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Podcast: Fabien Gendron talks about Duncan & Co. – and Fabien Gendron!

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Fabien Gendron works with Duncan & Co., an accounting firm based in the Comox Valley, You can find out more about Duncan & Co – and Fabien Gendron – by listening to this podcast.

GET YOUR BUSINESS FEATURED ON VANCOUVER ISLAND’S LOCAL BUSINESS PODCAST

LIFT Podcasts are one of the ways we’re LIFTing entrepreneurs and local businesses on the Island.
To get your business or venture featured in a LIFT Podcast see FMIaboutLIFTPodcasts

Enjoy!
~ hpm,
on behalf of the leadership team at LIFT Startups and the Vancouver Island Business Directory

  • TOP 10, Innovation, Small Business BC Awards, 2019
  • Winner, Best in BC, Entrepreneur Promotion, Startup Canada Awards, 2018
  • Best Local Social Media Organization, Comox Valley Record Readers’ Choice 2018, 2017, 2016

Leif Jason talks about Mastermynde Strategy – and Leif Jason

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In this episode of LIFT Podcasts we feature one of our LIFT Solution Sponsors: Leif Jason, owner of Mastermynde Strategy. Leif operates a digital marketing business in the Comox Valley, serving customers locally and far beyond. Leif is very active in enhancing the “interestingness” of the Comox Valley – from helping clients be more interesting online, to helping individuals, non-profit organizations, and businesses create a more interesting community.

Contact Mastermynde Strategy

More information about LIFT Podcasts

More LIFT Podcasts are available here on our blog or subscribe via iTunes and get the latest podcasts delivered to your favourite listening device.
If you’ve been a member of LIFT Startups for over 18 months, please put yourself in line for a LIFT Podcast interview. Details here.

GrowWise Health in the Comox Valley. A LIFT business profile

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The business of medical cannabis is growing – fast – and has many facets. One of these is patient and physician education about the science and the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis. Toronto-based GrowWise Health provides this service. In 2017 Denise Ropp partnered with GrowWise Health to bring medical cannabis education to the Comox Valley and Vancouver Island.

LIFT: What is the business of GrowWise Health?

Denise: Medical cannabis is a new and exciting area, and there are a lot of unknowns, and lots of new research. Our role is to provide education and support – for both patients seeking help, and physicians who want to learn more.

Your first step, when you visit our centre, is to meet with a physician who actually listens to you about what you are trying to accomplish with regards to your health. GrowWise Nurse Educators then provide education about medicinal cannabis: licensed producers, safety, dosing, strains, compounds – that kind of thing. After that, we’re here to give you ongoing support to reach your own, personalized goals.

LIFT: What makes your business “special” or different from what others are doing with regard to medical cannabis?

Denise: Let me be clear, because there is often confusion around this, we are NOT a medical cannabis dispensary. Our business is supporting patients in their healing journey, without charging extra fees.

GrowWise started about three years ago. The founders recognized that more and more physicians were authorizing medical cannabis, but patients were being left on their own to fulfill their prescription. With an ordinary script, a patient would be able to walk into a pharmacy and ask for help – the pharmacist will tell you what time of day to take your medication, what side effects to be aware, and will fulfill the prescription for you. That doesn’t exist for cannabis patients.

So GrowWise partnered with a half dozen Licensed Producers – companies authorized by Health Canada to legally producer cannabis for medical purposes – to help connect patients with the support they need to be successful with their treatment. GrowWise nurses are embedded in clinics where there are physicians authorizing cannabis – they work in pain clinics, fibromyalgia centres, family practices, and cannabis clinics like White Cedar here in the Comox Valley. The physicians bill MSP like any other clinic, and the education service is provided free-of-charge to patients.

LIFT: Who are the people that will most benefit from what GrowWise Health is offering?

Denise: Most of our patients are in their 50s and 60s. Active adults highly motivated to improve their health. But really, our target market is anyone who seeking an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical solutions. And so we have patients of all ages, from all walks of life.

LIFT: What inspired you to start the Comox Valley office?

Denise: I saw an opportunity to provide access to a natural health solution to the community. There are a lot of people for whom traditional pharmaceuticals have failed. This is a choice in healthcare, an alternative to traditional solutions. I must say, this is not about getting “high.” Most of our patients have not been recreational cannabis users. Many are unfamiliar with any type of cannabis. They’re people looking for a solution to health issues, a solution that’s eluded them in the traditional healthcare system to date.

