Entrepreneur: Leisa Mercer
Business: An Extra hand
www.anextrahand.vpweb.com

I started my career in the photography industry 13 years ago, in New York, working at Elle Magazine. Upon returning to Toronto, I specialized in areas such as fashion, corporate and stock photography. I successfully completed my Photography Diploma at Sheridan College as well as an Event Management Certificate Program at Humber College. While Senior Art Director at Masterfile for 5 years, I gained valuable experience and knowledge of the production and art direction of both local, Toronto-based photo shoots as well as those done internationally in cities such as Los Angeles, California, New York and Miami, Florida.

At that point in my life I was really enjoying everything that I had accomplished thus far. But had always since a young age wanted to work for myself. Being a single parent of a 7 year old and commuting to Toronto from Burlington everyday was really starting to take a toll on me and my son. I was gone for about 12-14 hours a day and our life was just a constant rush. I was also worried about my son as I wasn’t really spending any quality time with him. Something had to change.

I knew with the industry I was in that finding a job in Burlington would not be easy and I probably wouldn’t be happy. I wasn’t willing to relocate closer to the city though as I really love where I live and the community I am in. It was time for change even though I was happy with the work I was doing it just wasn’t possible. Making a move to being self employed was a very scary thought, how was I going to pay my mortgage, my car all of the things my son needed? These were the questions I kept asking myself, but how could I not take the risk, I figured the worst that could happen was that I would have to go and get an office job somewhere close to home. I had to try it though or else I’d always be thinking for the rest of my life “what if?” and I didn’t want any what if’s in my life.

So last February a coworker and myself left our jobs as art directors and started 2 Girls Productions to be freelance producers and art directors.(www.2girlsproductions.com)

At first working from home was so amazing, I was and am so happy and enjoying every minute of it. I finally had time to spend with my son, my dream was just to drive him to school and pick him up, which may seem like a strange dream but it was something I never got to do and so badly wanted to. Now I get to do it everyday and it truly is a blessing. I did find however that when you do work from home a lot of people just assume that you are not working and have time to do things for them. Which is great, sometimes! I found myself constantly running errands for other people, for people who were as rushed as I used to be and were trying to juggle work and life and I myself know that time is a precious commodity that can be hard to find.

That’s when it hit me, I was so full of ideas. I wasn’t sleeping at night I just kept thinking “I can do this, this can work” - how about starting a company that will give people the invaluable commodity of time that they deserve. I know that when I was working in Toronto and trying to do all the other things in life, I would have loved to have someone that was available to do the simple things for me. Just the time consuming things that I didn’t have time for such as going to the grocery store, picking up my dry cleaning, driving a parent to a medical appointment and waiting with them so I didn’t have to take a full day off of work. That's where An Extra Hand came to life while I am still able to continue working as a freelancer with 2 Girls Productions.

At An Extra Hand we offer errand running and personal services below is a list of some of the services we offer.

Errands -

Grocery Shopping
Escort to medical appointments
Dry Cleaning (pick-up and return)
Shoe repair (pick-up and drop off)
Item exchange and returns
Car cleaning and serviced
Banking
Flower and Gift pick-up and delivery
Meal delivery service
Messenger and courier service
House sitting
Pet sitting
Pick-up and delivery of prescriptions
Movie (DVD) pick-up and returns

Personal Services -

Senior Care - Companion Visits, Schedule medical appointments and follow up calls, Surgery/accident/illness recovery assistance, escort to medical appointments, phone check ins to loved ones alone at home, meal delivery or light preparation, laundry (wash and fold)

New Mom Service - Grocery shopping, diaper service, light meal preparation or meal delivery, light house work, laundry (wash and fold), escort to medical appointments, organizing of personal trainer or fitness regime and letting the new Mom rest when she needs it.

Stand By Service - We will meet and greet and stay while any services are being done on your home. Workmen (cable, power, repairs etc.), Delivery People, Movers, Cleaning (carpets, ducts, driveway etc...)

Plus many many more, if you need it and don't see it... Just ask us!

You can reach us at (905)815-7923 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it