The Port Alberni Build My Business Together program wrapped up on Dec. 1 at the Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation office.
The program offered a series of 12 workshops with instructor Jay Silverberg, in partnership with the NEDC. A similar series recently wrapped up in Campbell River.
On Tuesday, five attendees, representing one existing business and two in development, were on hand to receive their certificates.
“The focus of these workshops is to teach people about business or for people who are already in business and want to grow their business,” Silverberg said. “It’s very much Real World, hands-on. We do a lot of stuff they don’t teach in other business courses.”
Along with teaching conventional topics like creating business plans and marketing plans, the Build My Business series also emphasizes communication/outreach techniques such as “guerilla marketing” and social media. Silverberg said students analyze case studies of successful businesses – aboriginal businesses–for the NEDC sessions.
“We also do mentoring,” he added. “We deal specifically with issues and opportunities that each participant might have.”
Naomi Nicholson coordinates the sessions for NEDC
“We also have people taking the course online,” Nicholson said. The Port Alberni session has attracted about 60 participants, from as far away as Victoria, Ahousaht, Port Hardy and Alert Bay.
“Some people log on just for one session,” she added.
The sessions are recorded and downloaded onto a website for those who are unable to “attend” in real time. The only drawback is that they are not able to interact with the instructor and students, Nicholson said.
Silverberg said the program has inspired 35 new business start-ups in the Central Island region.
“The program works. And it dovetails nicely with some of the programs and services that NEDC offers.”
While some business principles are universal, Silverberg said the NEDC-sponsored series includes elements specific to Indigenous business, such as tax law and how it affects on- or off-reserve business operators.
The final session was titled Re-visiting Entrepreneurship, and it focused on the process of starting and growing a business.
On hand was Julie Wise from Nanaimo, who told Ha-Shilth-Sa her business plan has evolved as a result of the course.
“My first thought was doing a cultural program – a cultural centre for tourism – to provide a hands-on experience with our culture,” Wise said.
The first plan included traditional canoeing and weaving, traditional foods and a dance group.
“Throughout the classes, while looking at all the different business areas, we also thought about having cabins, because our property is on the river. So we would have cabins on the river where the tourists could stay and experience our culture.”
Wise noted that her partner, Rick Seward, was not on hand that evening.
Frances Palazzolo already has a business name and location, but he has decided to take a more cautious approach as a result of the workshops.
“The name of the business is Wolf’s Breath Vape Shop. It’s an electronic cigarette store,” Palazzolo said. “We’re going to be located on Third Avenue.”
The market for e-cigarettes is growing, but it is also competitive and the products are already available in Port Alberni.
“I’ve been getting a lot of contacts through Facebook. I actually have a Facebook page that’s in alignment with the business, that I have been operating for over six months now,” Palazzolo explained.
The business itself has yet to open, but that will be coming soon, he added.
“I am hoping to do a ‘soft opening’ in the next two weeks,” Palazzolo said.
Business hours would be intermittent – evenings and weekends – while he continues to work full-time.
“At first, I wanted to rush into it. Initially, we took a workshop through Community Futures, and that led us to take the workshops through NEDC.”
Palazzolo’s partner Deb Masso said she would provide support while the shop builds up a clientele.
“I won’t be quitting my job,” Masso said. “He will be quitting his job when we get established. I’ll support him after-hours. I have a lot to learn myself.”
Masso added that it is reassuring that Silverberg has committed to provide ongoing mentoring.
For Vic Amos and partner Susan Harney, the goal of the workshops has been to expand an existing business.
“We’ve opened up a floating café in Hot Springs Cove,” Amos said.
The food is prepared on a boat, while patrons sit on an adjacent float. The clientele consists of day-trippers from Tofino, kayakers, campers and boaters.
“People are coming over for the hot springs already, and nobody is filling that market right now,” Amos said. “This winter we are going to look at raising our profile, so that when people get there, they know we’re there.”
Much of that effort involves learning the many online resources that are available for small tourism operators, from Instagram to Trip Advisory, Amos said.
“We’re going to learn the social media part that we didn’t know, but we should have,” Harney said. “We anticipate our sales will double next season just as the result of the advertising and marketing that we have learned here.”
Silverberg noted that the Build My Business Together program includes online refresher courses based on each workshop. The next series takes place in Nanaimo, starting on Jan. 12. For more information, log on to www.nedc.info/buildmybiz.
