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Abbotsford businsess on path to success | December 04, 2009
Businesses lobby for lower taxes | November 05, 2008
Biz awards sold out | October 18, 2008
Abbotsford Business Excellence Awards | August 23, 2008
Outdoor stores group together | August 5, 2008
Abbotsford Business Excellence Awards | July 23 2008
Valley Hotels Still Cost Less | July 25, 2008
Family log home business | July 25, 2008
CREDIT: Cam Tucker/Times
Claire Copp appeared on the Dragons' Den TV show earlier this week
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Happy ending despite a Den 'disaster'
Claire Copp ventured into the Dragons’ Den and got scorched. Six months later, however, she laughs about her roasting.
In May, the Abbotsford businesswoman appeared on the popular CBC television show in an attempt to obtain $675,000 in funding from the show’s investors, to finance the development of an online version of the securities accounting software program she owns.
During the segment on Wednesday, Copp (nee Shorthouse) struggled to articulate what her software does and the five investors were unmerciful in their grilling and impatience.
“Claire, you’re making no sense. I can’t invest in somebody that can’t explain their deal, “ Den investor Arlene Dickinson said bluntly.
Hers was one of the kinder comments.
“It was a total disaster,” said Copp on Thursday with a chuckle. “I’m obviously not a salesperson. I’m just too close to it, this is my baby. I’m not the one out there that should be promoting it.”
Copp didn’t have any problem keeping her commitment to keep quiet about her appearance.
“I knew no matter how they edited it, I wasn’t going to come out on top. Really, it was a pathetic performance on my part.”
Copp’s company is Securities Services, which she has run out of her home for 21 years using a program, Traderii, to which she now owns the copyright. Her company tracks market and out-of-market transactions for tax purposes and general information, and then files insider reports with the securities commission for its clients, most of whom are company officers, directors and top-paid employees.
“All the big accounting firms are using in-house spreadsheets to do this and it’s just a disaster,” said Copp, 64. “[Traderii] is viable anywhere in the world where they pay taxes on their investments or where they have to file insider information on their investments with a securities exchange. So that could be everywhere. The market is huge.”
She’s already put $235,000 of her own money into Traderii, and figured if she could develop an online version it would be worth a few million dollars and provide a nice retirement nest egg.
Despite being shot down in flames in the Dragons’ Den, she wasn’t discouraged. Copp has developed ways to raise the money herself through her company and a line of credit on her house. That allowed her to hire an IT specialist to develop the online version.
It will be ready for marketing in January. If it’s successful, she’ll be laughing at the dragons.
Her website is www.traderii.com. Copp’s appearance in the Dragons’ Den can be viewed at www.cbc.ca/dragonsden.
Chamber luncheon features new mayor; Global Spectrum, The Reach unite
Abbotsford’s mayor-elect George Peary will make his inaugural presentation at the Chamber’s November luncheon on Wednesday (Nov. 26) at the Salvation Army Cascade Community Church.
Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. and lunch runs from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Cost is $25 for members and guests, $35 for non/future members. The event is sponsored by Tradex and Prospera Credit Union Insurance. Pre-registration is required.
The meeting is designed to let people know what Abbotsford’s new mayor hopes to accomplish over the next three years and what changes Abbotsford residents and businesses should prepare for.
n Global Spectrum facility management for the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre and The Reach Gallery Museum are co-hosting a Chamber of Commerce Casual Connections event on Thursday, Dec. 4 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Venue is The Reach at 32388 Veterans Way in Abbotsford. Refreshments will be available at this after hours networking opportunity.
Pre-registration with the Chamber is required. Cost for non-member is $15. Payment for members is: 1-$10, 2-$15, 3-$21, 4-$24, 5-$25.
To register, click on www.abbotsfordchamber.ca.
Find this article at:http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/34903314.html
Businesses lobby for lower taxes
A strong majority of B.C. mayoral candidates favour shifting the property tax burden away from businesses, according to a survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
If new councils elected Nov. 15 restructure their property tax levels as proposed, it could result in dramatic tax hikes for residential home owners.
But CFIB spokesman Brian Bonney said it’s about restoring fairness to a system that is too heavily stacked against businesses in many cities.
“It’s very unfair,” he said. “Small businesses are major economic generators. They have to pay that tax whether they can afford to or not.”
