Imagine That Media

Imagine That Media Sustaining business growth through hard work and dedication

by Elizabeth Ireland

Sixteen years ago, Laurie Walling founded the sign shop Imagine That Media in Saskatoon. Laurie had 20 years of previous experience in the printing business, on the accounting side. Shortly after the company began operating, Laurie’s husband Wayne left his previous job to join the growing company. Wayne then became a full partner in the business.

Today, Imagine That Media prides itself on creating a one-of-akind experience for promotional products, branded clothing, signs, banners, printing and tradeshow displays. The company remains family-owned and operated.

“We have a full sign department where we can make indoor and outdoor signs, as well dress up your truck or company car. We also supply many small businesses with decals to identify their products. We have a large selection of vinyl materials and we have vinyl that can be heat-transferred onto clothing products. At our Quebec Avenue showroom, there is a whole wall of vinyl colors to choose from!” says Walling.

All in the family After both of Laurie’s daughters graduated from the University of Saskatchewan, they began working at Imagine That Media. Many days, one or two grandchildren also show up at the showroom. Laurie and Wayne’s friendly dog Baxter comes to work every day as well. Wayne jokes that Baxter is “the only other male in the office.” Imagine That Media’s customers are a cross-section of educational institutions, member-based organizations, and small and mediumsized businesses. Customers tend to be local, with the emphasis on serving Saskatoon and the surrounding area. Currently, about 30 percent of the company’s business is signage, banners and vehicle graphics. The other 60 to 70 percent is branded promotional items such as clothing, bags, pens and water bottles. Location, location, location “Our showroom’s location on a corner on Quebec Avenue is definitely an advantage. We have lots of drive-by traffic and parking is easily available. There is also plenty of room to load and unload shipments,” says Walling. Another smart business decision that Walling made was purchasing the building itself (one side of the building is leased out to three other tenants). In terms of its relationship with the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, Imagine That Media has been Chamber members since Walling opened her doors. Her staff receive group insurance and benefits through the Chamber’s plan.

“Our growth has been through word-of-mouth, by providing our customers with a good product and paying our suppliers on-time. As a family, we care about our company,” says Walling.

In 2007, the business won the Customer Service & Small Business SABEX Award. Beside the SABEX Award on the showroom’s wall, is a picture of Aden Bowman – Wayne’s grandfather and one of Saskatoon’s earliest business and civic leaders (Bowman passed away in 1957).

To ensure quality, Walling explains the way that the promotional products industry functions is that companies are members of the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI). According to its website, “ASI’s mission is to be the trusted partner of the promotional products industry by fostering its success every step of the way.” Without proper accreditation, a business like Imagine That Media cannot place an order with a promotional products supplier.

“We pride ourselves on our company’s fair pricing and proven track record with our customers. We’re also proud to work with Canadian suppliers, or US suppliers with Canadian distribution channels,” summarizes Walling.

Imagine That Media 1636 Quebec Avenue, Saskatoon (306) 244-1380 info@imaginethatsask.ca www.imaginethatsask.ca Imagine That Media’s showroom is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm or by appointment.

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January 9 10:30 am – 12:00pm January 23 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm February 4 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm February 20 9:30 am – 11:00 am

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Co.Labs is California Dreaming by Elizabeth Ireland

Winter is fully upon us and Jordan Dutchak, Executive Director of Co.Labs in Saskatoon, looks back fondly at The Tech Trip 2 (TTT) held this past October in northern California. TTT is an entrepreneurship and business expansion program where Saskatchewanbased tech start-ups join representatives from SREDA and Co.Labs in San Francisco to meet with high-impact mentors and potential investors.

This year, four companies went on TTT – BetterCart, Saskatchewan Home Buyers’ Guide, Todai and Hugr. Moose Jaw-based entrepreneur, Joel Pinel, is the CEO and Co-Founder of Todai, as well as the owner of Wow Factor Media.

Todai is an artificial intelligence software platform that was developed to work alongside an organization’s human resources team and management to offer real-time insights into company culture and employee engagement. The software uses sentiment analysis to identify an organization’s overall employee engagement and workplace culture by securely (and anonymously) analyzing daily messages sent through email and chats.

“Our software identifies tone, pattern and language, including grammar and word choices. The actionable data ensures that human resources departments can tackle the red flags in real-time and boost employee morale,” explains Pinel.

