Small Business BC
601 West Cordova Street #54 V6B 1G1 Vancouver, BC, Canada

#WEcreateBC is an online initiative to celebrate women entrepreneurs by the Women's Enterprise Centre in collaboration with the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs - FWE. SBBC joins this campaign by showcasing super women and their amazing ventures Here are four women nominated by our team: - Co-founder of The Food Story Cuisine (https://www.facebook.com/The-Food-Story-108658520750792)... The name tells the story of the place where great tasty food was born. Ranim, from Syria, brings her traditional dishes with sensational tastes. For Ranim, food is how we are connected to our ancestors and to our homeland. Laura Aveledo, our Business Advisor explains that, "Ranim is a Syrian refugee in Vancouver, a city where being an immigrant is hard to start & grow as a professional. In 3 years, she managed to set up her business offering traditional food from her country. She found a silver lining in COVID times by developing new food products!" - Founder and fellow practitioner of Claymates Ceramics Studio Averee started Claymates because she loves how creative spaces bring people together. Through her own experience with pottery, she's discovered its great capacity for creating connection. Laura explains that, "Averee worked hard to plan her business, got great help and support and she knew what she needed to do and where she needed help. She believed in her dream and made it happen. - Founder of Hunter Browns As difficult as it is being a single mom, she knows she only discovered this product because she is a mom. By cooking one day, Hunter Browns was born! Our Events Coordinator, Ruby Wang says, "She is a true hustler wakes up everyday at 4AM to juggle her business, a second job, and his 5 year old son. Her business is named after her son, Hunter!" - Owner of Kindred Cultures Lyndsay started in her kitchen as a project for her family. Her youngest son started suffering from eczema and asthma, and the prescriptions & hospital visits weren’t improving his conditions. To find relief for him, she began learning about probiotics and gut health. Ruby tells us that, "She started her business as a mission to find relief for her youngest son. Water kefir helped with his conditions and she sees this business as her true calling."

Reasons to #ShopLocal this #BlackFriday Local businesses are owned by local people. These people are your neighbours, your friends and family. They are invested in the success of our communities, and are motivated to contribute to ensuring that success. Though you may not realize it, the money you spend locally is often reinvested in vital local infrastructure through your tax dollars. As we remind people often at Small Business BC, 98 per cent of all bus...iness in our province is small business. Here, more than anywhere else in our country, it’s vital we support them. In doing so, we support and build our local communities. Keto My Heart Read full article here: sbbc.co/SupportLocal - Need ideas for the upcoming holiday season? Find special gifts for Christmas while supporting local businesses at . #buylocal #supportlocal #lovelocal Think Local First Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce City of Victoria - Local Government

TODAY! Welcome to our 2nd FREE virtual event - . . . starting at 9:30am. Register for free and access anytime: sbbc.co/BGT. In partnership with Island Savings Grab a & join us now! Get insights from BC's leading businesses... Hear from expert speakers (including Digital Main Street, Island Savings & Small Business BC) Network with fellow entrepreneurs Connect and get inspired by real stories from local small business owners (Fatso, Iskwew Air, Thinkific & Sea Wolf Adventures) See more

We all have that one person in our life who cannot function without their coffee And there isn't a better gift for them than a good, high quality coffee + a great experience! Here are 5 BC coffee shops / providers for the coffee aficionados across the province. Check em' out! 1 Cafe Etico - It's a local, fair-trade coffee company that operates as a social enterprise giving back 100% of profits to CoDevelopment Canada, the local non-profit that owns Cafe Etico, to help fu...nd and support social justice and human rights programs in Latin America 2 Beachcomber Coffee - It’s not just a coffee, it’s a lifestyle This award-winning craft coffee biz based in Gibsons represents the Sunshine Coast lifestyle and produces a variety of coffees that are certified organic and certified fairtrade 3 Hot Shots Cafe - Quick coffees, quick sandwiches, soups, salads, noodle & rice bowls. They have a wide offer in their menu for all tastes! 100% pet friendly 4 Mudsharks Coffee Bar - Serving the Comox Valley for over 25 years . Located in the heart of downtown Courtenay, they offer all day breakfast, lunch, eats, and treats made right there. Lots of great gluten free and vegan options. 5 Atlin mountain coffee roasters - If you're a coffee + outdoors lover, Atlin Mountain will offer you a wild and full of character coffee as the place it's roasted. Organic, fairly traded, single-origin beans & blends brought to perfection in the Canadian wilderness. Try their popular double-aged Whisky barrel aged coffee - Tag the small businesses you love to support below. Are you a #smallbiz in BC? Register for free on our BC Marketplace marketplacebc.ca - #coffee #coffeelover #coffeetime #coffeeaddict #smallbusinesssupport #smallbusinessowner #smallbiz #smallbizlove #lifestyle #britishcolumbia Community Futures British Columbia Better Business Bureau serving Mainland BC Northern Development Initiative Trust Imagine Kootenay

