Tag: Small Business BC

Community milestones … Waldman Library, Kleiner Services, Prairie Sonata

The winning entries of the Isaac Waldman Jewish Public Library’s bookmark contest.

Isaac Waldman Jewish Public Library wishes mazal tov to the winners of its bookmark contest and to all the contest participants. “We really appreciate the efforts of all the participants and the wonderful creativity they have displayed in designing their bookmarks. It was a pleasure to review them all,” said the library in an email. “This year, we have chosen four designs that best reflect the theme of sh’mirat ha’teva, protecting the environment.”

Chosen were the bookmarks by Eli Stefanek, Grade 2, Richmond Jewish Day School; Nicole-Noya, Grade 4, RJDS; Dov Bondar, Grade 5, RJDS; and Eva Rogachevsky and Abrianna Jacobs, Grade 5, Vancouver Talmud Torah.

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Kleiner Services Inc., owned by Mary and Konstantin Kleiner, was among the top five finalists for the Best Immigrant Entrepreneur Award this year. This award recognizes outstanding new Canadians who, after immigrating, have created successful small businesses while demonstrating leadership and breaking down barriers.

Across four days earlier this month, Small Business BC announced six winners in various categories, capping a competition that saw 937 award nominations in 88 communities across the province. The Best Immigrant Entrepreneur Award went to Charcuterie Vancouver, and the other three finalists were Audielicious Restaurant (Fort St. John), Artemex Mexican Handcrafts (West Kelowna) and Soul Bite Food Inc. (Coquitlam).

Kleiner Services Inc. is a professional moving company that offers pre- and post-moving services, such as packing, storage and assembly. They are based in the heart of the Lower Mainland, servicing Greater Vancouver, Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island.

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The Independent Press Award recognized Prairie Sonata by Winnipeg-based writer Sandy Shefrin Rabin as the winner in the category of Best Young Adult Fiction.

The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected award winners and distinguished favourites are based on overall excellence. This year, the award had entries worldwide – from Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, among other countries.

“The quality and quantity of excellent independently published books hit a record…. We are so proud to announce these key titles representing global independent publishing,” said awards sponsor Gabrielle Olczak.

To see this year’s list of winners, visit independentpressaward.com/2021winners. (The JI’s review can be found at jewishindependent.ca/life-changing-impact.)

Following a noble pursuit

JustGreet allows customers to pick a greeting card online that will be mailed with a handwritten message of their composition. (photo by Sophia Hsin)

Vancouver-based JustGreet describes itself as “the cutest greeting card service on the internet.” The company’s model is unique in that it combines the convenience of online services with the meaningfulness of a handwritten and mailed greeting card. Founded just last year, the JustGreet team has already been nominated for a Small Business B.C. Award, being recognized in the best emerging entrepreneur category.

Creative director and Southern California native Lauren Berkman joined the startup after sensing its potential to fill a gap in the $30 billion greeting card industry.

“I really got my initial interest in startup life when I lived in Tel Aviv, Israel, an amazing hub of entrepreneurial ventures,” Berkman told the Independent. “While there, I worked for two tech startups, though after some time returned to the U.S. to work at an advertising agency, and then to Vancouver to complete my MBA at UBC. While at UBC, I completed an internship in market research, the main project of which was focused on JustGreet. While working on this research project, my interest was sparked by the simplicity of the service and the sentimental value greeting cards have held throughout my life.”

While people have come to rely on the ease that technology allows, Berkman said that JustGreet recognized that potential customers wanted something different from what existing online greeting card services were offering.

“The mainstream sentiment nowadays is that online communication is becoming increasingly noisy and impersonal – information fatigue is a mainstream sentiment,” she explained. “We realized that there was a big unaddressed opportunity to provide people and brands with a way to communicate that’s authentic and meaningful.”

Customers simply select a card from an online assortment and type a personalized message, then the JustGreet team takes care of the rest and the lucky recipient receives a handwritten card in their mailbox.

“That is the great thing about JustGreet. We are able to provide the best of both worlds – the convenience of technology in the ability to order a greeting card online but, ultimately, the same product ending up in the hands of the consumer had you gone to the store, picked the card out yourself, handwritten it, bought the stamps and put it in the mailbox,” said Berkman.

What sets JustGreet even further apart from many other companies is its commitment to ensuring its services are ethically and environmentally responsible. Each greeting card is printed on 100% recycled paper. Additionally, Berkman maintains that JustGreet would not exist without the community of independent artists who design the cards.

