Kamloops Business

> Also: Is cloud computing right for your small business?

An exclusive feature publication of The Daily News

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

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WANT TO MAKE

MORE SALES? BE AUTHENTIC, PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF YOUR CUSTOMERS — AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

INSIDE CHAMBER NEWS: GEARING UP FOR THE ANNUAL BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

2 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

INSIDE

Kamloops Business is published six times a year by The Kamloops Daily News advertising department, 393 Seymour St., Kamloops, B.C. V2C 6P6. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission.

Unsolicited material will not be returned.

Publisher assumes no responsibility.

For editorial information, contact Kamloops Business editor Robert Koopmans.

COVER STORY

Want To Make More Sales? experts share their ideas and opinions on what makes a great sales person great. Stick to the tried and true strategies and you’re bound to increase your sales and put some more meat on the bottom line. /page 8

Publisher TIM SHOULTS

Supervising Editor Editor MEL ROBERT ROTHENBURGER KOOPMANS

Advertising Director kevin dergez

Manager Specialty Publications keshaV sharma

FEATURES

Effective Retailing Minimizing inputs to maximize outputs — and profit /12

Workplace Wars Resolving conflict through mediation /23

The Battle For Talent Kamloops workers lured away by promise of big bucks /26

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

The Daily News is a member of the B.C. Press Council. It is published daily except Sundays and most holidays at 393 Seymour St., Kamloops, B.C. V2C 6P6.

Phone (250) 372-2331

Editor’s Message, 6

NSBIA Report, 21

Q&A, 30

By The Numbers, 19

Chamber News, 28

KCBIA Report, 25

Across The River, 18

Tech Talk, 15

Contributing writers

Venture Kamloops, 20

TRU Views, 17

Jennifer Sloan Susan Duncan

A division of Glacier Ventures International Corp.

Publications Mail Registration No. 0681.

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2012

KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

3

- ADVERTISING FEATURE -

Myth: Only large businesses should incorporate Is incorporating your small business right for you?

As a small business owner, you may think that incorporation is only for the “big guns”.

Actually, incorporation can help your small business, you and your loved ones.

by Sarah K. Goddard

If you are running a home-based business or a sole proprietorship, you essentially are the business. You chose your name, got the necessary licenses, and maybe even registered your business. You receive all of the profits and accept all of the risks.

So, if it is so simple to start a small business, why bother incorporating? Well, incorporating can offer you some important legal and financial advantages. Some of these advantages are: • Separate legal entity. Incorporation makes your business a legal entity that exists independently from you as the owner. This means that the business will enter contracts, buy and sell property, and pay taxes, not you. Which leads to…

• Personal liability protection. Incorporation provides the best protection for your personal property. Because the corporation is separate from you, the corporation is fully responsible for its actions, debts, obligations, and defaults, under most circumstances. So, if there is a lawsuit against your business, no one can take your house, car, bank accounts or any other property you own. This is one of the most common reasons small businesses incorporate.

• Continued existence. Since the corporation is a separate entity, it has an unlimited life. This means that death or bankruptcy of any of the owners will not affect the existence of the company. It will continue indefinitely until it is sold, merged with another company or dissolved.

• Easier to raise capital. You can easily sell shares in your corporation to your family and others. This allows you to raise money without relying on the bank for loans and saves on monthly interest payments.

4 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

• Significant tax advantage. Small corporations can take advantage of a number of tax strategies. For example, if you meet certain criteria, you can take advantage of small business tax rates. There is also more flexibility for splitting profits between certain family members to lower your family’s overall tax burden.

To be fair, we should look at some of the drawbacks of incorporation. Incorporation leads to some additional record keeping requirements and other administrative maintenance. While these extra requirements may be more costly, the benefits associated with being incorporated often far outweigh the costs.

Now, you may ask: Is incorporation right for me? Let me answer your question with a question (or, rather, a number of questions): • Do you have employees?

• Do you have property registered in your name?

• What personal property do you stand to lose if something goes wrong with your business and you are liable?

• Is there more than one owner of the business?

• Would you like to raise funds through shareholders, rather than borrowing from the bank?

• Would you like your family to own a part of the business, even if they are not involved in the day-to-day running of the business?

• Do you have someone in mind to take over the succession of your business?

If it feels like a big decision to incorporate your small business, fear not. Visit us at MJB Lawyers, and we can help you determine if incorporation is right for you and your business.

R

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> Editor’s Message

Attention Internet Shoppers ‘Shop local’ still good advice for the sake of the community

Y ou know you've arrived...

W

hat does it mean to be a member of a community?

How do we define ourselves as residents of Kamloops? Is it just a geographic distinction, or are we something more than a group of people living in a valley with two rivers?

The notion of community is more difficult to comprehend these days, as digital forces blur social lines. Increasingly, people define who they are by virtue of their digital selves. Who is on your Facebook “Friends” list seems more important than who lives on your street.

The Internet has also changed how we buy and sell goods.

We no longer need to visit a mall to buy our clothes. It’s much easier to spin up to your favourite store via the wi-fi and click Buy. We rent movies online now. Who needs the video store? We can even place a pizza order via the Internet. Why shop at the local mall, or downtown, some might wonder?

Amazon.com beckons us 24/7, with low prices and cheap shipping. Add eBay and other online retailers to the list and it’s clear online reach makes our physical worlds smaller. We don’t need to leave our houses anymore — especially to shop.

Of course, everything comes with a price, and the unseen cost of the convenience of virtual buying is steep. Dollars spent via the Internet pay someone’s mortgage, no doubt, but they do not pay Kamloops mortgages. All those dollars winging from our community are lost local jobs and diminished lives.

It’s true that communities — nations even — are imagined spaces, existing mostly in the minds of those who deem themselves members. That’s always been the case, for as long as people have organized themselves. We can imagine larger spaces and communities for ourselves today than ever before possible because of the Internet. There is value, however, in imagining smaller spaces, too, based on a collection of people living in a valley with two rivers.

Think about your neighbours as you ponder your next online purchase. It’s possible they work in a local store, and their ability to support a family depends on the willingness of valley residents to spend locally earned money at home.

Shop local. The message has as much meaning today as it ever has. Maybe even more.

Robert Koopmans is editor of Kamloops Business. He can be reached at 250-372-2331 or rkoopmans@kamloopsnews.ca. KB 6 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

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> cover story

WANT TO MAKE

MORE SALES? BE AUTHENTIC, PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF YOUR CUSTOMERS — AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

I

t’s a fact of business today, almost every enterprise is selling something. As a result, convincing others there is value in something — from products on the shelves to the quality of services offered — is a crucial skill. For many business owners,

especially start-up entrepreneurs, selling is a scary word. Even professional salespeople often have a hard time selling or have gone about selling the wrong way, an irony that has done much to convince the buying public salespeople aren’t to be trusted.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ROBERT KOOPMANS >> EDITOR, KAMLOOPS BUSINESS 8 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

SEVEN STEPS TO SEALING THE DEAL Rivershore general manager Dan Laporte says his sales team is trained to abide by a process that recognizes seven distinct phases of the sales transaction.