Register for FREE at our Virtual Event . . . Wed, Nov 18 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. sbbc.co/BGT This event is available to everyone. You can join at anytime during the day! In our panel discussion, we will feature some of BC’s brightest entrepreneurial talents Small Business Stories Starting and Growing a Business!... Meet Jill Van Gyn, owner & CEO of Fatso and one of our panelists. We caught up with Jill to discuss her journey from side hustle to Peanut Butter Queen. "I came to entrepreneurship late. I completed a Master’s Degree aged 35 and found myself woefully unemployed. I took a job running a health food franchise and Fatso Peanut Butter was one of the products we sold. I had seen it on a couple of shelves around town but it didn’t seem to be making much of an impact... The opportunity came up to purchase the brand. That’s how, four years ago, I found myself as the owner of a piece of paper, a couple of recipes and a brand name. I had no option but to make this work." Read the full interview at sbbc.co/fatso - #smallbusinessbc #entrepreneur #smallbusinessowner #bcentrepreneur #realstories #inspiration Think Local First City of Victoria - Local Government Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

November 25 & 26: The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and Cariboo Chilcotin Coast are hosting a FREE virtual Tourism Summit 2020. The event will feature 50 renowned presenters from around the world, sparking discussion around the theme "Moving Forward Better - Recovery, Resiliency & Regeneration. Our SBBC Program Manager - Marketplace, Dylan Hrycyshen, will participate in the panel: Stories of Resiliency on Nov. 26 at 2:45 - 3:45 PM. Learn More & Register at TOTABC.com/...Summit - #BCTourismSummit #TOTASummit #TOTABC #BCTourismResiliency #TourismResiliency #BCTourismCounts #TourismCounts #SustainableTourism #BCTourism #ResponsibleTourism #RegenerativeTourism See more

If there’s one thing COVID-19 has taught us, it’s that shopping local is more important than ever The annual sales period of Black Friday offers us all a to vote with our wallets and that add vibrancy, character and personality to our communities. Sure, Amazon and the big boys are likely offering some stellar deals, but there are plenty of excellent reasons to keep your money in your community and support your friends and ne...ighbours in this difficult time. You might even find better deals locally! ! Locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms + they employ local workers at decent wages and serve primarily local consumers Read full article here: sbbc.co/SupportLocal - Are you a small business and ? Tag @smallbusinessbc on your posts and stories, and we'll repost it on our stories to help you promote it! - Need ideas for the upcoming holiday season? Find special gifts for Christmas while supporting local businesses at www.marketplacebc.ca The Argosy Northern Development Initiative Trust City of Prince Rupert Visit Prince Rupert Support Local BC Prince Rupert & District Chamber of Commerce

Nov 23-30. Last eight days of Free Education Month with eight more webinars for everyone! Explore our educational business webinars available and register now at sbbc.co/Free-Education - starting today at 10:00am! WorkSafeBC FortisBC Indigenous Business Development Services Mastercard #free #freewebinar #energysaving #workplacesafety #workplacehealth #indigenous

The Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant program is seeking interested parties based in all B.C. communities, such as accountants, financial planners, bookkeepers and lawyers to assess the solvency of businesses and to help develop recovery plans. Expressions of Interest (EOI) for B.C. Business Recovery Grant closes Nov 18. If you are one of the listed professions listed above and would like to lend your skills, knowledge and expertise please review the Expressio...n of Interest at sbbc.co/eoi #Accountants #FinancialPlanners #Bookkeepers #Lawyers

