Saluting Women in Business
Members of the Prince Rupert Women in Business group include, from left, Katie Mierau of Advantage Print and Design, Christy Allen of the Pioneer Backpackers Inn, Bonnie Harvey of The Northern View, Anna Terebka of the SPCA, Amber Sheasgreen of Community Futures, Debbie Mierau of Advantage Print and Design, Hannah Fromm of Harlow’s Eatery and Simone Clark of the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce.
Empowering North Coast Women in Business Event September 27th & 28th, 2013 Join us for an upcoming professional development day in collaboration with the BC Women's Enterprise Centre, right here, in Prince Rupert. When & Where Empowering North Coast Women in Business Event September 27, 5-7pm, Breaker's Loft, Wine andSeptember Cheese Networking Event 27th & 28th, 2013 September 28, 8:30-4:30, Crest Hotel, BC Room, Stepping Up Your Leadership & Focused Marketing Workshops Loft and The Crest Hotel, Prince Rupert Lunch provided • Cost Breakers $50
To Register: go to www.womensenterprise.ca/catalog/NCW_PR or contact Amber Sheasgreen or Simone Join Us Clark at 250-622-2332
For an upcoming professional development day in collaboration with the BC Women's Enterprise Centre, right here, in Prince Rupert. Occasions to Remember
When & Where
PRINCE RUPERT
September 27, 5-7pm, Breaker's Loft Wine and Cheese Networking Event September 28, 8:30-4:30, Crest Hotel, BC Room Stepping Up Your Leadership & Focused Marketing Workshops
Lunch provided
To Register
Cost $50
Women in Business
C2 • Northern View • September 18, 2013
www.thenorthernview.com
Crafting a business plan for success A great business plan can go a long way toward transforming an idea into a successful business. Though no two businesses are the same, good business plans tend to follow a similar formula. The following are a few tips for wouldbe business owners looking to draft memorable business plans. * Don’t be too wordy. Potential investors, whether they’re venture capitalists, family members or lending institutions, don’t want to be handed a manifesto masquerading as a business plan. A good business plan is brief and gets to the point early on, spelling out why the business is worthy of an investment and how it is going to be successful. * Define what makes your business unique. Your business plan is similar to a sales pitch, one that you will need to turn your idea into a business. A successful sales pitch should define what makes your business unique. Clearly define what separates your business from others and why these differences make you and your business idea a solid investment. * Resist going overboard. When crafting a business plan to present to potential lenders or investors, business owners may be tempted to offer quantity over quality. But successful startups often begin small, selling a particular idea or item, and then diversify their offerings after establishing a customer base and experiencing a prolonged period of success. Investors and lenders are aware
of this and might be turned off by a business plan that makes business owners appear less like an expert and more like a jack-of-all-trades. * Be specific as to how you will generate revenue. Good business plans clearly indicate how business owners plan to generate revenue. Simply selling products won’t be enough to convince savvy investors, who want to see a sales model summarizing how customers will be drawn to a business. It’s also beneficial to include estimates as to how many customers will be needed each month to meet your minimum revenue targets. * Define your market. When defining the market for your business, include its size and the specific people within that market you intend to target. * Make projections. A strong business plan will include estimates as to how many future customers you hope to attract and the cost of acquiring those customers. Project the cost of your products, not only to sell to customers but to produce those products as well. Projections also include how far an investor’s money will go. Investors want to know how far their initial investments figure to go and when you anticipate the need for another infusion of capital. Such information is important, as investors want to know when business owners feel their businesses will become selfsustaining and begin to pay back their investors.
Regardless of what type of business you run or plan to open, you will want to have a business plan to guide.
Open 7 Days A Week 250-627-1808 24 Cow Bay Road HECATE STRAIT’S WOMEN IN BUSINESS HELPING OTHERS TO MOVE FORWARD Hecate Strait Employment Development Society received its not for profit status and incorporation in May 1995. Since then, we have grown from an organization with a staff of three in one office to one with three centres: Prince Rupert, Masset and Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte City). The mandate of the Society is to provide employment programming and training to enhance the opportunities of the residents of the North Coast and Haida Gwaii. We have core employment programs, a comprehensive job board and our offices offer training, everything from customer service, office training to forklift certification.
