Small Business

New Bare Bones restaurant owner Lance Dodding, his wife Matraca and son Ryker pose with previous owners Steve and AC Evans. Dodding is renovating the restaurant and expanding the outdoor patio at the historic church building on Johnston Road in Port Alberni. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

BUSINESS BEAT: New family takes over Bare Bones restaurant

Popular Port Alberni eatery undergoing renos, including a new outdoor patio

  • May 26, 2021

 

Alicia Puusepp and Chris Pouget are the new owners of Riverbend Cafe & Store on River Road. They have been busy renovating the store over the winter. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

BIZ BEAT: Port Alberni’s Riverbend Cafe makes a comeback

New businesses open in the Alberni Valley, while others mark milestones

 

The coronavirus and the drastic measures put in place by government officials to try to control its spread had a severe toll on many small businesses. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

B.C. pilot program launches to help small businesses weather COVID

1,000 entrepreneurs across the province will be chosen to receive free help from experts

 

Kiki Lally is seen in an undated handout photo at Pinnovate, a craft studio in Calgary. When the pandemic began, Lally couldn’t host birthday parties, camps or bridal showers anymore, so she started making DIY kits and offering them for delivery. The DIY kits had to be sold through a new website called DIY Delivery that she built. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Jennifer Chabot, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

‘Not as easy as it looks’: Small businesses share what it takes to move online

Shipping, fitting all made complicated by COVID

Kiki Lally is seen in an undated handout photo at Pinnovate, a craft studio in Calgary. When the pandemic began, Lally couldn’t host birthday parties, camps or bridal showers anymore, so she started making DIY kits and offering them for delivery. The DIY kits had to be sold through a new website called DIY Delivery that she built. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Jennifer Chabot, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Metis Financial Corporation BC has grants, loans and core services to help Metis businesses through the pandemic, and beyond.

A chance to thrive — New financing options for Métis entrepreneurs

Grants, loans and core services for pandemic-relief and long-term growth

  • Dec 28, 2020
Metis Financial Corporation BC has grants, loans and core services to help Metis businesses through the pandemic, and beyond.
In a whirlwind of a year, Sarah Shaw and her husband met, married, moved to Victoria and bought a sailboat that they plan to move onto in April. (Courtesy of Sarah Shaw)

Silver linings: Vancouver Islanders share their positive pandemic experiences

Health risks, social isolation and economic impact real, but some people have found a bright side

In a whirlwind of a year, Sarah Shaw and her husband met, married, moved to Victoria and bought a sailboat that they plan to move onto in April. (Courtesy of Sarah Shaw)
Pedestrians stroll along Spring Garden Road in Halifax on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. A new retail shopping event has arrived, encouraging consumers to support local, independent businesses during the holiday season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

‘Nightmare on Main Street:’ After a tough year, campaign urges consumers to buy local

Only 38 per cent of retail businesses are reaching their usual sales levels

Pedestrians stroll along Spring Garden Road in Halifax on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. A new retail shopping event has arrived, encouraging consumers to support local, independent businesses during the holiday season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Andy Richards of Dog Mountain Brewing demonstrates their new canning machine. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

BIZ BEAT: Local businesses need support during holidays

Bosley’s helping pets out during holiday season

  • Nov 25, 2020
Andy Richards of Dog Mountain Brewing demonstrates their new canning machine. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Candice Woloshyn prepares her flower beds for the next season at her ‘Dirty Girl Flowers’ farm in Merville. Despite the pandemic, Woloshyn was able to sustain her homegrown business as community members opted for regular deliveries of fresh cut flowers. Photo by Binny Paul/ Campbell River Mirror.

Vancouver Island flower farmers were blooming as the pandemic wilted everything else

Floriculturists saw increased subscriptions as fresh flowers became a ‘sight for sore eyes’ during isolation

Candice Woloshyn prepares her flower beds for the next season at her ‘Dirty Girl Flowers’ farm in Merville. Despite the pandemic, Woloshyn was able to sustain her homegrown business as community members opted for regular deliveries of fresh cut flowers. Photo by Binny Paul/ Campbell River Mirror.
Port Alberni artist Shayne Lloyd has designed a line of artisan clothing under his own label, Ursalia Creative. Lloyd teamed up with Stanfield for his first project. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

Celebrate Alberni Valley businesses both large and small

Consider supporting local when shopping for the holidays this year

  • Oct 22, 2020
Port Alberni artist Shayne Lloyd has designed a line of artisan clothing under his own label, Ursalia Creative. Lloyd teamed up with Stanfield for his first project. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Join Black Press Media and Do Some Good