Some are being driven to bankruptcy by high taxation, he said.
Province-wide, a business of average property assessment pays about three times as much municipal property tax as the average home owner in the same community.
“We’d like to get that back to two to one,” Bonney said.
The survey found 86 per cent of candidates for mayor across the province support narrowing the business property tax gap in their municipality.
Several candidates who answered yes also gave qualifying comments, saying their cities strive to keep business tax rates under control but are limited in their ability to find money for civic services.
In Abbotsford, of the four mayoral candidates who responded to the survey, only George Peary said he would not support narrowing the business property tax gap.
Alvin Epp, Gerda Peachey and Case Verstraten said they would support closing the gap. Steve Dunton did not respond to the survey questions, Bonney said.
Seventy-one per cent of mayoral candidates surveyed also endorsed a return of the civic vote for business owners. Under that proposal, someone who lives in White Rock but owns a business that operates in Surrey, Langley and Delta could vote in all four municipalities.
While all four of the Abbotsford candidates supported the return of the civic vote, in other parts of the Lower Mainland, the idea has sparked some concerns.
“Multiple votes for anyone is unfair,” said Chilliwack mayoral hopeful Sharon Goetz in her response.
Delta Mayor Lois Jackson opposed restoring the municipal business vote, but added if it does happen it must ensure someone who owns multiple businesses in the same city can’t vote more than once.
Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said, “I don’t support any individual having more than one vote in an election,” adding she does believe someone who owns a Surrey business should be able to vote in Surrey if they live elsewhere.
Bonney said no one person would be allowed to vote more than once in any individual city.
If a business was based in Burnaby and its owner lived there too, he said, the business could assign its vote there to a different employee or partner who doesn’t live within city limits. The same could apply in the case of someone owning multiple businesses.
“We’ve got to get back to democracy where it’s one person, one vote,” Bonney said. “If municipalities are going to tax small businesses, and tax them to the hilt, fairness requires municipalities to grant small business owners the vote.”
The business municipal vote was taken away in 1993.
- With files from Joe Millican
Biz awards sold out
With 374 people attending this year’s Abbotsford Business Excellence Awards, the awards dinner Nov. 12 at the Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre is sold out.
More than 80 nominations were received for 10 categories in the 13th annual event presented by Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and the Abbotsford News.
The awards dinner features a performance by the Drum Cafe which has appeared in more than 16,000 events in 29 countries for over 40 per cent of the world’s top companies.
The Business in Black dancers, a group of 15 local community leaders choreographed by Abbotsford Police Const. Mary Boonstra, is already rehearsing for its special performance.
The awards event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Nominate by Sept. 12
The Sept. 12 deadline is looming for those wishing to nominate top businesses and entrepreneurs in 10 categories for this year’s Abbotsford Business Excellence Awards.
Sponsored by Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and the Abbotsford News, a special awards dinner for the event is set for Nov. 12 at the Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre featuring a presentation by the renowned Drum Cafe.
To nominate, click on www.abbotsfordchamber.com and download a nomination form.
Find this article at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/27287809.html
Outdoor stores group together
New location works, say business owners
Salton Road in Abbotsford may now be unofficially known as Outdoor Alley.
Life Cycles and Valhalla Pure Outfitters have relocated into a new subdivided building [located next to Western Canoeing and Kayaking east of the McCallum Road exit], at the end of June and, so far, the move has been beneficial.
"It's hard to find a better location," said Valhalla owner Brent Murdoch. "We have room and can display our increasing inventory."
"This move was kind of forced on us, but we're making the most of it and we're happy with the way this has turned out," said Life Cycles owner Harvey Bergen.
Life Cycles was previously located on King Road, but the construction of the new Plan A arena forced Bergen to pack up and move.
"I'm not bitter or anything like that," said Bergen about having to move the store. "When life deals you a card, you have to play it and that's what we're doing."
With three outdoor activity stores next to each other, enthusiasts don't have to travel from one side of town to the other, and the relationship between them is paying dividends, according to Murdoch.
"We complement each other," he said.
"Customers today do so much more than one activity, and we share so many customers that it works for all of us."
Bergen also shared that view, as he talked about the "synergy" that the neighbouring stores have created with one another.
What also helps is highway exposure, as all three stores are clearly visible from the Trans-Canada Highway.
"A tourist customer is a fun customer," said Bergen.
