Topics

Workers of the world, shove it!

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:34:12 -0700

by Tony Wanless

Well, the stats are in, and it looks like the trend to democratic freedom in the form of operating a small business isn't letting up.

Amidst warnings that the growth boom is peaking and big businesses are starting to pull back, especially in the resources sector, a report by the Chartered Accountants of BC showed that the number of new businesses in the Lower Mainland rose 3.0 percent in 2007 to reach 282,000.

Almost all those new businesses had less than 20 employees, which puts them in the very small business category.

Performing a PESTEL on B.C.

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:58:31 -0800

By Tony Wanless

A PESTEL is a survey the business landscape – a look at where things have gone and where they're going. Officially, it stands for a study of Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal trends, but really it's a kind of free-form look at the world around you.

A PESTEL on B.C. at the beginning of 2008 tells you that we are (in Vancouver anyway) a city undergoing a major transition from a small town with a lot of people to an urban centre with more people than we know how to handle.

Power to the people (who need it)

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:46:00 -0800

by Tony Wanless

The appointment of Mossadiq Umedaly to the position of chairman of BC Hydro signals – at last -- a significant shift in economic thinking in this province.

Feeling kind of fluish

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:11:56 -0800

By Tony Wanless

I was shocked to learn of a survey that showed BC businesses aren't prepared for the repercussions of a flu pandemic hitting the province.

2008 B.C. business trends (maybe)

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:03:32 -0800

By Tony Wanless

Tony dusts off his crystal ball and takes some stabs at predicting what 2008 will hold for businesses in B.C.

Getting Smarter

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:44:04 -0800

By Tony Wanless

Apparently, Vancouver has been listed as one of the world's top 21 “smart” cities. The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), a nonprofit think tank that focuses on job creation and economic development in the broadband economy, decided that B.C.'s largest city belonged on the list because its technology industry is heavily weighted to small businesses.

Immigration Bonanza

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:42:42 -0800

By Tony Wanless

The recently released Census figures that showed an astonishing 40 per cent of Metro Vancouver residents were born outside Canada seems to have spurred a few people in the region to actually start thinking we might somehow use this fact to boost our economic fortunes.

Age-Related Stock Disease

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:07:00 -0800

By Tony Wanless

No doubt there's much weeping in the biotech community today after BC's most iconic biotech, QLT, announced that it might be put on the auction block as one of several options being considered by the company's management in an effort to boost its value. But it was inevitable.

Invasion of the Bedrooms

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:21:00 -0800

By Tony Wanless

Is Vancouver in danger of becoming a 'bedroom community'? Tony Wanless takes a look.

Hey, Boss! How to Keep Employees

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:47:36 -0800

By Tony Wanless

Want to know how to keep your employees happy and satisfied? Tony Wanless takes a crack at helping employers retain their talent.