Interested in hearing how local businesses are navigating these uncertain times? WTC Winnipeg's short podcasts series showcases individuals sharing about how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting their businesses, and also how they are adapting their operations. The WTC Winnipeg team remains dedicated to supporting you as it relates to your business activities. For information about our services, please visit our webiste: wtcwinnipeg.com
From the rise of e-commerce and dealing with uncertainty to the ever-present labour shortage, discover some of the major trends that are shaping growth opportunities in Canada. Mariette and her guest Jonny Loewen also share tools available to small businesses in Manitoba through BDC's Winnipeg Business Centre. Host: Mariette Mulaire, President and CEO, World Trade Centre WinnipegGuest: Jonny Loewen, Manager, Winnipeg Business Centrce, Business Development Bank of Canada
With a greater focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in the workplace, soft skills are becoming essential skills. EI Advantage, a Manitoba company that helps clients around the world with their coaching and training needs, discusses the importance of investing in people and how developing our emotional intelligence can contribute to a more inclusive work environment.Host: Mariette Mulaire, President and CEO, World Trade Centre WinnipegCo-Host: Camille Bardy, Trade Advisor, World Trade Centre WinnipegGuest: Janice Gair, Co-founder, EI Advantage
With their all-in-one robotic chicken coop, Ukkö Robotics is not only improving the quality of life of farmers and their livestock, but also soil quality. Discover the inventive spirit behind a Manitoba company that is set to revolutionize livestock farming across North America and make regenerative farming more accessible. Host: Mariette Mulaire, President and CEO, World Trade Centre WinnipegCo-Host: Fiona Webster-Mourant, Co-chair, World Trade Centre Winnipeg board of directorsGuests: Daniel Badiou and Katrina Jean-Laflamme, Co-founders of Ukkö Robotics
Avec son poulailler robotisé tout-en-un, Ukkö Robotics améliore non seulement la qualité des producteurs et de leurs animaux, mais aussi la qualité des sols. Découvrez l'esprit inventif d'une entreprise manitobaine qui s'apprête à révolutionner l'élevage en Amérique du Nord et à rendre l'agriculture régénérative plus accessible. Animatrice : Mariette Mulaire, Présidente-Directrice Générale, World Trade Centre WinnipegCo-animatrice : Carole Freynet-Gagné, Vice-présidente, conseil d'administration du World Trade Centre WinnipegInvités : Daniel Badiou and Katrina Jean-Laflamme, Co-fondateurs de Ukkö Robotics
D'ambassadrice du Canada en France à ambassadrice des petites et moyennes entreprises à BDC, Isabelle Hudon révèle les thèmes de la Semaine de la PME de cette année, discute de l'importance de l'entrepreneuriat et du fait que l'adversité a tendance à nous pousser vers des résultats inattendus et souvent positifs.Animatrice : Mariette Mulaire, Présidente-Directrice Générale, World Trade Centre WinnipegCo-animatrice : Carole Freynet-Gagné, Vice présidente, World Trade Centre Winnipeg, entrepreneureInvitée : Isabelle Hudon, Présidente-Directrice Générale, Banque de développement du Canada
From Canada's Ambassador to France to becoming an ambassador for small and medium-sized business at BDC, Isabelle Hudon discusses this year's Small Business Week themes, talks about the importance of entrepreneurship and how adversity has a way of nudging us towards unexpected and often positive outcomes. Host: Mariette Mulaire, President and CEO, World Trade Centre WinnipegGuest: Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO, Business Development Bank of Canada
With four guys, a trailer and a truck, this Manitoba business went from the garage to the globe in just 15 years. Sharing their inspiring story and key ingredients to their success, the co-founders of Titan Environmental Containment show us that better outcomes for the planet and business ARE possible. Host: Mariette Mulaire, President and CEO, World Trade Centre WinnipegCo-Host: Derek Earl, Vice president, World Trade Centre WinnipegGuest: Brett Burkard and Kelly Sitarz, Co-founders of Titan Environmental Containment inc.