We have a lot of patients that have been curious about this medication. There are also those who have tried using medicinal cannabis and are not aware of finer details about strains or components, or even how to properly dose themselves. They need proper education and support. I saw this opportunity as a way to support people on their healing journey.

LIFT: What / who have been the biggest factors in the growth/ success of your business?

Denise: Number one is our patients! GrowWise has worked with over 6000 patients across Canada to date. Hearing their success stories is incredibly motivating for us as a company, as well as for the greater community. These patients go on to tell their family and friends about their success, they share their story with their family physician, their colleagues, and so on, and the message spreads from there.

Another key piece that has been incredibly helpful is the expansion in research. It feels like every day there is a new study released about how cannabis might help – about how it is displacing opioid prescriptions, or how it is improving quality of life for our veterans. We have so much anecdotal evidence that points to cannabis be a valuable treatment options, but in order for healthcare practitioners to fully embrace cannabis, rigorous, academic research is needed.

Finally, the federal government’s decision to legalize cannabis for adult-use this summer has really helped to break down the stigma around cannabis for medical patients. All of a sudden, cannabis is everywhere. It’s on every newspaper cover, on the radio, in magazines – it has become far less taboo, and that has encouraged patients to take the first step and talk to their doctor about it.

LIFT: If you had one piece of advice for someone starting a business on Vancouver Island / in the Comox Valley today, what would it be?

Denise: Get out and network!

CONTACT
For more information about GrowWise Health in the Comox Valley:

Telephone: 250-941-4999
Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/Comox.3322
GrowWise Health in the Comox Valley is a LIFT member business (aka LIFT VIP). If you are a LIFT member ask Denise and the team at GrowWise Health about the 10% discount on hemp-based products like Bully Bites (doggie snacks), Canna-9, lip balm, body cream, and facial serum.

For more information about LIFT and how we help grow Vancouver Island businesses, please see https://liftstartups.ca or call Founder & CEO Hans Peter Meyer (HPM) at 250-792-1408.

LIFT Podcast: Adam Speigel talks about BDC – and about Adam Speigel

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Adam Speigel works with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). BDC has been helping Canadian entrepreneurs since the 1940s. In 2017 and 2018 BDC has helped sponsor specific LIFT Startups events. In April 2018 HPM talked to Adam about BDC, and about Adam Speigel. Tune in for Adam’s comments about his failures and learnings, his scariest moments, what he’d do with $1M to support local entrepreneurs, and his favourite restaurants.

BizOnDeck Case Study: Sea Salt Design

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Vanessa Raven-Vipond (VRV) owns Sea Salt Design here in the Comox Valley. She grew up in Ontario, but several years in the Martimes convinced her that she “had to live by the ocean.” In 2010, after 11 years in Victoria, Vanessa and her family moved to the Comox Valley where she says they are enjoying both the outdoors and a “wonderful, supportive community.”

Sea Salt Design offers custom illustration and graphic design services for web and print. Vanessa is also working on a line of printed products including t-shirts, posters and cards, and gift items. Products and services are available online at seasaltdesign.ca. Vanessa put the business “on deck” in Fall 2017.

LIFT: What inspired you to start Sea Salt Design?
VRV: As a child, I’d always wanted to be a children’s picture book illustrator. As I got older I started exploring graphic design. My first assignment, designing a sign for my parents B&B when I was a teen, led to work with a local sign shop. After high school, I started my own business as a portrait artist. That was my first experience as an entrepreneur. I then went on to study visual communications and illustration. I worked as a freelance for many years while I studied. I worked for a magazine and in-house with printers, but I always wanted to get back to owning my own business again.

LIFT: What was your “ask” at your BizOnDeck workshop?
VRV: I wanted feedback on whether I should continue with web design, which has been my bread and butter, or whether I should drop it altogether and focus more on illustration and print design. I also asked about the best way to go about getting back into T-shirts and gifts, as these are my passion.

LIFT: What were the biggest takeaways from your BizOnDeck?
VRV: I loved the feedback! While all agreed that I should continue to offer web along with print design, they also encouraged me to get out more, to be the face of my company, because I was so much better at selling my services in person.

LIFT: Has putting your business “on deck” helped grow your business?
VRV: Yes. I gained several new clients from my exposure from that one BizOnDeck, and since then I’ve been busy, primarily with illustration work.

Last words
VRV: I am now working on a graphic novel for a writer in Nanaimo, branding a new RMT, and re-branding a local potter. While I had a snag in the release of my online store for T-shirts and gifts, I’m anticipating a launch this year soon.