By building a plan and following it strictly, it’s possible to create a better buying experience for both customer and sales rep. These steps apply to any product or sales transaction.

FIRST IMPRESSION A sale starts before a customer even speaks to a sales rep. How a sales person presents as they walk up to a potential customer is crucial, Laporte said. Professional dress and proper deportment count.

MEET AND GREET The critical first contact must lessen the chance the encounter will become confrontational. Many people’s first reaction when they are approached by a salesperson is to say they are “just looking” and don’t need help. Properly greeting and engaging the client prevents the conversation from becoming tense as one party tries to slip away.

BUILD A RAPPORT, GAIN TRUST Taking the time to make a customer more at ease by finding common ground and establishing a rapport will help as the process continues. Most people are apprehensive when buying a big-ticket item, Laporte said.

THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT Learning what the customer needs is crucial and it is often different from what the customer thinks they want. Laporte said ethical, integrity-based sales requires sales professionals to help customers see the difference between the two.

THE DEMONSTRATION A customer needs to know and experience a product thoroughly and appreciate its strengths and weaknesses before buying. Sales reps must know products well in order to demonstrate properly.

COMPLETING THE SALE Laporte said he doesn’t like the term “closing a sale.” He said if all other aspects of the process are done right, there is nothing to close, and a sales transaction completes naturally.

Rivershore Ram Chrysler Dodge Jeep saleswoman Larriena Lonsberry chats with general manager Dan Laporte on the dealership’s Valleyview sales lot.

SERVICE FOLLOW-UP Maintaining contact with customers after the fact is critical.

Laporte said he wants to build long-term relationships with people so they come back for service, as well as for future purchases.

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It doesn’t need to be that way, said Chris Wilson, an associate with Sandler Training in Kamloops. The key to better selling is recognizing the humanity of the process.

Selling is about forming relationships with people, about honesty and authenticity, he said. There is no magic formula, no silver bullet closing line or sure-fire trick. It’s about building trust.

Wilson is in the business of training people to be better sellers. His foremost rule of selling — pay attention to the needs of the customer.

“It’s the number one goal you should strive for,” he said. “If there is no fit, hearing ‘No’ is OK.” Sounds great, but we all know at some point, a salesman’s job is to make a sale, and that inevitably means prying cash from someone’s tight fist. Doesn’t it?

No, says Wilson, the job of selling is not about lifting cash from pockets. A sales professional needs to learn the best sale is one in which a consumer gets a product or service he or she needs and wants, while the business gets a longterm customer.

Most businesses today depend on

Chris Wilson, an associate with Sandler Training in Kamloops, says the job of selling is not about lifting cash from pockets.

“Good sellers are passionate about and believe in what they are selling,” he says.

“If you don’t believe in your product, you have no business selling it.”

sales in some fashion for their survival.

Creating mutually beneficial relationships, in the end, is more important than making one-time sales because the ongoing relationships and the referrals they spin off are more valuable, he said.

So why is it so difficult for some people to sell?

Wilson said there are various reasons, including simple things like different personality types. Sometimes, however, people are tripped up by internal scripts written for them by their life experiences. Kids are taught from their earliest ages not to talk to strangers, for example.

Is it any wonder many people are uncomfortable making a cold call?

“A lot of people who enjoy what they do have to sell their products,” Wilson said. “Nobody told them to be good as an electrician meant they would also have to sell their business.

“People get into (business) because they love what they do, and then they have a hard time because they can’t (accept) they have to sell.”

The key to improving one’s ability to sell is to see it as a skill that can be learned, through courses, mentors or

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other professionals, or just by practice.

The more people get out there and try, the better they will become.

Underlying all of that, however, is the reality that great salespeople believe in what they’re selling, Wilson said. Once again, it’s about authenticity and honesty — not the slipperiness of one’s tongue.

“Good sellers are passionate about and believe in what they are selling. if you don’t believe in your product, you have no business selling it,” he said.

Dan Laporte, general manager of Rivershore Ram Chrysler Dodge Jeep, agrees. He has been selling vehicles for more than 30 years, and has watched and managed many salespeople along the way.

Sales is a process, he said, a psychology that begins before first contact with a customer to long after money (metaphorically, even) has changed hands.

That process is affected by everything from the sales or retail environment to the personalities and attitudes of staff, even those who don’t work directly with customers.

His sales force abides by a seven-step process (see sidebar story) that recognizes the entirety of the sales transaction.

Following a set routine makes the transaction better for both sales rep and customer, by ensuring no crucial steps or information are missed.

Laporte said he moved his business away from commission sales three years ago. He realized it was more important to build long-lasting relationships with his customers than sell cars with the most profit attached.

Sales people at Rivershore still benefit financially based on the total number of cars sold in a given period, but it makes no difference how much the car costs or how much profit is achieved. There is no more incentive to sell an expensive vehicle than the smallest most economical car on the lot.

By freeing the sales team from the chains of commissions, they are free to focus more on a customer’s needs, he said. As well, there is less pressure and they are happier in their jobs.

“It’s a totally different environment.

They are happy, they wouldn’t go anywhere else. We have fun. I don’t believe money motivates (salespeople),” he said.

“Either (the job) is within you or it isn’t.

Money is way down the list on motivation.”

What is important to Laporte is training. He devotes plenty of time to training and expects his staff to spend time learning new skills as well.

Laporte said the most important key to sales is attitude. Staying positive and keeping a check on one’s emotions in the face of adversity defines true professionals.

“Anybody can print a pack of business cards for $50 and call them a sales professional. The true professional maintains the right attitude.”

When he started out, he said he built his business by cold-calling people who were selling their own homes, seeking their listings.

He set out lists of questions and objections he expected the homeowners would have, and found the answers. He practised answering those questions with his wife, who played the part of the reluctant home-seller.

“I would call her up on the phone and run through my scripts,” he said. “It was very effective. It’s part of the training process.”

Cavaliere said he sees the biggest

Vince Cavaliere works the phone. The veteran Kamloops realtor says it’s important to rehearse sales calls ahead of time. Says Cavaliere: “People used to make fun of me because I ask so many questions. But it works.”

Vince Cavaliere is one of Kamloops’s most recognized and successful realtors.

He has been selling homes for many years and says there is no doubt business today is about selling.

“The reality is everybody who is in business is always selling something, whether it’s their company’s service, its image or its products,” he said.

He agrees good salespeople are more like consultants. Most importantly, they must dig deep to determine people’s needs, by asking a lot of questions.

“He who asks the questions controls the conversation. People used to make fun of me because I ask so many questions. But it works.”

Cavaliere said he also encourages people to develop scripts and practise them.

stumbling block for new salespeople is an inability or unwillingness to ask someone for their business.