Masset Ph: 250-626-3236 Toll Free 1-877-626-3236
Queen Charlotte Ph: 250-559-0049 Toll Free: 1-866-559-7909
Prince Rupert Office Ph: 250-624-9498 • Toll Free: 1-800-808-3988
www.hseds.ca
250-627-1010 In the heart of Cow Bay
www.udderbags.com
Women in Business
www.thenorthernview.com
September 18, 2013 • Northern View • C3
Know your market, know your business Courtesy Women’s Enterprise Centre Your best tools for market research are curiosity and observation which will assist you in gathering facts to make wellinformed decisions. In addition to a spirit of adventure, here are some categories of information that you should explore to gather data for your business. General Industry Information Spend some time both in person and on the Internet observing how companies like yours do business. Take a look at the local landscape, as well as how things may be done in other places. Learn what products and services are offered, how the company communicates with its customers, and how their customers feel about them. Note where there may be opportunities for you to fill needs that are not being met. Trends and Growth Read industry related publications, located at your library, business resource centre or online, to learn about trends and growth areas. This is valuable information as you continue in business, to ensure that you stay current with what customers want and need, as well as ideas on how to grow your business. The volume of information can be overwhelming, so remember to scan. Take note of new legislation, industry challenges, and economic influences
which may affect the industry in future. And be on the lookout for up-andcomers who are trying new things. When an industry becomes saturated with competitors there are always a few early birds creating new trends. It pays to take note. Industry Statistics Statistics are collected by government agencies and provide perspective to understand the larger landscape in which your business operates. These are available at your library or business resource centre, and include a variety of data related to general industry and consumer demographics. Statistics can be overwhelming, so look at them for specific information. For example, collecting demographics for your area can help determine where to set up shop. The mistake of leasing retail space to sell children’s items in a neighbourhood full of seniors can be avoided when you understand the demographics of the area. Interactive Research There’s nothing like learning about prospective customers directly. Officially known as “primary research” because you are obtaining first-hand information rather than relying on others’ data collection, it’s the only way to get a genuine sense of how people will respond to your product or service. Even then, it
Getting the proper data can make a world of difference in market research.
can be misleading if it’s not objectively gathered. Face to face surveys (always keep them brief), online or print surveys, and even focus groups are all tools to engage with people and test both ideas and assumptions. “Do you prefer red or blue” is a leading, non-neutral question because the real answer may be neither. “Select the colour you prefer” and listing several options as well as “other” is a more neutral way to frame your question. The key to gathering valuable market research, both primary and secondary, is remembering to stay objective. That
means not relying on your family and friends to be your primary source of feedback. As much as they love you – because they do – they cannot be fully objective. Women’s Enterprise Centre is the goto place for BC women business owners for business loans, skills training, business advisory services, resources, publications and referrals. Call us at 1.800.643.7014 or visit www.womensenterprise.ca from anywhere in BC. This article was written in collaboration with Liz Gaige, Market Navigators Consulting, www.marketnavigators.ca.
Prince Rupert TEAMWORK AND INTEGRITY
Royal LePage Prince Rupert has several agents to serve you best and helping the client is always the top priority. Collectively, amongst all the agents, there is over 75 years of real estate knowledge and experience in Prince Rupert and area. “If you hire one of us, you are really hiring nine of us – we all help each other out.” For Sellers, wanting to list their homes, Royal LePage offers a full slate of Heather Bullock, Dorothy Wharton, Emily Kawaguchi, Nadia Movold, Sandra Smith-Haines marketing and advertising initiatives to attract potential buyers. As well as the weekly advertisement in the Northern View, each one of our listings will be placed in the Royal LePage newsletter that will be in every mailbox in Prince Rupert and Port Edward, every 6 weeks. In addition, we are also up to date with Facebook, Twitter and other social media venues to reach clients locally, provincially and worldwide. For Buyers, the Realtor®s with Royal LePage are more than willing to sell you properties that are listed with Royal LePage, and we work co-operatively with other agencies on the Multiple Listing Service to sell any home in Prince Rupert and area. All our Buyers will receive $50 gift certificates and 50 Air Miles from four local businesses, upon completion of the sales transaction. This year, Royal LePage has partnered with four local businesses – Rainbow Chrysler, the Crest Hotel, Rona and Quadra Travel, to offer a chance to win in quarterly and annual draws. This is our way of saying ‘Thank you, we appreciate your business.’ Drop by the office for more information on entering our contest. These five “Women In Business” pride themselves on the professionalism, honesty, integrity, teamwork and outstanding customer service that has made Royal LePage the #1 Real Estate company in Prince Rupert.
HELPING YOU IS WHAT WE DO!