In this episode, Chris Johnson, Co-founder and CEO of Permission Click discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about how his company helps schools around the world to automate forms and workflows and establish a digital audit trail. With over 50 countries served so far, their goal was to make sure their program could just as easily be used in regions such as the United States and the Middle East as it is locally. Permission Click primarily serves the education market for schools from Kindergarten to Grade 12. After the idea stemmed from participating in one of North Forge's Ramp Up weekends, Chris knew that there was a problem to be solved. Since launching the company, their product offering has grown from permission forms to a full program that can be used at various degrees in schools and to improve time efficiency in administrative tasks.
In this episode, Ketaki Ogale, owner and co-founder of BHyve, spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about their peer learning platform that she believes will innovate how skills and knowledge are exchanged in the workplace. She explains how knowledge can be lost in an organization if it is not necessarily part of their job description, and that is why she and her co-founder set out to resolve this issue. BHyve is a gamified peer-learning platform that is at the intersection of online learning and human resources products that are meant for engagement. They aim to help companies see meaningful interactions between their staff while creating a space to share proficiencies.
In this episode, Dan Belhassen, president of Neovation, spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about how his learning and development company helps other businesses understand and retain information. Through Ottolearn, their software is customized for their clients by identifying where employees lack familiarity and focuses on those knowledge gaps for a couple minutes a day. Dan describes how this microlearning method leads to more effective long-term retention of information. Neovation launched in 2012 and has been recognized as one of the top growing companies in Canada by both The Globe and Mail, and Canada Business Magazine. Neovation is able to work with companies as they become more conscious of how they can improve their knowledge management.
In this episode, Carly Shuler, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Hoot Reading discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about how their online tutoring company helps kids improve and excel at reading. Hoot Reading's application connects kids with real teachers to help them learn. Their technology is based on research that was done at Sesame Workshop, where Carly previously worked. Over the past 2 years, Carly Shuler and her Co-founder, Mia Kotecha, have grown Hoot Reading to include English, French, and are now working on launching Spanish. Their catalogue of 600 books is designed for reading education to give kids the best tools to help them learn to read successfully.
In this episode, Declan McDonald, founder of PriceRazzi speaks with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about how he started his company and how he pivoted and grew over the past 6 years. After discovering the lengthy process for traditional price matching when purchasing appliances for his own kitchen, Declan made the decision to launch PriceRazzi with the goal of facilitating this process for others. PriceRazzi is a consumer and value added application for personal use as well as for larger companies to create more value for their customers in the financial services industries. Earlier in 2020, Meridian Credit Union won an innovation award for the integration of PriceRazzi's software, which was white labeled as a service offered to their members. PriceRazzi continues to offer what customers are wanting by developing what they need.
In this episode, Brett Carter, Co-founder and CEO of Goodeye Technologies discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about their new take on security automation, using AI to reduce security costs and improve the effectiveness of asset protection for their clients. Goodeye Tech is looking to solve inefficiencies in traditional security solutions by using proprietary technology to monitor for suspicious behaviour, creating more of a preventative solution for security. Brett speaks to his experience of starting a business and being able to find the expertise he needed from North Forge.
In this episode, Kerry Stevenson, founder of Fabbaloo, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about the advancements that are taking place in the world of 3D printing, and how his team uses its news service to keep on top of trends. Kerry speaks about the technological advancements which have allowed them to go beyond prototyping and manufacture materials for custom markets making supply chains more efficient. Fabbaloo is a news service dedicated to innovation and advancements in 3D printing. They are one of the top 3 news outlets for this technology in the world and currently host 150,000 readers per month.
The WTC Winnipeg podcast welcomes Joelle Foster, CEO of North Forge Technology Exchange, to join Mariette Mulaire in chatting with innovative Manitoba businesses. In this episode, Nate Kasten, Founder of Grey & Ivy Inc., spoke about how an activity that he started with his children led to a larger project which he believes could bring economic and career development opportunities to youth throughout Manitoba. Nate is an architect and strongly believes in his responsibility to create equitable access to jobs and opportunities, particularly in indigenous communities. Grey & Ivy simplifies architecture design tools and brings them together with indigenous land teachings to create a platform for career awareness and education. Nate named the company after his childrens' middle names as their creativity in building a playhouse during the COVID-19 pandemic is what essentially led to the inspiration for the company.