#BlackFriday and #CyberMonday are on the way ! The annual sales bonanza of Black Friday and Cyber Monday represents an invaluable opportunity for small businesses to boost their bottom line and start the Holiday season off right. We know it’s been a challenging year for small businesses across our province. The current pandemic restrictions have forced many businesses to reduce their physical capacity, while others have moved to embrace customers in an online environment. Am...id these difficult circumstances, the good news is, there’s still time to prep your business and your website to make the most of the spending season. Here are some practical steps you can take to prepare your business for Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Whether you’re welcoming customers to a physical space, or your online store, ensuring you have the capacity to meet demand in a safe and efficient manner will make a big difference in 2020. As a marketer, you’ve never had more tools at your disposal to spread the word. Creating a content plan for your Black Friday promotions should be a multi-channel event, taking advantage of lots of different streams. How many customers visit your website on their cell phone? If you aren’t sure, you can easily check using Google Analytics. Black Friday 2019 was the single biggest ever day for mobile shopping, with 61% of all online retail coming from smartphone transactions. It’s never been more important to provide a mobile experience that’s every bit as robust as your desktop website. To read the full article, visit sbbc.co/BFriday - #cybermonday #thinkmobile #salesstrategy #salesseason #christmas #smallbusinessbc #smallbusinesstips #supportlocalbc #thinklocalfirst

Back to school this year brings a new set of challenges to the whole family. Go beyond the books. These 5 BC businesses can help you add some fun, hands-on activities for your kids that will take their physical, academic and emotional skills to the next level! 1 Robbie Burrito - What a fun and interactive way to learn another language! These educational posters will engage your kids in the experience of acquiring a second language. 2 BrainSTEM Learning Canada - Jumpstart ...your kids brains with fun, creative experiments and activities in science, technology, engineering and math. 3 KidSkills Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Vancouver ADHD Specialist - Help your children reach their full potential with a wide range of programs providing support in emotional regulation, fine motor skills, developmental disorders and more. 4 A Moose in a Maple Tree Productions - Multi award-winning illustrated childrens picture books, the Canadian Monster Club book series is delivered right to your door! 5 Arise Programs - Connecting girls to build a sense of safety, confidence and belonging through self-defense, yoga/mindfulness, role-play games and artful discussion. Visit sbbc.co/marketplace to find more local businesses you can support in your childs educational journey! #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocal #smallbusiness #kids #family

Meet Mikaella Go, co-founder of Vessi and the creator of the worlds first 100% waterproof knit shoe in Vancouver (Raincouver ) at our free virtual event: Build. Grow. Thrive. Register now: sbbc.co/BGT. Through collaboration, business intelligence and curiosity, she and her partners learned that when hiring their team, it was not about the right qualifications, it was more about building a culture around their brand and the importance of work-life balance. #smallbusiness #giveaway #community #smallbiz

Working from home? Rather than re-creating the office experience, why not add a little fun to the function! Here are some Marketplace BC businesses to help take your work-from-home experience to the next level. 1 Excellent FrameWorks - EJ Hughes Gallery - A Duncan-based gallery offering original works of art by Canadian artists, including the iconic E.J. Hughes, with custom framing available. 2 Wicked Good Cleaning - High quality, reliable, european cleaning services in V...ancouver so you can free up time and space for yourself. Pet friendly! 3 The Plane & Nail Co. - Add warmth and style to your home/business with custom furniture or a full reno with expert carpenters from the country side town of Chilliwack. 4 Raven Reads Books Ltd. - Delivery for you! A unique subscription box of custom-curated books and goods from Indigenous authors, artists and entrepreneurs in Kamloops. 5 Skwalwen Botanicals - An Indigenous business in Brackendale, creating small batch botanical skin care products with traditional knowledge and wild-harvested plants. Visit marketplacebc.ca to find more local businesses you can support!