©Abbotsford Times 2008
They go out of their way for us
If you experienced exceptional service or excellence at a local business or with an organization or business leader, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce wants to hear from you.
Members of the public are encouraged to nominate those who demonstrate and exemplify excellence on a consistent basis for the 2008 Abbotsford Business Excellence awards presented by the Abbotsford Chamber and the Abbotsford News at the Ramada Plaza on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
“Every now and then we encounter a business, individual or organization that goes out of their way to do the best for us. Other times it may just be that they have been doing a consistently good job over and over,’’ said Allan Asaph, chairman of the Abbotsford Business Excellence committee.
Here is an opportunity to publicly recognize that extra effort.’’
The awards program is offering 10 categories to which outstanding individuals/businesses or organization can be nominated. Deadline for nominations is Sept. 12
Contact Chamber event co-ordinator Goldie VanGarderen or Chamber office manager LaVonne Bandsma at 604-859-9651 or e-mail them at acoc@telus.net for more details or check the Business Excellence information and downloadable nomination forms at www.abbotsfordchamber.com.
Guest presenters this year are corporate and rythmic inspiration, the Drum Cafe, featuring audience participation.
Nominees must be based in Abbotsford, can only be nominated in one of the categories, and recipients of last year’s awards cannot be nominated for the same award this year.
Categories are:
1. Customer Service Excellence – Business.
Sponsored by First Base Business Growth Strategies. Granted to a business, which has demonstrated the ability to provide outstanding customer service on a consistent basis.
2. Customer Service Excellence – Employee.
Sponsored by Canadian Western Bank. Granted to an employee, who has demonstrated the ability to
provide customers and clients with outstanding service on a consistent basis.
3. Social Responsibility Award
Sponsored by LaFarge. Granted to a business, organization or individual, whose business policies and practices in areas of social responsibility have demonstrated a positive impact on their employees, business, industry and/or the community.
4. Producer Excellence
Sponsored by TD Canada Trust. Granted to a business, organization or individual in a manufacturing, production or processing capacity, that has made a positive contribution to the economic base of the Abbotsford area.
5. Home Based Business Excellence
Sponsored by Baker Newby & Berryhill Foods. Granted to a home based business or individual(s), that has demonstrated excellence and quality in their product and/or service.
6. Business Leader Award
Sponsored by Tradex Granted to a business, organization or indivudual, who has made a significant contribution to make our community a better place to live, work or do business.
7. Eric Vanderham Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by the three Rotary Clubs of Abbotsford. Granted to a young individual, age 30 or under, who has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial skills in building his/ her own business, or as part of an existing business.
8. Retailer of the Year
Sponsored by Prospera Credit Union. Granted to a business or individual(s), that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the retail sector.
9. New Business of the Year
Sponsored by KPMG. Granted to a “new business” established within the last three years that has demonstrated outstanding characteristics in all areas such as performance, leadership, innovation, management, marketing and service.
10. Established Business of the Year
Sponsored by The Abbotsford News. Granted to a business established more than 3 years, that has demonstrated outstanding characteristics in all areas such as performance, leadership, innovation, management, marketing and service.
Find this article at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/25827709.html
Despite hike, valley hotels still cost less
Abby room rates have risen steadily
The average price of a hotel room in Chilliwack and Abbotsford has risen by more than four times than a room in the Metro Vancouver area over the last seven years, but they still rank amongst the lowest in the province, according to recently-released B.C. Stats numbers.
Despite a 42.9 per cent rise in prices from 2000 to 2007, the average hotel room rate in the Chilliwack/Abbotsford communities was just $88 in 2007.
Only Campbell River ($88) and Kamloops ($87) were similar.
The B.C. average room price was $129, brought up by the average in Vancouver of $147.
The resort community of Whistler topped the high price list where an average room was $191.
When it comes to occupancy rates, Chilliwack still ranks amongst the lowest with a 60 per cent rate, seven per cent below the provincial average.
Sixty per cent is not necessarily a low number when it comes to occupancy rates, but Tourism Chilliwack executive director Brian Coombes said the numbers were positive for the city.
"To me it's a good news story as it shows Chilliwack is a growing destination for a whole lot of reasons," he said.
Given that current hotel owners don't necessarily want more competition, Coombes was hesitant to say there was a need for more rooms in Chilliwack.
