Special Features - Small Business Week 2014

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2 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

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Red Deer Express 3

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

President’s message for Small Business Week Recognizing small businesses in Central Alberta 2014 was a milestone year for the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce; we celebrated our 120th anniversary. We reflected on our history and the partnerships and community that have been a driving force in our success.

Since our inception in 1894 it has been our vision to help all businesses succeed by fostering the most vibrant community in Canada.

Your support is an important part of our history and provides the foundation for our continued growth.

To this very day, the Chamber is run by a local group of hard working and community-minded members, volunteers and staff, brought together by the desire to continue the legacy of success and betterment of our community.

Together we are building networks and inspiring success.

The goals of the Chamber have always been centered on enhanc-

ing business growth and prosperity through leadership and innovation in the Red Deer region.

The Chamber is a leading organization in the business community and it is imperative the Chamber brand reflects this.

Going into our 121st year we will have a new brand that best represents our forward outlook and strong history.

Our promise is to respect our history and utilize wisdom from our past, but also look forward, embrace progress and inspire success. We take a proactive approach to the future and place high priority on building strategic relationships that will benefit our members and the business community.

For example, our partnerships through the Agri-Trade Equipment Exposition and Central Alberta; Access Prosperity; promote growth and have significant economic impact in our community.

We also leverage our Cham-

ber partnerships to provide our members with great discount programs and value added services.

Among the many benefits of being a Chamber member is our policy and advocacy work. Our policy committee acts quickly and effectively to respond to business concerns to ensure the voice of Red Deer businesses is heard at all three levels of government.

The Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce is owned by its members and is invested in helping them generate long-term benefits for their business.

We invite you to connect with us to learn more about the benefits of being a member.

Join us at one of our events and enjoy the speakers and networking opportunities, or get involved with our committees.

Our future is promising and we look forward to your continued part in it.

Reeve Martin, Chamber president 2014-2015

BDC – Small Business Week October 19 - 25 Publisher’s message CHAMBER PRESIDENT REEVE MARTIN

‘Back to basics, Reenergize your business’

Small and medium-sized businesses are the cornerstone of the Canadian economy. They account for 99.8% of all Canadian companies and employ more than 60% of private sector workers.

At the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), we believe this contribution deserves to be celebrated. We also believe entrepreneurs need support in building successful, innovative businesses.

BDC Small Business Week™ activities provide an opportunity to celebrate, develop new skills, make new contacts and plan for new opportunities.

About BDC Small Business Week™. For 35 years, the Business Development Bank of Canada has been organizing BDC Small Business Week ™ in recognition of the contributions and achievements of Canada’s entrepreneurs. Events held during the week bring entrepreneurs together at conferences, luncheons and trade fairs

across the country where they have the opportunity to learn, network and enjoy themselves in the company of their peers.

BDC Small Business Week™ 2014 takes place Oct. 19 – 25 under the theme: ‘Back to basics, Reenergize your business.’

Every business begins with an idea and a vision. Yet the roadmap to growth is never simple. Canadian entrepreneurs know that long-term success requires passion, commitment, hard work, a great offering and a solid plan.

Expanding your market—whether at home or abroad—demands determination and adaptability, resources, an appetite for greater risk and even a little luck. Use BDC’s Small Business Week 2014 - a time to celebrate and recognize the nation’s business owners - to get back to basics and reenergize your business.

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Small Business Week is an extremely important time to recognize the contributions of the local business community.

Each year at this time, this designated week is a terrific opportunity to highlight the differences these companies make to Central Albertans on a day-to-day basis.

Small businesses make up a large part of Red Deer and Central Alberta’s economy, and it’s important to acknowledge their dedication and range of services to the region. We are very pleased to again team up with the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce to bring our readers the annual Small Business Week feature.

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We want to thank the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce for the opportunity to bring this feature to our readers. We would also like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the local small businesses that participated.

Tracey Scheveers Publisher, Red Deer Express

4 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce marks 120 years Central Alberta office offers an array of services for local businesses

BY MARK WEBER Red Deer Express Marking 120 years this past summer, the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce continues to spread the word about the many ways they can help bolster business growth across the region.

Key networking opportunities with Business After Hours get-togethers, educational Chamber business luncheons with well-known speakers, premium group insurance rates, a range of cutting-edge workshops, legislative influence, Member2-Member discounts and free listings in the Membership Calendar & Directory are just some ways local businesses can benefit by joining, staff say.

“The Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce is primarily an advocacy group for business,” explains Tim Creedon, executive director. “We were founded in 1894 by a group of traders here in Red Deer who banded together in such a way as to be able to petition the then territory to have the municipality of Red Deer founded. They had identified that was going to be important to them in growing their businesses.”

The group was later incorporated around 1912, and then the name effectively changed to a Chamber of Commerce. “A Chamber of Commerce is actually a form of franchise because you have an area that you are mandated to serve.

“Our area is from Delburne in the east to Poplar Ridge in the west to the Blindman

River in the north to Penhold in the south.

So we have the pleasure of representing all of those businesses in that area.”

Creedon also noted how the Chamber came to realize that in terms of business attraction, “We needed to be doing businesses attraction for a larger area than just the City or the County. An investor doesn’t see what we see – they don’t see a County boundary, they see a region. So regional economic development gives you the ability to have a larger product to offer to people.”

Raising the profile of the Chamber in the view of the provincial government has also been a priority, as the province then, in turn, can help steer prospective businesses to the Central Alberta region.

“The other thing that we’ve been working on very hard is emphasizing the agricultural opportunities, and the agricultural food processing opportunities because of the amount of food that is produced around here.”

Between 850 to 900 businesses are represented by the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce, which is a not-for-profit organization.

Rick More, manager of member services and community relations, works to touch base with members and connect with prospective business owners.

“I go out and sell our three main arms – one of the pillars is the networking part which include the Business After Hours and the luncheons.”

LEADERSHIP - Pictured here is Tim Creedon, executive director of the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is celebrating 120 years of service to the local business Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express community in 2014.

The luncheons provide both the latest in knowledge and trends as well as those vital opportunities to network, he said.

Topics featured at the luncheons are consistently diverse because the membership is, he added.

“There is also the value-added side of things – we can save businesses money through the reduced rates on merchant cards, better rates on group insurance – those are probably the two main ones that would also pay for their membership and more.”

More said the Chamber also develops business policy that wields a real impact on the business environment in general.

Locally developed policy is directed to the provincial Chamber of Commerce level and ultimately to the national Chamber level where delegates from across the country carefully study it within the context of what can help spur economic growth in general.

“They don’t take these policies lightly – they are there to speak and to listen. The policies are then voted on by all the Chambers and then move forward to the government.”

Locally, More emphasized the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce’s concern and care for the community.

“That’s why we do things like hosting the Business of the Year. One of the mandates for those who win those awards are that they are community-driven, that they fit in well and that they make a difference in the community. That is a part of growth.”

More said ultimately, members are proud to have the Chamber’s logo within their business as it also lends a sense of credibility to the operation.

Looking ahead, the annual Agri-Trade, which the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce partly owns and is a managing partner of, is just around the corner and organizers are excited about what’s in store this year and in the years to come.

Dianne Smirl, show manager, said there are several changes in the works with the goal being providing those in the industry

with the very latest practical information on trends and the direction that farming is predicted to go in the coming years.

“Most of the changes so far have been on the back-end and on the strategy side,” she said, pointing out that the industry is changing quickly on many levels. “Technology will be 10 times better, if not 100 times better. Robotics is a big thing coming in, and that plays into labour shortages around the world.

“We’re going through a generational shift, too, where a lot of people are retiring and their sons and daughters are returning to take over the farm.

“What we are finding with this next generation is that they are very tech savvy and they want to do more with less. That’s a shift for the show – going from a straight equipment show to how do we get to servicing our attendees’ needs 10 years from now.”

To help guide the changes, Smirl said there is a solid advisory committee made up of people involved with the agriculture industry both from financial and agricultural businesses.

“We also have young next generation farmers on there to tell us what they are interested in. They are the ones working with myself to develop strategy.”

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Business of the Year Awards are organized by the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce as well, and the event is held annually in conjunction with Small Business Week.

The Business Awards are presented, in three categories, to exceptional businesses within the Red Deer area.

“The Chamber is also all about partnerships – the City, County, Red Deer College, Westerner Park, the Central Alberta Economic Partnership – it’s all about working with people to achieve what we have to do,” added Creedon. “We’re working alongside others to achieve common goals.”

For more information, visit www.reddeerchamber.com. editor@reddeerexpress.com

Red Deer Express 5

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

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6 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

Yogurt company offers quality products

BY KALISHA MENDONSA Red Deer Express Just outside of Lacombe lies the family farm that produces a high quality yogurt that is rapidly spreading across Alberta – BlesWold yogurt.

Hennie Bos and his wife Tinie needed a healthy breakfast for their diabetic daughter so Tinie got a recipe from her brother in Holland – a sugar free, no preservative yogurt that would be healthy, good tasting and quick in the mornings.

“We had a hard time finding something that was healthy, had no sugar or added sweeteners and tasted good. Tinie started to make yogurts for her, and she enjoyed it.

“Our whole family enjoyed it, and our friends and neighbours liked it,” said Hennie.

“That’s kind of how we got the ball rolling.

“Eventually, we were making more and more and the idea came to turn it into a business.”

Since 1996 the family has utilized the empty barn

on their farm and transformed it into a production plant for their products.

They began remodelling sections at a time, adding and retrofitting the space until it evolved into the current office/production facility that exists today.

They offer a wide selection of Greek yogurt products, drinkable yogurts and sour cream.

The farm sits close to Lacombe on the QEII Hwy. and is centrally located between Calgary and Edmonton.

This ideal location helped form the distribution that continues to grow throughout Alberta, reaching now out to Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.

“When we go into a store and see our product on the shelf, and see people picking it up and looking at it, and then putting it in their baskets, that really feels so good.

“It’s a tremendously good feeling and I’m very proud,” said Hennie.

Hennie said that when he and his wife sell their products, they also ‘sell service

FAMILY AFFAIR - Hennie Bos and his wife Tinie stand proudly by the logo of the business they have built through a wide range Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express of yogurt products. and quality.’

“When a store phones and says the shelf is empty, we jump in the truck and

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“We are in direct contact with pretty much every store we deliver to, at least once a week, sometimes twice.

“If there’s a problem, we go and get it fixed.”

What sets this small business apart from other yogurt manufacturers is that from grain feed, to milking the cows to product manufacturing and packaging, everything takes place on the farm.

The Bos family grows all of the food for their cows, milks the cows themselves, processes the milk and creates the products on site.

The Bos family also works with a close group of friends and help that keeps the business going.

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The whole Bos family has a part to play, from Hennie and Tinie to their children and their children’s partners.

The success of Bles-Wold products is a testament to the family’s many years of hard work in Alberta.

“We came here in 1994 from Holland. We were looking for more opportunity, more space and a challenge.

“We got the farm and started to build on it, which we did very rapidly. Within six or eight months, we were back in business.

“A few years later, we started the yogurt company.”

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They are close to their employees and trust them to continue to make the high-quality products that Bles-Wold stands for.

“It’s very rewarding.

I think we like people to know that we are making a very high-end product with no preservatives, no colours and no artificial flavours.

“It’s all natural. We also think people need to know how healthy yogurt is for them,” said Tinie.

“There are all the cultures and the probiotics that are great for your health.

“It’s very healthy and tasty and it’s fast. It’s not a fast food, but it’s ready to go and ready to eat. It’s convenient.”

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Red Deer Express 7

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Local pet store finds success in Red Deer

BY ERIN FAWCETT Red Deer Express A local pet store continues to flourish in Red Deer.

Randy and Beth Beagle opened the Pet Planet in Red Deer in 2012. About six months prior to the Red Deer store opening, they opened a store in Sylvan Lake.

