ABBY BUSINESS WALKS
2017 PROGRAM REPORT #AbbyBizWalks
Tomorrows Thinking Today
CITY OF ABBOTSFORD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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604.864.5586 econdev@abbotsford.ca caed.abbotsford.ca @AbbotsfordEcDev
ABBY BUSINESS WALKS 2017 PROGRAM REPORT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY City Councillors, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce representatives, business and community leaders as well as Abbotsford Economic Development (CAED) staff embarked on the third annual Business Walks initiative from October 3rd to October 5th, 2017. Business Walks is a key component of CAED’s Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) strategy, in place to support over 7,000 licensed businesses currently operating in Abbotsford. Over 65 volunteers participated in three days of Walks across Historic Downtown, Mount Lehman, McCallum Industrial, South Fraser Way, George Ferguson Way and East Abbotsford. Over 140 short interviews were held with business owners and managers. The interviews help in connecting agencies to businesses, provide a venue for business owners and operators to share key challenges and opportunities with local decision makers, and identify the businesses that require a more comprehensive follow up from Abbotsford’s CAED team. The information collected also provides the City of Abbotsford with a high level ‘temperature test’ for gauging feedback from businesses in Abbotsford. This year’s Business Walks program once again enabled City Council and staff to gather vital information from the business community and will assist in identifying issues and opportunities to further support Abbotsford businesses in continuing to grow and develop in the community.
39%
of businesses rate ‘Location’ as the #1 reason for doing business in Abbotsford
24%
of businesses rate ‘Clientele’ as the #2 reason for doing business in Abbotsford
39%
of businesses seek support with Hiring/HR and are challenged with finding skilled workers
18%
of businesses seek support with business planning
Business Walk Program finds
94%
of Abbotsford Businesses indicated ‘Steady’ or ’Increasing’ business growth
ABBY BUSINESS WALKS 2017 PROGRAM REPORT
BUSINESS WALKS BACKGROUND The Abbotsford Business Walks Week (#AbbyBizWalks) follows the bluprint of the Province of BC’s ‘Business Walks Program’ undertaken by various cities across the Province of British Columbia. Given that there are over 7,000 licensed businesses operating in Abbotsford, CAED, as part of their over-arching BR&E program, ‘took the temperature’ of businesses in a few areas, noting particular businesses for future follow up and more in-depth discussions.
SUMMARY The 2017 three day Business Walks program consisted of Mayor and Council, Economic Development staff, key partners, and business support services from across the province. The volunteers formed teams walking to different businesses for brief conversations with owners and proprietors.
OVER 75 BUSINESSES
have been identified for follow up support
These volunteer walkers came from a multitude of local and regional organizations and levels of government: City of Abbotsford Mayor and Council Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce BC Economic Development Association Business Development Bank of Canada Community Futures South Fraser Export Development Canada Fraser Valley lndo Canadian Business Association Price Waterhouse Coopers School District 34 Small Business BC Tourism Abbotsford University of the Fraser Valley
ABBY BUSINESS WALKS 2017 PROGRAM REPORT
PROGRAM GOALS • • • • •
Identify common themes to stimulate economic activity and job creation in the area, Engage Local leaders and external agencies in reaching out to the business community, Allow for partners to share information about their organizations and the value they can provide to business owners, Demonstrate to businesses that their investment in the community is valued, Track the business pulse over time to gauge the business climate, thus impacting program development, strategic planning and business climate messaging, and • Build relationships for follow ups and assistance.
THE SURVEY QUESTIONS 1. Please rate the current state of your business: (Slow/Poor), (Fair/Steady), Good/Increasing) 2. What do you like most about doing business in Abbotsford? 3. What can be done to help your business thrive? 4. What specific information would you like to have access to? (i.e. Hiring, succession planning, etc.) 5. How many employees do you currently have/are you looking to hire?
QUESTION 1
Please rate the current state of your business
HOW IS BUSINESS? Results indicate that most of the businesses interviewed have a generally positive outlook on their prospects for growth in Abbotsford. A combined total of 94% of the businesses surveyed see the state of their business as steady/increasing. All of the businesses that describe slow/poor growth (6%) have been identified for follow up.