“Maybe they are afraid of ‘no.’ They get discouraged. In the sales world, you have to be willing to hear a few nos in order to understand the yeses.”

He said the closing part of the sales transaction can be the trickiest, and there is a fine line between asking for the sale and being seen as pushy. Cavaliere said completing the sale is almost always easier when the rest of the sales process — especially the first stages — is done properly.

“Knowing what my customers’ needs are first is crucial. When you can accurately determine what your customer needs, (the sale) closes itself.” KB

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KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

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EFFECTIVE

RETAILING MINIMIZING INPUTS TO GENERATE MAXIMUM OUTPUTS — AND PROFIT

I

t’s the brand and price that grab Kamloops shopper Michal Dykes’ attention this time around. Proudly showing the set of three Stila lip glosses, the recovering shopaholic says $9.99 is “a steal.”

Bonnie Sherwood looks on, admiring her friend’s find. She points to a nearby bed display and notes that the store must have changed it recently, because she purchased one that was featured in the same space a few weeks ago.

These are women who love to shop. They are part of a market force responsible for more than 80 per cent of all consumer purchases, worth trillions of dollars annually.

True to statistics, both women

tend to purchase five items or less per shopping visit (unless they’re decidedly stocking up on something), and chime in unison that they make unplanned purchases “every single time” they are out.

“It’s those darn (display) end caps!” Sherwood jokes.

Herb Sorenson, an authority on observing and measuring shopping behaviour and attitudes and author of Inside the Mind of the Shopper: The Science of Retailing, has ideas about how to encourage shoppers to spend more time — and more money — inside stores.

He identifies three customer “inputs” — money, time, and angst (the frustration that rises from

story by Jennifer sloan photos by robert koopmans 12 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

FIVE TIPS TO ENCOURAGE SHOPPERS TO PURCHASE HELP THEM OUT Provide baskets and carts not only at the front of the store but throughout, to help those who have come in for just one item, and grabbed a couple of bargains along the way. Give shoppers a way to add a few other things as they make their way to the register.

BOOST SERVICES Consider adding to the services you already provide. The bookstore-coffee shop combination is now commonplace, but what about adding a theatre that shows independent films or a gourmet appetizer bar? Take cues from your clients and consider broadening what you already do well.

A PLACE TO SIT Think about how you might be able to add seating areas in your retail space. According to author Paco Underhill, if a section of a store feels roomy and comfortable, customers will slow down and pause — a prime opportunity to stage sales opportunities through signage or conversation.

GET IN THE GROOVE Choose your music based on the demographic your business services. Songs with fewer beats per minute set at a lower volume will slow the pace of shoppers and invite them to stay longer, regardless of age.

JUST SAY THANKS Begin a loyalty program or expand the one you already have. Giving clients small rewards, such as $2 off their next purchase or an extra punch on their punch card, will bring people back in far more often than they would have come if they had no incentive. And chances are, they’ll realize they needed something else . . .

Michal Dykes loves to shop.

She’s part of a market force that is responsible for more than 80 per cent of all consumer purchases, worth trillions of dollars annually.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

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KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

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bumps along the purchase path) — that balance against purchases and satisfaction, which he calls the “outputs.”

“At any point in [their shopping] journey, the shopper is balancing the inputs and outputs. Effective retailing means minimizing the inputs to generate higher output,” Sorenson says.

Paco Underhill, another marketing researcher and consultant, delves further into what makes shopping work.

In Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping, Underhill connects shopping with sensory experience.

“Shoppers are more likely to purchase items they have had an opportunity to interact with and retailers, if they provide this opportunity, can sell those items at a higher price because the public will be enticed by how soft the sweater is, how tasty that sauce makes chicken, how clear the sound really is in those headphones,” Underhill writes.

If retailers are looking for new ways to position themselves in a sensory-driven market, they may want to think of customers as a giant set of eyes mounted on a body, says Sorenson. Ultimately, it is the eyes that close the sale: shoppers won’t buy until products fall into their field of vision in an inviting way.

To make stores more comfortable for customers, Underhill urges retailers to provide buying “cues” in colours, shapes and images, which are always more effective than signs. The fact is, people rarely read promotional and corporate signage unless it is large, loud, and positioned where shoppers linger.

Lisa Henson, the business manager at Beautycode Boutique in Kamloops, says it’s important for customers to be greeted when they come into your store.

Some retailers see face-to-face conversation as a better alternative to signage and store structure. Lisa Henson, business manager of Beautycode Boutique on Victoria Street in Kamloops, explains that ideally, the first thing customers should see as they enter her store is “someone greeting them, someone who is ready to work with them.”

Henson knows her employees are the key to educating clients about store specials. Shoppers have been trained to hunt for deals, and employees who help people find them encourage more sales.

After learning what’s in it for them,

shoppers want time to interact with the retail environment, says Underhill. For most consumers that means touch.

Smart retailers encourage people to handle merchandise, to carry it around.

Research shows that the longer a shopper holds onto something, the greater the chance is that she or he will buy it.

Plastic wraps, cardboard boxes and glass cases have a function, but all act as barricades keeping people from products.

Providing direct physical interaction with goods creates an “ownership opportunity.” When people are allowed to handle goods, they see how easy a cellphone is to navigate, how luxurious a sheet set feels, or how quiet a vacuum cleaner is.

This is the strategy grocery stores and cosmetics shops tap into by providing food samples and perfume testers to passers-by.

Is there risk associated with this tactile approach? Maybe. Will sales improve?

Will loyalty rise? Will people begin talking about the experience they had and perhaps bring a friend the next time they’re out for a shop? Underhill’s studies say yes.

The expert recommends retailers who want to improve their stores start by directly observing customers, by paying attention to how dedicated shoppers — women like Dykes and Sherwood — experience their shop.

Watching human expression and tidbits of overheard conversation are perhaps some of the most revealing forms of market research available. And at such a reasonable price, why not? KB

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> tech talk

lofty ambitions I

IS CLOUD COMPUTING RIGHT FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS? IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, experts say IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE

t’s almost become a buzz phrase these days — “cloud computing.”

What does the concept mean, and more specifically, what does it mean for business people who wonder whether cloud-based computing services is right for them?

Jaethan Reichel works for a Kamloopsbased cloud computing firm, and is also

one of the founders of the Kamloops Innovation Centre, a co-operative agency designed to aid high-tech entrepreneurs.

Cloud computing is a worthwhile consideration for many businesses, especially smaller firms that lack technical support or money to invest in on-site servers and data-storage systems. That

said, there are costs and issues people need to be aware of, Reichel added.

Essentially, cloud computing means one of two things — replacing physical hardware or replacing software with equipment or systems that live online (and off site).

In the telecommunications business, for example, there is almost always an

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KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

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on-site “black box” that handles a business’s phone systems. The boxes are expensive and tend to break down.