“Each artist is compensated directly with the sale of each card that features one of his or her designs. It is with this model that we have been able to attract such talented artists. We want to provide a platform in which we can help support our artists’ creative endeavors, and provide a mechanism to share their work with a larger audience. We are always welcoming new artists to the family, and love hearing from new ones who have interacted with our brand and want to get involved.”

As the company grows, JustGreet is working to allow its community of artists to grow as well. “We launched with 10 artists from the Vancouver area but just recently we had three join from the U.S. and one from South America,” said Berkman.

The addition of some artists from outside Vancouver is reflective of the company’s desire to reach customers beyond the city while maintaining a feeling of community.

“Greeting card tastes ultimately transcend borders and cities, so rather than view ourselves as a small local business, we would like to be seen as a community that supports its artists and consistently delights its customers, no matter how big it gets. As JustGreet expands, so does our community, and the variety of designs and inspiration we can offer to that community,” said Berkman.

Therefore, despite its potential for global growth, Berkman promises that JustGreet’s mission will always be “to help families, friends and loved ones stay connected in a way that gives people the personalization and sincerity they deserve.”

JustGreet’s initial local success was reflected in its 2015 Small Business B.C. Awards nomination. “We had only just launched when we were nominated for this award, so the fact that we were on anyone’s radar alone was very exciting,” said Berkman. “It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized amongst some of B.C.’s most promising new companies.”

She added, “In one year, we’d like to be able to say that we’re a fast-growing greeting card and stationery lifestyle brand with global online and wholesale operations. Our goals are pretty simple – create as many happy moments as we can and support the artists in our community. We think it’s a noble pursuit and our team is excited about it.”

Brittni Jacobson is a freelance writer living in Toronto.

Help financing new startups

Starting a small business can be an exciting prospect that brings with it the potential to be your own boss, follow your passion and create passive income for retirement.

But even the best ideas that generate strong markets can fail if the financial structure doesn’t have a solid foundation. That’s why every new-business owner should make their first priority collecting advice from experts in business planning.

This is especially true if you are looking for startup capital. Most people think three options – personal, family/friends or a bank – are the only sources of funding available. Often overlooked are specific small-business loans and grants from the federal government.

photo - Eli Joseph
Eli Joseph, senior account manager, business and personal, at RBC. (photo from Eli Joseph)

Eli Joseph, a senior account manager, business and personal, with RBC, is often surprised at how few people know about government funding options.

Joseph works with businesses on day-to-day banking, as well as lending solutions through the Canada Small Business Financing Loan (CSBFL) or the Business Development Bank of Canada.

Clients who fall in the “small business” category typically have gross sales under $2 million, with fewer than 15 employees, and who need loans up to $250,000.

“Ninety-eight percent fall under this category,” he said.

The CSBFL has very specific applications, however, such as investing in new equipment or trucks, buying furniture or expanding a business. It won’t cover the cost of hiring staff, a franchise fee or planning a marketing campaign. For that, Joseph suggests looking at a line of credit.

But even before signing up for some fresh cash, Joseph cautions business owners to take stock of where they are.

“Ninety percent start their business asking for money,” said Joseph. “I try to slow down the conversation, I ask, ‘Do we have a business here?’ There were three examples where we had to slow it down and go through the numbers; in all three, after doing footwork, they realized they didn’t have a valid business.

“That’s where people jump the gun – they haven’t done the research; and they don’t have a business plan.”

Tax planner Alexei Schwartzman also underlines how important it is to get professional advice before heading too far into the business.

“It is important to involve someone who understands the tax implication of the business, but it’s essential to get someone involved before the business is officially running,” he said. “Often people do not think of asking the questions until they are already operational and, by that point, it might be too late for certain things.”

This is particularly important if your business has an innovative component that might be eligible for tax credits through the Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program (also known as SR&ED). Businesses wanting to take advantage of this government credit need to incorporate before incurring research and development costs. A good tax consultant can help determine if the cost of incorporation and filing SR&ED tax returns, which can be substantial, will be worth the actual money saved.

Also be sure to look at the Public Works and Government Services Canada’s Build in Canada Innovation Program (buyandsell.gc.ca), as well as the National Research Council Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ irap/index.html). Both of these have loans and grants that help kickstart businesses to get their innovative products and services from the lab to the marketplace.

No matter what type of funding you’re looking for, both Schwartzman and Joseph agree that the biggest mistakes business owners make are not having a business plan, not doing proper market research or trying to do everything themselves rather than turning for advice to experts who have already done the legwork.