SLOW/POOR
6% 21%
FAIR/STEADY
73%
GOOD/ INCREASING
10
20
30
40
50
60
NUMBER OF BUSINESS WALKS SURVEYS
70
80
ABBY BUSINESS WALKS 2017 PROGRAM REPORT
QUESTION 2 WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT DOING BUSINESS IN ABBOTSFORD? When asked what business owners like most about doing business in the City of Abbotsford, for the third consecutive year, location was stated as the most important consideration. This focus on location is in line with recent statistics showing that 65% of Abbotsford residents live and work in the community. Abbotsford’s location is strategically placed with connectivity to the US border, Highway 1 Transcanada access to Metro Vancouver and British Columbia’s Interior, rail routes, and the Abbotsford International Airport (YXX). The results also show that clientele was the number two reason why business owners enjoyed doing business in Abbotsford. The retail businesses enjoy a loyal and appreciative customer base that is very ‘community minded.’ Industrial businesses and professional services that ranked clientele as their reason for doing business in Abbotsford have a large percentage of local customers in close proximity to their operations. There is a clear trend from existing business owners that the availability of talented labour is a key issue preventing many businesses from expanding.
What do you like the MOST about doing business in the area?
AFFORDIBILITY
AVAILABILITY OF TALENTED LABOUR
BUSINESS FRIENDLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT
6% 7% 9% 24%
CLIENTELE
COST OF DOING BUSINESS
7% 39%
LOCATION
8%
OTHER
10
20
30
40
50
60
NUMBER OF BUSINESS WALKS SURVEYS
70
ABBY BUSINESS WALKS 2017 PROGRAM REPORT
QUESTION 3 WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS THRIVE? Responses included a diverse range of ideas from a clear need for support for finding talented employees and building a skilled workforce, to improved parking and traffic management, through the downtown core, a desire for more networking opportunities for business owners, to greater marketing and promotion of local business and key areas across the City.
COMMON THEMES SUGGEST THAT BUSINESSES WANT: • Programs, resources and supports to help them find skilled labour. This issue is proving to be a barrier for businesses growing across a variety of sectors in the city. • Increased development and revitalization in the city . • Resources and support to help them with their marketing strategies. • Cutting red tape at City Hall for faster processing of permits and signage. • Solution to ongoing parking shortages in the Historic Downtown Abbotsford and through industrial areas. • A safer community for employees and customers – public safety and property crime concerns.
ABBY BUSINESS WALKS 2017 PROGRAM REPORT
QUESTION 4 WHAT SPECIFIC INFORMATION WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ACCESS TO? For the second year, hiring has been cited as the #1 topic that businesses would like to have more information on and follow up support with 39% of the businesses interviewed. Most of these businesses cited an interest in working collaboratively with post-secondary training institutions and government to find a solution to their ongoing labour concerns. 43% of businesses selected ‘other’ for this question. Common themes suggested businesses would like more communication from the City on events (such as filming); accessible and user friendly information on current development projects on the City’s website; additionally another common answer from businesses was that they do not require any information. Business Planning followed as the next most common theme with 18% of business owners looking for further resources on how to build a business plan.
What specific information would you like to have access?
TOP 4 RESPONSES*
18%
BUSINESS PLANNING
39%
HIRING/HUMAN RESOURCES
17%
MARKETING PLANNING
43%
OTHER
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
NUMBER OF BUSINESS WALKS SURVEYS
*Other responses included: Exporting, Financing, Succession Planning and Supply Chain.
ABBY BUSINESS WALKS 2017 PROGRAM REPORT COMMON THEMES AROUND THE CITY • Challenges around hiring and labour attraction were mentioned in every area visited. • In comparison to previous years, all sectors, across all communities have seen an increase in business . • The need for more information on business planning was brought up in addition to a desire for information on funding resources. • The need for a more ‘business friendly local government’ came up many times. Less red tape, faster permits, easier signage processing and traffic infrastructure and parking. • Convenient public transportation services to enable employees a better opportunity to commute to work.
ABBY BUSINESS WALKS 2017 PROGRAM REPORT
COMMUNITY PROFILES MOUNT LEHMAN INDUSTRIAL This part of Abbotsford boasts some of the City’s most thriving and globally competitive businesses interspersed with small locally owned enterprises. Location is paramount to businesses in this community as they are conveniently located near Transcanada Highway #1, the Abbotsford International Airport and the Sumas U.S border. Finding industry specific skilled workers is the key concern for business owners in this area. Opportunities for Mount Lehman: • Provide more supports for labour attraction and connectivity with employer specific job fairs through AbbotsfordWorks and opportunity to participate in upcoming Fraser Valley Mega Job Fair. • Have representation from business owners from this community as we move forward with the development of the Workforce Plan.