Cloud services can recreate that physical piece of hardware online, meaning businesses no longer need to depend on it in their offices.

Likewise for software and data and content-management systems. Instead of purchasing computers to act as dedicated servers and buying software to use internally, companies can transfer the functions to cloud-based companies that offer the same services.

There are numerous cloud-based software systems offered by large companies such as Google, which has Gmail and Google Docs. Google Drive was also recently released as a storage system, competing against more established companies like Dropbox.

Microsoft, Amazon and Apple also offer their own versions of cloud-based storage, typically geared toward consumers looking for places to keep music and pictures. The systems can still be used by businesses, Reichel said, although in some instances there are

concerns to be considered about the security of private information, especially in transmission.

A key advantage to cloud systems is inherent redundancy. Typically, systems will consist of linked megacomputers in different sites, meaning a loss of operational ability in one computer will allow the overall system to function normally.

“If there was a tactical nuclear strike in Vancouver, and (a company’s) cloud servers reside in four different locations, you would not see any service disruption,” he said.

The weak link in the cloud-computing chain is connectivity, Reichel said. Since cloud computing depends on being connected to the Internet in order to reach one’s data and systems, it becomes very important to have a fail-proof connection.

Increasingly, companies that seek out cloud-based computing options — especially those that cannot ever lose access to those systems — install fibre-optic lines to connect their businesses to the Net. Fibre-optic lines

16 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

are more expensive.

That might not be a practical option for small firms, he noted, but he warned that a company that relies on ADSL service from a single ISP risks periods when it might not be able to access its data or systems if the ISP suffers a loss of service.

Businesses concerned about privacy should also pay attention, as their data are subject to the laws of the country in which the cloud-based servers reside.

That means Canadian data stored in a U.S.-based cloud centre are subject to The Patriot Act, for example, which gives U.S. authorities access in some instances.

Lastly, Reichel said businesses that move extremely large amounts of data might not want cloud systems because it takes too much time to move data online.

Overall, however, there are advantages to doing business in the cloud, especially for smaller firms.

“When you get into a small business without a dedicated IT staff, it makes a lot of sense,” Reichel said. KB

> tru views

Keep Your Friends Close, And Your Enemies Closer Why do entrepreneurs like the strategy of having services next to competitors?

BY PETER TSIGARIS >> THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY

W

hy are gas stations clustered in groups across the street from each other? Why are they not spread evenly around the city? The answer is fear of losing market share. A famous economics example demonstrates this point. Two entrepreneurs have decided to set up ice-cream stands on the beach at Riverside Park.

Each must decide where to locate the stand on the beach.

The entrepreneurs assume that most customers will choose the ice-cream stand that is closest to them. One option is to locate the stands as far away from each other as possible.

Entrepreneur A sets up at the far west side, and Entrepreneur B at the far east of the beach. With these locations all customers will be serviced and each entrepreneur would have a 50-per-cent share of the market. Customers located in the middle of the beach will have to do the most walking for their ice cream.

But entrepreneurs are, well, entrepreneurial and are always considering ways to increase market share. For example, Entrepreneur A located at the far west side of the beach will think: “If I move a

little closer to the centre then I will have all the customers to the west of the stand, and gain some of Entrepreneur B’s customers.”

However, Entrepreneur B is no fool and thinks similarly. He will also move inwards to pick some market share from the other. In the end, the need to maintain and even increase market share will move both entrepreneurs exactly to the centre, competing side by side.

Each will still have 50 per cent of the market. The only difference is that the customers at the far edges would do most of the walking.

Would the location decision change if there were only one entrepreneur?

The answer is yes and no; the optimal location of only one ice-cream stand is anywhere along the beach as there is no competitor to worry about. Customers have no choice but to go to the one stand for their ice-cream fix.

But entry is easy in the cut-throat world of ice-cream vending and the entrepreneur fearing that someone else might come into the market and pick up some of his market share will hesitate to locate the stand at the far edges of the

PETER TSIGARIS beach. He will gravitate toward the centre of the beach.

This does not happen only with gas stations, but is observed in many other cases as well. Fast-food chains locate and compete side by side. Banks locate across the street from each other. TV news and newspapers report similar stories to the public fearing loss of market share. Political parties converge toward similar platforms to pick up votes.

Hence, the need to maintain and even increase market share brings enemies closer to each other than farther apart.

Sun Tzu, a Chinese general and military strategist from 400 BC, must have known something when he said: “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”

Dr. Peter Tsigaris is an associate professor and chair of the department of economics at Thompson Rivers University. This year TRU awarded Dr. Tsigaris the Master Teacher Award. KB

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Contact us today for more information on benefits consulting or to learn more about our

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

2012

KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

17

> ACROSS THE RIVER

Indian Band Makes Most of its Resources Development opportunities provide members with chance to expand skills

BY SHANE GOTTFRIEDSON >> CHIEF, TK’EMLUPS INDIAN BAND

O

ne of the biggest misconceptions about the operations of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc is that we only provide services to our members. We do work very hard to ensure our members receive benefits from the things we do and they are the key focus of our business enterprises.

However, to raise the money we need to provide our members with the opportunities they deserve, we have expanded the scope of our operations far beyond governance.

Anyone visiting our reserve lands knows that thousands of non-aboriginal people work and live here. As a consequence, we provide municipal-level services to large numbers of people well beyond our membership. For example, we run our own landfill and collect garbage from our members as well as residents of Sun Rivers and other housing developments on our reserve lands.

Likewise, we run our own water treatment plant that provides top-quality drinking water to members and nonmembers alike.

Our services go beyond those offered by municipalities. We are also the school

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district in that we run our own elementary school and count that staff within our group of employees. Not all students at Skelep School of Excellence are members of the Tk’emlúps, but our focus is to provide a quality educational experience that meets all provincial guidelines but maintains a focus on our culture and identity. We support our people in pursuing knowledge and training beyond a high-school education. We believe that education and economic opportunity go hand in glove, so advancing the skills of our people is a top priority.

Another service we provide is the management and registration of interests in land. Like a land-titles office, our staff ensures that interests in land are properly documented and registered.

This includes member certificates of possession, rights of way, leases, easements, mortgages and just about anything you would expect to see related to land. The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc has been a national leader in this field.

Earlier this year, we were the first aboriginal land registry in Canada to implement online registration of land interests. This has enhanced the service

Our recruiters are standing by to work with you in Kamloops, Kelowna and our Prince George offices: 250-374-3853 Visit: www.excel.bc.ca

SHANE GOTTFRIEDSON we are able to offer in terms of timely registration of leases.

We use the opportunities provided by development to grow and develop the skills of our own people. We supported Tk’emlúps members in obtaining water treatment plant technician certifications and wastewater certifications. Our water treatment plant and wastewater infrastructure are now staffed by certified, licensed technicians, who also happen to be band members.