A network opportunity like no other! Small Business BC and our partners at Envision Financial are proud to pioneer a whole new event experience for you: Build. Grow. Thrive. You will have a great opportunity to network with fellow business owners who have been navigating COVID-19. Mingle with BC based entrepreneurs in our virtual networking rooms. Build valuable connections that will help your business. Register now: sbbc.co/BGT

Thinking of starting a business? Theres no time like the present! Discover the resources and learn the skills you need to start or grow your own business. - Sept. 16 Starting a business, from Registration and Licenses to Business Structure. Learn the basics and discover whats involved in starting your own business. Sept. 18 Looking to import goods into Canada? Before you start, you need to know which regulations, standards and licenses apply to your products.... Sept. 21 Nowadays, nothing is more important than having a presence online. Learn how to create a website for your business on WordPress. Sept. 24 Succeeding in the New Normal for Business is filled with many challenges. The key to succeeding in these times is to be prepared, know the obstacles youre likely to face, and set goals that will enable you to move forward. Sept 25 In celebration of Disability Employment Month in B.C., SBBC and Presidents Group bring this free webinar that will focus on where employers can obtain support and why employing persons with disabilities is good for business. - Sign up at smallbusinessbc.ca/education #sbbc #smallbusiness #newbusiness #businessgoals #AccessAbilityMonth #businessgoals

At Small Business BC, were always looking for ways to better serve our community. Spend five minutes taking our survey and let us know what youd like to see more of. You could win a $250 giftcard to spend through Support Local BC. Take the survey: https://sbbc.co/2020Q2survey

Dina Lu is a #calligrapher and owner of Dina Calligraphy, a business that coaches workshops, and aspiring #calligraphy business owners. Hear how she started this unique small business and pivoted to survive during COVID-19: https://sbbc.co/Dina

Its AccessAbility Month at SBBC. This Friday, Sep 23rd were excited to deliver our Importing Regulations in Canada webinar with closed captioning and ASL Interpretation. Join us and learn the basics of import regulations: https://sbbc.co/ImportSept

During the COVID-19 pandemic, its never been more important to understand where your customers are, and how theyre interacting with business. At Build. Grow. Thrive. hear insights from SBBCs Market Research Expert, Mark Eversfield: sbbc.co/BGT2020

Looking for non-medical PPE for your business? Small Business BCs Non-Medical PPE Marketplace connects businesses with suppliers of face masks, plexiglass and other safety equipment. Find out more at: sbbc.co/PPE

Ready to start importing goods into Canada? Attend this interactive webinar and learn which regulations, standards and licenses apply to your products. Takes place Friday, Sept 18th from 09:00am to 12:00pm. Register Now: https://sbbc.co/ImportSept

Have you got a COVID-19 safety plan in place for your business? At BGT on Sep 23rd, hear from WorkSafeBC on best practices for COVID-19 Workplace Health and Safety. This FREE virtual event is not to be missed! Find out more and register at: sbbc.co/BGT2020

Looking to #BuyCanadian ? Browse over 1200+ small businesses in our Marketplace by buying local you keep money in the local economy, and create more jobs in your community. Find out more: https://marketplacebc.ca/ #buylocal #buycanada

The key to succeeding in tough times is to be prepared, know the obstacles, and set goals that will enable you to move forward. Join SBBCs Laura Aveledo, for our four-week Goal Setting Workshop, starting Sep 24th, and get ready to succeed: https://sbbc.co/GoalsSept

Dealing with cash flow issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic? Join us on Sep 23rd for Build. Grow. Thrive. and hear from Envision Financial on how to manage your business cash flow during difficult times. This FREE virtual event is not to be missed! Find out more and register now at: sbbc.co/BGT2020

Summer isnt over just yet! If youre travelling on a BC staycation this weekend, here are some tips weve put together to help support local small businesses on your trip: https://sbbc.co/Staycation

Visiting #Kamloops this long weekend? Support local small businesses while on your staycation! Below, are some of the small businesses from the SBBC Marketplace located in Kamloops. 1Monte Creek Winery Kamloops largestwinery features award-winningwines, seasonal al fresco patio dining and stunning river valley views. @montecreekranch 2Fresh is Best Salsa Company Made in BC salsa, dips, chips and tacos @freshisbest.co... 3Coast Kamloops Hotel Ideally located for Kamloops adventures. Close to renowned golf, hiking and wine tours. @coastkamloopshotel 4Jasper Swag Dog Walking Bags No pockets? No problem! The Jasper Swag Dog Walking Bag carries your gear while you walk your dog @jasperswagbag 5Silverservers Inc. SilverServers is a website development, SEO, and web hosting company located in Kamloops. @silverservers_ Visitsbbc.co/marketplaceto find more local businesses you can support!

