Welcome to this month’s local business spotlight! Here at Quinte Living, we are passionate about supporting local businesses in our community. We are thrilled to share with you today, a venue in the Quinte area with all the vibes needed for a stellar event. Experience the charm of 150-year-old farm property at the locally-owned Rattan Barn. Founded in 2009 by Sandy Sikma and Jamie Chisholm, this venue started as an indoor-outdoor furniture store specializing in rattan and wicker pieces. In 2016, they began hosting events such as weddings, comedy shows, charity events, and barn dances. This venue is the perfect setting for all types of events, from intimate gatherings to grand celebrations. With their stunning barn, impeccable attention to detail and first-class customer service, you’ll want to be sure you check out this space when browsing for your next event venue.
Can you tell me a little bit about the history of your business and how it got started?
“Well, when I finished school, we already had owned the property as a family, and knew that we wanted to do something with the barn. Initially we had turned it into a furniture store in 2009, but as time passed we found ourselves using the barn to cater more towards event venue for things like weddings, charity events, comedy shows and that’s how Rattan Barn was born.”
How would you describe the atmosphere or vibe of your event space?
“We try to keep it relaxed as we possibly can while still prioritizing organization: *inset giggle* at least, that’s the goal anyway.”
What types of events do you typically host at your venue?
“The majority of the events we do are weddings but we have also hosted a handful of comedy shows and we have also been know for some live music. Something I would like to get more into would be charity events. We usually do about 4-6 charity events per year and I’d like to do a few more of those.”
What are some challenges you’ve faced as a business owner, and how have you overcome them?
“For my area of business in particular, COVID has been, no doubt, the biggest challenge we have faced yet. Whenever you’re dealing with tricky situations as an entrepreneur, I personally think that just heads down, keep moving forward mentality is all you need to overcome most challenges.”
What sets your business apart from others in your industry?
“We are still relatively new to the industry as we started in 2020. If I were to go by what the clients have to say, you’d notice that more than anything, we want them to feel like they have total control of their special day, whether that be a wedding or some other grand function. Our main goal is to make it feel like the Rattan Barn is their space for the duration of their visit.”
What do you love most about running your business?
“It has to be the freedom it awards you. It can present challenging hours; when you have to be there, you have to be there, but then you can also make your schedule your own. I really think for most entrepreneurs, the freedom and flexibility of owning a business is what drives them.”
How do you give back to your community?
“The biggest thing we do to give back to the community would have to be our personal charity and annual Pink Ball Classic golf tournament in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. We also do a few charity events at the barn every year for free or at a very low cost. I’m always open to exploring different ways to support the community.”
What advice do you have for other small business owners?
“My biggest piece of advice for someone starting their own business would be to do extensive research on the area and product or service you plan on offering as well as other businesses offering the same or similar products/ services and ensure you have lots of room to grow. For instance, when we started out at Rattan Barn, using the space as a furniture store, people always asked us why we were doing it. The reason was that no one was selling it anywhere between Peterborough to Ottawa. We saw the opportunity as these products weren’t being sold in our area and decided to go with that rather than try to jam ourselves into an industry that was already oversaturated.”
Do you have any plans for expansion or growth in the future?
“Our next big project at the Rattan Barn is that we will be putting in some yurt camping domes! We have some property that we would like to make good use of, so we will also be putting in some trails through the woods. We want to use more of our beautiful property, so were thinking of hiking trails, a pumpkin patch, and maybe plant some more Christmas trees.”
What can customers expect when they visit your business?
“Our customers can expect to have a good time and we really try to up the service especially at large events. We feel like that effort has been lacking in some settings as far as going the extra mile so we strive to make sure every guest has an amazing time.”
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know more about this wonderful event venue and the passionate owner behind it. If you’re planning an event in the near future, be sure to check out Rattan Barn and see how it can bring your vision to life. And don’t forget to support local businesses like this; they play a vital role in our community. Thank you for reading, and we’ll see you next month for our next local business spotlight! Rattan Barn| (613) 848-0210 | 959 Hwy 37, Corbyville, ON K0K 1V0
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