In this episode, Melanie Derwin, founder of Serenity Productions, spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about her prototype and fem-tech company. She discusses her product development journey from applying for a patent, to finding engineers that would be able to help with a prototype and even how she was able to find funding opportunities for a niche market. Serenity Productions aims to normalize and promote a conversation around female sexual wellness with their new discreet product. Their first product is still in the prototyping phase, but they hope to have a variety of products that will serve the niche market.
In this episode, Brenda Cardenas, founder of Digital Army, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about her involvement in the evolution of AR and VR filters used in social media. With a background in digital marketing, Cardenas was 1 of 10 people selected to conduct some beta testing for Facebook in 2018 when creating filters for Instagram. Digital Army is based in Winnipeg and has an international reach. Their work has had over 2 billion impressions worldwide and been used by celebrities such as Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner. They continue to help SMEs with marketing and making AR and VR more accessible.
In this episode, Chris and Lawrence Warwaruk, owners and "beer brothers" of Farmery Estate Brewing spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Colin Ferguson about the positive impact that their rural brewery has had on the community. They pride themselves in focusing their efforts on the local economy and offering quality products. In addition to being available in numerous Manitoba locations, those products are also offered in a craft beer shop that they run on Highway 16. The modest brewery was in fact one of the first movers when the pandemic hit. They quickly pivoted production to make hand sanitizers for those in need. Farmery Estate Brewing is a located on their working farm near Neepawa, Manitoba, where they grow the barley and hops that are used in the production of their products. In 2019, the brewery received the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Outstanding Small Business of the Year.
In this episode, Caleigh Christie, General Manager of Falcon Trails Resort spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Colin Ferguson about the 4-season experience they offer just a short drive from Winnipeg. Christie prides herself on the experience that her and her family have been able to offer their visitors through private lakefront properties. She also discusses the pandemic which has had minimal impact on their level of service, but has allowed them to upgrade their visitor experience by improving amenities. Falcon Trails Resort is a family owned and operated lakeside cabin rental resort. Their modern and rustic-style lakefront cabins boast beautiful views of Falcon Lake and High Lake located in the Whiteshell area. In addition to summer lakeside activities, they also offer a ski slope in the winter and a vibrant winter music festival. They also cater to those that are looking to experience living off-grid with their 3-season Eco Cabins that are on High Lake, operating fully by solar power.
In this episode, Liz Wilson, President and CEO of FortWhyte Alive discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Dayna Spiring about the beautiful reclaimed greenspace that gives Manitobans the opportunity to experience the outdoors in a fun way. With modified hours and capacity, the establishment continues to engage visitors through their knowledgeable ambassadors who are always on hand to provide insight and a memorable experience for all.FortWhyte Alive boasts 660 acres of reclaimed land in the southwest corner of Winnipeg. These lands include outdoor recreation, education aspects and a unique bison safari. Among other amenities and activities, visitors are able to rent bicycles and watercrafts as well as enjoy 7 kilometres of quaint walking trails.
Dans cet épisode, Jean-Marc Champagne, propriétaire de la Fromagerie Bothwell discute avec Mariette Mulaire et Michelle Gervais de l'appui continuel qu'il offre aux autres commerçants manitobains en vendant leurs produits dans son magasin. Jean-Marc dévoile un nouveau projet d'été en partenariat avec le CDEM et Voyage Manitoba qui encourage les gens de pique-niquer à Saint-Boniface et de découvrir davantage le quartier. La Fromagerie Bothwell est un magasin de distribution situé sur le boulevard Provencher et qui a ouvert ses portes en 2018. En plus de ses propres produits, la fromagerie offrent ceux de partenaires manitobains pour faire vibrer davantage l'économie locale. Avec leur mascotte Teemoo bien perchée (et toujours bien habillée) sur le toit de l'établissement, le magasin est devenue un arrêt essentiel à Saint-Boniface.