Pet Planet is an Alberta-based franchise that originated in Calgary.

“We offer affordable, healthy pet food for all dogs and cats. We also carry limited amounts of small animal items as well,” said Beth. “It’s really important to us to carry quality products.”

In additional to pet food, Pet Planet also carries a number of different supplements for animals as well.

“Just like people, you don’t get all of the nutrients out of your food anymore. The supplements are all natural,” said Beth. “It’s just like going to a health food store for yourself. We want to help our customers find a solution to whatever their pets are going through in terms of their health. We really care about our customers’ pets.”

There are also a number of treat options as well as accessories for pets and even a dog wash.

Randy said all of the products are thoroughly researched before they are brought into the store to sell. “It is all of the highest quality and we feel good about selling the products to our customers,” he said.

“We want to give people a reasonably priced food that is really good for their pet so we can extend that pet’s life.”

Randy and Beth both agreed that Central Alberta is a great place to do business.

“We are true Albertans. There’s a good mix here – there is urban and there are farmers,” said Beth. “We just love Red Deer. The people are friendly and nice.”

Randy added, “We love Central Alberta and Red Deer out of any other city. It is a great place to be.”

In addition, Beth said there are many benefits to being

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“There is a level of intimacy. We get to know our customers and they get to know us,” she said.

“We get to really develop a good relationship with our staff too. It becomes a family – our staff becomes our family and our customers become our family. That is why we

love small business.”

Looking ahead, the couple said they plan to continue to grow and offer quality products to their customers.

“We want to keep building and try to do the best job that we can,” said Randy. efawcett@reddeerexpress.com

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8 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

Business of the Year Finalists

1 - 10 employees

Giving back to the community with wellness and a family focus Dr. Joelle Johnson started Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in 2009 after practicing in Red Deer since 1999. Partner Dr. Stephen Kelly joined in 2010 and partner Dr. Elton Clemence joined more recently stating, “I started with this clinic because of its remarkable reputation.” The doctors are from Central Alberta and want to raise their families here.

“This business allows us to give back to the communities that helped shape our childhoods,” says Johnson.

“Our practice is to create a family-friendly environment that supports parents and children in their health care practices with play areas, books and games and by keeping pregnant moms comfortable with special tables, diapers and pillows as well as space for breastfeeding moms before and after appointments.”

Health care for mothers is a focus for Family First Chiropractic and Wellness. Johnson had a pediatric fellowship with the International Pediatric Chiropractic Association and with the specialized training, Johnson says, “I have a strong prenatal and pediatric-based practice. We wanted to make the clinic comfortable for busy, often stressed mothers by providing a supportive environment. I wanted a clinic that was fun for kids and

has a relaxed home-like atmosphere.

“Chiropractic treatment really helps pregnant mothers with back pain and discomfort. We take a very gentle approach with our adjusting. If a baby is out of alignment then the baby can put pressure on structures and cause pain and cause a rougher birth. Chiropractic care for pregnant mothers has proven to reduce labour time by up to 50 per cent.”

The doctors all strive to grow cross-professional relationships in the health care and holistic areas of care.

Clemence says, “We always refer a patient to the doctor most equipped to deal with specific health issues when necessary. We have an amazing referral service and Red Deer has some amazing practitioners and we will connect our patients with them when necessary.”

“We have also put on events and tradeshows to bring awareness and to support funding of midwifery in Alberta and to support birth and parenting,” says Johnson. ”We recently had a huge Five-Year Patient Appreciation barbeque to say thank you to patients and the communities of Eastview and Clearview where we are located and in time we hope to have a location with different health professionals under one roof.”

Go Tire is speeding ahead with an expanding international franchise Frustration is often the mother of invention and for Heather Murphy and Craig Howes, as parents of young children and owners of the Red Deer Budget Blinds franchise with a fleet of seven vehicles, the most expensive part of changing their fleet’s tires was the downtime for staff and the lost sales. So they asked themselves, “Why won’t someone just come to us?” The result was the birth of Go Tire, Canada’s first franchised mobile tire service company.

By spring of 2011 Go Tire had their first van on the road and was starting the new franchise. A breakthrough for marketing came when Go Tire presented on CBC’s Dragons’ Den. The episode aired in January 2013 and less than two years later Go Tire has 20 franchised locations all across Canada.

In 2014 Go Tire expanded into the U.S. and a major tire manufacturer quickly purchased one of their vans. These vans are a feat of engineering and over $2.5 million was spent on research and development. The result has been requests to purchase from Dubai, Australia, the U.S. and

India. According to Howes their vision is simple: “Change the way that Canadians change their tires by attracting quality franchisees and exceeding customers’ expectations. It is our goal to provide the best quality products at a reasonable price with the highest standard of customer service.”

Great employees are also a key ingredient for success. “Our staff embraces change,” says Howes.

“They understand the nature of a startup and are as excited as the owners by the new opportunities that are consistently being put forward.”

Being based in Red Deer was an obvious choice for Howes as he views Red Deer, “As an economic powerhouse with a huge drawing area but with the appealing feel of a small town. Because it is relatively close to two major cities we can acquire our equipment but at a lower operating cost. And the community support for Go Tire has been amazing from the public, our customers, the business community and the media. For us, it is the best of all worlds.”

Larkaun Homes continues to build quality for future generations While celebrating the recent 10th anniversary of Larkaun Homes and their ongoing effort to be leaders in new home design, innovation and sustainability, the two owners, Cory Kaun and Natalie Larkam, are still keeping their eyes on the long term development of their home building business and increasing Red Deer and Central Alberta’s awareness that their goal is ‘building value for life.’

“Initially, as a young company, we had to build respect and rapport both within Red Deer and the home building community,” says Larkam. “And we still believe in our original vision that we had as a young team that there is a niche in Red Deer for quality homes that would benefit the community. Over the last 10 years we have developed a substantial reputation for building homes in the mid- to high-end range.

But our real goal is long-term and our belief is that our satisfied customers will keep returning to us and eventually their children will build with us as well.

It’s totally about our reputation as quality builders who involve their customers every step of the way.”

Building on their reputation for quality, Larkaun Homes has introduced a ‘Pride by Larkaun’ line of

homes that is more affordable for new home or firsttime homebuyers. “With this affordable new line we take very seriously the need to maintain our high standards for quality and service. We want the buyer’s fingerprints on the home in the design and customization of the home. We want the homebuyer’s total involvement in the building of their home. And we know what a huge investment it is for the homebuyer.”

Larkaun’s success includes the creation of a work team of motivated people who are all committed to constantly learning and growing. “We develop a team culture at Larkaun in which everyone supports each other and we are all equal. Most importantly, we are all passionate about building homes.”

Recognition for Larkaun Homes has come from the Canadian Home Builders Association with the 2013 award for Builder of the Year in the Small Volume category and Larkam acknowledges with pride that, “Building the 2013 Kinsmen Lottery Dream Home in Red Deer was a huge honour and being awarded the 2015 Kinsmen Lottery Dream Home is a real feather in our cap.”

Red Deer Express 9

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Business of the Year Finalists

11 - 20 employees

For Red Deer Electric, consistent and steady growth wins the race Red Deer Electric was started in 2005 by Master Electrician Nolan Nicoll with the support of his wife Yvonne. Beginning with one employee and an old van, within three years Red Deer Electric grew to become the largest volume residential electrical contractor in Red Deer.

Nolan still modestly describes the business as a ‘mom and pop’ operation but with its 11 employees and steady growth it is a major service provider for Red Deer. Nolan says that there was lots of work when he started the business in 2005 and starting his own business in Red Deer appealed to him with his Red Deer College training as an electrician and having been born and raised in Red Deer. Recently, despite three children under 10, Nolan’s wife manages to come in three days a week to help with accounts.

Managing business is not without challenges and when the economic meltdown of 2008 hit, Nolan admits that, “We took a hit but we were aligned with some pretty good builders by then and we scaled back and we weathered it pretty well.”

Nolan also acknowledges that the Alberta Ad-

vantage of lots of work being available in a highly competitive work situation means that it can be challenging to compete with bigger companies for workers. But he has his own approach. “We get family orientated guys who want to be close to the family and see the value of being home every night rather than picking up a big paycheck from working in a remote camp somewhere. And we do longterm sustainable work rather short-term projects.

We plan to keep our guys around and we want slow sustained growth.”

Nolan says the key is to develop a system in which all the workers produce the same high quality work that minimizes inspections by clients. One result, says Nolan, “Is that our customers – Red Deer’s major homebuilders - know our guys by name and know what to expect.”

Nolan sees change in his industry with lots of new gadgets available. “We definitely see innovative products. New computers, televisions come out and it impacts on what we do. People want to charge their gadgets and have outlets nearby along with dimmers and timers and we deliver for them.”

Top notch care is first, growth is second in importance for Cedarwood Ken Hubbard started Cedarwood Veterinary Hospital with his wife, also a veterinarian, in 1978 and recalls that, “In the early days we did very basic veterinary services with minimal equipment and we did a good job with what we worked with. But there has been a huge change in pets as they have moved from the barn on the farm to living in the house to sleeping in a family bed and are now considered to be a part of the family. “Expectations are huge and we must provide whatever that pet needs. So basically we provide the same care for your pets as for what your child receives in the hospital and this increasingly means new specialized equipment.”

Expensive equipment, sometimes in the $100,000 range, can mean big bills and Hubbard has addressed this by providing 24-hour veterinary care for pets with the adjacent Animal Emergency Hospital. Sharing staff, equipment and costs with the Emergency Hospital makes it affordable for pet owners. Hubbard states that, “We can provide an elite veterinary service at an affordable price in Red Deer.”

Hubbard advocates embracing technology and change.

“I am fascinated by where things go and I want to be in front of where things are going. I realized early on that the potential with computers was unlimited for medicine. At

first it was adopted as an accounting package but it has now evolved into the whole area of information management, medical records and even diagnostics.”

Through innovation in his cryo-genetics work and use of frozen dog semen, Hubbard has helped the RCMP produce a high functioning multi-purpose dog that can do search and rescue, tracking, criminal takedown and drug detection.

At one time the RCMP had to import quality dogs but with their breeding facility in Innisfail the RCMP now produces all its own working dogs. As well, due to huge genetic improvements, up to 80% of a litter will get into the training program with nearly always a 100% graduation rate.

The Cedarwood Veterinary Hospital has made other cutting edge changes. Hubbard reports the hospital, “Now does blood work with its in-house lab. This provides faster results and better care. We also have a blood transfusion service for pets and we have an in-house blood bank with donor pets from cooperative pet owners. Because of this, we have our own blood supply for critical surgery.”

Hubbard acknowledges his plans for new technology, new staff and expansion but says, “Growth can never come at the loss of care. We always deliver absolutely first-class care for pets.”

Collegiate Sports Medicine supports clients with teaching and learning Collegiate Sports Medicine Inc. was established in 2003 with a mandate to meet the sports medicine needs of Central Alberta’s growing athlete population.

The business is the brainchild of Melanie Tuck, a former 15-year instructor at Red Deer College and a certified athletic therapist with a background of working with professional sports teams. Armed with a business plan and a broad-based, formal needs-assessment survey that did show a tremendous need for such services to be provided locally, Collegiate Sports Medicine Inc. fulfilled a personal dream of Tuck’s who says, “I really wanted a private clinic for clients to be here in Red Deer.”

From its inception, the innovative clinic offered interdisciplinary services coordinated to minimize the extensive travel required of Albertan athletes. The basic goal of Collegiate Sports Medicine Inc. is the promotion of sport performance, treatment of sports injuries and restoration of function to the greatest possible degree in the shortest possible time. Tuck cites her vision statement as their fundamental purpose with the sports medicine team’s dedicated, “To achieving positive results and enhancing sport performance through a multidisciplinary, professional approach.”