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Pay it Forward program supports local businesses in their community giving

Join Black Press Media and Do Some Good
North Vancouver Island businesses achieve international success with Export Navigator

North Vancouver Island businesses achieve international success with Export Navigator

How small businesses are finding new customers in changing times

  • Sep 21, 2020
North Vancouver Island businesses achieve international success with Export Navigator
Mother daughter team Juanita and Kara Erickson sit on a memorial bench at their new food-to-go location on Cherry Creek Road. The bench is dedicated to Juanita’s parents. (TERESA BIRD/ Alberni Valley News)

BIZ BEAT: New options for eating in Port Alberni

See what’s happening in the Port Alberni business community

  • Sep 16, 2020
Mother daughter team Juanita and Kara Erickson sit on a memorial bench at their new food-to-go location on Cherry Creek Road. The bench is dedicated to Juanita’s parents. (TERESA BIRD/ Alberni Valley News)
In 1940, the west side of Third Avenue between Angus and Argyle Street boasts businesses like Lavers, Homewood’s, Dr. Hiltons and Dr. Martinzer, Isabelle’s Ladies Wear, Hub Confectionary (Anderson), Flanagan’s Meat Market, Overwaitea, Fawcett’s Shoes, George Harris Shoes and Stirzaker’s. This photo is one of 24,000 in the Alberni Valley Museum’s collection. See more at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com/. (PHOTO PN06717 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)

LOOK BACK: Port Alberni’s Third Avenue circa 1940

Take a peek at Alberni Valley history with the Alberni Valley Museum

In 1940, the west side of Third Avenue between Angus and Argyle Street boasts businesses like Lavers, Homewood’s, Dr. Hiltons and Dr. Martinzer, Isabelle’s Ladies Wear, Hub Confectionary (Anderson), Flanagan’s Meat Market, Overwaitea, Fawcett’s Shoes, George Harris Shoes and Stirzaker’s. This photo is one of 24,000 in the Alberni Valley Museum’s collection. See more at https://portalberni.pastperfectonline.com/. (PHOTO PN06717 COURTESY ALBERNI VALLEY MUSEUM)
Quinn Sayers at his booth. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

BIZ BEAT: Alberni businesses moving forward during COVID-19

Young entrepreneur starts up t-shirt sales

  • Aug 19, 2020
Quinn Sayers at his booth. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
A new survey from CFIB found that a mid-range estimate shows 21,000 small businesses at risk of closing in B.C. (Ashley Wadhwani/Black Press Media)

21,000 small businesses in B.C. at risk of closure due to COVID-19: survey

Sectors like hospitality hardest hit, while others like agriculture and construction remain more stable.

A new survey from CFIB found that a mid-range estimate shows 21,000 small businesses at risk of closing in B.C. (Ashley Wadhwani/Black Press Media)
The Wildflower Bakery and Café is poised to open on Argyle Street mid-July. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

New bakery set to open in Port Alberni’s Uptown

Wildflower Bakery and Café will be located next to Brie and Barrel on Argyle Street

  • Jun 24, 2020
The Wildflower Bakery and Café is poised to open on Argyle Street mid-July. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
(Black Press file photo)

LETTER: Irony of ‘buy local’ program with outside websites not lost on writer

What a disappointment this program is…

  • Jun 17, 2020
(Black Press file photo)
A number of Harbour Quay merchants recently met with city staff to support the implementation of a temporary sidewalk patio at Harbour Quay. From left to right: Jan Marchant (The Donut Shop), Shawn Bourgoin (city), Carmen Akerley (The Sugar Shak), Rob Kraneveldt (city) and Matt Dunk (All Mex’d Up). (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Port Alberni city council approves temporary expansion of sidewalk patios

Permits will help businesses with physical distancing rules

A number of Harbour Quay merchants recently met with city staff to support the implementation of a temporary sidewalk patio at Harbour Quay. From left to right: Jan Marchant (The Donut Shop), Shawn Bourgoin (city), Carmen Akerley (The Sugar Shak), Rob Kraneveldt (city) and Matt Dunk (All Mex’d Up). (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Sarah Jones, general manager of Port Alberni’s Walk the Coast, one of numerous local businesses participating in the Better Buy Port Alberni initiative. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

PROGRESS 2020: Help for business recovery in Port Alberni comes from all directions

Businesses in Port Alberni begin to re-open after months of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions

Sarah Jones, general manager of Port Alberni’s Walk the Coast, one of numerous local businesses participating in the Better Buy Port Alberni initiative. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)