“San Francisco was an amazing learning experience. It’s great to have the support from groups like SREDA and Co.Labs to help us connect abroad. I learned a lot and met some great people, but it also made me realize how strong tech in Saskatchewan is. With the community and support available here, anything is possible,” says Pinel.

Dutchak explains that the challenge with Todai initially was to find a way to monetize their sentiment analysis software. Luckily, Co.Labs was there to support the team in finding a niche where their technology could add enough value for users that they could charge for access to the platform.

Related to the health and workplace wellness theme of this issue, Hugr.ca is a platform for reconnecting people and organizations – centered around individual and collective psychological health. The goal of Hugr is to reduce the stigma around depression by providing a mechanism for individuals to communicate with friends and family. Daren MacLean is the CEO of Territorial and the founder of Hugr.

“The Tech Trip elevates the tech sector in Saskatoon and helps those who attended think bigger about the impact they can have with their companies. Being in California helped me really believe that Hugr can have huge impact. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Hugr is at the forefront of mental health and psychological health and safety in the workplace,” says McLean.

Dutchak summarizes this past TTT 2 as “really successful and streamlined. It provided all four companies with tremendous value.”

Co.Labs is Saskatchewan’s first technology incubator and has served as a creative collaboration space for 88 tech start-ups in its first 29 months of operation. Co.Labs is funded by the provincial and federal government through Innovation Saskatchewan and Western Economic Diversification Canada.

Co.Labs Innovation Place 229-116 Research Drive, Saskatoon www.co-labs.ca | @colabsyxe

The 1 st WEDNESDAY* of every Month 4:30 pm LB Distillers

Connect with the business community and enjoy great food and drinks at Chamber on Tap on the first Wednesday of each month. Learn Entrepreneur Insights when our host Nadine Kanigan interviews members of the business community.

Wednesday, January 8 th

Andrey Kharitonov Fire & Flower Cannabis Co.

Andrey recently took on the role of District Manager for Saskatchewan & Manitoba for Fire & Flower Cannabis Co. He is responsible for creating an industry-leading guest and team member experience.

Wednesday, February 5 th

Alex Fallon SREDA

Alex has worked for blue-chip organizations like Rolls-Royce, Cameco Corporation, the Government of Saskatchewan and the British Government (think 007) and is currently the President and CEO of SREDA.

Wednesday, April 1 st

Asif Moola Momentum Clothing

In 2001, Asif Moola bought Momentum Clothing, a Saskatoon based retailer that specializes in streetwear, sneakers, outerwear and premium accessories.

Wednesday, May 6 th

Jim & Brenda Nowakowski JNE Welding

The Nowakowskis are part owners of JNE Welding, a custom industrial steel fabrication company with two locations in Saskatoon and employ 130-150 skilled people.

Wednesday, March 4 th

Evan Drisner NuFab Building Products

Evan Drisner is the managing partner of NuFab Building Products, part of the AllFab Group of Companies, a manufacturing, and resale company in the construction industry.

Annoying People Are Everywhere Trade irritation for curiosity and watch conflict dissolve By Shari Alexander SPECIAL FEATURE

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could feel deeply connected to and get along with every person in our lives? Sure it would…I also want a unicorn.

Some people will always rub you the wrong way. You’re stuck in the office with them. You sit next to them at an event. You painfully chat with them on the sidelines of your kid’s soccer practice.

Having a game plan for how to deal with them will save you from unnecessary emotional turmoil – and you might find yourself actually enjoying an interaction with someone you never thought you would like.

Consider what you canand can’t- change. Start by examining what you have control over and what you don’t. Remember: Other people’s thoughts and actions are not within your control.

Instead of focusing on what’s out of your control, set up scenarios that guide someone to do, say or even think what you would like them to. That’s the essence of influence: manipulating what you do have control over in hopes of influencing someone else. So, to not be annoyed by annoying people, you must go to what you have control over – namely, yourself. You can control your state of mind, your reactions, your intentions, your approach, and your choice of words.

Think about a person that annoys you. Really conjure a clear picture. See the person’s smug face. Hear their cringe-inducing voice. Now, notice. How do you feel? What expressions surface on your face? When you think about this person, does your nose crinkle? Does your body have an involuntary shudder? Do you feel a surge of contempt? This is the place to start controlling your reactions. In his extensive studies on marriage and relationships, American psychological John Gottman was able to predict with over 94% accuracy whether or not a couple would last. His most effective measurement? Contempt. If he sees signs of contempt in one or both partners, it’s a pretty good indicator that they will be facing each other in court one day. Judgement closes the door to change. Curiosity opens it . But contempt can exist in ANY relationship. That’s why it’s important to stop this feeling before it festers.