The staff team includes sport physician services, four physiotherapists, five certified athletic therapists, four massage therapists and contracted services with a sport neuropsychologist, a sport nutritionist and a sport psychologist. “The beauty of this group of people is that we are brought together with a common interest. It is a collaborative arrangement. Individually, everyone is strong but together we are stronger. We share information, skills and experience together.

“We are a teaching and learning, college-like organization and environment and the clients love that – they love learning about the diagnosis, the assessment and treatment process. Our patient ratios are low, only two an hour per therapist. It is really our niche and what we do best.”

The staff is involved with many minor sports programs in Red Deer including skiing, midget hockey, high school football, lacrosse and marathons.

“We provide thousands and thousands of volunteer hours with coaching services. Red Deer has an amazing sports community with many championship teams and the sports community really fosters excellence and competitiveness up to an Olympic sports level,” says Tuck. “As I see it, that’s really the Red Deer culture.”

10 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

Business of the Year Finalists

21 plus employees

With a focus on the community, Boston Pizza delivers expansion With 150 full- and part-time staff, Boston Pizza is a major employer in Red Deer. It also has two of the most successful BP restaurants with sales that are typically within the top 10% of all BP restaurants. According to Manager Richard Carramusa, “Boston Pizza is really four businesses under one roof. We are a full service family-casual dining establishment that has a sports bar and we have take-out and delivery businesses.”

Economically, BP is a major player with $1.7 million in renovations of the north and south Red Deer locations in 2013, a new 4,400 sq. ft. restaurant in Blackfalds that opened in December of 2013 and a new restaurant under construction in Gasoline Alley which will open in December. “There is no question that Red Deer’s geographic location, vibrancy and demographic make it a perfect community to do business in,” says Carramusa.

Innovation is an essential part of BP’s growth. In response to long line-ups for delivery and in-house service in 2011, Carramusa and his partners decided to take the pressure off the restaurants by moving the delivery operation kitchen off-site to a stand-alone location near Red Deer’s main arteries. The kitchen only prepares food for delivery services. “We call this

our Remote Kitchen Operation and we created a onephone number system for delivery orders with the order placed through Edmonton and then relayed to Red Deer and the food was cooked and delivered from our new Remote Kitchen Operation. The end result was that we were able to significantly reduce our wait time for deliveries.”

BP caters to families rather than just the 18 to 35 demographic. “We have lots of high chairs, coloring book menus, chocolate milk and orange pop which kids like and an ice cream cart that delivers the ice cream and a choice of toppings. The kids love that,” says Carramusa. “We also encourage large groups and teams to come and sit together and the restaurants are set up specifically to accommodate those customers.

“We are a community-minded restaurant,” Carramusa points out with pride for BP’s support for Red Deer minor sports. “We currently sponsor 20 children’s soccer teams and have supported minor hockey for years as well as the Red Deer Rebels and Red Deer College athletics and the Blackfalds BP just gave a check to Big Brothers and Sisters for $25,000 on behalf of the BP Foundation.”

Carpet Colour Centre continues to work with savvy style-wise clients The focus of Carpet Colour Centre, owned by the Wiebe family since 1988, is interior design and flooring and Manager Andrew Wiebe enjoys going to work each day and working in Red Deer, saying, “I love Red Deer and it is a wonderful place to do business.

“On the whole, people still know each other here and the atmosphere is largely one of cooperation. We all have a vested interest in each other’s success and business owners here largely recognize that.”

Wiebe also recognizes the rapid changes in today’s world and especially the impact of technology, the need to meet customer needs and the need to maintain a healthy work culture.

Wiebe says that, “A major impact of technology has been that at least 20 per cent of our customers are coming to our store with their iPads and tell us exactly what they want.

Red Deer people are increasingly on top of current trends and no longer behind Calgary or Edmonton. We have intelligent, design-savvy and affluent customers in Red Deer who want cutting edge stuff and we have to be on top of design trends and material.”

Another benefit of technology is that Carpet Colour Centre designers work directly with customers in their homes

on a computer and build with them exactly what they want.

Wiebe says that, “Going digital has saved us and the customer an incredible amount of time. Even if the customer decides to totally change their choice for material, it is just a matter of a click of the computer to integrate those changes into the design. And our quote turnaround has also shrunk dramatically because of this. And we can get anything from anywhere.”

Wiebe points out another unique aspect of Carpet Colour Centre. “We offer a Beautiful Guarantee – if, for any reason, our customers do not like the way their new flooring looks, we’ll replace it free, including installation.” Wiebe says that installation is also crucial for customer satisfaction. “Our installers are certified Red Seal Journeyman certified and if an installer is willing to invest three years of his or her life to achieve a journeyman ticket we hire them.”

Carpet Colour is very involved with A Better World Canada. Wiebe’s father Rick Wiebe is one of the project managers for A Better World’s operations in Kenya and has been directly involved in the construction of water projects, primary and secondary schools, clinics, training and agricultural projects in Africa.

An international clientele depends on City’s Accu-Thread Machining Accu-Thread Machining provides quality machining, repair and design services with much of its work dealing with oilfield equipment repair and design.

For owners Barry and Sherry Daniluk, Red Deer is the perfect place for their business. “We have a strategic location from which

to serve customers,” says Barry. “And we benefit from the thriving economy, from having the amenities of a larger city without the downside of traffic congestion, affordable real estate and a great, supportive community.”

The high-pressure world of the oil patch is well known to Accu-Thread Machining. Barry observes that, “With the fast pace of the oil and gas industry we began operating a night shift. We offer 24-hour service to quickly repair broken tools or to build new tools. We have a reputation for excellent customer service, quality and a quick turnaround. You can call us at four in the morning or four in the afternoon and our services are available. If you call us at four in the morning, we know that the customer wants as little downtime as possible and we do our best to accommodate that.”

With increased square footage from 6,000 to over 10,000 sq. ft. and an investment of $2 million in new machinery, the business has gone from being one of the smaller machine shops to one of Red Deer’s largest.

Barry is proud of the fact their fivefold increase in sales over the past few years has come with no sales

staff. “We work for companies around the world and have an international reputation. During the 2008 economic meltdown we still had overtime for our workers and we believe this was because of our international, diverse customer base. Word of mouth has been the basis of our success and it has been an incredible ride.”

Adapting to change is essential. “What distinguishes our business is our willingness to take on complex and challenging projects and successfully complete them,” says Barry. “But the real secret to our success is hiring and working with good employees. Our employees know our customers and meet their needs. Our stateof-the-art technology really motivates our employees.

We got rid of the old machines and replaced them with faster and newer computer assisted digital technology.”

Accu-Thread also gives back to Red Deer through participation in the Red Royals Golf Tournament to support Red Deer’s youth, as well as being a fundraiser for Aspire, a charitable organization supporting children with special needs and their families in Central Alberta.

Red Deer Express 11

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

2014 Business of the Year Finalist Congratulations to all the nominees!

®

L

ocal boy, Richard Carramusa, started his Boston Pizza journey at the tender age of 17, serving tables to save for Pharmacology studies. After 2 semesters, he quit school to continue with the pizza chain. As the modest franchise grew into a billion dollar chain, he matured with it. Working his way through various positions and locations, including a stint at ‘corporate’ in Richmond, B.C. he eventually beacme a partner in the Red Deer locations.

Fast forward 26 years and he’s still a ‘Pizza guy’. Now the owner of 6 locations with a 7th under construction, he’s focusing on creating careers for the dedicated staff under his employ. Often he still rolls up his cuffs and starts cooking, just because he enjoys the camaraderie. “That’s why he does so well,” says longtime friend Don Riep, co-owner of an Edmonton software company. “Everyone’s on an equal playing ¿eld and, with Richard, he’s the ¿rst guy to show respect to anyone working hard.

He’s that kind of guy.”

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12 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

How mistakes can help your business ‘Trying, failing and trying again is better than not trying at all’ Every entrepreneur feels it at some point: the fear of failure.

Only half of new businesses make it to their fifth birthday, and that can cause entrepreneurs a lot of stress.

However, experts say failure can actually lead to major accomplishments.

In fact, failure has been a key ingredient in some of the business world’s great success stories, says Michel Bergeron, senior vice president of marketing and public affairs at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).

“Canadian entrepreneurs and the public at large need to be more forgiving about failure.

“Failure and learning from mistakes is often an important milestone on the path to success,” Bergeron says.

“We have to change our perception about failure in order to help business owners stay in the game.”

Deborah Conroy of EY agrees. She points to the new BDC Entrepreneurial Resiliency Award, an initiative that recognizes a Canadian business that has successfully undergone a turnaround or pivotal event in the past and come back stronger because of it.

“Many entrepreneurs talk about some kind of massive failure or hurdle they’ve overcome,” says Conroy, vice president of transaction advisory services at EY.

She is also president of the Montreal chapter of the Turnaround Management Association, a group for corporate turnaround experts that teamed up with BDC for this award.

No business is too big or too small to confront roadblocks.

Bergeron cites the example of Groupon, the giant deals web site.

The company got its start as a social media site called The Point, which was created to help people connect for social activism purposes.

After a year of effort and U.S. $1 million in operating costs, the start-up was going nowhere.

“The founders shifted gears and turned their offering into the discount coupon service Groupon.

“They learned, adapted and made a fortune,” Bergeron says.

Two years later, the shift in focus proved profitable: Groupon ballooned from a few dozen employees to 10,000 and was the fastest company in history to make U.S. $1 billion in revenue.

Bergeron advises entrepreneurs to

adopt a ‘try, try again’ philosophy.

At its core this means learning from mistakes and showing resilience, a new business approach that is growing in popularity in today’s rapidly changing economy, he says.

Instead of the old model, which emphasized extensive planning before launching a new venture - by which time technology and markets may change substantially - the new approach favours a lean and nimble start-up, experts say.

The idea is to engage customers early with a basic product, even if you haven’t worked out all the bugs.

The second step - learn quickly from customer feedback and missteps.

Third - constantly refine your efforts.

And the final secret ingredient- don’t give up.

“I don’t think fear is all bad. It can be healthy and reasonable. It keeps entrepreneurs from making rash decisions,” Conroy says.

“But it’s important to avoid excessive

hesitation and waiting for the exact perfect moment.

“Trying, failing and trying again is much better than not trying at all.”

How do entrepreneurs turn failure into success?

“They have had a knack for seeing failure as an opportunity or challenge,” says Bergeron.

“When solution ‘A’ didn’t work, they tried solution ‘B’ if they were still convinced there was a need. Or they decided to meet a different need and, in the process, found a new path. The setback helped them identify a weakness, and they fixed it.”

Conroy agrees. She cites a 2013 EY survey that found the following: Over one third of Canadian entrepreneurs (35%) said business failure is seen as a barrier to future business prospects.

This is nine percentage points higher than the average across the G-20 countries, which was 26%.

Canadian entrepreneurs may be more worried about failure because of ‘higher expectations,’ but they should also keep in mind Canada’s ‘many entrepreneurial upsides,’ such as the low cost of starting a business, the survey authors noted.

- supplied by the Business Development Bank of Canada.

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Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

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Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

Central Alberta Tile One continues to grow Business set to expand with new lighting store which opens next month

BY ERIN FAWCETT Red Deer Express

Central Alberta Tile One customers.

“All of our customers get the same attention and get the quality service,” said Moench. “We’re big on service, quality control and the bottom line is my goal to take care of the customer. It’s all about the customer. Our goal is to meet every need that we can.”

Central Alberta Tile One also boasts the largest showroom if its kind in the City with more than 12,000 sq. ft. There is a variety of products on hand and customers can check out the between 12,000 and 15,000 samples and sample boards that are available.