Help shape the future of SBBC by taking our survey. Your answers will help guide the direction of our products and services. What would you like to see us offer more of? You could win a $250 giftcard to spend through Support Local BC. Take the survey: https://sbbc.co/2020Q2survey

This September is AccessAbility Month at SBBC. During this month, well be offering 17 webinars, all with ASL interpretation and closed captioning. "Small Business BC exists to assist entrepreneurs overcome barriers to grow successful and sustainable businesses. During AccessAbility in September, we celebrate business owners and their employees with disabilities who meet those challenges head-on. With gratitude to our partners Accessible Employers, OSME Pacific and Community Futures Employees with Disabilities Program, we are able to offer free education on business planning, financial management and much more. - Tom Conway, CEO, Small Business BC" Find out more at: https://sbbc.co/accessability

While we cant gather in person this year, were thrilled to deliver BGT virtually on September 23rd, for a day of education and networking opportunities. This event is FREE and you can hear from an all-star panel of local entrepreneurs, featuring: Leigh Joseph, Skwalwen Botanicals Samarth Mod, FreshWorks Studio... Mikaella Go, Vessi Footwear Arndrea Scott, SPUD Vancouver Register Now at sbbc.co/BGT2020 See more

LAST CHANCE: Want to learn ways your business can cut costs and become more energy efficient? Join our webinar on Sept 2nd and learn how you can achieve this while also reducing COVID-19 transmission! Hear about best practices for safety measures, and identify opportunities for increased energy efficiency in your business. This FREE webinar is delivered in partnership with FortisBC. https://smallbusinessbc.ca//covid-safety-and-energy-effic/

Summer is sadly drawing to a close, but theres plenty to look forward to this September at SBBC. From webinars with ASL Interpretation, to FREE virtual events and much more, find out how we can help your small business succeed this September: https://sbbc.co/Sep

Support local businesses while you are away on holiday! Below are some of the small businesses you can support in the city of 100 Mile House! 1 Coast Hotels - brand new hotel located in the heart of the famed Okanagan Wine Country, offers access to wineries galore as your travel through this area of BC 2 Shade Tree Massage Therapy - a clean, quiet, professional clinic with personalized massage treatments... 3 Bullies Pizza - makes fresh pizza, pasta, donairs and salads with over 50 years of success 4 Apple Island Naturals - makes small batch natural bath and body products including soap, hand sanitizer, deodorant, lip balm and more 5 Heidi the Artist - offers original paintings of BC flora and fauna, clothing and homewares printed with her art, and live online art classes for youth ages 10yrs + and adults Visit sbbc.co/marketplace to find more local businesses you can support!

Complete our audience survey for a chance to win a $250 GIFTCARD to spend at B.C. small businesses through Support Local BC. We want to improve your experience with Small Business BC - give us feedback, and help us shape the resources we create in the future. What help do you think youll need as a small business in the next 12 months? Take only 10 minutes to complete the survey! http://sbbc.co/2020Q2survey

Learn how market research has been impacted as a result of the pandemic at our BUILD.GROW. THRIVE. Event on Sept 23rd! Mark Eversfield, Market Research Analyst at SBBC, will present a market research session on finding the trends and changes to consumer behaviour, and provide key data tools for gathering customer information. Register now at sbbc.co/BGT2020

Are you looking for non-medical PPE equipments for your business? Visit our PPE Marketplace and find non-medical safety equipment including gloves, face masks, shields and more. Operate safely and put your customers at ease! Head to http://sbbc.co/PPE to find a full list of PPE suppliers

