Business Beat, by Aaron Orlando
Ginger ‘n’ Spice welcomed back the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce social night after a bit of a hiatus, hosting a good event in a great venue for an evening indoors/outdoors mixer.
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PHOTO: Host Ginger ‘n’ Spice co-owners (from left) executive chef Kyle Jones, manager Marie-Eve Bruchig and Thomas Bruchig.
Ginger ‘n’ Spice co-owners Kyle Jones, Marie-Eve Bruchig and Thomas Bruchig put on a great service, including ratatouille, a tuna Gouda melt and a tenderloin spring roll with a mandarin-sesame dipping sauce. Thomas explained they’ll be making upgrades to their Grizzly Plaza restaurant (formerly Bad Paul’s) and have had a good summer so far. He recommended I come back another night and try their home-made gnocchi with duck in a pesto sauce. Will do.
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PHOTO: Invest Kootenay community liaison Gerri Brightwell (left) shared how local businesses can connect with investors. Okanagan College Revelstoke program coordinator Mary Kline shared several business related programs and courses available through the college.
It’s easy to get into business, an acquaintance once told me, but it’s really hard to get out of it. Gerri Brightwell of non-profit investkootenay.com was on hand to provide info on their free service, which connects investors with investment opportunities in the Kootenay region. While losing a shop or service may go unnoticed in a bigger city, it can mean a big loss for a smaller town. investkootenay.com can help you pass their business on. “You want to keep it in Revelstoke,” Brightwell said. “It keeps a business in the community.” They currently have about 400 investors in their database – find them online as that’s where their services are based. The local contact for the service is Revelstoke economic development director Alan Mason
Dude, do you have high turnover amongst your Gen-Y staff due to misunderstandings about behavioural norms? Are you not stoked about it? Okanagan College program coordinator Mary Kline is here to help, sharing several programs of interest to business owners. They’ll be running an ‘Understanding Generation Y’ workshop hosted by Jacqui Coward on Oct. 16. Coward melds leadership innovation experience with organization building skills in this unique workshop to help your business click with your Gen-Y team members. Kline has also set up an Oct. 10 Youth Employment Fair that will connect young people with job opportunities. 3–7 p.m. a the community centre. Okanagan College is also offering a free (some conditions) eleven-week office skills course starting in October that will prep you for entry-level administrative positions, including technology training, accounting and more. Their Experience Works! program is also starting in October. It connects workers aged 55–64 with training and help getting back into the workforce.
Chamber marketing coordinator Meghan Tabor was sharing advertising opportunities on the new seerevelstoke.com website, their recently-launched new site that brings together Revelstoke tourism initiatives into more of a one-stop-shop. Tabor is working to make updates and upgrades to the website, which is an organic, ongoing work. She’s also working on a redesign of the vacation guide and is seeking to give it a unified look. She’s scouting out writers to contribute reader-friendly articles that will “evoke Revelstoke” and show their passion for their subjects.
Chamber executive director Judy Goodman said they picked up some new members at the evening event and informed existing ones about services they offer. “A lot of people said, I didn’t know you had this, I didn’t know you did that,” she said.
The socials are going to be happening on a more regular basis from now on. Another new initiative is the Chamber’s “12 at 12” event. Goodman and the board will pick an issue or topic then gather together 10 stakeholders who’ll join herself and a board member to gather input. One issue they’ve been working through is signage approvals through the city, which she’s got lots of input on so far.
There’s no date on the next social yet, but don’t miss the Nov. 3 Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards night. Details are just being worked through for the gala dinner.