How to Write a Great Business Plan, According to Entrepreneur Cate Luzio

Posted on July 20, 2023
Coming up with the million-dollar idea was the fun part. But turning that idea into a successful company requires a business plan. Here’s why: A great business plan helps you plot your course and focus your efforts, which is what it takes to meet short- and long-term goals. It also demonstrates to interested parties—employees, investors, lenders, partners, yourself—that you’re committed to building the company and that you’ve got what it takes. A considered business plan also shows how you’ll generate revenue and handle expense management, gets honest about how long it will take to turn a profit, maps out how…

You’re Invited: Connect, learn and grow at the City’s Small Business Information Session for newcomers, immigrants and refugees

Posted on July 20, 2023
Social Media Share Links Share Pages June 13, 2023The City of Victoria is excited to welcome you back for another Small Business Information Session. Hosted by the City’s Business Hub, this event is for newcomers, immigrants and refugees operating or looking to open a small business in the City of Victoria. At this session, you will learn about the resources available through the City’s Business Hub and several other local organizations that can connect you with great business information, resources, mentorship and settlement support. Whether you’re at the idea stage, ready to launch, or just looking for some advice,…

Inflation: Which foods are the most expensive in Canada?

Posted on July 19, 2023
Grocery prices continue to be one of the largest contributors to high inflation in Canada. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for June showed an inflation rate of 2.8 per cent year-over-year, following a 3.4 per cent increase in May 2023. While this decrease was positive, Statistics Canada said it was “fairly broad-based.” “Canadians continued to see elevated grocery prices (9.1 per cent) and mortgage interest costs (30.1 per cent) in June, with those indexes contributing the most to the headline CPI increase,” the CPI reads. “The all-items excluding food index rose 1.7 per cent.” Gasoline led to a decrease…

How Follower Count and Authenticity Impact Influencer Marketing Success

Posted on July 19, 2023
The influencer marketing industry is a booming sector, projected to reach a staggering $21.1 billion in 2023, a five-fold increase in just half a decade. This explosive growth has not only placed influencer marketing at the forefront of digital advertising strategies but also sparked debates about how to optimize influencer content creation and engagement effectively. Two recent studies published in the Journal of Marketing – “Influencer Marketing Effectiveness” and “Finding Goldilocks Influencers: How Follower Count Drives Social Media Engagement” provide critical insights into these debates. They delve into the intricacies of balancing follower count, content authenticity, and brand familiarity to…

Kamloops cancer center business plan needed to jumpstart fundraising campaigns

Posted on July 18, 2023
“We are obviously in the preparation stages. We are looking at what other cities have had to raise money for,” said RIH Foundation CEO Heidi Coleman. “We have been asked by a few donors who are holding their money, saying, ‘Do you need money for radiation?’ We know we are getting an MRI, a CT simulator and three linear accelerators in there, which is just fantastic. Will we be asked to pay for equipment? We’re undecided.”While uncertainty around specifics remains, Roth that a local campaign from the BC Cancer Foundation should be coming down the pipeline in the near…

Think tank says tax cars based on their weight

Posted on July 18, 2023
Transport & Environment’s research results suggest that smaller cars could reduce the requirement for raw materials such as lithium, manganese, cobalt and nickel by almost a quarter. Smaller cars could ease the demand for battery materials such as cobalt, lithium, nickel and manganese by almost a quarter, according to the Transport & Environment think tank A green transport organization has alerted that the trend for cars with greater weight is boosting the call for metals required in electric car batteries. Transport & Environment, a think tank, has suggested that a reduction in the size of cars could reduce the predicted…

Port union warns Ottawa to ‘stay out of our business,’ as strike talks fail to reach a deal

Posted on July 17, 2023
Negotiators trying to end a strike by more than 7,000 port workers in BC failed to reach a deal Sunday as the union representing striking workers warned Ottawa to refrain from interfering. Port workers across BC walked off the job Saturday morning in a wide-ranging job action that could impact worldwide shipping and the Canadian economy. On Sunday afternoon, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) warned Ottawa against contemplating back-to-work legislation or imposing a contract, saying it would shatter “labor peace” in the province. The strike affected about 7,400 terminal cargo loaders and 49 of the province’s waterfront employers…

Canada’s financial watchdog releases guidelines to give mortgage holders tailored support

Posted on July 17, 2023
July 5 (Reuters) – Canada’s financial watchdog on Wednesday released new guidelines for lenders aimed at protecting mortgage holders facing high borrowing costs or who are at the risk of defaulting. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) said federally regulated financial institutions, including banks, must work to help at-risk consumers by “providing tailored support” that could include measures such as waving penalties or other costs. The FCAC said two-thirds of mortgage holders are having trouble meeting their financial commitments. Canadians are facing the burden of high interest rates forcing them to either increase their monthly contribution or extend their…