For general information on government loans/tax credits for small business, contact Rob McGarry, concierge service, National Research Council Canada, c/o Small Business BC, 601 West Cordova St., 604-499-2804, [email protected], concierge.portal.gc.ca.

Baila Lazarus teaches media communications at Small Business BC. Register for her courses at phase2coaching.com.

Upcoming Events

  • Oct. 30: Money Money Money: How to Get It, Manage It and Grow It, a keynote session highlighting how to access different levels of financing to support your business, presented by Futurpreneur as part of the all-day SOHO SME Business Expo at the Sheraton Wall Centre. vancouversme.soho.ca.
  • Nov. 6, 13 and 20, 10:30 a.m.-noon: How to Do Business with the Federal Government, three-part series at Small Business BC, 601 West Cordova St. smallbusinessbc.ca/seminars.

People-centred vision

Entrepreneur Brian Scudamore’s success is due in part to lessons he learned from his grandparents about how to treat people. (photo from O2E)

When Brian Scudamore addressed business owners at Small Business BC’s Inspire event, held Sept. 29 at the Telus World of Science, his Jewish grandparents, Kenneth and Florence Lorber, were on his mind.

The founder of 1-800-Got-Junk? says they were the source of his inspiration, first-generation Americans who lived in San Francisco, owned a store called Lorber’s Surplus and, whenever possible, recruited the help of their grandson.

“I spent every summer and holiday working there and I learned a lot, especially from my grandfather,” Scudamore told the Independent. “He really cared about his employees and treated them like part of the family. Both my grandparents had a reputation on the street for being lovely people. They treated everyone with respect and would do anything to help other people. Even when homeless people came in to ask for money, they would listen to them, ask how they were and care about them.”

From his grandfather, Scudamore inherited the drive and ambition that would lead him to establish the company O2E, which stands for “Ordinary to Exceptional,” and includes the brands 1-800-Got-Junk?, Wow 1 Day Painting and You Move Me. The latter was created in 2013, inspired by a less-than-desirable experience with a local mover. In Scudamore’s version of a moving company, uniformed, trained movers bring coffee for clients on moving day and leave a housewarming plant when they go.

For 1-800-Got-Junk?, Scudamore’s goal is to double the company’s revenues from $100 million to $200 million by 2016. “We’re nearly there,” he said of the company that began in 1989 with $700 and a beat-up truck. Today, it’s the world’s largest junk removal service.

“It’s always about finding the right people, ensuring we consistently hire top-performing, A-players,” he said.

Back in 1994, not long after he started the company, he let go all 11 of his employees and started over from scratch. “I felt I hadn’t hired the right people and hadn’t spent time training them,” he recalled. “Today, we hire great people who have the potential to do great things.” What’s more, he goes out of his way to keep them happy.

He’s quick to attribute his success to his roots and the lessons he learned about how to treat people. Kenneth Lorber would take his employees out for a meal to thank them for their hard work. But, when you have 300 employees in Vancouver and Toronto, and 3,000 when you include the 200 franchise partners that stretch across North America and in Australia, a thank-you dinner isn’t quite possible. So, the innovative entrepreneur created the 101 Life Goals program, where his employees could list their measurable, specific goals and he could help them achieve them, when rewards were warranted.

“One employee wanted to get his scuba certification, so we signed him up for lessons. Another wanted a ride in a hot air balloon and a third wanted to read the book Anna Karenina in Russian, her father’s mother tongue. I found a copy in Moscow and had it shipped over to her. It’s just a little, creative way to thank someone with a personal connection that has meaning outside of the company,” he said.

Scudamore also attributes his success to having a clear vision of what he wants the future to look like. It hasn’t always seemed so bright and promising and he admitted there have been dark places in his life when he felt he wasn’t as successful as he wanted to be. “At that time, I sat down and sketched my vision for the future. It called for my company to be in 30 cities in North America, even though we were only in one at the time,” he explained. “We wanted to be on the Oprah Winfrey Show, too. All those things came through, and I believe that having the vision is a big piece of the puzzle.”

Adopted into a Jewish family as an infant, Scudamore said his Jewishness keeps him connected to his family and gives him a deeper appreciation of “the culture of community and connectedness. I’m not a very religious person,” he admitted, “but I’m very connected to the religion and community side of my mother’s side of the family.”

For more on Scudamore, visit 1800gotjunk.com/us_en/about/brian_scudamore.

Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond, B.C. To read her work online, visit laurenkramer.net.