363-500 2nd Ave West Upper level of the Rupert Square Shopping Centre • 250-627-7551
www.royallepage.ca/princerupert
Women in Business
C4 • Northern View • September 18, 2013
www.thenorthernview.com
Looking at the future opportunities for women Industrial development in the region opening new doors BY KATHY BEDARD PRINCE RUPERT / Hecate Strait
Women in Business ... hmmm, I know what picture this brings to my mind – office or retail work. Fact is, when I was a little girl, I preferred to play secretary or with dolls. I wish my Mother, the first real woman liberationist I knew, would’ve put a hard hat on the doll or said that I should consider being an engineer. Truth is, she said “you can be anything you want to be,” but we all have models and I followed my sister into Administrative Work. Well, it turned out well for me, as I now am the proud chief administrative officer of Hecate Strait Employment Development, an organization where every human’s potential can be explored; however, there are days when I would love to drive trucks or operate heavy equipment! In Northwest B.C., women have been offered another challenge; that is to prepare themselves for the next decade of immeasurable growth in our economy. Into 2020 and beyond, the investments in industrial
“The gaps in the workforce extend from housekeeping to rock truck drivers, from labourers to construction supervisors.” - Kathy Bedard development will challenge all of Northwestern Canada, but will bring untold opportunities to women who are looking for non-traditional employment in the industrial field. No, this does not mean that they have to be construction workers, plumbers or electricians. It truly means that the most diversely skilled individuals will have their “pick and choose” of potential areas of growth. The gaps in the workforce extend from housekeeping to rock truck drivers, from labourers to construction superintendents, and from apprentices to Engineers.
Bonnie Harvey / The Northern View
Hecate Strait chief administrative officer Kathy Bedard says there is a bright future for women both in business and in industry.
There are many programs that will assist women in this growth: Job Match (construction and related fields), Skills Connect for Immigrants, Targeted Skills Shortage funding, and self employment. A stepping stone to all of this is Grade 12, done traditionally through the secondary school, or for adults via correspondence. Any way it can be done, Grade 12 should be a first and
foremost target for all our community wishing to participate in this very exciting future. For the Baby-Boomers (I count myself as one), it is up to us to encourage this non-traditional growth of skills. No, that doesn’t mean that now that I am 64, that I intend to retire, but perhaps I may be able to do something different ... beep, beep, beep! 0960316BC
Advantage Print and Design Ltd. Deb Mierau, Carol Bulford & Katie Beer
We are proud to be celebrating our 6th year as North Coast Women in Business. With over 60 years of combined experience in the communications industry, we have sought to bring quality printing, graphic design and service to our community. We have attempted to keep up with a fast changing business model so we can be sure to keep the North Coast “in the loop” with cutting edge promotional products, printing and design. If itʼs innovation, service and quality you seek, come see us at…
Tim Hortons ‘ladies’ management team
Assistant managers (left to right) Bonnie Nguyen, Marjorie Watts, Kristie Bannermen Laura Archibald, Owner/operator
Laura started with Tim Hortons as a team member in Edmonton to help with pay for post secondary school(1992) and today she is the proud co-owner with her husband Devin. In addition to the Tim Horton’s Prince Rupert location (2003), she coordinates her time between two additional locations, the Tim Hortons in Kitimat, (2012) and Lakelse Terrace (2011). “We are so proud to give back to the community with scholarship for employees and/or family, Timbit hockey, soccer, and for the past eight years have been involved the Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation. We are involved in the Annual Seafest street hockey tournament in support of Prince Rupert Minor Hockey, support community clean ups and other special event organizations in the community.” Laura is mom to two teenagers, and when she has time, continues to teach in the evenings as a registered ballet teacher Spectrum City Dance.
170 - 3rd Ave. East in Cow Bay (across from Pioneer Inn), Prince Rupert, BC
Tel: 250.62.PRINT (250.627.7468)
sales@advantageprint.ca • Monday - Friday: 9:00am - 5:30pm
Children’s botique specializing in Chic Children’s Clothing at wholesale prices. Children’s Sizes from 0 - 8 years
Prince Rupert
636 2nd Avenue, Prince Rupert, BC 250-624-2999
Sophia Bubas sophia71@citywest.ca
604-374-3485 • 250-622-3188
Rainforest Babes began about a year ago out of the home of Sophia Bubas, which offers a wider selection and variety of clothes for children for the Prince Rupert area. The company specializes in quality workmanship in children wear offering comfortable clothing styles for children that fit our northern lifestyle, from casual wear to dress clothes for boys and girls. The company carries some designer brands and other clothing lines from 0 to 12 sizes. Rainforest Babes carries and distributes Mexx, Buffalo, Deux Par Deux and Lime Apple, to name a few. Her line of clothing is purchased from various distributors and is marketed thru Facebook and local advertising, building her clientele. Rainforest Babes is proud to say that they have many repeat customers, and is now expanding to include more selections and brands. Watch for her new line of organic line of baby clothes coming soon!
