Members in the News New Freshii to open in East End St. John’s this fall
Michelle Pye and her Freshii business partners (Paul Mercer and Dave and Susan Petten) are establishing a second location on White Rose Drive in the East end of St. John’s. The franchise is based on a healthy brand of specialty dining and has been enjoying success at its first location in St. John’s for the last three years. The new space is not yet under construction, but will be approximate 1300 square feet, employ about 14 staff and be located next to the Little Caesar’s in the Thompson Centres commercial property. The new Freshii location will also feature ample parking. Stay tuned for November 2018, when Freshii intends to open and start dishing out its signature selection of healthy bowls, burritos, wraps soups, salads, wraps, juices and smoothies.
Collision Clinic expanding to Torbay
Collision Clinic, a local vehicle repair centre at 685 Topsail Road, is celebrating 40 years in operation this year – and news of an expansion. Owner Glenn Hickey has purchased Garland Auto Body in Torbay and will convert the 10,000-square-foot facility at the corner of Torbay Road and Cox Marsh Road into a Collision Clinic. “We will renovate, rebrand and retool the facility with the state-of-the-art technology and equipment that Collision Clinic currently uses to restore today’s complex vehicles to pre-accident condition,” a news release announcing the acquisition stated. “The energy and skill level of the employees at our new Torbay Road location is impressive, and we are excited about having them join the Collision Clinic team of professionals.”
Whink is growing and moving!
After 8 years in operation, Whink is excited to create a new and expanded shopping experience in Churchill Square. The store is moving into the former Living Rooms location in September. Kim and the Whink team will be offering even more amazing art, jewellery and décor from local artisans and national brands in a shiny, new and accessible space.
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Whink is excited about its next chapter and joining the buzz and changes happening in Churchill Square. The business also intends to provide local artisans with a more spacious and dynamic venue to hold workshops, community-minded events and artisan networking sessions. Construction is ongoing with behind-the-scenes video updates available on the Whink website, so stay tuned for more news about the relocation and Grand Opening week.
Craft Council Shop, Gallery and Clay Studio relocation
After 27 years at Devon House, the Craft Council of Newfoundland & Labrador has relocated to a new downtown space at 275 Duckworth Street, a building recognized for to its aesthetic and historic values. This modern new home with its open, accessible floor plan will enable the Craft Council Shop to continue highlighting the outstanding work of its juried members. The Gallery is introducing an addition to its Main and Annex Galleries. The Clay Studio is currently moving into their interim location at 38 Ropewalk Lane (Unit 1106) and will continue classes and programming in that space while developing a new clay facility in the coming months.
BDC Capital Makes investment in Focus FS
Focus FS, a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) company that safeguards industrial worksites using innovative software products, announced in June that the company has closed a financing round of $1.4 million. BDC Capital, along with private investment, were among investors who supported the vision and growth plans of Focus FS. The funding will enable Focus FS to further invest in sales and marketing in key North American and international markets. Closing this round of funding with the support of multiple, strategic investors
is a clear validation of the Focus FS vision, team, and technology. BDC Capital is providing an $800 thousand-dollar quasi-equity investment as part of this financing. “Focus FS’s success to date is attributable in large part to their client-centric approach,” said Brian Whiteway, Director, Growth and Transition Capital, Newfoundland and Labrador at BDC Capital. “They have collaborated with industry experts and operators to understand their pain points and have built their products to address their needs. The company now feels it has reached a strong product-market fit and that it is ready to accelerate its growth.” BDC Capital’s investment is based on the company’s strategy and future value, rather than on specific assets. This type of investment product is especially well suited for technology-based businesses operating on a recurring revenue model, like Focus FS.
SCMA National Conference a great success
The Supply Chain Management Association, Newfoundland & Labrador Institute was host to the SCMA National Conference this year in Newfoundland and Labrador. The conference was held at the Convention Centre on June 13-15, 2018 in St. John’s, NL. 375 supply chain professionals and 25 exhibitors from across Canada attended the conference. Exhibitors showcased their products and services to the supply chain industry during the conference. The event featured a jampacked, two-day agenda of educational sessions from leading supply chain experts, keynote speakers from Newfoundland and Labrador and networking opportunities. It was a great opportunity to hear from industry experts, and to interact with other supply chain professionals to learn supply chain best practices. Additionally, SCMA gave back to the community with donations to Bridges to Hope and Dr. Jack Hand Legacy Foundation.
Do you have news about your business you’d like to share? Contact: Jennifer Barnable to share your story in MEMBERS IN THE NEWS 726-2961 ext 204 jbarnable@bot.nf.ca
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