We operate our own gas station, convenience store and car wash. These entry-level jobs create a great opportunity for our membership to get valuable work experience with the potential to move into management. Our ranch and logging operations allow us to generate both revenue and opportunities for skills development within our people. In fact, most of the revenue we use in our operations is self-generated. KB

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> by the numbers New building permits are listed according to the date the permit was issued by the City of Kamloops.

Builder: The Ultimate Handyman Location/work: 2069 Robins Range Rd. Build a 600-square-foot deck.

Issued: May 17 Value: $80,000 Builder: Summit Drive Baptist Church Location/work: 1975 Summit Dr. Add upper floor to church.

Issued: June 12 Value: $3,200 Builder: Nu Vue Exteriors Ltd. Location/work: 18-7805 Dallas Dr. Build a free-standing aluminum patio cover.

Issued: May 22 Value: $60,000 Builder: On Side Restoration Services Ltd. Location/work: 2349 Glenview Ave. Smoke repair and restoration, including insulation replacement, drywall, some window and glass sealed units.

Issued: June 12 Value: $80,000 Builder: Hillside Contracting Location/work: 10A-1315 Summit Dr. Sahali Professional Hearing Service.

Tenant improvements.

Issued: June 12 Value: $140,000 Builder: Acres Enterprise Ltd. Location/work: 9989 Dallas Dr. Phase One interior work.

Issued: May 23 Value: $4,988,800 Builder: Tri-City Contracting Ltd. Location/work: 689 Tranquille Rd. Construct 50 residential units on existing foundation/commercial level.

Issued: June 13 Value: $90,000 Builder: N/A Location/work: 406-1801 PrincetonKamloops Highway. Interior fit-out of existing retail unit for Bosley’s.

Issued: May 23 Value: $20,000 Builder: Norman Dabb Location/work: 1680 Cheakamus Dr. Build 217 feet of gabion retaining wall on south and west property lines.

Issued: June 13 Value: $12,000 Builder: Kamcon Developers Ltd. Location/work: 837 Lolo St. To construct an 10x16-foot accessory building.

Issued: May 24 Value: $511,000 Builder: N/A Location/work: 311 Columbia St. Upgrade helipad.

Issued: June 13 Value: $15,000 Builder: Kamcon Developers Ltd. Location/work: 837 Lolo St. To remove existing deck and build new 420-square-foot deck.

Issued: May 24 Value: $217,479 Builder: Dawson Construction Ltd. Location/work: 250 Andover Cres.

Storm drainage servicing, 7,400 square metres of asphalt.

Issued: May 25 Value: $40,000 Builder: Pleasure Pools Plus Location/work: 850 Windbreak St. Construct a 16x32-foot in-ground pool.

Issued: May 28 Value: $100,000 Builder: Craig Construction Ltd., Langley Location/work: 268A-1320 Trans-Canada Highway, Ardene.

Tenant improvements.

Issued: May 29 Value: N/A Builder: Petrocom Construction Ltd. Location/work: 964 Eighth St. The decommissioning of petroleum storage and dispensing facilities. Tanks, dispensers, piping, canopy, etc.

Issued: May 31 Value: N/A Builder: Randi Ayres, Eileen Kato Location/work: 1102 Crestline St., The demolition of an 884-square-foot house.

Issued: June 1 Value: $75,000 Builder: Colt Construction Ltd., Surrey Location/work: 1897 Versatile Way. Relocate Chevron cardlock canopy.

Issued: June 1 Value: $96,640 Builder: Pro Builders Location/work: 2155 Rose Hill Rd. Construct a 2,416-square-foot detached shop.

Issued: June 4 Value: N/A Builder: Hall Excavating Ltd. Location/work: Temporarily store

keith anderson/kamloops business

Don Cavers, with Chase Equipment and Supply Ltd., keeps an eye on the drill bit while installing a loop for heating and cooling on a vacant lot in the 100 block Victoria Street. It’s part of a geothermal system to be used by a future business.

1,200 cubic yards of soils from 377 Tranquille Rd. Issued: June 4 Value: $50,000 Builder: Granberg Construction Location/work: 1521 Hugh Allan Dr., Super 8 Motel. Build a hot tub.

Issued: June 4 Value: $100,000 Builder: Kam 1200 Holdings Ltd. Location/work: 316 Victoria St., Subway. Tenant improvements.

Issued: June 5 Value: $15,000 Builder: Gregory and Yvonne Timewell Location/work: 4-1390 Hillside Dr. To construct a mezzanine and washrooms for future office.

Issued: June 5 Value: $60,000 Builder: EPS Ventures Location/work: 625 Bermer Pl. To build an in-ground swimming pool.

Issued: June 5 Value: $400,000 Builder: Century Group Inc., Victoria Location/work: 186 Victoria St. Tenant improvements.

Issued: June 5

Value: $45,000 Builder: Technifield Contracting Ltd., Nanaimo Location/work: 1180 Columbia St., The Source. Tenant improvements.

Issued: June 5 Value: $30,000 Builder: Joseph Kopp Location/work: 1748 Cheakamus Dr. To build an 19x34-foot in-ground pool.

Issued: June 5 Value: $300,000 Builder: N/A Location/work: 2438 Trans-Canada Highway E. Exterior and interior alterations.

Issued: June 8 Value: $400,000 Builder: Mibroc Construction Ltd. Location/work: 1525 Island Parkway.

To construct a new building for Kamloops Minor Baseball.

Issued: June 12 Value: $50,000 Builder: Rodney Klassen Location/work: 1723 Birkenhead Pl. Installation of an 18x38-foot in-ground pool.

Issued: June 12 Value: $18,000 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

Issued: June 13 Value: $25,000 Builder: Wayne and Donna McElroy Location/work: 865 Woodrush Dr. Construct approximately 150 feet of gabion retaining wall.

Issued: June 14 Value: $48,800 Builder: Wrabel Brothers Construction Location/work: 710 Bissette Rd. Convert 720-square-foot garage into garden suite.

Issued: June 14 Value: $77,000 Builder: Thompson Valley Restoration Ltd. Location/work: 135 Redwood Cres.

Smoke damage repair, roof repair.

Issued: June 15 Value: $3,200 Builder: Brian Atamanchuk Location/work: 725 Barrie Dr. Construct a 24-foot diameter above-ground pool.

Issued: June 19 Value: $125,000 Builder: N&H Contracting Ltd. Location/work: 1061 Laurel Pl. To rebuild existing concrete block retaining wall.

Issued: June 19 Value: $150,000 Builder: Source Display, Richmond Location/work: 910 Columbia St. W, The Real Canadian Superstore.

Interior alteration.

Issued: June 20 Value: $35,000 Builder: D&T Developments Ltd. Location/work: 204-1210 Summit Dr., Earl’s Restaurant. Renovations and small addition.