Women in Business
www.thenorthernview.com
September 18, 2013 • Northern View • C5
Developing a budget for your business Budgeting is important for businesses big and small. But while corporations or larger organizations might be able to stretch their budgets when necessary, small businesses often don’t have the luxury of such leeway. Because small businesses are often less financially flexible than their larger competitors and counterparts, small business owners tend to agonize over their budgets when starting out. Part of that struggle may stem from small business owners who specialize in their trade but have little experience at running a business. But determining a small business budget is essential to a business’ success, as it helps owners determine if they have enough money to fund the business and its potential expansion while also providing owners with a steady income. Each industry is different, and budgets that work for one business will not necessarily work for another. But the following tips can help business owners develop an effective budget for their businesses regardless of their industries. * Understand your industry. Understanding your industry and knowing your product are two different things. When establishing a budget for a new business, small business owners should familiarize themselves with the industry they will be joining. Calculate the cost of machinery and materials. The prices of materials can fluctuate depending on supply and demand, but small business
owners developing a budget can research how such costs fluctuated in the past or speak with current business owners to determine how much of their initial cash supply and future revenue will need to be allocated to production costs. * Know what to do with your revenue. Developing a budget for a startup can be tricky, as it’s hard to know how to allocate your revenue when you don’t know how much revenue your business is going to generate. But that doesn’t mean you can’t allocate that yet-to-be-earned revenue. In fact, doing just that is entirely necessary. Determining your operating costs, which include cost of materials, labor, the rent or mortgage on the property where your business is housed and taxes among other expenses, helps you know how much revenue you’ll need to generate to make the business work. Knowing the percentage of revenue that needs to go toward your operating costs can help you develop a realistic budget that gets you through the first few months when it’s hard to determine just how much revenue the business is likely to generate. * Give yourself some breathing room. When developing a budget for your small business, it’s important to build some breathing room into that budget. This can provide some leeway should your estimated revenue fall short of your actual revenue or your business takes off and you suddenly find yourself in need of money in order to meet customer demand
Developing an effective budget can make or break a new business.
and/or expand the business and its staff. In addition, factoring in some breathing room will come in handy should costs beyond your control, such as rent or the cost of materials, suddenly rise. * Develop a secondary emergency budget. Figures regarding the survival rates of new small businesses vary significantly. Conventional wisdom has long suggested such businesses fail far more often than they succeed, and many go up in flames rather quickly. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly half of all new businesses survive five years or more, and about one-third survive a decade or more. But surviving five years is not necessarily a 50-50 proposition, as small business owners who plan ahead for emergencies are likely in better positions to make it to 10 years than those that don’t. When developing a secondary emergency
budget, include cost-cutting measures, which can make it easier to make tough decisions if money becomes tight but bills still need to be paid. Adversity is to be expected, so having a plan in place should you need to make changes makes it easier to manage that adversity. * Review the budget regularly. Once the business has opened, owners should review their budgets to determine if money is being spent as wisely as possible. You may have overestimated certain costs, which can free up money to grow the business. Larger businesses can afford to establish yearly budgets because they have more financial flexibility. But small businesses are more vulnerable to volatile markets or unexpected costs, so small business owners should review their budgets more frequently and make changes they feel necessary
Everything a woman needs to START, GROW and SUCCEED in BUSINESS is here…
The undersea mural that encircles Rona Tyee Building Supplies is an indication that this isn’t your typical hardware store. For the last three years, manager Sharon Rothwell has done everything she can to not only improve the store but the community as a whole. From painting the store to partnering in the Paint Prince Rupert and the mural program along with other community events, the third generation Rupertite said giving back to the community is a priority for her and Tyee. “My parents were born here, my grandparents came here in the early days of Prince Rupert ... I was born and raised here and it is important for me to feel proud of the community we live in and make people want to stay here,” she said. Rothwell and the staff of 26 at Rona bring that sense of pride to their work in the store, making sure every customer that walks in the door is greeted by friendly, knowledgeable, helpful staff and a wide range of products to choose from. “Customer service, for us, is the most important thing. Everything we do is done with customer service in mind, from the products we carry to the appearance to the service. When people leave, we want them to say they are happy they came, they got what they wanted and they had a positive experience,” she said. “We try to have everything for customers from contractors to home owners to business owners and everyone in between.” Along with supporting the community, Rona is proud to be locally owned and operated and carry over 80 per cent Canadian products.