In this episode, Jean-François Vary, General Manager of Fairmont Winnipeg, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Dayna Spiring about the procedures and incentives that they have put in place to help Manitobans be tourists in their own backyard. In addition to their rigorous cleanliness procedures that have been implemented with the guidance of specialists, they began offering special packages for guests such as the "Summer Staycation Package". The Fairmont Winnipeg is located on Lombard Avenue in downtown Winnipeg and the hotel offers world-class amenities such as a saltwater pool and rental bikes for guests to enjoy the city.
In this episode, Jean-Marc Champagne, owner of Fromagerie Bothwell spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Michelle Gervais about being proactive in selling local products within his store. He reveals a new and exciting 'Picnic in St. Boniface' summer project in partnership with CDEM and Travel Manitoba. Jean-Marc is also the president of Provencher Biz and speaks to that role as well. Fromagerie Bothwell is located on Provencher Boulevard and is the factory outlet for Bothwell Cheese. They've been selling Manitoba products since their grand opening in 2018. With their mascot Teemoo perched on top of the store and always dressed to impressed, this quaint store has become a staple in St. Boniface.
In this episode, Trudy Schroeder, Executive Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Dayna Spiring about how they recomposed their current season to continue to enliven the summer through pop-up recitals, collaborations with local artists, and online events. They continue to strive to celebrate the community through music.The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) has been recognized for its emphasis on Canadian artists and composers. In fact, the Canadian Music Centre has awarded the WSO with an Award of Excellence for performing and commissioning the most new Canadian compositions of any orchestra in the country.
In this episode, Adolfo Cuetara, Executive Director of the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Colin Ferguson about Manitoba's rich history and how archaeologists are still unearthing 80 million years later. The centre's tours and galleries continue to depict the large marine reptiles that used to inhabit this area of the world, including Bruce, the world's largest Tylosaur.The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre is located in Morden, Manitoba and focuses on interpreting life that inhabited the Western Interior Seaway, an area that covered most of what is now known as Manitoba, during the late Cretaceous period.
The WTC Winnipeg welcomes Dayna Spiring, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg, to our conversations with businesses in the Tourism Industry. In this episode, Jeff Mayo, General Manager or Thermea by Nordik Spa-Nature talks about how the lock-down period allowed them to do the necessary changes and renovations to ensure the safety of their staff and customers. The adapted contactless check in and cleaning procedures have been reviewed to enhance the customer experience. Thermea by Nordik Spa-Nature is a thermal spa located in Winnipeg. They offer their signature thermal experience as well as a restaurant, esthetics services and massage therapy. Their multisensory experience is designed to immerse guests in a natural setting to help promote health and well-being.
The WTC Winnipeg welcomes Colin Ferguson, president of Travel Manitoba, to our conversations with Manitoban businesses in the tourism industry.In this episode, Barb Gluck, president of the Gimli Glider Exhibit shares the amazing story of how a plane that was transporting 69 passengers made an emergency landing on an air strip in Gimli on July 23rd, 1983. This world-famous aviation story is told with passion by volunteers that are dedicated to making sure that all visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. One of the highlights of the exhibit is the flight simulator which is appealing to visitors of all ages. The Gimli Glider Exhibit is a comprehensive display of the entire story, and the community involvement that surrounds the landing of the Air Canada flight in 1983.
The WTC Winnipeg is happy to welcome Michelle Gervais, Director of Tourisme Riel, to our conversations with Manitoban businesses in the tourism industry. In this episode, Darrel Nadeau, Executive Director of the Festival du Voyageur discusses how they have adapted their summer programming in response to the pandemic restrictions while still showing their joie de vivre! In addition, he talks about how they are looking to kick-off their summer with an Outdoor Kitchen Party on July 30th. Festival Du Voyageur offers francophone and bilingual programming around the French-Canadian history and culture. The organization manages several artistic, educational, and cultural experiences throughout the year, but it is most well known for its 2-week winter festival taking place in February.