There are also a number of entities under the Central Alberta Tile One umbrella including Stoneworx Masonary and Stucco, which offers customers options for the exterior of their homes or businesses as well.

“We do as much stuff as we can, so we do rubber product outside, Epoxy floors, synthetic grass and

A long-term business in Red Deer continues to expand and see much success.

Central Alberta Tile One first opened in 1997. Since then the business has flourished and now offers a onestop shop for customers looking to build or remodel a home or business.

“We started out as a tile store and then we learned very quickly that people like one-stop shopping, so that is how we got into carpet, hardwood, lino and laminate,” said Shannon Moench, owner of Central Alberta Tile One. “Every time a homeowner wanted their countertops taken off to put granite on or to put their toilet back on, they didn’t want to call another trade, so we have to step up to the plate and do that.”

Moench is also partners with Troy Larsen and Dean Gillespie in Central Alberta Tile One. The non-commission staff are also a benefit to

LONGTIME SUCCESS - Shannon Moench, owner of Central Alberta Tile One, stands in the showroom of the City-based business.

Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express

outside decking material,” said Moench. “These things really set us apart.”

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Meanwhile, Moench is reaching out even further and will open a lighting store in the City next month. Central Alberta Lighting, set to open on Nov. 1st, will offer a wide range of lighting products.

The store will be managed

by Barry Whitlaw.

“We have partnered with one of the biggest LED franchises in North America, called LED Source. That will be half of the lighting store and the other half will

be known as Central Alberta Lighting,” said Moench.

‘WE’RE BIG ON SERVICE, QUALITY CONTROL AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS MY GOAL TO TAKE CARE OF THE CUSTOMER. ’ SHANNON MOENCH “Central Alberta Lighting will take care of every customer that comes through that door. LED Source will cater to those who are in need of big, commercial lighting like hospitals and buildings.”

In addition, Moench said he enjoys doing business in this area. “There is no better economy than Central Alberta anywhere in the

world that I know about.

It’s the best economy.”

As well, Moench said attributed his business success to the great staff he has.

“If I didn’t have the excellent staff, I would never be here. For Central Alberta Tile One to be successful, the number one thing is staff. I have the best staff.

I also have the best customers and a lot of great relationships.”

Another important aspect of Moench’s business is giving back to the community.

“It is important for us to support our community.

The vast majority of our business is in this community, so we need to support our community.” efawcett@reddeerexpress.com

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Red Deer Express 15

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Step by step: how to innovate incrementally Entrepreneurs have to innovate to survive and thrive.

However, innovation often doesn’t come easily. Let’s face it. It’s the rare business that strikes it rich with some mind-blowing high-tech invention or cool new wonderproduct.

In fact, that’s not the kind of innovation that has the most impact in the small business world, says Michael Selci, senior vice president, Finance and Consulting, at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). Much more important is something called incremental innovation—small, manageable improvements in your business.

They might not be as sexy as a fancy new product that makes a big splash in the news or revolutionizes an industry, but they’re the bread and butter of most highly innovative businesses, Selci says.

And given the limited R&D resources at most small companies, incremental innovation probably offers the best payoff for entrepreneurs over the long-term. “If you don’t innovate, you risk falling behind,� Selci says. “But radical innovation isn’t the answer for most businesses. Small incremental steps are what they need to work on to help their business grow.�

Rob Read of Bison Fire Protection agrees. His company, which supplies ďŹ re protection products and services, is growing at an impressive clip, with sales shooting up 20% each year since 2001.

Bison has ranked as one of Canada’s top 500 fastestgrowing companies two years in a row.

What is Bison’s secret? Constant improvement, Read says. “I think if you’re not innovating, changing or trying things, you’re dying. If you think business is done the same way as 10 or even ďŹ ve years ago, you’re wrong,â€? he says. “It doesn’t have to be the clouds parting and light beaming down. And we’re talking doable things - little changes on a regular basis.â€?

Read recently brought in an outside consultant to audit his business processes and look for efďŹ ciencies. He had noticed some of his employees were overworked, so he wanted to ďŹ nd ways to make their lives easier. “If you’re running a marathon every day, you’ll lose a lot of your people,â€? he says.

The expert recommended some simple streamlining measures, such as processing paperwork more efďŹ ciently and improving scheduling and inventory management.

It sounds like simple stuff, but these innovations made a huge difference.

And Read’s not done. Upcoming plans include a customer survey and another outside audit in a year or two. “As we grow,� he says, “I’m continually looking at ways to innovate.�

Many entrepreneurs shy away from innovation. “They view it as something complex or revolutionary that only the big guys can take on. Or they’re so busy trying to manage day-to-day operations and customers that they say they don’t have time for it and are ďŹ ne as is,â€? Selci says.

However, innovation can be tackled in small steps that are easy to manage. Here are some tips: 1. Constantly review your processes and products to see what you can improve. Seek advice from an industry expert or an external consultant with expertise in functional areas such as human resources, lean management or information and communication technology. Talk with suppliers and listen to customers to get new ideas.

2. Form partnerships with universities and colleges to cultivate ideas and potential employees.

3. Shorten your idea-to-market cycle. Quickly see whether there is market interest in your idea. Test a new product inexpensively by promoting it on eBay or YouTube. Gauge market reaction, and innovate based on the feedback.

“That marathon turned into a walk in the park. People are less stressed. We’re getting better production with the same people and lower costs,� Read says. “The staff have repeatedly come to me and said, ‘Thank you.’�

Another recent innovation was to start having weekly meetings to brief sales people and project managers on the status of various jobs.

That’s resulted in better productivity and customer service, Read says.

One more innovation: hiring a supervisor for each of Bison’s three divisions. Thanks to these managers, employees are now getting better support and training. Bison has also started investing more in its people by offering weekly staff training sessions.

- supplied by the Business Development Bank of Canada.

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16 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

SPONSORS Diamond

BDC is the Business Development Bank of Canada. From over 100 offices across the country, BDC promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital and consulting services to entrepreneurs.

A financial institution owned by the Government of Canada, BDC has been serving Canadian entrepreneurs for more than 66 years. Our team helps more than 29,000 businesses reach their full potential. As a complementary lender, we offer loans and investments that supplement services available from commercial financial institutions.

We put special focus on SMEs in sectors such as manufacturing, exporting, innovation and knowledgebased industries. We pay particular attention to start-ups, innovators, fast growth companies, manufacturers and exporters.

We also focus on entrepreneurs who are working to commercialize the fruits of R&D to create innovative products and globally successful companies.

We put entrepreneurs’ success at the heart of all we do.

Platinum Newcap Radio, owners and operators of KG Country and ZED 98.9 FM in Red Deer is honoured to be a contributing sponsor of the 2014 Business of the Year Awards. On behalf of our clients and listeners we would like to thank the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce and the business volunteers who judged this year’s stellar entries. It is through exemplary business contributions like those nominated that our community, region, province and country benefits.

The employees of these companies help make a better quality of life for all of us while at the same time inspiring opportunity which leads to even greater

Platinum Platinum prosperity for our region.

Our congratulations goes to the business owners, their management team and to the staff of all the companies nominated and in particular to the winners chosen. Whether you are being recognized for the impact on our community, exemplary customer service, growth, staff and facility development, innovation or positive media attention you have shown the business you represent excels at its core function and is making a very positive difference here in Central Alberta through business and community service. KG Country and ZED 98.9 is proud to have this opportunity to be a part of your success and to share in this recognition.

Sincerely, Hilary Montbourquette, director Western Regional Operations, Newcap Radio.

L.A. Radio Group is an independent, locallyowned company operating two radio stations in Central Alberta: Sunny 94 in Lacombe and KRAZE 101.3 in Red Deer.

KRAZE 101.3 is Red Deer’s hit music channel reaching thousands of listeners each week with a Top 40 music format targeted at Central Albertans 18 – 44 years of age. Sunny 94 is Central Alberta’s greatest hits station. Thousands of Sunny 94’s listeners tune into Sunny each day for their favourite classic hits music.

At L.A. Radio Group we believe a community’s success is our success. We’re proud to sponsor the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards to honour exceptional businesses for their role in making Red Deer such a strong, vibrant and successful community.

Husband and wife team Troy Schaab, president and Sonia Sawyer-Schaab, CFO are the founders and owner-operators of L.A. Radio Group. As small business owners, we know the dedication it takes to succeed in providing exceptional customer service, innovation and community involvement. We want to congrat-

ulate all of the nominees on their achievement.

Servus Credit Union is proud to sponsor the Business of the Year Awards and celebrate Small Business Week. In fact, we celebrate the success of small businesses all year.

Our Business Banking Centre, located in Servus’ south hill branch, has a focused, experienced and supportive team ready to meet the needs of the business sector, and our knowledgeable and friendly staff can manage your day-today business banking needs at any Servus branch.

We understand your community and the local economy, and we consider these factors when exploring financial solutions for your business.

We have local influence over the financial decisions that impact you and we’re flexible.

Servus has a financial solution for any business.

Whether you’re an established business or just starting out, we can help you find just the right banking solutions to help you make the most of your time and energy. After all, we’re also an Alberta-based business that understands the economic climate you’re operating in.

Servus Credit Union is member-owned and provides financial services to nearly 390,000 memberowners from more than 100 locations in 62 communities across Alberta. Our vision of building a better world – one member at a time inspires our commitment to provide sound, advice-based financial products and services.

Gold

This year, TD is celebrating business and entrepreneurs throughout the entire month of October.

It is our way of recognizing the incredible contributions that businesses

Gold make to our communities through business opportunities, employment, and their overall contribution to Canada’s GDP. · Fact: small businesses drive almost half of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product. · We know that local businesses are extremely important to the fabric of our communities. · Throughout the month of October, TD will be sponsoring, hosting and participating in a number of activities and events across the country.

These will be local and national in flavour; they will include a variety of media, local sponsorships and customer appreciation events. · We have a team of business banking specialists spread across our communities including Small Business Banking Advisors, Commercial Account Managers and Agricultural Specialists.

These Specialists are dedicated to supporting business owners and to helping them succeed. · Business Banking Specialists provide advice, tools and products to help businesses achieve and become both sustainable and profitable. · They have expert knowledge in a variety of products and services credit for your business needs such as: banking accounts, Business Credit Cards, Operating Lines, Merchant Services, and much more including Agricultural specialists in our market. · Leveraging the knowledge of our Business Specialists, can help you make better decisions to grow your business in a more efficient and effective way. · TD is committed to the continued support of local businesses in Canada.

And this October we are proud to be a part of the National and local celebrations. · Without the commitment, dedication, hard work and creativity of local business owners in our own communities, opportunities and the overall prosperity of Canada would look very different indeed.

We look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your dreams.

Gold

Small business owners often start up businesses based on a deep personal passion. They bring their own special talents to the products and services they offer to consumers – talents that are more enjoyable and often far removed from the many ‘paperwork’ details that often take up so much of a working day.

“Small business owners can fill in the gaps between what they like to do and what they have to do, by having better and easy access to relevant resources,” says Rina Pillitteri, national director, small business, RBC Royal Bank. “That’s where the expertise of organizations such as banks comes into play.”

Pillitteri adds that in addition to providing tailored products and advice to clients, they also provide online resources to all small businesses. This web site, www.rbc.com/ tips, provides advice on key aspects of starting up and growing a business, including matching financing solutions to your needs; keeping your cash flowing; building a better business; making sense of taxes and opening a business deposits account.

New tips are added throughout the year to create a comprehensive advice archive for Canadian small business owners. People who visit the site also have the opportunity to submit tips of their own – the web site is an interactive meeting place, where small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs can share and learn from the real life experiences of others.

For more information, call 1-800-ROYAL-20 (769-2520) and to find valuable small business tips and resources online, please visit www. rbc.com/tips.