Septembers AccessAbility Month is to celebrate inclusivity and we are delivering our content to be more accessible in partnership with The Presidents Group. During the month, 17 featured webinars will be provided with ASL interpretation and closed captioning. Topics include starting a business, email marketing to website creation. All our webinars are available at a minimal cost however Community Futures British Columbia is offering FREE education for AccessAbility Month t...hrough their Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program. Find out how you can apply for free education at sbbc.co/AccessAbility

COVID-19 continues to impact the cash flow of businesses across our province. Fortunately, there are key steps businesses can take to adapt. During our BUILD. GROW. THRIVE. event on September 23rd, Envision Financial will be presenting a session on managing cashflow. Learn best practices and advice for managing business finances during a time of crisis. Register for this FREE event at sbbc.co/BGT2020

Want to know different ways to cut costs and be more efficient?Join our webinar on Sept 2nd and learn how you can achieve this while also reducing COVID-19 transmission! Hear about best practices for safety measures, and identify opportunities for increased energy efficiency in your business. This FREE webinar is delivered in partnership with FortisBC. https://smallbusinessbc.ca//covid-safety-and-energy-effic/

During COVID-19, business owners are looking at different ways to cut costs and be more efficient. Join our webinar and learn how you can achieve this while reducing COVID-19 transmission! Hear about best practices for safety measures, and identify opportunities for increased energy efficiency in your business. This FREE webinar is delivered in partnership with FortisBC. https://smallbusinessbc.ca//covid-safety-and-energy-effic/

Looking to update new product photos on your social media channels and website? Get professional photography services from these local businesses that are featured on our Marketplace! 1 Ivan Chan Photography - provides business services of real estate or product photography, videography, graphic and web design services 2 Conjured Images - focuses on video and photography services for corporate customers, includes product/food photography and video services... 3 doristhompsonphotography - provides personal branding photography that incorporates various elements of a business into photos to communicate your unique story 4 Airrays Drone Services - a drone company offering many services such as mapping, advertising, video editing, virtual tours and much more Visit sbbc.co/marketplace to find more local businesses you can support!

BUILD. GROW. THRIVE is back on Wednesday, September 23rd! Join us remotely for a FREE day of education with the provinces leading tools and resources, and networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs. Attendees can expect to engage in webinars, panel discussions featuring entrepreneurial experts, a virtual tradeshow, and breakout rooms for networking with fellow attendees. This event is presented in partnership with Envision Financial. Register for a spot now! https://sbbc.co/BGT2020

Stay fit and healthy even when you are at home with one of the local businesses that are featured on our Marketplace! 1 Blonyx - a sports nutrition brand that puts you 1st, keeping apparel and nutritional products simple and high quality 2 Secret Weapon Sports - sells authentic, professional, and quality table tennis equipment for passionate players... 3 Backpack Tennis - a portable tennis game that can be played on any surface 4 The Sports Exchange - a family owned business that focusses on hockey, baseball and softball equipment 5 Haywoodgolf - high quality golf equipment and apparel at more affordable prices Find more local businesses you can support at sbbc.co/marketplace

Customers love video content! Learn how to create professional-looking videos on your smartphone quickly and easily with our webinar on August 28th! Tell your stories during the pandemic or build a library of videos to populate your content calendar. https://smallbusinessbc.ca//creating-professional-video-co

In celebration of Disability Employment Month in BC, this webinar will focus on how employers can access funding and support when employing persons with disabilities. This webinar is sponsored and moderated by The Presidents Group and panelists includes representatives from OOpen Door Group NNeil Squireand CCommunity Futures British Columbia This webinar is part of the AccessAbility Month at Small Business BC and will feature live ASL interpretation and closed captioning.... Register for a spot here: https://smallbusinessbc.ca//funding-and-resources-for-inc/

Small Business BC has partnered with Catax, who are tax incentive experts, to help our community take advantage of beneficial incentive programs. Learn how innovation tax incentives allow you to recover expenses and the qualifications for it in this article. https://smallbusinessbc.ca//recover-up-to-41-of-your-expe/

Welcome back your customers in a safe manner with this reopening guide for restaurant owners and operators! See tips on how to protect your employees and to provide a safe and enjoyable dining experience for customers. https://smallbusinessbc.ca//reopening-safely-a-guide-for-/