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Business Walk 2020 – Celebrating Small Business Week

Trail & District Chamber of Commerce Encourages Community to
#ThinkLocalFirst during Small Business Week

2020 Business Walk highlights adaptability as strength and challenge for local businesses

When the Charles Bailey Theatre had to cancel its spring/summer series due to COVID-19, it quickly poured its energy into a project supporting the local business community by creating and sharing video jingles.

Infinity Physio Centre in Rossland’s COVID Jingle “Let’s Get Physio,” inspired by Olivia Newton John’s “Let’s Get Physical,” announced their reopening. But this catchy tune did more than entertain; it encouraged people to #ThinkLocalFirst.

During Small Business Week, the Trail & District Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) acknowledges the contributions entrepreneurs and small business owners make to the economy. The organization applauds local businesses for their ability to adapt to changing environments and new safety protocols, all while innovating their services or products for their communities and considering what’s best for the bottom line.

Out of the approximately 120 businesses that participated in last month’s 2020 Business Walk, nearly 50% noted adaptability as their most significant achievement so far this year; conversely, a number of those surveyed (15%) considered it their greatest challenge. Meeting obstacles with success speaks to the strength of the South Kootenay business community, which is home to 900 small and medium-sized businesses; collectively this employs the majority of area professionals, outweighing any large employer in the region.

The Chamber conducts the Business Walk as a means to build closer relationships and connect with its network of professionals. With its regular Business After Business events paused indefinitely, the Chamber initially helped host virtual gatherings like the South Kootenay COVID-19 Business Roundtable. As businesses reopened, they recognized the benefit of knocking on members’ doors.

“For us it’s that personal connection—that’s what the Business Walk is about,” explains Executive Director Erika Krest. “Nothing replaces personal connection; when you can read peoples’ expressions and have that extra nuance behind words, it’s very important.”

The annual initiative is encouraged around the province as a tool to facilitate conversations between local leaders and business owners. What’s learned is examined and turned into actionable solutions.

Survey results, for example, uncovered that while large organizations and franchises have succession and emergency plans in place, many smaller businesses hadn’t yet made that a priority. As a result, the Chamber is collaboratively working toward a local solution for business professionals who see value in developing these plans.

Despite strange times, local businesses across the region remain nimble, strong, and dedicated to serving the community, even if it’s from behind plexiglass or masked and smiling with their eyes.

View and download Business Walk 2020 Summary

2020 Business Excellence Awards

 

Thank you to everyone who put forward their nominations for the 2020 Business Excellence Awards. We have a fantastic list of finalists and voting is now OPEN!

The 2020 award recipients will be selected from Chamber members in good standing. If you don’t see a name on the list they may not meet an eligibility requirement, but we will be contacting ALL nominees to congratulate them on their business excellence over the past year.

VOTE NOW

Hiring – Bookkeeping Service

The Trail and District Chamber of Commerce is looking for a bookkeeping service.

Proficient in manual bookkeeping, Simply Accounting, QuickBooks, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Prepare Year End, Assemble Tax Returns, Up-to-date computer literacy, including Excel and Word.

Thank you so much for your interest. Please send a resume and cover letter outlining your experience to info@trailchamber.bc.ca. Short listed candidates will be contacted for an interview by February 3, 2020.

The Trail and District Chamber of Commerce will always endeavour to solicit bids and quotes for services and products from members in good standing first before going to outside bids.

expo-logo-8-1lc


Your one stop shop to get informed about healthy living!

The event features exhibitors, expert speakers and demonstrations that promote holistic and western health practices, green initiatives, food sustainability, physical and emotional well-being, nutrition, and wellness. Attendees will have the opportunity to collect information, as well as purchase and experience products and services.


kootenayhealthylifestylesexpo.com

 

The Rustic Crust

rustic-crust

The inspiration for Rustic Crust Pizza comes from the traditional Napolatena style pizzas that were made by the Italian families who emigrated to our small city of Trail, British Columbia, in the 1900’s. It didn’t take long for the Italian people to infuse our community with a number of Italian customs, among them a huge passion for traditional Italian pizza, especially those made in authentic wood-fired ovens that were found throughout Italy. For the last century, these local pizza-makers have been producing unique mouth-watering pizzas using the freshest most flavourful ingredients harvested from their own back yard gardens.

Like the best neighborhood restaurants you’ll find worldwide, Trail’s restaurant scene in the past was primarily owned and operated by close-knit families. Their products were more a labour of love than a quick money-making scheme. The resulting pizzas, though most were unaware at the time, were of a world class standard. Though not Italian by any known blood line, the Wiley family, who have called Trail home for four generations, feel they’ve acquired some cultura italiana by osmosis.

Cooking out of a wood-fired oven began for the Rustics at Mirror Lake where Papa Rich, with a little help from friends and family, built their first adobe oven with clay dug from the banks of nearby Kootenay Lake. After a few experiments with chicken, bread and some other goodies, pizza night quickly became the favorite of the family for a little friendly competition, good eats and good times. It was during these evenings that the hunt began for the best crust and toppings they could create, and shortly after they developed a desire to share it with others.

The Wiley’s felt what was missing in Trail’s current culinary scene is authentic Napolatena style pizza — hence, the Rustic Crust.