Le WTC Winnipeg est heureux d'accueillir Michelle Gervais, directrice de Tourisme Riel, aux conversations avec les entreprises manitobaines dans l'industrie du tourisme. Dans cet épisode, Darrel Nadeau, directeur général du Festival du Voyageur, discute avec Mariette et Michelle comment l'organisme a dû adapter sa programmation au Fort Gibraltar pour sa réouverture cet été. En gardant la joie de vivre comme priorité dans l'expérience pour les visiteurs, Darrell vous parle aussi de leur évènement spécial le 30 juillet : Party de cuisine plein-air ouvert au public.Le Festival du Voyageur offre une programmation francophone et bilingue autour de l'histoire et de la culture canadienne-française. L'organisation gère plusieurs expériences artistiques, éducatives et culturelles tout au long de l'année, mais elle est surtout connue pour son festival d'hiver de deux semaines qui se déroule en février.
In this episode, Alfred Lea, founder and president of Tomahawk Chips, spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about his company's trajectory and growth during the pandemic thanks to an increase in e-commerce distribution. He elaborates on how he would like to expand his chip offerings and further develop his products. He touches on his involvement with the Friendship Centre in Riverton where he instructs young people how to do business. Tomahawk Chips was established in 2015 in Riverton, Manitoba and produces and distributes potato chips to the North American market. They have a variety of flavours available in individual bags for customers' convenience.
In this episode, Rick Kemp, owner and president of Dimension Display, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the need to stay mobile and modular to stay on the go. As a company that mainly sells trade show and conference exhibit pieces, they needed to pivot quickly and project where the industry was going. They were able to determine how to tie their primary product lines to people who might need them in settings that are less traditional. Dimension Display is a Winnipeg-based company that was established 30 years ago. Rick Kemp acquired the business 5 years ago and has since been offering face-to-face marketing solutions to Manitobans. Recently launching their new “Next Dimension” online store, the company offers renting, leasing and purchasing options for products allowing business owners to stay on brand at local, national and international trade shows.
In this episode, Darrell Boyko, principal consultant for Boyko Innovations discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about how his company helps businesses that are over concentrated with few clients to go to the marketplace to acquire new business and find new solutions for long term planning. They work with companies in building new systems to improve on boarding, employee retention and sales. Boyko Innovations is a consultant firm that has developed a series of workshops to help guide businesses to build long term sustainability and continuous growth.
In this episode, Jessica Dumas, president of Jessica Dumas Coaching and Training, discusses her passion for helping businesswomen live more confidently and independently. She shares with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson how her coaching career stemmed from her own personal experience in identifying the lack of businesswomen around the groups or boards on which she had a presence. She speaks about her future plans to offer more automated programs to better serve clients.Jessica Dumas Coaching and Training empowers women to become better speakers, improve their professional presence and clarify the message they are conveying which, in turn, allows them to grow into stronger more impactful leaders.
In this episode, Riley Day, co-owner of Progressive Westman speaks with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about his company's beginnings in selling sanitation supplies which has expanded to include mats, uniforms and fire protection. In honouring their statement of "always be willing to try something different", the company quickly pivoted to bottle and label hand sanitizer when they noticed a shortage and high demand for the product. Riley expresses how being local first, when it comes to both sourcing and selling, has been a key point in their business. Progressive Westman began in August 2009 in Brandon, Manitoba. Over the years, they have expanded their products to offer more variety to their customers and have most recently moved into a new facility in Brandon allowing them to hire more staff and better serve the community.
In this episode, Cheryl Zealand, president and CEO of Cranked Energy, describes how her company was able to make a quick pivot to operations in order to maintain sales since retailers were not restocking orders as they typically would. She explains to Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson that by selling directly to the customer and offering free delivery in Manitoba and contactless delivery within Winnipeg, they were able to expand their outreach to new clients. Important motivators for Cheryl during the pandemic were to not only keep her staff safe, but to also continue to serve the community. Cranked Energy is a company that offers fresh bars that provide high protein and energy. Their products are available online with various delivery options as well as through 65 different retailers in Manitoba. They plan to continue with their expansion plan to other provinces later in the year. They continue to support community initiatives that surround wellness and health.
