Finding Strength in the Shift: Heidi George on Ownership, Resilience, and Building a Business That Fits

When Heidi George officially launched Fibrenew Chatham–Sarnia in October of 2025, she did not ease into business ownership.

Her very first job was a white leather sectional—large, previously repaired, unforgiving, and far from beginner-friendly. It took two full days. There were moments of uncertainty. But when the work was done, the result held.

“That job tested all of my patience and nerves,” George recalls. “I was pretty sure I was out of my league that day—but it turned out well.”

That early experience set the tone for how George approaches ownership: step in, learn quickly, and move forward with intention.

A Career Pivot She Didn’t Plan—but Was Ready For

George’s path into franchising wasn’t linear. Before Fibrenew, she spent 13 years in corporate banking, most recently as a branch manager for a major financial institution. The role brought stability—until it didn’t.

While researching franchise opportunities for her family in late 2024, George learned that the branch she managed would be closing. The role that had prompted a cross-country move back to Ontario was suddenly gone.

“It was an upheaval we didn’t expect,” she says. “But at the same time, we were already researching franchising, and that process became a kind of spark in the middle of everything else.”

What began as a search for an owner-absentee opportunity evolved into a realization: George would be the one to run the business.

Entrepreneurship, Revisited—with Experience This Time

Although new to Fibrenew’s repair work, George was not new to entrepreneurship. She started her first business at 19, running a cleaning company for more than a decade. Later, she launched a photography business while completing post-secondary education.

What changed this time wasn’t her willingness to take the leap—it was her perspective.

“When I was younger, I ingrained myself completely into my business,” she says. “Now, I understand structure. I understand how to build something that doesn’t rely entirely on me.”

Fibrenew appealed to her precisely because it blended what she valued from both worlds: the independence of ownership and the systems and support she’d come to appreciate in corporate life.

“It gave me the security I knew from corporate, but the independence I missed from working for myself,” George explains. “It felt like a full-circle moment.”

Building Capability While Building Confidence

Since launching, George’s work has spanned residential leather furniture, automotive interiors, marine vinyl, and light fabric repairs. In a region where boating is a significant part of the local economy, marine work is expected to become a major seasonal driver.

While technical skills are still developing, George leans heavily on strengths honed over decades: customer service, communication, and composure under pressure.

“Even when you don’t feel confident yet, you can still make the customer feel confident,” she says. “That’s something experience teaches you.”

She also credits the broader franchise network for accelerating her learning curve—both by asking for help and by contributing when others need it.

“I didn’t want to do this alone,” she says. “That structure and support mattered.”

The Willingness to Step Forward

George describes herself as the person who raises her hand when no one else does—not out of ego, but curiosity.

“I want to know,” she says. “I want to learn. And I don’t think you should feel bad about not having a skill yet—learning is the point.”

That mindset has shaped her approach to early jobs, difficult calls, and unfamiliar repairs. Even when the answer is no, the process of evaluating the work becomes part of the education.

Advice for Women Considering Ownership

A long-time advocate for women in business, George is candid about what she believes matters most.

“Support systems,” she says, without hesitation. “Women are stronger when they’re not doing things alone.”

She points to the difference knowledge makes—between starting her first business at 19 and launching another at 45.

“Knowledge changes everything,” she says. “Ask questions. Use webinars. Talk to your bank. Reach out. Don’t be afraid to get the information you need.”

For George, community isn’t optional—it’s foundational.

“These groups give women confidence to keep going,” she says. “And they remind you that the challenges you’re facing aren’t unique to you—or to this industry.”

Moving Forward, Fully Committed

Today, George runs both her household and her franchise while her husband works out of province, with plans to scale the business so he can eventually join full-time. It’s a long-term vision built on steady execution rather than shortcuts.

“If you have the will,” she says, “there’s definitely a way. You just have to give it everything you’ve got.”

In an industry where ownership often follows predictable paths, Heidi George’s story is a reminder that resilience, preparation, and the willingness to step forward can be just as powerful as experience—and that women are shaping the future of franchising in practical, grounded, and highly capable ways.