’s a way of life for me, like I build my immune system every day. This is how I deal with stress, I use stress away, or I use valor or whatever. And I do these things for myself.

But I also help a lot of people with it. So I make rollerballs for ADHD, PTSD, ADD, you name it. Yeah, and, and thieves is just one of the most amazing things for immune system like, I use theives. I mean, if I get a sore throat, I mean, we’re not supposed to give medical advice. And we don’t Yes, but I use a lot of the oils internally. And I do teach, I do tell people what I do. But they have such an amazing line of products. And so I do have my oils available for sale in Such and Stuff, which is at 1818 MCAra, which is a health and wellness store. I do have my product there. But I mean, I also take it to trade shows and take care of myself and my family with it too. Yeah, that is the primary thing. Like I use certain oils for stress and things like that every day because it keeps me you know, doing what I need to do and happy.

Barb 16:04
You use the term when you and I were talking before pulling with oils or something. What does that mean?

Tess 16:12
Well, people use oils, essential oils for oil pulling, which is good for your teeth and good for your gums. Some people put it on their toothbrush, but they can actually just put a couple drops of oil in there, coconut oil, and then they would just swish it around their mouth every day. And it’s just supposed to be really good for your teeth and gums. And, you know, just to help with your overall wellness, I do a lot of things for for my immunity, immune systems are so important right now. And actually, right now, especially it’s important not like to stay healthy. I have very few sick days a year because I do ensure these things are done. But one of the things that’s that’s great about it too, is that it just gives me the ability to do things from a nor now a more natural state. Yeah, I want to be healthy. I want to do what I can do not to get ill. And using the oils for me is everything.

Barb 17:06
Yeah. How did you learn all of this Tess?

Tess 17:10
Well, it’s been years to tell you the truth. Like I, I went to a trade show and I bought a kit. Okay, a starter kit. I didn’t know what was for I must have been guided that day to go do it. And just over time I learned about the different oils. I mean, I have kidney stones, and I use oils for my stones. And people you know in the doc my own nephrologist is like, How come you never end up in the hospital? Well, because I treat myself like I make sure I’m I’m caring for me. I’ve been having I’ve been having bowel blockages, and they can’t figure out why. I don’t go to the hospital for that either. I do my plan at home. So you know and other people would say you’re crazy. And they do say that. Okay, but I’m I go to the medical community last. And that’s just me. I’m not going to tell someone not to do that. I’m just going to tell you, if you ask me, I’m going to tell you what I do for me because it works.

Barb 18:04
Exactly. And traditional medicine absolutely has a place and a needed place. 100. But I agree with you, when we look at society wise where we’re at right now, hospitals and caregivers are so overwhelmed. Anything we can do to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. Like I 100% support it. 100% Yeah, do you.

Tess 18:39
So anyway, and out of that conversation, interestingly enough, because we just talked about this with some folks the other day, they say that the wellness, you know, the wellness area is gonna go into about a $15 billion business this year. And you know, money’s not everything. And that’s not very important to me ever. But, but what it has done is at at summer market on the weekend, we were like, Okay, it’s time to go back to my wellness expos that I would do. I branded My name honoring our wellness. And I took that around the province and I it’s time to go back to that I feel it. Like I feel there’s a need for it. So I’m going to start that again.

Barb 19:12
Okay, so honoring our wellness, what would you actually do?

Tess 19:15
What I do is I put on a trade show with all wellness events. All the vendors have something for our health, and or a product or, you know, we have massage therapists we have people that do Reiki, maybe Access Bars, or tea readers, whatever, and they come together and offer their services.

Barb 19:35
So one of the questions I almost always ask our guests is how if I was Googling something, if I was trying to solve a problem, whether this is on the tradeshow or arm, or the Young Living arm, what am I what am I searching for to find your businesses?

Tess 19:53
Well I on my I’m mostly Facebook and the reason for that is that it’s just it’s just so much it’s so I used and I realistically don’t have time for SNAP and Twitter and Flickr and whatever else they are, there’s out there. I don’t have time for that. And I think when I retire from my job, I might go into those a little bit more. But the time that you spend every day trying to figure out where to post is stressful for me. So

Barb 20:19
I’m on my mind ever get back. Like, that’s my thing was social media. Yes, if it has a purpose, go for it, keeping up with friends and family, go for it. But it is a time suck. And you’ll never get that time back with your family

Tess 20:33
100%. So my facebook page for trade shows is TotallyTess Trade Shows and Events. Now you have to be careful because I have a group within that when we were doing online stuff. And there’s nothing posted there right now because we’re back to live. But and my Young Living is Young Living Essential Oils, Regina, and I do get messages randomly from people. We did. We did a trade show, actually, I got a message from a lady and she’s like, Oh, my husband, this and this and this. And I recommended some products. And then I was in a tradeshow in the fort. And this woman came up and she said, You know, I’m having these issues with my husband. I said, Oh my gosh, that’s the second time in a week that I’ve heard about this. And she said, Oh, that was probably me. And it was and, and so no sooner was that. Then I had them to my house. And I was scanning them and you know, doing all these things that I do. So yeah, it was really interesting.

