Local Business

Jay Valeri and Lyndsey Bell own Bigfoot Donuts in downtown Courtenay. File photo

Courtenay donut shop wins Small Business BC Award

Bigfoot Donuts has won the Premier’s People’s Choice category of the Small…

Cameron and Fiona Van Housen have reopened the iconic Dove Creek Road flower business, The Blooming Barn. Photo by Terry Farrell

Iconic Courtenay flower business reopens after 2-decade dormancy

New owners, new ideas at The Blooming Barn on Dove Creek Road

Bigfoot Donuts found a special way to honour the passing of a recent friend to many in the community, Wayne Bradley. Photo by Mike Chouinard

Courtenay doughnut shop serves up sweet tribute to a friend

Proceeds honouring Wayne Bradley will help support food security group

The first cruise ship of the 2019 season – the Celebrity Eclipse – docks in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tourism spending in Canada dropped by almost 50 per cent in 2020

Tourism-related jobs dropped by almost 29 per cent

The first cruise ship of the 2019 season – the Celebrity Eclipse – docks in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
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IT’S YOUR BUSINESS: Social responsibility is more than a slogan

Joe Smith Special to The Record This past year has raised a…

  • Apr 7, 2021
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Shelter Point Distillery has added a Best Canadian Single Cask Single Malt award to its collection. Facebook photo

Vancouver Island distillery wins more awards

Adding to a batch of medals won at the national whisky awards…

  • Mar 29, 2021
Shelter Point Distillery has added a Best Canadian Single Cask Single Malt award to its collection. Facebook photo
The new Clean Cart technology makes sure carts are well-sanitized for customer use. (Michael Briones photo)

Quality Foods opens new flagship store in Parksville

Mayor: ‘City is obviously growing out this way so it’s going to be a big help to all the residents’

The new Clean Cart technology makes sure carts are well-sanitized for customer use. (Michael Briones photo)
Victoria’s Fairmont Empress hotel closed for three months in late 2020, early 2021, to undergo renovations in leveraging slower hotel traffic because of COVID-19 restrictions. A new report from Statistics Canada find many businesses in the accommodation and food services sector are bracing for another tough year. (Courtesy of Fairmont Empress hotel)

Survey finds Canada’s hospitality industry has low expectations for year ahead

Almost 87 per cent of businesses in accommodation and food services report lower revenues in 2020

Victoria’s Fairmont Empress hotel closed for three months in late 2020, early 2021, to undergo renovations in leveraging slower hotel traffic because of COVID-19 restrictions. A new report from Statistics Canada find many businesses in the accommodation and food services sector are bracing for another tough year. (Courtesy of Fairmont Empress hotel)
Through the Community Supported Agriculture program, consumers can buy vegetables and fruit boxes (right), or flower arrangements (left).

Comox Valley farmers expand Community Supported Agriculture program

Would you love to take advantage of the bounty of the Comox…

Through the Community Supported Agriculture program, consumers can buy vegetables and fruit boxes (right), or flower arrangements (left).
Cameron Ezzy has his ducks trained as pest control officers. Through his business, Slugs N’ Bugs for Lunch, he will come to your home and rid your garden of slugs. Photo by Terry Farrell

VIDEO: Comox Valley entrepreneur opens pest control business with ducks as employees

Slugs n’ Bugs For Lunch will take care of your garden pests naturally

Cameron Ezzy has his ducks trained as pest control officers. Through his business, Slugs N’ Bugs for Lunch, he will come to your home and rid your garden of slugs. Photo by Terry Farrell
Acquiring customers is the lifeblood of every company and retention is what keeps companies sustainable. In actual fact, it should not be acquisition versus retention but acquisition and retention, you cannot have one without the other. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE

IT’S YOUR BUSINESS: Acquisition vs. retention strategies

JOE SMITH Special to The Record There are lots of studies, reports…

  • Mar 16, 2021
Acquiring customers is the lifeblood of every company and retention is what keeps companies sustainable. In actual fact, it should not be acquisition versus retention but acquisition and retention, you cannot have one without the other. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE
Emma Laliberte displays a bottle from the collection and one of her candles. Photo supplied

Old bottles spur new ideas for Merville Botanicals

Couple using collection for their upcycled candle creations

Emma Laliberte displays a bottle from the collection and one of her candles. Photo supplied
Shelter Point Distillery won several Canadian Whisky Awards this year, including a gold for best single malt. Facebook photo

Vancouver Island’s Shelter Point Distillery wins gold for single malt

Business won nine medals at recent Canadian Whisky Awards virtual ceremony

  • Mar 2, 2021
Shelter Point Distillery won several Canadian Whisky Awards this year, including a gold for best single malt. Facebook photo
Cumberland Brewery is looking to expand its patio space temporarily for the summer. Photo by Mike Chouinard

Cumberland Brewery looks for temporary patio expansion

Move would allow business to spread customers outside in summer months

Cumberland Brewery is looking to expand its patio space temporarily for the summer. Photo by Mike Chouinard
Kevin Haughton is the founder/technologist of Courtenay-based Clearflo Solutions. Scott Stanfield photo

Comox Valley entrepreneur develops clean drinking water system

‘We will use our privilege to help those less fortunate.’ It’s a…

Kevin Haughton is the founder/technologist of Courtenay-based Clearflo Solutions. Scott Stanfield photo
Chemainus Festival of Murals Society president Tom Andrews displays the Chemainus Dollars $10 bill with the same scene on it as The Native Heritage mural. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Chemainus Dollars revert to being strictly souvenirs on April 5

Unique currency spendable in Chemainus becoming a collectible only

Chemainus Festival of Murals Society president Tom Andrews displays the Chemainus Dollars $10 bill with the same scene on it as The Native Heritage mural. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Kathy and Glen Beaton of StoneCroft Farm in Black Creek, pictured with dog Lena, have been switching to regenerative farming practices to help their soil. Photo by Mike Chouinard

Black Creek farmers see soil in whole new way

Kathy and Glen Beaton of StoneCroft have been working on soil regeneration

Kathy and Glen Beaton of StoneCroft Farm in Black Creek, pictured with dog Lena, have been switching to regenerative farming practices to help their soil. Photo by Mike Chouinard
A seaweed farm installation in Klahoose First Nations Territory by Cortes Island. (Cascadia Seaweed photo)

Seaweed farming opens world of opportunity for coastal B.C.

“It’s projects like this that can show what true reconciliation is about.”

A seaweed farm installation in Klahoose First Nations Territory by Cortes Island. (Cascadia Seaweed photo)
Cruise ship arrives at Victoria Harbour, a prime source of international tourism that has been suspended in the COVID-19 pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria small businesses hoping to survive extended cruise ship ban

Greater Victoria Harbour Authority supports extension, but says losses will follow

Cruise ship arrives at Victoria Harbour, a prime source of international tourism that has been suspended in the COVID-19 pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)
Vancouver Island Visitor Centre (file photo)

Tourism Vancouver Island taking over management of Vancouver Island Visitor Centre

Submission Tourism Vancouver Island (TVI) has taken over management of the Vancouver…

  • Jan 25, 2021
Vancouver Island Visitor Centre (file photo)