Tyee Building Supplies Ltd. 405 - 3rd Avenue East, Prince Rupert
Tel. 250-627-7011 Toll Free 1-800-668-0606• www.rona.ca
Women’s Enterprise Centre is the leading business resource in BC for women who are starting, purchasing or growing a business. We are the go-to place for BC women entrepreneurs seeking business advice, loans, training, resources & mentors! We can help you with: • • • • • • • •
business skills training learning and resource guides mentoring programs networking connections resources, referrals,research conferences and workshops business loans up to $150,000 professional business advisors
Dawn McCooey Skills Development Manager
Financial support provided by:
1.800.643.7014 Vancouver | Victoria | Kelowna Serving the women of BC since 1995
Women in Business
C6 • Northern View • September 18, 2013
www.thenorthernview.com
Tips to know when and how to grow your business A variety of options available for expansion Getting a startup off the ground is a considerable and rewarding achievement. But once a business has achieved a certain level of success, business owners often find themselves wondering what to do next. Growing a business may not prove as challenging as turning it from a startup into a successful enterprise, but business owners often agonize over the best way to grow their businesses. The following are a few ideas to grow your business so you can build on your initial success. * Open a new location. Physical expansion is often the first idea that comes into business owners’ minds when they are thinking about how to grow their businesses. But physical expansion is not always the best way to grow a business. Before deciding to open a second location, consider consumer trends to determine if your company has staying power, and economic trends to determine if the economy is healthy enough to support both your initial location and any additional locations you plan to open. Another thing to consider before opening a new location is your management style. If that style is very hands-on, then who will manage your new location, or your existing one if you plan to oversee things at the new store? Physical expansion can be good for business, but it’s often most successful when business owners have a solid management team already in place, which allows owners to spend time at both locations. * Diversify your offerings. The Small Business
Administration notes that diversifying is a strong growth strategy, providing multiple streams of income that can help business owners survive the slower months when sales tend to dip. Businesses known for a particular product may want to offer complementary products or services or import or export others’ products. Startups often credit loyal customer bases when citing their reasons for surviving their first few years, and such customer bases already trust your brand. Expanding that brand to include complementary products or services is a logical next step to grow your business and build on the credibility you worked so hard to achieve with your customer base. * Develop an app. Many of today’s successful startups had Web sites even before they opened the doors to their more traditional brick-and-mortar stores. While a strong Web presence is essential for many of today’s businesses, business owners can now go one step further and create their own smartphone or tablet app. Such apps can allow customers to peruse your offerings, place orders on-the-go and perform a host of other tasks related to your business without using a computer. An app can introduce your business to a whole new crop of potential customers, whether they live around the corner from your store or halfway around the globe. Upon introducing the app, expect some technical glitches and solicit user responses so you can quickly update the app and make it more user-friendly if need be. * Form partnerships with other businesses. Rather than diversifying their product offerings, some business owners have found it’s easier and more profitable to work with other businesses who already sell complementary products. Such partnerships can
Balancing Work & Family
After 18 years at CityWest, Nikki Morse left her marketing position to work with her husband Mike, who is a Realtor at RE/MAX Coast Mountains. “I co-ordinate the marketing for Mike’s listings, assist with administrative tasks, and help with requests from clients and Realtors. That way, Mike can focus on what matters the most to his clients, selling and finding homes.” For Nikki, working with Mike also means having more flexibility as a mom. “I generally work out of our home office, so I adjust my hours according to our kids’ schedule.” Nikki is also a director for the Chamber of Commerce. Her involvement with the Chamber means she can work with the board towards positive change for Prince Rupert businesses, as well as stay connected to the business community.
Buying? Selling?
Successful business owners can grow their businesses in a variety of ways.
be good for both businesses, as each can expand its customer base without the kind of effort it takes to open a new location or the cost of producing new products. Other businesses already have lists of prospective customers who may need your products, and vice versa. Partnerships can be the most effective and quickest ways to grow a business, not to mention the least expensive and time-consuming.
It’s a great time to grow my business Really? Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest offers business counseling, planning and business financing services. Guess what – now is exactly the time to grow your business! Amber Sheasgreen brings excellent skills in marketing, business planning and financial analysis. Her ability to work one on one and tailor her services to each individual client’s needs creates a comfortable and trusting working relationship. Shift into a higher gear. We can help.
Mike Morse Personal Real Estate Corp.
of course!
Cell 250.600.6620
• Website www.mikemorse.ca
Nicole Paolo of NR Janitorial Services Inc.
Specializing in hand scrubbing vinyl siding and gutters too. Call for a free quote today! 250-622-9702 cell: 250-622-9302 124 Cormorant Place Prince Rupert, BCV8J 4G3 nr-janitorial@hotmail.com
Nicole grew up here in Prince Rupert and is an active member of the Lax Kwaalams Band. She attended school in Prince Rupert and during 1988 she assisted her dad with janitorial work for Baker Travel after school. In July 2010, she took an opportunity for funding from TRICORP to start NR-Janitorial Services Inc. and has progressively grown the business to become incorporated in January of 2011. Nicole has worn many hats while growing her business, including receptionist for Punnett and Johnston and approximately 20 years at Safeway. Nicole like the satisfaction of being your own boss and the time at Canada Safeway has helped her in meeting potential clients. It takes great dedication to run your own business and establishing it, and at NR-Janitorial Services Inc., they treat your space like it’s our own place. That’s their job and proud of it.