In this episode, Jamie Wilson, Vice President of Corporate Development of the Arctic Gateway Group discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about how northern regions of Manitoba have maintained their essential services during the pandemic. He discusses how innovative technologies were used to mitigate some of the impacts of permafrost and building on muskeg that allowed them to reopen this passage to the North. From the beginning, Arctic Gateway Group has been diligent in ensuring that their workforce reflects the demographics of northern Manitoba, striving to reach their target of 75% Indigenous employees. Arctic Gateway Group operates the Port of Churchill and cooperates with Hudson Bay Rail to support the Canadian supply chains which are vital to northern Manitoba and its continued growth. The group provides essential minerals like zinc to the pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries as well as other goods that impact global markets.
In this episode, Karly McRae, president and owner of Lakehouse Properties, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the impact the pandemic has had on the tourism industry. She shares insight on how the quick implementation of digitally focused changes to her boutique hotel, restaurant and coffee and ice cream shops was crucial to the ensuring guests continued to visit and felt safe doing so. Among these changes are contactless check-in, contactless concierge and restaurant services, online room service, and a touchless menu with QR codes. Lakehouse Properties encompasses a boutique hotel and the Arrowhead Family Resort in Clear Lake and Wasagaming. The company recently acquired a large event venue with three commercial tenants, which accommodates special events, weddings, and a third + bird market. Lakehouse Properties is highly community driven and plays a vital part in bringing people to its community to help it grow.
In this episode, Michelle Lalonde, president and chief officer of growth and happiness at Tiber River, speaks with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about how her company experienced a drastic increase in its direct sales division and adapted a new direct sales model that has been thriving during the pandemic. So much so, that they plan on using that same approach when entering the U.S. market in late 2020/early 2021. Tiber River formulates and manufactures an eco-friendly line of personal care products. The company has two retail spa locations in Winnipeg, which were recently rebranded as coteries. With over 1,800 ambassadors across the country, the company was identified as one of Canada's fastest growing companies on the 2019 Growth 500 list.
In this episode, Rafiq Punjani, owner of Anago Cleaning Systems and Right At Home Canada, speaks with Mariette Mulaire about how both his companies came to be and the unique ways both were able to serve the community during the pandemic. Through Anago, they were able to provide Covid-19 protocol cleaning services to places where people had contracted the virus. And through Right At Home, they were able to take care of seniors, offer them support and improve their qualify of life when their own families weren't permitted to visit. Rafiq also offers critical advice for small business owners in surrounding themselves with key professionals to help their business.Anago Cleaning Systems offers hospital-grade cleaning services which consists of disinfecting all surfaces accompanied with spray treatment. They have more than 130 cleaners in Manitoba. Right At Home is a homecare service that supports seniors and offers them a better quality of life. An international brand, it was brought to Winnipeg about 2 years ago after Rafiq and his family identified a need for the service in the local market. They now have close to 100 caregivers in Winnipeg.
Dans cet épisode, Jean-Marc Roy, propriétaire de MacMor Industries et Arthur Roy, président de MacMor Industries, discutent avec Mariette Mulaire de l'historique de leur entreprise et de leurs opérations durant la pandémie. Ils ont eu à rapidement trouver de nouveaux fournisseurs pour répondre à la demande d'équipements de protection individuelle (EPI) de leurs clients fidèles. Le tout n'a pas été évident car leurs plus grands fournisseurs étaient 3M et Honeywell. MacMor Industries est un distributeur canadien de produits industriels, de protection et de gréement. L'entreprise est située à Winnipeg, à Winkler, à Brandon, à Swift Current et à Edmonton. Comme distributeur de EPI, l'entreprise est essentielle aux industries telles que la production de porc, les usines de transformation alimentaire, la fabrication, les mines et la construction.