Barb 21:19
You have a ton of moving pieces. Okay, just want to jump back to the event business for a minute. Okay, so you’re working on Dragon Boat? And so I’m sorry, I haven’t been for years. Is there a tradeshow at Dragon Boat?

Tess 21:30
It’s kind of like the first biggest one ever. And so it’s a three day festival. Yeah. And they approached actually, here’s a funny, they came to the summer market and said to my husband, who’s the guy that runs this? And my husband said, Well, you can speak to my wife for the tradeshow portion. So they approached me and said, You know, I’m interested in doing something bigger. They had had in the past, I think about maybe 10 vendors or something. I’m not sure because I hadn’t seen it for sure. But so I’ve got about 50 vendors right now we’re in Los Ghana Park by Pine Island, okay, and it’s next Saturday, the 27th from 10 to six, and they’re all going to be tented, it’s going to be exciting. I’m so excited. It’s going to be my first one with them. Okay, so we’re not 100% sure what to expect. But we hope that people are going to come out and support them. There’s a lot of people talking about it. And we’re super excited about it.

Barb 22:20
So when I think about Dragonboat. So the last time I did it was a few years ago, I apologize for the background noise. The last time I did dragon boats was a few years ago now, there was tents and I want to say there is like an event, you know, throughout the night and stuff. So the trade show is just around all of that space then, right.

Tess 22:40
So we’re right by Pine Island. So the food trucks are going to be on pine on like on the parking lot of Pine Island, because they have to be on the cement. Yep. And then there’s, of course, there’s beer gardens and the races that are occurring. And then there’s some children’s activities. And then the tradeshow portion is just the Saturday so we take up the area. I’m terrible at directions. I think it’s just south of the Pine Island parking lot. And we’ve we’re going to be kind of in between the trees. And it’s kind of between the road and the walking path. So all the tents are going to be set up there.

Barb 23:12
Oh, very cool. Very cool.

Tess 23:14
I’m super excited about it.

Barb 23:16
So when dragon boats are done, what’s next for you? What’s the next events coming up?

Tess 23:22
Okay, I’m going for my first time ever to Yorkton October 29 and 30th. For two day show. I’ve got November in Regina fifth and sixth of the Hungarian club. I think the 19 Moose Jaw in November 26. And 27th. December 4 is in Moosomin. Oh, and December 3 is going to be the school trade show. Now I just added that one. So super exciting.

But you know what all of my events are on my trade show page. Okay, there’s a there’s a pin at the top of the post so you can actually go and see what’s available for registration. I have a girl that are higher that makes amazing posters. People think it’s me, but it’s really not. She’s a graphic designer. She’s fabulous. I pay her I don’t care. She’s wonderful. And I send her all the information and she makes wonderful posters for me. So it’s, it’s perfect. And that was the start coming out. That’s my weekend. This plan. I just canceled my Kenosee event for this weekend. And I’m going to stay home and work on my stuff.

Barb 24:16
Oh my goodness. I Oh, like I’m just assuming that you barely sleep at this point. Because oh my goodness, you have so many moving pieces. That is crazy.

Tess 24:26
I’m kind of an 11 to five sleeper. I’ve never needed a whole lot all through school everything.

Barb 24:31
Oh, six hours? Yeah, that’s about average. I’m about a seven hour sleeper so yeah, wow, you get a lot done anymore. What is that then? 19 hours or whatever? At Sure. Do I’d ever. Alright, just before we do wrap up, you referenced your Facebook page. Just tell us one more time your Facebook page and your Young Living website if you would.

Tess 24:53
Right. So it’s TotallyTess Trade Shows and Events but I think it just comes up like TotallyTess Trade Shows. It’s a pink tea. It’s really Cute, and my Young Living is Young Living Essential Oils Regina.

Barb 25:03
Awesome. That is perfect. Well, thank you, Tess so much for joining me today to talk about TotallyTess Trade Shows and Events as well as your Young Living oils.

And on that note, if you want to sell your story you need to tell your story. And there’s no better place to start than being a guest on The Secret Life show. If you would like to be a guest, you can email me at Barb@abovethefold.live or reach out on our Facebook and Instagram pages at Abovethefold.ca.

I’m your host Barb McGrath, Google girl and Local Business Champion. Remember, you worked hard for your success. Don’t keep it a secret. Bye for now.