250-622-2332 ǀ www.communityfuturesprincerupert.com
Occasions to Remember has been in
business for 8 years, serving Prince Rupert and surrounding communities. Since March 2013, it has been under new ownership, and we are proud to offer the same great service to our clientele. We rent, create and sell party decor. If you are looking for that special unique, one-of-a-kind look, give us a call. We are located on Kootenay Avenue, Prince Rupert, or email dholaksew@citytel.net
Occasions to Remember
Sandra Olaksew hm: 250-624-4092 cell: 250-600-4174 email: dholaksew@citytel.net
Women in Business
www.thenorthernview.com
September 18, 2013 • Northern View • C7
Critical steps when entering a commercial lease Leasing commercial space is a fact of life for many business owners. The expense of commercial leasing is considerable, but cost is not the only factor to consider when leasing a commercial space. The following are a few tips for business owners when negotiating their commercial space lease. * Enlist some professional help. While seasoned business owners may be able to negotiate their commercial lease on their own, new business owners often benefit from the services of real estate brokers and real estate lawyers. Real estate lawyers can negotiate your lease, explaining key terms and conditions that may prove confusing to first-time business owners. Real estate brokers can help you find the right location, and many real estate brokers have a long working history with landlords. Such relationships can make the negotiating process easier, and they also can benefit business owners looking for the best possible location for their businesses. Real estate brokers often get first choice at the most desirable locations, so teaming up with an established real estate broker can increase your chances of landing a desirable property. * Emphasize affordable renewal options. The length of commercial leases favored by small businesses is often similar to the length of a lease on a private residence. Though the language might be more complex than that of a
private residence lease, the length of a commercial lease agreement is typically one to two years. But business owners must be diligent regarding renewal options and the cost of such renewals. Come the end of your lease terms, you don’t want to be met with a considerable and unexpected hike in rent just as your business is starting to take off. Work to get the most favorable renewal options possible so more of your operating budget can go into your products and not toward your lease. * Pay attention to extra fees. Many commercial leases include fees in addition to the monthly rent. Maintenance fees are common, and there may even be a separate set of maintenance fees when sharing commercial space. When negotiating your lease, ask to see a list of the costs and fees current tenants typically incur each month. When discussing maintenance fees, confirm who must pay for less routine maintenance, such as HVAC or plumbing repairs, and be sure to get such information included in the lease. When discussing such fees, inquire about utility costs as well. Utilities are often the responsibility of the tenant, but it still behooves business owners to confirm who will be paying the monthly utilities. * Negotiate an exclusivity clause. Business owners often don’t want their competitors to move in across the street,
Those entering Kal Tire over the past three-and-a-half years are likely to have been greeted by the smiling face on Anna Le. Le, who splits her time between bookkeeping and watching the front counter, says it is the people who frequent the shop that make for the best part of her days at Kal Tire. “I think the best part of my job is not only the people I work with, but greeting the customers,” she said, noting customer service is her top priority. “When people leave, I want them to be satisfied that they got the good service they came for.” Le said she learns something new every day while at Kal Tire, and looks forward to the bright future of the shop. “It's been really busy this year, and hopefully it will get busier yet,” she said.
624-8550 943 Chamberlin Avenue
Enchanted Rainforest Bed & Breakfast Cindy Hardy, owner and manager of the Enchanted Rainforest Bed & Breakfast has been operating since 1995. Recently, the business has undergone extensive renovations and will be offering a honeymoon suite for guests. A Great Alternative to Hotels & Motels Travellers, families and business clients from around the world. Close to Ferries, Via Rail & Downtown 706 Ritchie Street, Prince Rupert, B.C. cindy@enchantedrainforestbnb.com• www.enchantedrainforestbnb.com
1-888-923-9993
and they certainly don’t want them to move into the same building. Protect your business from such a development by negotiating an exclusivity clause into your lease. Such clauses prevent landlords from leasing other spaces on the property to your competition. * Carefully read the default language. Determine what happens if you default on the lease, including if you will be locked out upon your first missed payment and if the landlord will immediately initiate eviction proceedings.
It is important to have the right lease agreement in place when starting or moving your business.
The Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce is a proud supporter of North Coast Women in Business Contact us today to see what the 2013 BC Chamber of the Year can do for your business!
Online - www.princerupertchamber.ca Facebook - facebook.com/PRDChamber Phone 250-624-2296 100-515 3rd Ave West Prince Rupert, BC - V8J 1L9
Simone Clark Executive Director
MACRO PROPERTIES With six (6) different locations throughout Prince Rupert, Macro Properties is the one stop for your new home. We have all sizes of accommodations from bachelor suites to four (4) bedroom townhouses. For short visits we offer furnished apartments – just bring your clothes and groceries – we provide the rest.