Silver Bell is a Canadian leader in information and communications technology (ICT) strategies that help enterprises improve busi-

Silver ness performance, speed time-to-market, and realize peace of mind. The foundation of our world-class ICT infrastructure is a highpowered reliable network backed by a multidisciplinary team of experts.

Our highly skilled professionals offer diverse expertise in business process assessment, solution design and deployment across a wide range of industries.

Bell solutions and services can be customized to meet industry-specific needs and satisfy current and future business demands.

Since our inception in 2010, our family owned and operated firm – The Coverall Shop, has grown quickly and now employs 26 people in total. Our sister company, Parkland Coverall Cleaning, was acquired in April 2012.

Together we are a onestop, full service firm for coverall supply, cleaning, embroidery, alterations, repairs, safety products, footwear, specialty work clothing, gloves and more.

Our leadership team is involved in many community initiatives - integrity is of utmost importance to us. We strive to deliver what we say we will deliver. These are the principles in which we believe in and are building our business with. In 2008 and 2013 our leadership team won Business of the Year Awards - we would like to thank the Chamber and the community for all of the support we receive. We are honoured to be a part of the Red Deer business community!

Central Alberta: Access Prosperity is a not-forprofit economic development organization promoting economic growth in the Central Alberta region.

Representing the over 40 municipalities in Central Alberta, we focus on local business development and attracting foreign direct investment to the region. We use our vast network, trade missions (both outbound

Red Deer Express 17

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Silver

Silver

Silver

and inbound) and other targeted events to connect local companies with international investment or trade opportunities.

We are here to support local businesses. To learn more about how Access Prosperity can help your business expand and access new markets contact us today, www.accessprosperity.ca, and give your business a competitive edge.

utive Place in downtown Red Deer.

Stantec Red Deer was recognized as the Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year in 2009.

is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations. For nearly 150 years, we have been where the growth is, connecting customers to opportunities.

Today, HSBC Commercial Banking serves businesses ranging from small enterprises to large multinationals in over 60 developed and faster-growing markets around the world.

Whether it is working capital, trade finance or payments and cash management solutions, we provide the tools and expertise that businesses need to thrive.

With a network covering three quarters of global commerce, we make HSBC the world’s leading international trade and business bank.

We’re active members of the communities we serve. That’s why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

The Stantec community unites more than 14,000 employees working in over 230 locations.

We collaborate across disciplines and industries to bring buildings, energy and resource and infrastructure projects to life. Our work - professional consulting in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics - begins at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships.

Since 1954, our local strength, knowledge and relationships, coupled with our world-class expertise, have allowed us to go anywhere to meet our clients’ needs in more creative and personalized ways.

With a long-term commitment to the people and places we serve, Stantec has the unique ability to connect to projects on a personal level and advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. The Red Deer office serves as the hub of Stantec’s Alberta Central & Territories Region which includes over 240 staff and regional offices in Yellowknife, Iqaluit, Whitehorse, Lac la Biche, Cold Lake, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie.

The Red Deer office has grown to over 190 full time staff that occupies the top six floors of Stantec Exec-

At ATB Business, we have tailored solutions to fit business owners’ needs and are looking for ways to continuously help grow Alberta. Like our Merchant Services offer for members of local chambers, we’re partnering with Alberta businesses to find solutions to save you and your business time and money. To find out more information, contact our Business Banking Centre at ATBBusiness@atb.com.

And to see what else we are doing this October to celebrate small business across the province, visit www.atb.com/businessweek2014.

Since 1988, the Red Deer College Alumni Association has worked to engage our alumni and promote the goodwill, prestige and reputation for excellence RDC has earned in its first half century. The Association is dedicated to ensuring that RDC continues to be a critical service for all Central Albertans.

Maintaining informed, interested and committed alumni is the optimal way to promote and encourage the well-being of the College. Building on the friendships and associations established while they attended RDC, our alumni share a rich and rewarding legacy as they pave the way for future generations to share in that success.

HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, is the leading international bank in Canada. With around 6,600 offices in 80 countries and territories and assets of US$2,645 billion at June 30, 2013, the HSBC Group

6

reasons why you should advertise in the Red Deer Express

CREDIBILITY – Polls show people believe newspapers offer the most believable advertising. The offer is there to read over and over again. It does not intrude uninvited and then vanish.sh.

ASSURANCE – Our newspaper circulations are verified and audited. Tear sheets verify that an ad ran as scheduled.

Advertisers have tangible proof that their ad reaches their audience.

PERMANENCE – Newspapers allow readers time.

Friends of Business of the Year Awards

Readers have the time to digest and consider an advertising offer at their leisure. Consumers need not to be in the right place at the time to see or hear the advertiser’s message.

Studies prove that our papers are kept longer than a week and are read by more than one person in a household.

LOCAL COVERAGE – Newspapers occupy a unique position in reader’s lives. Newspapers contain news on local people and events, while providing the most reliable source of in depth local coverage of everything in your community, including what businesses are offering this week.

ECONOMY – Cost per thousand is very competitive, but the results of good newspaper advertising are the best measure of its benefit.

REaction Marketing is a marketing, web design and creative services agency located in downtown Red Deer.

We are a team of nine full-time creative professionals that love what we do and always put our clients first.

We do this by listening, learning and defining realistic goals that ensure you are receiving value and ROI for your marketing dollars.

We value the lasting relationships we have built with so many of our clients, but this wasn’t by accident - it comes from consistently delivering a very high level of service while offering original, strategic and creative thinking, backed up by design and technical excellence.

LOCAL INVESTMENT – No other medium can compare to a newspaper that continues to service the local community. An advertising order is an investment by the advertiser, not only in their business but in the community.

The Market you are looking to reach is reading the

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18 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

Parkland Funeral Home helps to support families Compassionate and personalized service

BY MARK WEBER Red Deer Express With many years of combined experience in the industry, the staff of Parkland Funeral Home are committed to personal and sensitive guidance in all aspects of funeral arrangements.

As a locally-owned and operated funeral home located at 6287 – 67A St., staff offer funeral directors with more than 105 years of combined experience providing professional funeral services to the region.

Services provided include cremation, burial caskets and vaults, a chapel, reception room, online condolences, personal alternatives and choices, cemetery services, AISH/ income support funerals, a Memorial Tree Park and grief counseling among many others. According to their mission statement, “With every family we serve, we will attend to

the needs of families and friends of deceased loved ones in a personalized, caring and distinguished manner.”

And as the site also goes on to say, “Funerals are not just a ceremony to honor those who have died. Funerals are also an important ritual that helps survivors start dealing with their loss by sharing with those around them.

“With a modern facility conveniently located off Taylor Dr., we promise to offer caring, compassion and community.”

Maryann Hansen, manager and funeral director, started her career in the funeral industry in 1987, with her training having been completed in Calgary. In 1991 she relocated to Rocky Mountain House.

“I really wanted to see the rural part of the industry, too,” she recalled. She was there for nearly three years. It was also a new experience working with fam-

COMPASSIONATE - Maryann Hansen, manager and funeral director of Parkland Funeral Home, stands in the chapel area of the business. ilies and then being able to touch base with them on a regular basis long after the funeral services were completed.

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clearly much harder to do.

“You were given a role, making funeral arrangements, and sometimes you never saw that family again. The relationship you built with them was then quickly dissolved.”

An opportunity to move to Red Deer surfaced in 1994, and she accepted it. “I fell in love with Red Deer – the size – so again I could do what I was passionate about with the followthrough.”

Parkland Funeral Home was built in 1999, and a connection to the business stemmed from Hansen having met owner Gordon Mathers in the late 1980s.

As for some of what helps to set Parkland Funeral Home apart, Hansen points to her team of professionals. “It’s the team itself – we are all passionate.

I’m proud of this team. And the families that we serve – everyone is treated exactly the same. We are passionate about it.” It’s about putting families first, she added. “We have a beautiful facility which is also easily found. We have ample parking. And we have a crematorium onsite.”

Hansen said staff also know that their line of

work carries a significant sense of responsibility to the public. “We are responsible to make sure their last viewing of the deceased is perfect. Because they are grieving we understand how delicate people are emotionally at this point.”

Services can follow a traditional format, but there is room for originality as well.

“We want to promote a celebration of life – if you look back in history, there has always been a celebration of life as well. But we respect a family’s wishes – everybody has individual needs.” That means that families can tailor a service to suit their loved ones as well. “We also welcome anyone who has any kind of questions or concerns, or if they would like to pre-arrange a service. Or if they would just like to see our facility. We’re very welcoming. And it’s always with no obligation.”

Hansen said pre-arrangement is also key because it helps to establish a sense of trust with staff at the funeral home as well.

That’s important also because when a loved one passes, there are several decisions that typically

have to be made in a short period of time – from working through some legalities to choosing a casket to planning a service. If much of it has already been laid out, the stress on a grieving family can be eased to a degree.

Staff also like to know how the families they have provided services for are doing down the road. “We do offer consultation with a psychologist who deals with death and dying.”

For Hansen, a desire to work in the industry was apparent early on.

“I was interested in this profession in junior high.”

And career testing through those years suggested it would be indeed be a fitting line of work. “It’s fulfilling.

“If I can make this process a bit easier for somebody else, then, at the end of the day, I feel fulfilled,” she said.

“And if you are in the profession for the right reason, it’s not a job – it’s a calling. And if you find people that have retired from this industry, they are the ones that get involved in their communities; they’re the ones that are still giving all of their time back.” editor@reddeerexpress.com

Red Deer Express 19

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Sky Wings Aviation Academy provides optimal training

BY JENNA SWAN Red Deer Express Have you ever dreamt of flying high above the City? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to know the feeling of flying a plane across the expanse of the oceans?

Sky Wings Aviation Academy, located at the Red Deer Airport in Springbrook, can make your dreams of flying come true.

After years of flying privately, Dennis Cooper, CEO of the Academy borrowed $18,000 from the bank and bought himself a few planes and began renting a hanger until he eventually ended up buying one.

Fast-forward over 30 years and Sky Wings has trained more than 4,000 pilots and now operates 11 aircraft between their Red Deer and Okotoks flight schools.

Along his journey as a pilot and flight instructor, Cooper met his wife Sherry while teaching her to fly, and together he says they operate Sky Wings as a family, in which they look at their staff, students and graduates as members of their family.

Sky Wings is currently one of around 120 flight schools in Canada, with Dennis stating when he first began the school there were more than 400 schools with the number continuing to shrink everyday due to the high costs of operating a flight school.

Dennis explains it’s not just in Canada that flight schools are disappearing with the rest of the world feeling the crunch for trained pilots as well, which has led to a slew of international training and development for Sky Wings.

“There is a large shortage of pilots throughout the world and so there is a huge demand for training everywhere as schools continue to disappear all over the world,” explained Dennis who has traveled extensively through Europe and Asia training pilots as well.

Currently Sky Wings also hosts a highly successful International Student program, which sees hundreds of foreign pilots learning to fly out of the airport every year.

“Everyone asks, ‘Well why would someone want to travel around the world and learn to fly in Red Deer’ and that’s a com-

mon question,” said Dennis.

“But the fact of the matter is we are probably one of the clearest locations with the best flying weather in all of Canada.”

He explained that not only are the clouds on average higher than a 1,000 ft. providing optimal flying weather, but they are also located about 50 miles from two major airports.

“Fifty miles north and south you’ll have the Edmonton and Calgary airports, 50 miles west you have the mountains for mountain training and 50 miles east you have near desert terrain so it makes the students have to work a lot harder to navigate and that’s why it’s the perfect place to learn to fly because you have so many different elements close by,” he said.

He added that if you look through history, the airport location was originally a training centre for the Royal Canadian Air Force and the British Commonwealth Air Training Program, an agreement with Britain to train pilots that was a key component in Canada’s contribution to the Second World War. Dennis explained the location was chosen by the air force specifically because of the impeccable flying conditions and also because of the diverse terrain located near the area. Another note in the history of Sky Wings happened in 1988, when the academy partnered with Red Deer College.