2012

KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

19

> VENTURE KAMLOOPS

For Business, Help Just a Telephone Call Away ‘Economic gardening’ focuses on creating resources for growth

BY DAN SULZ >> CEO, VENTURE KAMLOOPS

E

conomic gardening is an approach to economic development that focuses on providing valuable resources to local growth-oriented businesses. By providing valuable information and resources, entrepreneurs can make better strategic decisions, avoid costly mistakes and focus on long-term sustained growth.

At Venture Kamloops, we are cultivating entrepreneurs. If you are a budding entrepreneur, want to start a business, or want to expand and grow your business and just don’t know where to start, we can help.

Our website is full of information and resources that can assist existing and prospective business owners locate the answers to their business questions.

If you are investigating a new business, be sure to check out the information provided in the 14 steps to starting your small business (under the heading Start a Business) on our home page. Looking for money to help get started? There’s a listing of funding resources available.

You will find numerous valuable

resources and statistical information in the Business and Resource Directory under Information Centre to help you develop your business plan.

Sometimes it is difficult to find the information you need, or you want to discuss your idea or concept with someone first. Venture Kamloops business retention and expansion specialist Colin O’Leary can assist you with questions or concerns regarding your business or idea.

Call the Venture Kamloops office to schedule an appointment with Colin for one-on-one assistance with available resources, networking, access to new markets and to connect with the people and associations who can best help your business.

As your business idea develops, check out our VK Venture Advisors program.

The program allows entrepreneurs to pitch their business idea to a panel of local business professionals and experts who will provide constructive feedback, insight and connections to assist you with your business development.

DAN SULZ Kamloops is business friendly and we are fortunate to have a plethora of people and associations that want to help.

Venture Kamloops can help you determine which group best suits your needs — and there are many, including the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, Kamloops Innovation Centre, Thompson Rivers University, Community Futures Thompson Country, Interior Science Innovation Council, Downtown Business Improvement Association and the North Shore Business Improvement Association just to name a few.

Kamloops is a great place to start and run a business.

The city has a strong, educated labour force, cost-effective land and building space. It is well connected to the world and has the resources to help you become a successful entrepreneur. KB

P U B L I C A T I O N S A

D I V I S I O N

O F

The Daily News KAMLOOPS

Keshav Sharma 250-371-6137 email: ksharma@kamloopsnews.ca KAMLOOPS BUSINESS MAGAZINE 20 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

CURRENTS MAGAZINE

> NSbia report

Just Another Day in Paradise

New!

Mother Nature truly smiles on sunny, warm North Shore

BY PETER MUTRIE >> MANAGER, NSBIA

T

he North Shore Business Improvement Association works to enhance the commercial investment climate within our mandate of the North Shore.

Our residential density and diversity provides a consumer base almost as eclectic as our commercial base. And this is only part of what makes our area interesting and attractive.

Another part of the attraction is the Zone 6 gardening on the North Shore, PETER MUTRIE where spring comes early and winter comes late. The sun-drenched low elevation of North Kamloops and Brocklehurst provides gardeners with a wide variety of horticultural choices that are not possible in other areas of Kamloops.

The next serious Zone 6 is in the Okanagan. We enjoy a grower’s paradise here and this is not lost on those who are paying attention to global trends for food sustainability.

The North Shore asset base includes flat land that has been gaining ready appeal for seniors and those who provide for seniors. Reasonable walking and proximity to services is creating additional demand for the steadily increasing senior demographic and this trend will continue for the next two decades.

We are truly blessed here.

We do not have the coast to coast, same old “trendoid” stuff. We are a unique blend of independent businesses spanning a full range of products, services and styles. Everything you need is on the North Shore and more and more people are finding their home here.

We are experiencing a resurgence of first-time buyers and young families as well as an expanding senior population.

This increase in residential density is anchoring the next round of retail investments.

Business diversity, with a lot of small, independent businesses, makes a place interesting.

We are the most diverse area of Kamloops with a wide range of flavours and styles. We also have the best people-watching in the city.

This all makes for an interesting place, not just for residents, but also for retailers who are finding plenty of feasible investment options. KB

Canyon Creek offers more standard combinations of door styles, wood species and colors than most other cabinet companies. Valuepriced Katana and Newcastle cabinetry, along with our Closets Plus program, offer additional options to fit every budget and storage need. We also offer a number of “green” cabinetry options, and you can order it all with fixed lead times of as little as four weeks.

Drop by the store and see our new in-store display!

735 LAVAL CRESCENT, KAMLOOPS 250-372-7797•1-800-656-6693 windsorplywood.com/kamloops

Mon - Fri: 7:30am - 5:30pm • Sat: 8am - 5pm • Closed Sundays AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

2012

KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

21

Join us for the Best East Indian Lunch Buffet and Fine Dining

Three years ago, before the doors of Spice a Taste of Indian Cuisine was opened, Bhagwant Sawa was aan inexperienced entrepreneur with a drive to serve ot others. Today, Bhagwant has found passion in the kitchen and he shares it through the flavour-full menu found at Spice.

Being immersed in a new world brings opportunity to learn and grow, but one thing that has remained the same and is always most important at Spice is the quality of food. The loyal patrons can taste the quality and care in each dish and for this reason, the owners of Spice are proud to have been awarded Reader's Choice Number One Indian Restaurant in Kamloops.

They have set themselves apart from other restaurants and are grateful for the positive feedback they have been receiving from customers, who rave about their distinctive tastes and variety in the popular lunch buffet. Living in the community for the past 30 years, the owners of Spice are happy to give back to the community by igniting their taste buds with exotic Indian flavours. They would like to thank the community for supporting their family owned and operated business, and with their growing success will continue to introduce great tasting authentic Indian cuisine to the community.

BEST

Special arrangements for parties & get-togethers 700 Tranquille Rd. (Across from Liquor Store)) Take Out & Delivery Available •

250-376-4444

Lunch Buffet from Mon. to Sat. MON. TO SAT. 11:00AM – 2PM; 4:30 - 9:30PM • SUN. 4 – 9PM 22 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

OPEN

7 DAYS A WEEK!

> GETTING ALONG

WORKPLACE

WARS RESOLVING CONFLICT THROUGH MEDIATION STORY BY SUSAN DUNCAN PHOTOS BY KEITH ANDERSON

Mediator Chris Ortner says calling in a professional can save companies a lot of money in lost productivity — and even civil actions.

T

he inability of many people to communicate properly has created an important role for mediation services in the business world.

Take two partners (we’ll call them Barry and Clay) who formed a business together in their early 30s. Ten years later, after much unhappiness and stress, they accept they are incompatible.

Unfortunately, they’ve let things get to the point where they can barely be in the same room together. They want to dissolve the relationship, which is no easy matter at the best of times, but next to impossible if partners can’t speak without an argument erupting.

It’s time to call in a professional. Enter Daniel Williams of Williams Mediation Services of Kamloops.