Macroproperties.com Call 250-627-5003 • 115 3rd St Prince Rupert
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm Picture yourself here...
www.travelplus.ca/1570 in the rupert square mall 250-624-2215 • Prince ruPert, B.c. Business or leisure? Or both? You pack the bags, we’ll handle the rest. As your travel agent, we can take care of all your travel needs, booking your hotel, rental car or travel insurance. We can book your all inclusive vacation, whether its a disney family vacation, a weekend with friends in Vegas., or a sports game out of town. Our website has the latest and greatest travel deals. Our staff are experience travel agents, who welcome you to click, call or come on in, and we will be happy to assist you with all your travel needs. Quadra is now an Official Air Miles sponsor. Customer(s) will receive Air Miles on all packaged holidays, cruises and charter air product. Quadra Travel, locally owned and operated for over 30 years in Prince Rupert is a success story. Many say that the bricks and mortar retail travel agencies in North America are not viable, but that is not us. With our new affiliation, Quadra Travel can now better serve our customers with an even larger range of products and services. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, because without a travel agent, you are on your own.
Women in Business
C8 • Northern View • September 18, 2013
www.thenorthernview.com
Linking your business and community newspaper
PRINCE RUPERT
VOL. 8 NO. 38
By Bonnie Harvey PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View
It doesn’t matter if you are selling widgets, whirligigs or thingamabobs, one common element is that you have to let others know about your business, you have to advertise and you have to market yourself. It doesn’t matter how you advertise, but you must define your message and let people know your product or services. Marketing is the message and advertising is the method.
There are countless books written on the subject, seems like everyone is an expert and they have just found the magic formula that will make your product or service a household word. As someone who has worked in the trenches on a variety of marketing campaigns, no business is really an overnight success story, it sometimes appears that way. What it takes is a lot of perseverance and sweat equity combined with the right marketing and advertising strategy on a consistent basis. So why should you advertise?
Advertising and marketing is an investment in your business’s success. Experts tell you that you should invest a percentage of your annual revenue towards advertising. Marketing defines your message, but advertising builds awareness and lets your potential customers discover your business. So why advertise in community papers? It’s the one source of information that you turn to when you relocate for work to a new community. It’s your source of information to find out about current events whether locally, or regional. It’s to find out about businesses, sales and services in your area, catch up on entertainment, sports, or just to spend a Sunday afternoon reading on the sofa or doing the crosswords. Whether you are a new businessilonA orKenny an established business, it makes sense For The Service You Deserve, that you turn to the local community call 250-632-1021 paper, as one of the most effective ways to get your message out daily or weekly. Get it now Newspapers have been around since 2 MONTHS FREE before 1721 and have been viewed as a source of information and opinion. Subscribe to Movie Central Today, you have many informational and HBO Canada today and get 2 months free!* sources, in many different methods, from print to digital, from radio broadcasts, from internet web advertising to Call 1-800-442-8664 television advertising. Even with today all that for full details available, it is a fact that more people are reading today than any other time in history. AffordAble houses Are still AvAilAble! 5 Yukon $160,000
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
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LNG pipeline would cross Khutzymateen
BURROWS HAS YOUR BACK
News
Biologist worried
Rupert vital to Canadian economy Page A3
BY SHAUN THOMAS PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View
Environmental groups are raising a red flag as one LNG pipeline proposal shows plans to run the line through the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. One of the routes proposed by TransCanada Pipeline, the company tasked with creating the - Wayne McReary pipeline to Pacific NorthWest LNG’s terminal on Lelu Island, would cut through eastern portion of the sanctuary. The Valhalla Wilderness Society said survey work in the area is already underway, bringing helicopters and survey crews into the Khutzemeyteen to discover the feasibility of running a four-foot diameter pipeline with a 200-foot right-of-way and necessary access road for service and construction through the sanctuary. See TRANSCANADA on Page A2
“The pipeline ... is a threat to every bear for miles around.”
Feature Terry Fox Run this Sunday Page A8
Shaun Thomas/ The Northern View
Alexandre Burrows of the Vancouver Canucks signs the jersey worn by Wallace Azak during a fan meet and greet on Sept. 7. For more on the Canucks visit to the North Coast, see Page A11.