In this episode, Jean-Marc Roy, owner of MacMor Industries and Arthur Roy, president of MacMor Industries, discuss with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about needing to build new relationships with suppliers in order to source an increase in demand for their PPE products. Although they were able to maintain their company objectives, they were required to shift their focus to different product lines in order to ensure stocked inventory and remain dedicated to their loyal clients which are mostly found in western Canada. MacMor Industries is a Canadian distributor of industrial, safety and rigging products. The company is located in Winnipeg, Winkler, Brandon, Swift Current and Edmonton. As a distributor of PPE, they service vital industries such as pork producing, food processing plants, manufacturing, mining, and construction.
In this episode, John Wardrope, owner and president of Acryl Designs, speaks with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about his history of pivoting operations over the last few decades and how that has ensured his company's continued success. The last few months have been no different! John explains how at the beginning of the pandemic the work had just about disappeared, but then they quickly adapted and began manufacturing protective guards to supply grocery stores during the pandemic. Acryl Designs began as a costume jewelry company which quickly grew in the 1990s when a legislation was passed and over 30,000 locations were unable to sell cigarettes without having proper displays. That's where Acryl came in! Since then, they've invested in technology and machinery for the company and have had clients such as New Flyer, Walmart, Staples, Long & McQuade, to name a few.
In this episode, Andrea Kraj, CEO of CORE Renewable Energy, speaks with Mariette Mulaire about her entrepreneurial journey and how her company came to be. She explains the importance behind helping rural farming communities develop their own energy projects at a utility scale – something that set a precedence in Manitoba as it was never done before. Andrea also brings another very important perspective as a mother of 2 and the ways she's approached new responsibilities such as homeschooling.CORE Renewable Energy was founded and grounded on the principals of bringing community oriented renewable energy to remote and rural areas. In fact, CORE recently received the Technology Award at the 2020 Spirit of Winnipeg organized by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.
Dans cet épisode, Butch Bouchard, président d'Arne's Welding, discute avec Mariette Mulaire de son entreprise et des marchés dans lesquels elle opère. Avec plus de 65 ans d'expérience, l'entreprise était bien placée pour s'adapter rapidement à la situation en prenant une approche uniforme dans l'ajout de nouveaux protocoles de nettoyage, de masques, de distanciation sociale pour s'assurer d'offrir un environnement sûr pour ses employés. Ceci a permis à ses opérations de continuer sans trop d'interruption. Arne's Welding est une entreprise basée à Winnipeg depuis plusieurs années. En 2019, elle a célébré son 65e anniversaire. L'entreprise fabrique des remorques pour l'industrie de la construction lourde, le transport agrégat, la construction des routes, le déménagement d'équipement ainsi des produits spécialisés pour l'industrie minière et le militaire canadien. L'entreprise fait affaire partout au Canada et aux États-Unis.
In this episode, Butch Bouchard, president of Arne's Welding, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the fluctuation in sales that his company has seen during the pandemic. His company has taken a corporate approach to implementing cleaning protocols and such during this time which has allowed them to continue operations. With clients from coast to coast, Butch speaks about the increase in business and in positivity he has been feeling from clients in the last few weeks, in turn, awakening sales once again. Arne's Welding is one of Winnipeg's oldest company. In 2019, the company celebrated it's 65th anniversary and sells across Canada and to the United States. Arne's Welding supplies transportation solutions and manufactures trailers mostly for the heavy construction industry which are used for things such as aggregate transport, road building, and equipment movers. The company is also a supplier of military products for the Canadian military.
In this episode, John Sparrow, founder and CEO of Go Oil Canada, explains how his company was established following his participation in the 55-hour pitch competition led by North Forge and quickly flourished into a Canada-wide business. He discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about his contactless business model and how it has served him well during this pandemic as this new normal is arising. In fact, this past April, John notes that they broke a new record for oil changes. They serviced the same amount of oil changes in under 15 days than they would have typically done in 3 months.Go Oil Canada is a Winnipeg start-up company that now franchises across Canada. They have expanded to 14 vans in Canada and are also expanding to the United States. This upcoming fall, the company plans to launch a subscription-based approach that charges clients based on the kilometres driven.
