20 The Mission Record Thursday, October 10, 2013
BusinessTRACK Mission Chamber of Commerce
connect • influence • prosper
Small Business – It’s the Economy! O ctober celebrates small business across Canada and statistics are flying fast and furious on the impact small business has in the economy. 98.1% of all businesses in Canada have less than 100 employees and was responsible for 53.9 of all jobs created from 2001-2011. 615,599 (54.9%) of those businesses have less than 4 employees. In BC, 385,100 small businesses account for 98% of all businesses in the province and 82% of these have less than five employees. Over one million people are employed in BC, accounting for 56% of private sector employment; that is 32% of all wages paid to workers in BC. In Mission the numbers are even higher as 83% of all business licenses in Mission have less than 5 employees. This accounts for more than 90% of private sector employment in Mission businesses. Most susceptible to shifts in the economy, small business needs to be flexible, current, and resilient. Entrepreneurial in nature, Mission businesses that have survived the 2008 downturn reflect this spirit with innovation. Chamber member and local small business, Nutek Sign Creations, exemplifies these traits as it was able to secure national contract work. Its first connection with large marketing companies based in Ontario was through their listing in the Chamber business directory. “We were told that our listing in the directory was the sole reason for being contacted.” noted Dave Sawatzky, owner, Nutek Sign Creations. “Local work has led to work in Coquitlam, Langley and Surrey. It created connections with other large firms in Toronto and Montreal which has grown our business substantially.” Winner of the Mission Business Excellence Power of Small Award, Nutek Signs continues to innovate and diversify to create value for its clients and sustainable employment in Mission. Showing market flexibility, Business Excellence Intrapreneurial Excellence Award winner, Mission Springs Brewing Company, has expanded to serve the Korean market. With less than 100 employees, the Springs has
an outlet in Seoul, Korea and ship their craft beer every two weeks to feed the thirsty overseas market. They join 5,077 other BC small businesses that ship over $16 billion globally. This innovative entrepreneurial energy in the community also meets local needs. The Mission City Business Centre was the brain child of Ann Harper, CA, who operated as a home based business. Ann looked to enter the store front market but needed to have critical mass to grow. By developing a business centre where other service providers can hub, Ann has been able to grow her own practice while providing offices and virtual offices for several small businesses. “I wanted to eliminate the fear of unknown costs and ability to drive business for those looking to grow from their home based business roots.” comments Ann Harper. Supporting these made in Mission opportunities, the Mission Chamber of Commerce continues to advocate for the reduction of red tape that inhibits the growth of small business such as the regional mobile business license for the Fraser Valley and BizPal. At a recent Chamber breakfast MLA Marc Dalton (Mission/Maple Ridge) noted that more than 15,000 impediments have been removed for small business in the last 10 years by government and that Chambers of Commerce in BC played a vital role. The Mission Chamber commends the local business community’s resiliency and supports it through programs such as Pay it Forward…Shop Local and the Mission Handbook for Major Projects. This translated to $3million for Mission’s small businesses in the first year of BC Hydro’s Ruskin Dam Upgrade. “Small business is business in Mission.” states Mission Chamber President Sean Melia. “It is our local economy.” Help celebrate small business month by using local business, pledging to shop local and remembering who drives our economy and jobs.
Small business is business in Mission. It is our local economy.
SEAN MELIA, MISSION CHAMBER PRESIDENT
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