When you feel yourself rolling your eyes or raising your eyebrows, ask yourself:

• What is my first reaction when I see or talk to the person?

• What thoughts (or judgments) automatically come to mind?

• What physical reactions do I experience (tension, change in breath, a shift in posture, change in vocal tone or cadence)?

• Are any not-so-hidden sighs of annoyance slip through my lips?

This is what you’re putting into the relationship. You’re responsible for your side of the relationship.

Pay attention to your physical response.

In general, when you don’t get along with someone, you get a spike in cortisol or adrenaline. Your muscles tense up – you’ll feel a tightness in your chest, maybe your shoulders lift towards your ears, or you might just hold your pen a little tighter in your hand. Perhaps your brow furrows or you tilt your head down while your eyes look up at the annoying person (a primitive body language posture that signals bubbling aggression.) Your disapproval towards that person can be heard as well as seen. You might talk painstakingly slower or agitatedly faster.

Not only does the annoying offender pick up on these cloaked signals, but these physical reactions also amplify your internal negative emotions. Now you’re in a feedback loop of annoyance.

The real danger is when your reactions become automatic and you’re not aware of them. Mitigate your annoyance level by consciously taking control of your reactions. Focus on relaxing the tension in your body. Breathe at a comfortable (not annoyed) pace. Your goal is to find neutral – physically, emotionally, and mentally – so that you use a different approach with people that annoy you.

Tune into your thoughts.

Next, do a thought audit. Consider if you have created certain beliefs about this person. Some examples could include: • She never listens. • He is always seeking attention. • He is so egocentric. • She doesn’t follow through on anything. Once you have awareness of those thoughts, question them. Are they true?

You can quickly identify false beliefs whenever you use the words always or never. It’s unlikely that one person could always do anything or never do another. You can find circumstances in which they have done the opposite of your always/never belief.

Try changing your (judgemental) beliefs by swapping out the words always/never for sometimes.

Exercise your brain and find a different perspective

Now that you’ve captured your automatic thoughts playing on a loop, it’s time to find a more helpful thought to replace it with. Is there an alternate truth you could use instead?

I’m not talking about lying to yourself or pretending everything is fantastic but rather remembering that human beings are complex, layered creatures. We only see a fraction of what other people experience.

Keep questioning your assumptions so that you can operate from compassion and make stronger connections. Is there a nuance you can add to your thoughts and beliefs about this person that would enhance your relationship with them, rather than build more barriers between you?

Other people’s thoughts and actions are not within your control. For example, a client of mine dislikes his boss. He feels like his boss is always seeking approval from everyone. (Did you catch that “always?”) And because his boss wants approval more than anything else, his boss doesn’t like to ruffle any feathers and, therefore, lets other employees get away with bad behavior.

I asked my client, “How would your boss describe himself? He likely wouldn’t say ‘I always seek everyone’s approval.’ So, how would he say it?” SPECIAL FEATURE After thinking about it a bit, my client said, “Well, he’d probably say that he just wants everyone to be happy.”

“Yes!” I said. “And now imagine how difficult his job is every day. He’s the boss. And there’s no way to be the boss and keep everyone happy all the time. You have to disappoint people, which sounds like his biggest fear. Every day presents him with a challenge–a chance for him to be disliked. And you (my client) also seem like the type of person who isn’t easily impressed. So, maybe now we can see where the clash is occurring.”

My client paused as he considered this, then exclaimed, “That’s SO BIG! I never thought of it that way!”

After shifting the belief from “he always seeks everyone’s approval” to “he’s really afraid of letting people down,” we figured out ways we could repair and improve their working relationship.

I coached my client to sandwich his criticisms and differing opinions between validating statements. Such as, “I like where we’re headed with this. We could improve the process if we integrated this other system,” or “I think you’ve laid out a great framework for us to work with here.”

By questioning the belief, we were able to find things within his control that improve the relationship.

Shift to curiosity.

The next time you find yourself tensing your muscles or furrowing your brows, shift your mindset to one of curiosity rather than judgement. In doing so, you change the dynamic in the relationship because judgement closed the door to change. Curiosity opens it.

Editor’s note: Article originally published in the November 2019 issue of Toastmaster magazine.

Shari Alexanderis a speaker, writer, trainer and coach, specializing in influencing techniques. She is certified in neurolinguistic programming, micro expressions and body language, and has designed numerous communications training courses.