This meant students of RDC could now obtain an Aviation Diploma while simultaneously earning a certificate in business management which Dennis says is a great way to meet most airlines’ education and flying prerequisites.

He added that a number of his students now work for airlines throughout the world and some are employed right at the Red Deer Airport running Air Canada flights.

“If you fly in or out of the Red Deer Airport, it’s Sky Wings students and staff that take care of everything from your tickets to your baggage.”

Sky Wings offers certification for every level of flying from a recreational license up to a commercial pilot’s license with courses in night endorsements to fly at night as well as multi-engine endorsements to fly planes with multiple engines.

FLYING HIGH - Chief Flight Instructor Sherry Cooper and CEO of Sky Wings Aviation Academy Dennis Cooper display one of their planes in which they teach students how to fly.

Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express

Dennis believes much of the success of Sky Wings is due to the support he has received over the last 30 years from the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce.

“We are very fortunate to have such a great Chamber of Commerce, they give me a lot of my business training and I have a high regard for the Chamber and how

they’ve helped us develop as a company.

“I have had a number of mentors throughout my life in both aviation and business, and when I think of the business side and how it’s developed I think very fondly to the Red Deer and District Chamber.” jswan@reddeerexpress.com

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20 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

City couple enjoys challenges of new business

BY ERIN FAWCETT Red Deer Express One business in Red Deer continues to reap the benefits of being located in a busy central corridor.

Kathy Taylor and Evan Taylor, owner/operators of Totally Refreshed Steam and Spa said they enjoy doing business in the City.

“It’s a nice small community but it is still a growing community, so you have the opportunity to get to know your clients very well on a name by name basis,” said Kathy. “But it’s growing every day so you can grow with your clientele.”

Kathy and Evan purchased the business last November. “I’ve worked for two different places prior to this in the past and that really got my foot in the door and I loved the experience of working with people in the health and wellness industry,” said Kathy.

“My husband and I have always been very active and into nutrition and health and wellness so when the opportunity came up we knew we would be passionate about it and we would love going to work everyday.”

Totally Refreshed Steam and Spa offers a number of services including massage, esthetics including waxing, facials, mud

wraps, salt scrubs and make up services. The business also offers steam baths with private suites as well and some retail items including professional skin care and essential oils, among others.

“What I really like about our place is that we have a big team, but it’s a dedicated and passionate team,” Kathy said about the more than 40 staff at the facility.

“We have 17 massage therapists, 16 estheticians and hostesses and receptionists.”

Kathy said they also pride themselves on offering continuing education to their staff to help ensure they continue to improve their skills and offer the best to their clients.

“Every three months all of our massage therapists and estheticians as well as our receptionists get continuing education. They get advanced therapeutic classes, advanced training in facials and nails, etc.,” she said. “The better services that we can provide for our clients, the better enjoyment they will have, the better treatments they will get and the better health benefits they will experience. It’s important for our clients to feel confidence in the services they are getting.”

Kathy said there is much about her job that she loves.

“Coming from working really,

really hard, I understand that people invest so much time into giving – they give at home, they give at work. A lot of people neglect themselves and to be a part of the process, whether it be health and wellness where they can take one hour out of their

day, put their cell phone away and have someone focus solely on them and pamper them – it’s great,” she said. “Seeing someone come in with some stress and then seeing them leave relaxed – it sets a tone for the rest of their day. It’s gratifying to see that.”

Looking ahead, Kathy and Evan said they hope to continue growing Totally Refreshed Steam and Spa. “We definitely want to grow in the community. It’s a great place to be,” said Kathy. efawcett@reddeerexpress.com

EARLY SUCCESS - Kathy Taylor and Evan Taylor, owners/operators of Totally Refreshed Steam and Spa, pose in Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express the reception area of the City business.

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Red Deer Express 21

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Now this is a real status update.

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Weekly leasing available on terms of 36 months or greater. Offer subject to change or cancellation without prior notice. Offer valid on new in-stock 2015 vehicles. While quantities last. Visit HondaAlberta.ca or your Alberta Honda dealer for details.

22 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

BOND Nutrition Inc. committed to customer service

BY MARK WEBER Red Deer Express BOND Nutrition Inc. continues to expand their lines of supplements, weight lifting equipment, energy, diet and sport nutrition products and lifting equipment and accessories.

Bryson Bond, who codirects the business along with Tyler Brake, has had a long-time interest in the fitness and nutrition industry having worked in and managed Popeye’s years back.

But it wasn’t long before he began to develop his own business model for his own establishment.

“When I was down in Medicine Hat I gave Tyler a call and sent him the plans.

He replied quickly and was super interested so we sat down last October.”

They got to work in fashioning the space at Unit 4B, 6842 – Gaetz Ave. into a custom-built, sophisticated, spacious showroom to feature an array of products. Their doors opened this past January. Things were off to a brisk start from the get-go with plenty of folks making New Year’s

resolutions about adopting a healthier lifestyle.

He also had lots of support from clients he had met and worked with over the years from being involved in the industry. “Red Deer has really helped our business grow.”

Bond said staff aim to serve all demographics, from those who are just getting started with exploring what it means to enhance nutrition to those who already have specific dietary, fitness and nutritional goals in mind.

He added that staff have been selected on the basis of education, determination and a commitment to quality and service. Each have the experience and the knowledge to provide customers with the most up-to-date information.

“There is something to be said for experience. You will receive pretty much the same knowledge and experience levels here, no matter who you talk to.

“We offer nutritional consultation as well. We’ll take on a select number of clients and we help them reach their goals. We set

them up and we coach them through – they pretty much get 24/7 access to a consultant.”

As mentioned, Bond’s interest in athletics and fitness goes back to his teen years.

“I took an interest in helping other people reach their goals,” he said, adding that each product featured in the store is hand-picked

by BOND Nutrition certified experts to meet their standard of excellence.

“The number one thing is seeing clients and customers reach their goals, and just progress over time,” he said.

Another highlight is observing how the knowledge of the general public in terms of fitness, health, nutrition and supplements has grown over the last few years. Bond said the plan is also to take information about the company out into the community in the coming months.

Brake, who also does engineering consulting work, said joining forces with Bond was an ideal opportunity, and it fell in line with his long-time interest in

PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE 2014 SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

GROWING BUSINESS - Tyler Brake, a co-director of BOND Nutrition Inc. stands in front of some of the products featured at the new business. the health and fitness lifestyle. His expertise is what helped transform the space into what it is today.

“It didn’t take us long to discover that we could take both (our areas) and make something like this that we both wanted to be involved with,” he explained. He added that they appreciate what customers have to say about the business, and are always ready to add elements here and there. “We get very good feedback.

“It’s one thing to have a picture in your head of what you would like to be

Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express

able to do, but to take that, build it and physically have it and see results - I’ve enjoyed seeing that.”

Meanwhile, services are tailored to an individual customer’s goals. Those with comparatively little knowledge about what the business has to offer shouldn’t feel intimidated about dropping by for a chat, he said.

“We really appreciate those customers and those are the ones we want to get set on the right track because there are so many fad diets out there. We can help

the customer cut through all the weeds and say this is where you need to start, and this is how to get on the right track.”

Ultimately, some folks are squarely focused on sports nutrition. Others want to learn more about lines of vitamin and mineral supplements. “We’re trying to do our best to hit all the demographics and to really cover it all,” said Bond.

“You are always going to get the excellent service also.”

Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck to all the finalists at the

2013 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2014 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Awards Awards

Thankyou youto toall all our Thank our2013 2014 sponsors! sponsors RedDeerChamber.com

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Red Deer Express 23

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Five tips to managing your business cash flow Cash is king - it’s a common saying in the business world. But few entrepreneurs take steps to manage their cash flow so they don’t wind up with an empty bank account and nothing to pay the bills.

“One of the main causes of business failure is poor cash flow management,” says Susan Rohac, senior vice president, Financing and Consulting, at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). The good news: cash flow management is easy to improve with a few simple steps.

“Getting control over your cash flow helps you prepare for slow periods, plan your financing and have peace of mind,” Rohac says.

Follow these steps to get a better handle on cash flow.

Profitability check First, make sure your business is earning a reasonable profit. Even the greatest cash flow management won’t help if your fundamentals are out of whack.

Analyze each product and service separately to see whether it’s pulling its weight. Make sure your products are appropriately priced, and work to eliminate inefficiencies. Instead of just chasing sales, chase profitable sales.

In 2007, Mike Whittaker’s company Bonté Foods learned the consequences of poor cash flow the hard way after facing large cost overruns on two major projects.

The company had to act quickly to restore its cash position. It analyzed its profitability and realized it had to raise prices to better reflect costs. Bonté also unloaded lower-margin product lines and launched an efficiency drive while tightening cash flow management.

The changes had a huge impact. Sales in Bonté’s meat division are up 36% since 2009, while gross profit is up almost 6%.

“We learned to watch our cash very carefully,” Whittaker says. “You need to always be ahead of the curve on cash flow management.”

Do a cash flow projection Next, prepare a cash flow projection for the coming year.

This is your early warning system for cash flow hiccups.

Use an Excel spreadsheet or accounting software to plug in expected monthly cash inflows and outflows, including anticipated big-ticket purchases.

Use the projection to anticipate slow periods and plan in advance what to do about them. “Through the year,

check your actual cash position regularly—once a week or month—against your projection to see how you’re doing and deal promptly with any divergences,” advises Rohac.

save you carrying costs on your line of credit. Some tips: send out invoices more quickly, ask customers to pay electronically and charge interest to slow-payers.

Raise cash quickly in a crunch Facing an unexpected cash flow crunch?

You can raise cash quickly using various techniques: approach your bank for help; check your inventory and assets to see what you can sell off, even at a discount; ask suppliers or your landlord for extra time to pay bills; or offer your customers a big discount to earn some quick sales.

BDC’s Susan Rohac points out that managing finances is one of the main challenges for entrepreneurs, coming in second after marketing and sales.

The findings of a BDC survey this year confirm her observation: more than four out of five entrepreneurs (82%) say they’re the ones managing cash flow and financing in the company.

However, many of the entrepreneurs don’t take basic steps to control their finances. Almost half say they don’t make cash flow projections and check them against actual results—a basic procedure of financial management.

- supplied by Business Development Bank of Canada.

Finance big buys instead of draining cash One of the most common cash flow mistakes is using cash to buy a major long-term asset, instead of getting financing. Even if you feel flush right now, you may suddenly wind up short of cash if you experience a sudden revenue shortfall or rapid growth. Use your cash flow projection to plan your financing needs ahead of time, not in the midst of a crisis, when bankers may be wary to lend.

Rohac also recommends matching the lifespan of a purchase with financing of similar duration.

Speed up cash inflows Getting money into your business more quickly can

Thank you

for the nomination for Business of the Year!

Thank You! We wouldn’t be here without our customers and community partners.

2014

Red Deer Business of the Yea

FINALIST

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24 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

Kitchen cabinetry at its finest at Arbor Valley

BY JENNA SWAN Red Deer Express Customization, craftsmanship and giving the customer a quality kitchen are key for Red Deer’s newest high-end cabinet gallery Arbor Valley.

Stefan Forschle, owner of Arbor Valley Cabinet Gallery, explains his business is all about making a client’s kitchen dreams come true.

“Our approach with Arbor Valley is to create a high-end, fullyloaded kitchen and to give the customer maximum value for their money,” said Forschle.

“There is more to a high-end kitchens than just really nice empty boxes on the wall, there is a lot of technology you can integrate along with accessories.”

Arbor Valley is a one-stop shop for all custom kitchen needs, as they not only offer high-end cabinets but full pantry and countertop creations.