But, he did concede a high-end, name-brand hotel might not hurt.
There is no need for another "room-only" highway hotel or motel, according to Coombes.
But, he said there is certainly room for something more up-scale, and something with more meeting and convention space.
He credits recent municipal projects with the growth in occupancy and the resulting room rates.
"The investment that has been made in Heritage Park and Prospera Centre has really benefited the hotel industry," he said.
"It's extended the season because we used to be very much May through Labour Day; that was our season."
Provincially, occupancy rates were in decline for several years until 2004 when they started to rebound.
There are more than 700 hotels in B.C., with returns in 2007 estimated at $1.4 billion.
©Abbotsford Times 2008
![Brian Moore [left] and his son Aaron have seen their company, Brian Moore Log Homes, prosper because of the growing interest in old-fashioned log homes.](clip_image001.jpg)
CREDIT: Cam Tucker/Times
Brian Moore [left] and his son Aaron have seen their company, Brian Moore Log Homes, prosper because of the growing interest in old-fashioned log homes.
Homes made of logs, love
Family bringing a little history in to modern living
The yard at Brian Moore Log Homes in Abbotsford is a hive of activity.
Chainsaws whine, and workers are busy on the ground and atop three half-built log structures that are steadily taking shape.
"All these parts will go together like a puzzle," said Brian Moore, nodding towards a row of hand-peeled cedar logs resting on sawhorses nearby.
Their smooth round shapes, notched and cut with precision, are ready to be fit into place.
Moore, the founder of the company, has been putting together log houses for 30 years.
During that time he's also learned a thing or two about a puzzle of a different kind: how to maintain a thriving business despite challenges like B.C.'s beleaguered forest industry, and a faltering U.S. economy.
All three projects in the yard, for example, are headed for Europe.
The largest, bound for Lithuania, is part of a $3 million project the company is sharing with Coyote Log Homes in Ontario.
"There is a growing interest in just wood products in general," said Moore's son, client service manager Aaron Moore describing the European market.
The strength of the euro has given many Europeans purchasing power with which to experiment, he said. Brian believes that leaves Canadian companies like his in a perfect position to capitalize.
"I think we have a reputation for being pretty trustworthy, straight-shooting people with good quality wood products," he said.
The Lithuania project seems to bear him out.
"The kind of challenges on this house are rarely dealt with in log home construction," says Aaron.
Because most log structures normally shrink and settle by as much as a foot over the course of about two years, builders must devise ways to compensate.
This is especially challenging if, as in the case of the Lithuania project, a lot of vertical beams have been worked into the design.
"All these walls have to be designed to slip and move," says Brian. "The whole house is a maze of logs that are stacked up, and logs that are stood on end and connections that are going to have to be designed to move. They're going to have to adjust this house for a couple of years the way you tune a car."
Brian has been honing the skills needed to bring such designs to life since 1979, when he first decided to buy a mess of logs and start building log homes on his part of the family farm in Saskatchewan.
What motivated him? His first answer is tongue in cheek.
"Well, it was Saskatchewan," he said. "There wasn't a lot to do."
He goes on to explain that he simply fell in love with the first log home he saw.
"I just liked the strength of the structure," he said. "It seemed like a little bit of art to me."
Another element that drew Brian to the work was the somewhat hippy-ish counter culture that grew up around log building in the 1970s and 80s.
Vestiges of these roots can still be seen both in Brian, who sports a deep tan and shoulder length hair, and in the industry. Clients from Japan to Slovenia are drawn to the romance of log structures.
"It's not just a housing decision," said Brian. "They just love it."
While the romance lingers and there is still a sense of camaraderie among log builders, Brian Moore Log Homes no longer relies on the word of mouth approach to marketing that it did in the beginning.
"It's different in our generation," said Aaron, who came on board with a degree from Simon Fraser University's business faculty, full of new ideas for the company.
Although father and son have butted heads over some issues, like the image the company should project through its website, both agree that their differences [Aaron's hair is cropped conservatively] have contributed to the company's growth.
"When you're interacting with a customer you've got two different personalities, two different perspectives," said Aaron. Brian agrees with a laugh: "He's got the brains and I've got the heart."
For more information on the log homes and to learn how they are made go to www.brianmooreloghomes.com.
©Abbotsford Times 2008