In this episode, Ryan Rawluk, Partner at Rawluk & Ryan Chartered Professional Accountants, discusses with Mariette Mulaire how impressed he is with the innovative ways his clients (small business owners) have adapted during the pandemic across various industries. He addresses the tax extension that was announced by the Canada Revenue Agency and how they've been diligently staying on top of the government programs to properly address their clients' needs.Rawluk & Ryan Chartered Professional Accountants serves a variety of clientele of which the majority are small business owners. The firm is a successor to a prior firm and they offer services such as tax returns and audits for not for profit associations.
In this episode, Jason Leibert, VP of Business Development at MSPrebiotic, chats with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the world's best supplement grade resistant starch prebiotic fibre produced from potatoes – theirs! He also speaks about the growth pattern for the business and the interesting way COVID has impacted that growth, especially since immunity is a hot topic right now. In fact, MSPrebiotic has been running human clinical studies in and outside of Manitoba to learn its product's effect on the human body.MSPrebiotic produces a supplement grade resistant starch from potatoes. The company is owned by two brothers and is located in Carberry, Manitoba. They worked closely with potato farmers and have a global patent suite that is issued all over the world.
Dans cet épisode, Sue Leclair, propriétaire de Pretzel Place et A Baker's Story, raconte à Mariette Mulaire les défis associés à la pandémie et l'effet que celle-ci a eu sur ses entreprises et ses clients, dont plusieurs habitent dans des résidences pour les gens aînés. Cela dit, Sue discute d'une belle et unique opportunité qu'elle a eu au mois de janvier après avoir été choisie comme une de seulement 20 femmes entrepreneures canadiennes à participer à une mission économique exploratoire en France. Pretzel Place offre aux manitobains de délicieux bretzels lorsqu'ils se trouvent au stade des Bombers et des Goldeyes, au Centre des congrès de Winnipeg et Brandon, au jeu du Winnipeg Ice et à une variation de noces au cours de l'année.A Baker's Story est une boulangerie située à Grunthal qui offre également ses produits à plusieurs magasins et restaurants au Manitoba. La boulangerie, qui est toujours ouverte, se trouve un peu partout habituellement car son initiative de « popups » ont typiquement lieu 2 fois par semaine à environ 8 différents endroits.
In this episode, Sue Leclair, owner of Pretzel Place and A Baker's Story, chats with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the challenges and effects the pandemic has had on her business. She has had to pivot by offering contactless deliveries – of which a daily record of 103 deliveries recently took place. Sue also speaks about her recent experience in Europe as part of a business exploratory mission to France. She was chosen as one of only 20 Canadian women entrepreneurs to take part in the mission. Pretzel Place offers delicious pretzels to Manitobans which they can find when attending a Bomber, Goldeyes or Winnipeg Ice game, an event at the Winnipeg and Brandon Convention Centres or a wedding! A Baker's Story is a bakery located in Grunthal that sells its products to locals as well as to stores and restaurants. The bakery – which is still open – can be found all over as it typically holds popups at as many as 8 different locations twice per week.
Dans cet épisode, Guy Chartier, PDG de BeeMaid Honey, explique à Mariette Mulaire que son entreprise a pu donner ses bouteilles de plastique en ourson à deux distilleries en Alberta qui ont pivoté leur production de bière à une production de désinfectant. Guy informe aussi sur les défis associés à la transportation d'employés étrangers ainsi que des reines provenant de régions telles que l'Hawaii et l'Australie.BeeMaid Honey est le plus grand producteur de miel au Canada. L'entreprise a deux usines au Manitoba et en Alberta et appartient à 300 apiculteurs de l'Ouest canadien. Leur produit se trouve partout au Canada et est exporté aux États-Unis, au Japon et en Corée du Sud.