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN ABBOTSFORD Most businesses in this area enjoy historic downtown Abbotsford for its unique ‘vibe’ as a destination location in the community. Owners are proud of the area they do business in and are invested in improving it. There were going concerns over event and film management, specifically the usage of parking space. Parking for customers is a key issue of concern. Suggestions on improving traffic flows, and recommendations for improved transit services in the area.
Opportunities for the Downtown: (As recommended from business owners) • Develop a Wayfinding Map directing patrons to available parking. • Provide training on marketing and business planning for brick and mortar companies competing with online markets. • Have more engagement from City with business owners.
SOUTH FRASER WAY/ GEORGE FERGUSON WAY This area is a unique part of Abbotsford in that the businesses along this stretch are a mix of professional services, retail, and industrial. Ongoing concerns over safety and theft prevention reduce the competitiveness of many businesses in this area. Opportunities for Clearbrook/South Fraser Way: • Notifications on Abbotsford’s Homelessness Action Plan and provide opportunities for business participation and input into local initiatives and multi-stakeholder responses. • Collaboration amongst business owners in this area to promote safety and pride in improving the area. • Provide more supports for labour attraction and connectivity with local post-secondary education providers. Present opportunity to participate in upcoming Fraser Valley Mega Job Fair.
ABBY BUSINESS WALKS 2017 PROGRAM REPORT MCCALLUM INDUSTRIAL McCallum Industrial is home for many of Abbotsford’s industrial, warehouse and commercial businesses. The key concern for business owners is retaining skilled workers. These businesses are looking to local government to cut red tape and provide smooth and consistent regulatory processes for permitting. Opportunities for Maclure Business Park: • Provide more supports for labour attraction and connectivity with local post-secondary education. providers, present opportunity to participate in the upcoming Fraser Valley Mega Job Fair. • Notifications on new development in the community. • Have representation from business owners from this community as we move forward with the development of the Workforce Plan.
EAST ABBOTSFORD (PARALLEL MARKET PLACE, WHATCOM PLAZA) This is one of Abbotsford’s newest community shopping centres. With a mix of professional services, retail, and restaurants, businesses in these communities are a part of a contemporary lifestyle experience for shoppers. As a relatively new community, ongoing concerns pertain to lack of exposure and market saturation. Opportunities for East Abbotsford: • Notifications on new businesses opening in the community. • Collaboration amongst business owners in this area to promote community events. • Provide support in marketing and business planning to build exposure and increase traffic to new area.
ABBY BUSINESS WALKS 2017 PROGRAM REPORT
CONCLUSION Abbotsford’s third annual Business Walks saw 65 leaders from across the region reach out to over 140 business owners to get a snapshot on how business is doing in the City. This annual event has resulted in many opportunities for the City of Abbotsford to support the growth and retention of existing enterprise. CAED will follow up with connections to provincial and federal programs for apprenticeship funding and labour attraction as well as support on exporting and supply chain development.
NEXT STEPS DISTRIBUTION OF REPORT This report is meant to share a snapshot of the information gathered from Business Walks. It will be distributed to the businesses visited, partner organizations, and other economic development organizations across the region.
FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS Over 75 follow up meetings with business owners have been scheduled.
RESOURCES AND WORKSHOPS CAED will be exploring the opportunity to host workshops and sessions driven by the expressed interests of those businesses visited namely; marketing and business planning, financing, and hiring/labour attraction/retention.
WORKFORCE PLANNING Given that workforce attraction was a key theme from the businesses, CAED will continue their vision to foster a dynamic talented labour force in the community and create a workforce plan in 2018. This requires collaboration between industry, government, and educational institutions, all of which underlies CAED’s future strategic planning.
LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS CAED will continue engaging with partner business and support organizations to drive appropriate resources to business owners: Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, Province of BC, Small Business British Columbia, Business Development Bank of Canada and Abbotsford Works.
ABBY BUSINESS WALKS 2017 PROGRAM REPORT
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS:
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Parul Neufeld Economic Development Officer t: 604.557.4420 e: pneufeld@abbotsford.ca