Please tell LIFT members that Sea Salt Design is offering 25% off all custom illustration and graphic design services, including print design.

FMI about LIFT & BizOnDeck
LIFT helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and non-profits grow their businesses. To put your business or project “on deck” in the Comox Valley please fill the blanks at https://j.mp/BIZONDECK. Or call HPM at 250-792-1408.

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Sandra talks about McLintock’s Water Buffalo Yogurt: A #WeAreYQQ Local Food Profile

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Food entrepreneurs are changing the face of farming in the Comox Valley. It’s a commonplace: the Comox Valley is an agricultural hot spot on Vancouver Island. What’s often overlooked is that we’re home to a growing number of “young agrarians,” farmers with vision. One of these is Sandra McClintock.

Sandra studied agrology and came back to the family farm determined to create a career in dairy. Gary Ralston, the former agriculture consultant who played a role in many farm ventures before his untimely death in 2015, suggested Sandra try something unique: a water buffalo dairy. It was Gary’s idea. But, as so important with any innovation, it’s the person who executes, who makes the idea become a reality, that’s so important for our economies. In this case, it was Sarah. That’s why we call her a #WeAreYQQ star: she’s innovating, creating a new business and a new market, here in the Comox Valley (YQQ) region.

Although new to the Comox Valley, water buffalo dairies are part of an emerging food trend. On the epicurean side, Italian-style mozzarella and bocconcini are traditionally made with water buffalo milk. On the health side, water buffalo milk, while higher in fat, is much lower in cholesterol than cows’ milk.

When the dairy first starting producing, Natural Pastures in Courtenay was buying all the milk. With other dairies coming on stream on the Island, and with the McClintock herd having grown to over 50 head, Sandra has launched a new product: water buffalo yogurt.

Because the milk is naturally rich and white it produces an outstanding product: mild in flavour, and creamy in texture. Unlike the cheeses made from their buffalo’s milk, the yogurt is branded as McClintock’s Yogurt.

How important is the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market to McClintock’s Water Buffalo Dairy?

The Market is the number one startup incubator in the region. Sandra says it’s been extremely important to their business. This was especially the case when launching something out of the ordinary like water buffalo yogurt. “Being at the Market gave us an opportunity to let people try it and give us feedback.” And people responded extremely well. “We were expecting more resistance, but people at the Market are adventurous. They have lots of questions about the animals. It’s great to be able to talk to customers, to fill them in.”

Where to buy McClintock’s Water Buffalo Yogurt?

Besides the weekly Market, you’ll find McClintock’s Water Buffalo Yogurt at Edible Island in Courtenay, Courtenay Country Market, Natural Pastures, John’s in Comox, the Island Bison store in Black Creek, and Country Grocer outlets down-island. Transportation of local food products from the Comox Valley is an ongoing issue for all local producers, but Sandra says there is interest in several lower mainland markets.

For more information about McClintock’s Water Buffalo Yogurt see the McLintocks Farm website. Or visit the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market on Saturday’s!

Remembering that innovation happens where you are

Much of the talk about “Innovation” focuses on technology. But here in the Comox Valley, innovation is happening in many quarters that don’t see themselves in any way as “tech.” Sandra McLintock’s dairy is an example. But there are many more, and we’re featuring these stories here on our blog, and with the help of our media sponsors at Comox Valley Record, 98.9 The GOAT, and The Island Word – and wherever else we at LIFT Comox Valley can get a chance to tell the story of entrepreneurs making shift happen in our region.

The important thing to remember is that innovation happens – or can happen – where you are. One of our LIFT mentors, Jayesh Parmar, encourages Canadian entrepreneurs to “think BIGger!” Whatever you’re doing, how can you tweak it to have a bigger impact, reach a bigger market? Another mentor, Boris Mann, says that today, “every business is a tech business,” if only because we’re using marketing and sales technologies (from Facebook and Instagram to Square and Shopify and more) to make our businesses happen.

What can you do in 2017 to grow your business BIGger?

How can technology help make that happen?

If you’ve got a story, if you’ve got a business you want to grow – tell us about it. We can help make that happen. And we’re currently wanting to engage startups and entrepreneurs in the Qualicum – Comox Valley – Campbell River corridor to help grow our “startup region.” Be in touch! Check out our events (they’re fun, and they’re super useful).

hpm
@hanspetermeyer on Twitter and Instagram
December 29, 2016

Note: This post was originally produced in a different format for the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market. Please support local food entrepreneurs and food innovation in your community by supporting your local market.