Williams first took a mediation course through the Justice Institute of B.C. when he was sales director for Telus.

“

a mediator does not make any decisions. the process helps the parties come to an agreement.”

— Professional MEDIATOR daniel williams

After he retired, he took the full slate of mediation courses, registered with Mediate B.C., and for the past 10 years he has provided mediation services across Canada.

“A mediator has to be a good listener and remain curious. We ask questions that go down multiple layers, not just the first question. I try to get people to do that reality check — look for the holes in their own argument,” he said.

In the case of Barry and Clay, the issue was solved fairly quickly after they realized they needed an independent person to provide a guiding influence and control the issues.

“A mediator does not make any decisions. The process helps the parties come to an agreement,” said Williams.

Chris Ortner, who is also on the Mediate B.C. Roster, said calling in a professional mediator can save companies a lot of money in lost productivity,

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

2012

KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

23

employee turnover, high absenteeism rates — and even civil actions.

Internal workplace conflict is incredibly detrimental to a business bottom line, he said. Yet it is often easily resolved once the problem is identified.

“Sometimes when a conflict surfaces, careful questioning reveals the issues have already been there, sometimes as far back as 20 years. It’s not unusual to discover people don’t even realize their own workplace culture,” Ortner said.

For example, bullying may be intrinsic in how things are done. There is a fine line between bullying and the management process and the bully may not even realize how he is coming across to the people who report to him.

Interviews begin with the employers who generally foot the bill for the mediator. They outline the issues from their perspective. Conversations take place with the other parties involved and the process of finding a resolution gets under way.

Ortner’s background is in forestry, but he has a master’s degree in conflict analysis and management. He also has medi-

Daniel Williams, of Williams Mediation Services of Kamloops: “We ask questions that go down multiple layers, not just the first question. I try to get people to do that reality check.” ation training and is a consultant operating through the Kamloops Centre of Therapy. As well as providing workplace

mediation services, he also mediates family issues and negotiates First Nations land claims.

He said he increasingly sees people coming into management situations without training. If an organization doesn’t have an internal conflict system or a talented manager looking after these things, serious problems can erupt.

Williams said the resolution on a dispute ranges from financial settlements to verbal agreements.

“Sometimes they can get an ‘I’m sorry’ and that’s all they wanted. They just want to be heard. ‘You hurt me. You caused me pain and suffering’ or at least they feel that the person did this.

Sometimes mediation allows two parties to realize the intent was completely different than what they thought was going on.”

Both Williams and Ortner cautioned that the world of mediation is still fairly unregulated and anyone can call him or herself a mediator.

Professional mediators are listed through the Mediate B.C. Roster list. KB

VENTURE KAMLOOPS Business Services & Support

Venture Kamloops has the information and resources you need to successfully start or expand your business. Our experienced professionals will inform you of business opportunities and connect you with the people who will be pivotal from start-up to continued business success.

We Offer: • One-on-one confidential business support and mentorship programs • Assistance with business registration, taxation and regulatory issues • Support with funding programs and sources • Workshops and seminars on topics relevant to business needs • Promotion of your business locally, nationally and internationally 24 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

Visit venturekamloops.com to connect with one of our specialists.

VENTUREKAMLOOPS.COM 250-828-6818 or 1-888-526-5667

> KCbia report

Your Business Strategies Look at Core of Problem is Our Business Report on downtown parking provides three key starting points

BY GAY POOLER >> MANAGER, KCBIA

L

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D000909113

et’s talk parking.

The parking solutions group formed by the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association, which includes business and property owners, property managers and developers as well as City staff and councillors, recently completed its downtown parking strategies report.

This package of recommendations was presented to City council and GAY POOLER it was emphasized that it must be viewed as an overall package. It has become apparent when dealing with parking that every decision made or solution offered affects another. We are recommending a co-ordinated approach over the next year to implement solutions.

The three key starting points are: seeking expressions of interest from developers, establishing a parking infrastructure fund and using new technology to manage on-street parking.

An expression of interest was developed by the parking solutions group, and City council voted to have staff modify it as needed so that it can be sent out. This should generate some ideas from the development community and property owners on possible partnerships to build permanent parking stalls.

The parking fund would see downtown parking revenues pay for downtown parking needs, build more parking and the acquire the technology needed to manage it.

Part of the parking management and technology package is a rise in parking meter rates. This is not about the money, but intended to create a system that is better for customers.

Imagine a system that allows you to pay by licence plate and use that time in more than one location, supports payment by credit card and phone, gives you the option to purchase a third or fourth hour (at a premium) if you need that time to continue enjoying your shopping expedition downtown.

Your favourite store will have the ability to easily validate your parking as well. Market-based pricing also helps ensure vehicle turnover and availability of stalls.

We are working to help our customers and our downtown employees.

City council has put the report on its summer workshop schedule to decide the next steps. For a more in-depth look at the report to council, go to our website at www.kcbia.com. KB

Ph:: 25 Ph 250 250.374.6887 0 37 3744 68 6887 87 Toll Free: 1-800-531-6633 Fax: 250-374-4699 945 Notre Dame Dr. sales@kcc.ca • support@kcc.ca

www.kcc.ca AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

2012

KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

25

> solid advice

The War for Talent: Here We Go Again Alberta, B.C.’s north luring away workers with promise of big bucks

BY SHANE JENSEN >> NEW QUEST COACHING

B

efore things went sideways, remember how hard it was to find skilled employees in the fall of 2008? If you were a warm body, the job was yours. In many ways, it was not so much a war for the customer, but a war for talent.

Employee loyalty was gone and many businesses had a revolving door of skilled labour coming and going as employees jumped ship SHANE JENSEN for greener pastures.

Of course, all of this came to an abrupt end by the fall of 2008. By 2010, the power had shifted back to business owners, as there was now a large talent pool from which to draw.

Employees who had jobs were just grateful to be employed and no one considered jumping ship for greener pastures.

But once again, we are starting to see rumblings here in Kamloops that another war for talent will once again descend upon our region. I already see it with some of my clients.

However, much like the years leading up to the financial collapse of 2009, there are a few key factors outside of Kamloops that will directly impact our community. One is demographics.

In Canada, the majority of our skilled labour force is older and starting to retire faster than they can be replaced.

The oil patch in northern Alberta is the second key factor creating the perfect labour storm. One of my clients told me an alarming story. An oil and gas company hired a headhunting firm to find certified auto mechanics. The headhunter staked out a business and during the smoke and coffee break, he went around back and offered the mechanics such a good deal that five walked away from the business.

This story reflects what will be a growing issue here. Soon, many of our skilled workers will be employed in northern Alberta or northern B.C. In the near future, local businesses will have a tough time matching the compensation packages being offered outside of Kamloops.

The good news is that Kamloops provides excellent opportunities that will bring skilled labour to live and work here.

Money will always be important, but workplace culture and, of course, the incredible lifestyle that we offer here, will play a part in attracting and retaining skilled labour.