Each Arbor Valley kitchen comes standard with automated drawer systems which allows drawers to open and close with a light push as they are propelled by electro servo-drives.

Soft-close hinges on the cabinet doors allow for doors to softly close with out slamming.

LED lights are used to illumi-

nate back splashes throughout kitchens, as well as integrated LED lights into all top drawers to allow clients ease of access.

Forschle references these standard features in Arbor Valley’s kitchens to the automotive industry saying, “If you buy a Bentley or a Rolls Royce, you don’t have to ask or upgrade to leather seats and air conditioning. These luxury cars come with these feature standards.”

Technologies such as these are integral components at Arbor Valley, along with features such as pop-up knife blocks, spice racks, power outlets and TVs can all be hidden within countertops and easily accessed with a gentle push.

“Kitchens are all about convenience. Making a beautiful design is one thing, but if you can’t work in your beautiful kitchen then it’s all meaningless, so we really focus on the functionality of these beautiful designs.”

One feature that can be added to an Arbor Valley kitchen is known as the Control 4 system.

This home automation system allows homeowners to control lights, TVs, and heat all through an app on their smart phones.

“The focal point of Arbor Valley is finding out what it is our customer likes and what they

want in their kitchen, and then to create the perfect kitchen that they will use every day and love every second they are using it,” explained Forschle.

“We want to hear our customers say that’s exactly how I imagined it, after they see their kitchen for the first time.”

Forschle added that because Arbor Valley manufactures all of their own cabinets at their shop in Blackfalds they are able to creatively customize every aspect of a project. “The main benefit of making our own materials is quality control,” said Forschle.

“We have the ability to ensure everything is perfect because we are not relying on a third party as well as creative control because we have the freedom to create anything we can imagine.”

This even includes paints, stains and other colours used in the creation of a kitchen through the use of their paint lab, where they create their own custom colours exclusive to Arbor Valley.

“Customers can come in and bring us something and say I want to match to this colour,” said Forschle.

“Or if they don’t know what they want we can even take them to the paint lab and mix new colours until they find exactly the colour they want.”

CUSTOM KITCHEN - Owner of Arbor Valley Cabinet Gallery Stefan Forschle displays one of the many custom kitchens in the business’s downtown show Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express room.

Arbor Valley is not only known for their high-end cabinetry and integration of technology into kitchens, but also their impeccable creations of custom walk-in closets, bathroom vanities, entertainment centres and ‘mancaves’.

Forschle added Arbor Valley is also available to designers; particularly those working form home-based offices.

“Our selection centre is open to designers to come in and use as a professional set up and use the location to help their customers to get exactly what they want as well,” he explained.

Because Arbor Valley is able to provide everything from countertops to flooring, it is the ideal onestop shop for designers and their clients. jswan@reddeerexpress.com

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Red Deer Express 25

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Local business makes old furniture new

BY JENNA SWAN Red Deer Express The faces behind Fixer’s Furniture Refinishing may have changed in the last two years, but their dedication to a high quality product and refurbishing has remained the same.

Purchased by Ross and Kerri Towers in 2013, Fixer’s has been established in Red Deer for over 20 years.

Fixer’s deals primarily in kitchen cabinets, doors, bedroom suites, dining room suites, chairs, spindles, couches, any broken wood products, and ‘ugly’ paint however they are always excited and ready to jump in any challenging project a customer can throw at them.

Ross, whose family has lived in the Red Deer area since 1896, explains his desire to purchase Fixer’s came after he was told he was too young to retire and when he heard the establishment was for sale he said they, “Jumped at the opportunity to do something interesting.”

And interesting it has been for the Towers in the last two years of business.

Kerri says it has been both a challenge as well as very rewarding, with Ross adding, “To be able to see our clients’ faces when they come in to pick up their items and see it refinished and refurbished - you can see in their eyes the memories attached to that item coming back to them.”

Kerri agreed. “A woman brought us in this rocking chair – something most people would have looked at as firewood and I honestly didn’t think Ross was going to be able to do anything with it. But when he showed me the final refinished piece, I couldn’t believe how stunningly beautiful it was.”

Ross explained because Alberta’s climate is so dry, anything made from wood that has seen significant age will experience a good deal of shrinkage, so generally the glue will let go.

“Refinishing allows us to takes these things apart, re-glue them, fix all of the nooks and crannies and strip the varnish and stain and then sand it to fix any scratches and then finish it with a colour and sealant of the customer’s choice,” said Ross.

“It’s taken a lot of sweat and arm muscle some days, but any time you get to help someone to bring back those memories

I think the day has been a success and it gives you a great feeling.”

Ross stated the success of Fixer’s is due largely to the high standard they hold themselves accountable to which he says comes from his and Kerri’s farming background.

“It’s a service that’s always going to be needed – our services have extended north to south from Edmonton to Calgary and east to west from Consort to Rocky Mountain House.”

He added with a smile, “There are always things to fix.”

The couple agreed that last spring and summer were particularly challenging for Fixer’s after the flooding in southern Alberta. “Over the last two years we have been brought a lot of items from people who were affected by the floods that had extensive water damage and incredible stories to tell,” said Kerri.

Ross added, “It was challenging because a lot of it was falling apart from being soaked in six feet of river water and mud and it really made us realize how fortunate we were here in Red Deer.”

He added that other challenges Fixer’s has faced are people trying to fix things first themselves. “Most times people with no experience just wreck it even more but we understand that human nature requires everyone to try fixing it first themselves,” he said with a laugh.

He explained some of the challenges with newer products are the materials they are made of. Something that may look like it’s made out of wood is very likely made from a micro fiberboard and is not real wood.

“The truth of the matter is, we live in such a throw away society – if most people want to change the look of something they throw it out and buy a new one and don’t even consider a refinish,” said Ross. “But with the old furniture you can completely revitalize it and bring it back to life and it’s a beautiful thing to be able to do that.”

Fixer’s is also well-known for the ease of access they accommodate by working closely with moving companies to get large items from a customer’s home to their shop, as well as their close work with Bruce at the Chesterfield Upholstering Clinic in Red Deer with whom they do all of their upholstery work. jswan@reddeerexpress.com

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26 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

How the non-financial benefits can be a game changer for local business At Frima Studio, a fast-growing video game maker, the challenge of attracting and keeping talent got harder five years ago, when a pair of deep-pocketed multinational competitors opened offices nearby. “We couldn’t compete on salary, so we decided to create an attractive workplace - one that was fun and inspiring,” says Nathalie McLaughlin, Frima’s Human Resources Director.

Twice a year, Frima emulates the Dragons’ Den TV show and invites its employees to pitch innovative projects to a panel of judges. “If we judge a project to be solid enough and to have sufficient marketing potential, we will release its creators from a few of their usual tasks so that they can devote one day a week to the development of their amazing idea. A few months later, we review the state of the project and decide if it’s worth pursuing, in which case we green light its production and marketing. This program is already starting to yield impressive results,” explains McLaughlin.

The array of benefits designed to make Frima’s employees’ lives easier includes flexible work hours, as well as a week of paid vacation time between the 25th of December and the New Year. The company offers employees gaming areas and an on-site gym. Twice a month, two massage therapists and a hair stylist also drop by.

Frima isn’t alone in turning to creative ways to provide employees with non-monetary rewards.

“Companies in all industries - not just high-tech - increasingly see non-financial compensation as vital to their growth,” says Nathalie Gélinas, senior vice president, consulting, at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).

In today’s challenging economy, it’s harder than ever for many entrepreneurs to find the resources to draw in and retain skilled employees, she adds. At the same time, boomers are quitting the labour market, leading to labour shortages in many fields. This means businesses are increasingly competing for good workers, but they have less money to do it with.

The good news - non-financial benefits can be inexpensive and can even boost a company’s productivity, Gélinas says.

“The cost is a lot smaller than what the employer gets back. Losing an employee is very costly. Human capital is the most important resource a business has,” she says. “The ultimate challenge is to mobi-

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important, it isn’t what makes employees happy at work, Gélinas says. Employees want flexibility, trust and the chance to develop as part of a team, she adds. “We spend a lot of time listening to customers to serve them better. We also need to listen to employees.”

Entrepreneurs should listen to employees to learn what benefits they value and work on non-financial compensation constantly until it becomes part of the company’s way of life, Gélinas says. Here are three types of non-financial compensation to consider.

1. Flexibility. A flexible workplace is increasingly in demand. You can offer flexibility in terms of time (variable work hours) and space (opportunities to work outside the office).

2. Trust. Employees like to have responsibility, work in a harmonious environment and be trusted to make decisions. At the same time, you should hold employees accountable via solid performance appraisals.

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Businesses should be creative about finding ways to attract and engage talent.”

At Frima, the employee-friendly workplace became a beacon for smart, enthusiastic workers who helped propel the company’s explosive growth. “The key to our success is our work culture,” McLaughlin says.

“We listen to employees a lot. People always talk about the customer experience. We have developed the employee experience. It means people don’t want to leave.”

Frima also has a performance reward system that awards points that employees can exchange for services, thus reinforcing the company’s commitment to helping employees maintain work-family balance. Perks include tax preparation, lawn mowing, babysitting, movie/dinner combos and more. “Our office is completely different from anything else in the area.

It’s really made a difference in attracting people,” McLaughlin says.

Frima’s success shows that while pay is

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Red Deer Express 27

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Hitch Depot serving commercial Red Deer for 15 years

BY KALISHA MENDONSA Red Deer Express For commercial towing in Red Deer, Hitch Depot has been a staple of the community for nearly 15 years thanks to brothers Wade and Tim Davies who began the company together.

Wade said that they were looking for a business opportunity and an associate told them that Red Deer needed a hitch business on the north end of the City. Apparently it worked out well.

“It’s been a good business. We focused our business a little bit differently than other hitch shops because we focus on the commercial and agricultural side of the industry, focusing on people who pull trailers for a living more than people who pull for recreation,” he explained.

“Because of that focus, we do a lot of trailer work and a lot of repair. We obviously do a lot of hitch work but they compliment each other, especially in commercial.”

Both of the Davies brothers have a mechanical background and have used that to their advantage, as they are able to service both trucks and trailers unlike most other hitch service businesses.

“We have lots of steady clien-

tele all the way from the Northwest Territories and B.C. In the northwest, there aren’t a lot of trailer dealerships so people kind of migrate here. We’ve also got a really loyal commercial following here in Red Deer. A lot of larger companies with multiple trucks and trailers come to us. It’s a nice mix for us because there’s something to do everyday.”

Hitch Depot offers services such as hitch installation for recreation and commercial purposes. They also do trailer repair and electrical work on both trailers and trucks. They also offer services to repair brake systems, axels and bearings.

Other services that are available are parts, service and repair to stock trailers, horse trailers, snowmobile trailers, boat trailers, RVs and utility trailers. The business specializes in light and medium duty axles, breaks, bearings and electrical.

Wade said that there are other places in Red Deer to have a hitch attached to a small vehicle, but there are little options for trucks and trailers that get up to 100 ft.

He said that some trailer dealerships will service the trailers, but not vehicles. Likewise with vehicle dealerships, so Hitch Depot became the place to go for services to both units.

“When we looked at starting a business, we looked at what was available in Red Deer. With both my brother and I coming from mechanical backgrounds, we were able to see who is serving those business sectors and there wasn’t a lot.

“That’s a big part of what we do. We really want to focus on the commercial side of the industry

because there isn’t really anybody serving them.”

Most of the available hitches are gooseball hitches that come in a variety of brands and strengths.

Hitch purchasing and installation is available for fifth-wheel trailers, cargo beds, commercial vehicles and more.

Davies explained that several varieties of hitches are offered to

satisfy the needs of the specific industry.

“We pride ourselves on very professional workmanship and professional product. We seek out the best of everything we can sell.