Grassy Point LNG decision coming this month
Business
Dolly’s Fish Market expanding Page A13 BY SHAUN THOMAS
Minister won’t rule out multiple terminals
PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View
Haida Gwaii Support grows for banning bear hunt Page B1
The fate of LNG development on Grassy Point, near the entrance of Work Channel, will be clear by the end of the month. Four companies — Australian energy giant Nexen, Woodside Petroleum of Australia, SK E&S of Korea and Canada’s Imperial Oil — all submitted proposals to develop the site following a request from the provincial government back in April, and Minister of Gas Development Rich Coleman told those gathered at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Sept. 3 that work taking place at the site to determine how it can be developed is nearing completion. “By mid-September, we will know exactly how
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“By mid-September we will know exactly how many terminals.” - Rich Coleman many terminals can be hosted and what the future looks like for Grassy Point,” he said. Grassy Point is located across from Lax Kw’alaams, and Lax Kw’alaams Mayor Garry Reece has gone on record saying he would like to see the area developed because it would mean a road connecting his community to Prince Rupert. But Coleman said any such road is likely still years away.
“We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We need to recognize we are in a competitive atmosphere,” he said “I would like to see a final investment decision, then I’ll figure out the rest.” While the number of terminals in the Northwest has yet to be determined, Coleman said there is plenty of supply to meet the demand for a number of terminals. “With the reserves we have today, we could supply outside customers gas for the next 85 years and we have even larger reserves in the ground,” he explained. “Right now we ship 1.8 trillion cubic feet of LNG to the North American market. If LNG develops successfully, even with three terminals, we will ship an additional 5 trillion cubic feet to Asia.”
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Volume 8 Issue 10
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It’s time to Save during NORTHERN BC’S LARGEST RV • PARTS • ACCESSORIES
SHAUN THOMAS / THE NORTHERN CONNECTOR
PRINCE RUPERT - Dayna McKay of Lax Kw’alaams is all smiles as she accepts a $5,000 donation from Francesco Aquilini of the Aquilini Investment Group for her Into the Sea Cancer Free campaign. Aquilini was in Prince Rupert as part of the Canucks meet and greet on Sept. 7. For more on that event, see Page 25.
City seeking answers from Canpotex
In closing, you can’t do business “Out of respect to the people of sitting on the sidelines. So find your Prince Rupert ... that is the decent niche market, practice your elevator to do.” speech, keep yourthing business cards handy, Mayor Jack Mussallem and advertise frequently and consistently in your local community paper. By Shaun Thomas
THE NORTHERN CONNECTOR
PRINCE RUPERT - After years of silence, the City of Prince Rupert is looking for answers from Canpotex. Four years ago this month, Canpotex packed the Lester Centre for a public forum to discuss their potash export terminal on Ridley Island and received almost unanimous support from the community. At the time, Canpotex expected the terminal to be operational in 2012. But since then, communications with the company and the community have been sparse, and Prince Rupert Mayor Jack
Mussallem said that is unacceptable. At the Mayor’s request, council will now invite the company back to town to host another public forum to update Prince Rupert residents on the project, the reasons for the delay, challenges they face and any way the community can offer support. “Out of respect to the people of Prince Rupert ... that is the decent thing to do to continue the rapport they created at the initial public
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forum,” said Mussallem, noting several agencies have pushed to help Canpotex through the creation of a road, rail and utility corridor on Ridley Island. “Canpotex has the support of the City of Prince Rupert. The Government of British Columbia, the federal government and the Prince Rupert Port Authority have all pitched in to help Canpotex.”
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Those sentiments were echoed by Councillor Joy Thorkelson. “We spent a lot of our political capital pushing to get that road, rail and utility corridor. It could have been used for other purposes, like a bypass road ... you can only ask for so much,” she said. The idea of returning to the Lester Centre was discussed, but council said they would move to a smaller venue if more appropriate. Regardless of where the meeting would take place, council agreed it needed to be a public forum. Canpotex declined to comment on the request.
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In July of this year, Grassy Bay Services Ltd., owned by the Metlakatla Development Corporation, marked their 10th anniversary of service to the community. Originally operated as Race Trac Gas, the station changed to Petro Canada approximately after five years and has been Darcie Stewart, Kiesha Pahl, Christy Pahl accommodating RVs, campers, vehicles and offering full-service and self-service. In addition to offering regular, mid-grade and supreme gasoline, they also offer propane and diesel fuel on-site. 2013 Model #282BHSSRWE STK#KEY3888
Christy Pahl, Grassy Bay Services assistant manager, has been there almost since the gas station opened, along with seven other employees, mainly women. Most of the other employees have been at the company several years with the recent addition of two new employees.The role of women in business has changed, as more and more women are doing what is typically stereotyped as men’s work, and at Grassy Bay Gas Station, the women are outnumbering the men. So congratulations to the women of Grassy Bay – Darcie, Patty, Trina, Kiesha, Trista, Marilou and oh yeah, thanks, guys, Chris and Brandon.
250-624-9450 • 100 GRASSY BAY LANE