Shane Jensen, MA, ACC, CEC, is the senior principal for New Quest Coaching & Consulting. To learn more, see www.newquestcc.com. KB 26 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

KAMLOOPS PAINT & WINDOW COVERINGS 105 - 805 Notre Dame Drive Kamloops, BC V2C 5N8 250-828-1800

4(205. ( +0--,9,5*, 05 6<9 *644<50;0,: ,]LY`VUL ^PUZ ^OLU `V\ THRL H NPM[ [V [OL 2HTSVVWZ -V\UKH[PVU >OL[OLY `V\ ^HU[ [V THRL H ZTHSS KVUH[PVU Z[HY[ HU LUKV^TLU[ M\UK VY SLH]L H ILX\LZ[ PU `V\Y ^PSS ^L HYL `V\Y JVTT\UP[` MV\UKH[PVU HUK ^L ^VYR ^P[O `V\ [V THRL NP]UN LHZ`

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PUMV'RHTSVVWZMV\UKH[PVU JVT ^^^ RHTSVVWZMV\UKH[PVU JVT

ONE OF THE BEST Voted One of the Best Pharmicies in Kamloops.

Also specializing in veterinary compounding.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

2012

KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

27

Chamber NEWS Annual Business Awards Announced on Sept. 10 Plenty of sponsorship opportunities exist for gala dinner set for convention centre

T

he nominees for this year’s Business Excellence Awards will be announced Sept. 10 during an event at the new Kamloops Ford Lincoln building, says Chamber of Commerce president Maurice Hindle.

He said the chamber received close to 200 nominations in several categories this year. The gala awards banquet will be held Oct. 13 at the Kamloops Convention Centre. Nominations closed June 30.

Hindle said there are still some great sponsorship opportunities available for the gala dinner. Any interested parties can contact the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce at 250-372-7722. More information about the event can also be found at www.kamloopschamber.ca. p p p Chamber members are urged to cast their vote about the vote. Hindle said the chamber is currently running a web survey for its membership to determine how many voted in the last provincial

election and how many plan to vote in the next one.

He said the survey is as much an exercise in raising awareness as it is in information gathering.

“We want our membership to know they can voice their opinion (by voting),” Hindle said.

The next provincial election is scheduled for May 2013. Check the chamber’s website for more information. p p p The Kamloops chamber has again seen success with its advocacy efforts, Hindle said. Seven Kamloops resolutions were voted on and passed at the B.C. Chamber annual general meeting in Penticton earlier this year. Several more Kamloops-initiated policy objectives will be raised at the national chamber annual general meeting in Hamilton in September. p p p The chamber is on track to hit membership targets of 1,000 members in

28 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

MAURICE HINDLE three years, said Hindle. This year, more than 80 new businesses have already signed up and retention rates for existing members remain above 80 per cent.

At last count, the chamber had 842 members. p p p The chamber’s recently formed social issues committee will soon start its work by polling the membership to determine priorities.

“The chamber supports businessbased (social) options that support a safer and more vibrant community,” he said.

The committee is made up of chamber directors, a RCMP representative and a member at large.

“We hope to reduce crime, homelessness, poverty and improve public safety,” Hindle said.

One of the areas to be looked at will be a campaign to reduce auto crime and business theft. “This is certainly an area the membership has expressed a concern about.” he said. KB

> chamber news i NEW MEMBERS

Waste Removal With No Waiting Locally owned company takes pride in being fast and efficient

W

hen you look at what a city lacks, you wouldn’t normally think waste removal, but for Carl Olson, he saw a need and went with it.

Six years ago, Olson realized there was nobody in Kamloops offering mini-bin waste removal services and decided to start his business, Thompson Valley Disposal. Today he provides bin service for Kamloops, Chase, Barriere, Logan Lake and everywhere in between.

“I bought one truck and two bins and six years later I have 16 mini bins, four 40-yard bins, four 30-yard bins, two rock bins and bought a bigger truck,” he said.

Olson is proud to be locally owned and operated, and his bins are all made right in Kamloops and his trucks are maintained in the city as well. Supporting the community is just one of the ways that Olson believes sets his business apart

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Thompson Valley Disposal owner Carl Olson, foreground, with driver Gerry Dionne. from the competition.

“We’re local and if you give us a call and if we’re not too busy we’ll deliver it, you call and we’ll pick it up,” he said. “Usually you have to wait for days for someone to come pick it up, so that’s the best part. We’re fast and efficient.”

No matter what size the job is, Olson and his team at Thompson Valley Disposal have a bin that will fit the project.

Their mini-bins are perfect for one- or two-bedroom home renovation projects and the larger bins work great for commercial demolitions or renovations. KB

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

2012

KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

29

> Q&A

Association. It is the first of its kind in B.C. The program has been tweaked a bit this year. It now has a new name and will accept a larger range of items.

Kamloops Business spoke with program spokesman Jordan Best about the changes and how the recycling effort is going.

Q: What is the program called now?

It’s now called the ElectroRecycle: The Small Appliance & Power Tool Recycling Program, instead of Unplugged.

Q: Why change the name?

We’ve expanded the program, and the new name is more reflective of the new program. As of July 1, the program expanded to capture additional tools, such as power tools, sewing machines, and electrical exercise equipment (like treadmills).

Q: Why is this needed?

The expansion is reflective of B.C. landfill regulations, which require manufacturers to create these kinds of programs. It also reflects what is showing up in our landfills.

GIZMO

GRAVEYARD electrorecycle the new face of appliance recycling in B.C.

I

n October 2011, B.C. unveiled a new recycling program designed to give consumers options for the disposal of small appliances, items such as blenders, microwaves, toasters, vacuums and mixers.

“Unplugged,” as the program was called, is expected to divert more than two million small appliances a year from landfills in communities across B.C. Three depots accept appliances in Kamloops. One of them is set up at the landfill itself, kind of a last-minute diversion effort.

Fees of between $1 and $10 are now charged on new items at the time of sale.

Those fees are used to finance the recycling effort. The program is managed by Product Care Association on behalf of the Canadian Electrical Stewardship

30 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

Q: Will these items also see surcharges imposed at the time of sale?

Yes, the program is funded in the same way, by fees charged on new products in B.C., which provides the recycling program to everyone free of charge. One hundred per cent of the fee is used to fund the collection system. It’s not a deposit system, people do not get the fee back. The new fees will be added to new products as of July 1.

Q: Is it set fee or a percentage?

A set fee based on the category the product is in. About 90 per cent of products have a fee of $2.75 or lower. The fee is based on the cost of recycling that device. The fee reflects the costs to collect and recycle the item. It’s the same regardless of the price of the item.

Q: The program has been running for several months, how is it working?

Very well. We have more than 120 collection sites across B.C. We collected about 600,000 kilograms of small appliances in the first three months of the program last year. KB

C

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