Both Tim and I had a motto when we started – if we wouldn’t do it to our vehicle, we won’t do it to yours. We stick with that today.” kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com

SOLID SERVICE - Owner Wade Davies smiles in the store front of Hitch Depot where commercial hitch, towing and repair needs are serviced.

Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express

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28 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

Shalom Counselling Centre continues to expand mandate Organization has recently welcomed new executive director Lisa Smith

BY MARK WEBER Red Deer Express Shalom Counselling Centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision is to help people ďŹ nd peace in life and relationships, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a mandate that continues to ďŹ&#x201A;ourish as a new executive director settles into her post.

Lisa Smith started with Shalom Counselling in August. Smith, who has been employed in the non-proďŹ t sector for many years, has called Red Deer home for the past 20 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very excited to be working with such an amazing staff,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the reasons I applied for the position was because of the values of the mission that Shalom has â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the core values of truly helping people that are hurting, and to work through those things together. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I also want to continue on the path thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been laid for us â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for the past 15 years, Shalom has been known as a counselling centre where people can come â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether they are children, youths, couples, or families â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and get the support that they need. We also have subsidies available, so for those families struggling ďŹ nancially as well we arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t turning anyone away.â&#x20AC;?

Shalom is a word describing deep inner peace - a sense of well-being - and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s precisely what the counselling staff aims to help instill in clients, she said. The organization has also received referrals from more than 60 churches, representing over 25 different denominations in Central Al-

berta. As well, about 50% of their clients identify no connection to any church or faith community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want the fact that we are faithbased to be a barrier to people,â&#x20AC;? said Bonnie Joyes, community relations coordinator. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want them to know we will serve them regardless.â&#x20AC;?

Adding to the overall mandate, staff also decided a few years back to launch educational opportunities for the community as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The vision of the board is to continue down that road â&#x20AC;&#x201C; develop those programs as well.â&#x20AC;? They are also careful to not duplicate courses and workshops being held by other local organizations.

Joyes said all kinds of topics have been planned and presented under the guidance of professional facilitators, and careful consideration is given in the process of planning what programs will be provided.

Looking ahead, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Freed Up Financial Livingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; runs Nov. 1st from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Balmoral Bible Chapel. Couples pay $75; singles $40. Coffee and lunch will be provided.

The session will be facilitated by Helmut Giesbrecht. Participants will learn how to develop a personal spending plan, prioritize ďŹ nancial goals, reduce debt and more.

Call Shalom at 403-342-0339 to register.  Also, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Forming Healthy Relationships for Teensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; runs Oct. 18th from 9 a.m. to noon in Lacombe. Cost is $30, which includes refreshments. This course discusses the markers of a healthy relationship,

be it with friends, parents, teachers, or romantic partners.

Joyes also said that Shalom hosts several therapy workshops which focus on topics ranging from stress and anxiety reduction to building better boundaries to dealing with grief. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those are therapeutic groups facilitated by the counsellors; theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re smaller groups and you are discussing these issues in a group setting and getting feedback and support from one another.â&#x20AC;?

It helps reduce the isolating feeling that such problems can contribute to, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can also be receiving counselling individually and complementing it with one of these workshops.â&#x20AC;? Or conversely, taking part in a group can show a person they might need more extensive, individual sessions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything we do is meant to complement other programs that we have â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everything we offer within the agency.â&#x20AC;?

Meanwhile, although Shalom does receive some grant funding, the facility mainly relies on sponsorships and gifts of individuals, churches and local business-

es. And each year, the number of people seeking help continues to grow. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Certainly, there is still a need out there for support,â&#x20AC;? added Smith. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are still lots of families coming to us that need that subsidy. In order for us to continue to serve those families â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the new ones coming in the door â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we need that continued support. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are always looking for others ways to build new partnerships as well.â&#x20AC;?

Meanwhile, staff are also gearing up for Shalom Counselling Centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Fall FriendRaiser & 15th Anniversary Celebration â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Memories and Beyond, set for Oct. 24th at First Christian Reformed Church (16 McVicar St.) Featuring singer/songwriter Steve Bell, tickets for the event are $20 and are available online at www.stevebell.com or phone Shalom at 403-342-0339.

Proceeds will help Central Alberta families with counselling for emotional and relational concerns and a portion of ticket sales will also go to support the Alzheimer Society. editor@reddeerexpress.com

Saluting contributions

Small Businesses are making to our local economy and our community.

Congratulations all Nominees & Finalists!

HELPING HANDS - Lisa Smith and Bonnie Joyes, of Shalom Counselling Centre, look forward to further outreach into the local community.

Mary Anne Jablonski MLA Red Deer North 403-342-2263

Cal Dallas Legislative Secretary, Intergovernmental Relations MLA Red Deer South 403-340-3565

Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express

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Red Deer Express 29

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The unique experience of equine-assisted learning Many benefit from the program

BY KALISHA MENDONSA Red Deer Express Equine-assisted learning is a way of getting a person to learn to communicate better as they work with a very responsive, intuitive animal – a horse.

At Whispers Equine Learning Ltd. (WELL) a person comes to the facility in need of bettering communication, human relations and leadership skills. Owner Shana Nicholls explains the process best.

“Using horses as teachers completely changes the dynamics of learning. The non-verbal communication of a horse reflects an immediate and honest reaction to the energy around them,” she said. “That reaction causes participants to identify their strengths and limitations and learn to modify their behaviour.”

The process at Whispers Equine Learning Ltd. starts with a conversation between Nicholls and whoever is engaging in the program. They discuss their goals and objectives for the program. Then a person and a horse work through the obstacles as they alter behaviour and attitudes to cooperate with each other.

There are a variety of horses, each with different personalities and strengths that are coordinated with what a person seeks from the program. Someone who is timid or young will get a calm, easygoing horse.

Someone who is older or is looking to gain more confidence might get paired with a horse with a stronger personality.

“There are exercises laid out at the arena, each with a simple set of instructions.

People then work at their own pace and work through the exercises that are laid out. There’s no right or wrong - we’re encouraging creative thinking, problem solving and communication,” she said.

Nicholls is hoping to engage people who wish to develop workplace-essential skills such as communication, trust, address group dynamics, responsibility and leadership. She also would like to reach out to at-risk youth. While Nicholls is not a thera-

pist, she can facilitate a comfortable environment for youth to develop communication skills and accomplishment.

“The horse is a teammate. Off (the person and the horse) go and work through objective-based exercises, where the horse responds to the person’s energy and dynamics. If they are in the arena and the horse stops listening, the person has to alter their behaviour to get the horse going again,” said Nicholls.

“I never give an answer or a solution, people have to come to it on their own. We can tell someone all day how to communicate effectively and it might go in one ear and out the other. With this program, I facilitate and promote creative thinking and problem solving.”

Equine-assisted learning does not include riding of the horses. Nicholls said it is merely an interaction between an animal that relies on leadership and a person who needs to work on relationshipbuilding skills. Horses are good animals to participate in a program like this because they rely on a leader and someone to guide them.

She said people respond to this type of learning because they have to engage themselves and there is no person to judge them for their behaviour. It drives the student to look at their own attitudes and reactions and how they relate to the horse and translate those into other obstacles and relationships they may be facing.

Nicholls came up with the idea for WELL because she has had a lifelong closeness with horses and spent many years as a rider. She wanted to do something that gave her the freedom to enjoy time with her animals as well as work with people.

“I bought a farm in a beautiful location but I wasn’t really sure what to do with it. I threaded the things together that made me get out of bed every morning and be happy – that’s my horses and helping people. It was a profound moment when I realized how to put that all together.”

HELPFUL HORSES - Shana Nicholls, pictured with her horse Junior, operates a facility where people explore their own attitudes and goals while working through obstacles with a horse, Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express developing leadership skills, confidence and trust.

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30 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

Advisory boards can help boost your business Effective board members tend to be veteran business people Looking for an easy and inexpensive way to energize your business, boost sales and plan for the future?

Here’s an often-overlooked idea: create an advisory board.

Only a meager 6% of Canadian entrepreneurs have an advisory board for their business, according to a survey this year by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).

However, 86% of entrepreneurs who have an advisory board say it’s had a significant impact on their business.

“Once people understand the benefits, they become big fans,” says Pierre Cléroux, BDC’s chief economist. “There are really practical, tangible benefits for the bottom line.”

“ONCE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS, THEY BECOME BIG FANS. THERE ARE REALLY PRACTICAL, TANGIBLE BENEFITS FOR THE BOTTOM LINE.” PIERRE CLÉROUX BDC’s research bears that out.

The study shows that annual sales at businesses with an advisory board were 24% higher than those at companies without one, and productivity was 18% higher.

An advisory board is an informal body of outside experts that an entrepreneur can use as a sounding board or to fill in gaps in expertise and contacts.

Unlike a board of directors, advisory boards have no legal responsibility for the company’s governance, but experts say they still bring a lot of value.

Je a n - Yve s Sarazin knows the benefits first hand.

He created an advisory board back in 1990 at his company Groupe Delom, which offers maintenance and manufacturing rotating equipment such as motors, pumps and ventilators.

At his advisory board’s very first meeting, Sarazin was referred to a financial institution that allowed his company to save tens of thousands of dollars through lower interest charges on a loan.

“Every entrepreneur should have an advisory board.

“Each time I’ve seen a company create one, the first meeting produces a return that is enough to cover the compensation for the whole year,” he says.

Sarazin has become such a big support-

er of the idea that he has agreed to sit on several other companies’ advisory boards as a way of giving back for the help he’s received over the years.

Another benefit - an advisory board obliges entrepreneurs to periodically step back and look at the overall direction of their business.

“Just getting ready for my meeting with the advisory board forces me to take stock of the business and consider it from new angles,” says Sarazin.

Having an advisory board also reassures financial institutions, which examine the quality of the company’s team when assessing a loan application, he says.

“It shows you’re not alone in making decisions.”

So why don’t more businesses have an advisory board?

Some entrepreneurs think it may be too time-consuming to create one or are simply unaware of the benefits, Cléroux explains.

But the payoffs, he says, are usually well worth the effort and cost (some companies offer advisors a nominal honorarium, while others don’t compensate them).

“An advisory board is a good tool to force the business owner to think more about the company’s vision, long-term goals and how to achieve them,” Cléroux says. “The benefits are way bigger than the cost to the business.”

Setting up an advisory board is easier than you might think. “It’s not that hard to find people to sit on an advisory board.

“Experienced CEOs often agree because they want to help their community,” says Cléroux.

Ask your accountant, lawyer or business network to refer potential candidates.

Some business associations offer a service to help companies find advisory board members. Effective advisory board members tend to be veteran business people who offer expertise an entrepreneur may lack. They should be completely independent of the company, rather than your accountant or lawyer - “someone who will give you the true story,” as Cléroux puts it.

Entrepreneurs should meet their advisory board regularly - for example, on a monthly or quarterly basis.

About 60% of advisory board members receive no compensation, while others usually get a modest honorarium.

A restaurant meal or retreat can also be a way to thank advisors.

- supplied by the Business Development Bank of Canada.

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Red Deer Express 31

Small Business Week - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

continuing education immediate innovative impactful

Make training part of your plan for SUCCESS Advance your career with high quality training from Red Deer College.

We offer training that will take you to the next level: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Accounting and Bookkeeping Advanced Management Human Resource Management Leadership Development Management Skills for Supervisors Marketing and Social Media for Business Microsoft Office Training Occupational Health and Safety Organizational Change Management Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) Project Management Supply Management

Need customized corporate training? We will work with you to identify your training needs and recommend effective and affordable training solutions, customized to your exact requirements.

Register today! Visit www.rdc.ab.ca/continuing-education or call us for your free copy of RDC’s Continuing Education Course Guide at 403.356.4900

32 Red Deer Express

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Small Business Week

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