SpotlightDecember2020

DECEMBER 2020

BEST OF WE LOOK BACK AT OUR TOP STORIES FROM THIS YEAR WITH OUR “BEST OF 2020” HONOURS

CONTRACTOR’S CORNER UNIVERSAL DESIGN & ACCESSIBLE LIVING B U I LD I NG B R A NDS W I T H B R I T TA N Y OVERLOOKED & UNDERVALUED: 3 AREAS OF YOUR BRAND TO STOP IGNORING

IN THE SPOTLIGHT MEGAN CALLAHAN

OWNER & FOUNDER OF TRIM DESIGN INTERIORS

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

spotlight on december W ith the Holidays just around the corner, I know many of us are looking to put what has been an unprecedented year of 2020 behind us and focus on putting our 2021 business or in some cases COVID-19 survival plans into action. Looking back on 2020 we had the pleasure of speaking with many small and medium sized business owners and to see these resourceful entrepreneurs in the eye of adver- sity pushed forward, changed strategies, and learned to adjust to a new business normal as government placed restrictions to control the spread of the pandemic where put into effect. We know that we still have many hurtles ahead of us as we move into 2021 given what we have seen in 2020 we are excited about the prospect of connecting, engaging and inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders as we move into the new year and the opportunities that will be made available in the new year. We hope that you enjoy looking back at some of our top stories from2020 as selected by you, our readers, and see if your favorite story received the Best of 2020 honors. Megan Callahan’s energy and drive are infectious. Her passion and entrepreneurial spirit is inspiring so we invite you to check out this month’s “in the spotlight” to learn more about this amazing energetic entrepreneur and the person behind Trim Design Interiors, which is a Newfoundland-based residential and commercial staging and decorating company. We wish our advertisers and loyal readers all the best in 2021 and we wanted you to know that we are extremely excited and looking forward to sharing more stories about successful businesses and brands, while spotlighting the people behindmaking it all happen.

T hank You

MANAGING DIRECTOR Rod Gregg EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Lee Ann Atwater RESEARCH TEAM LEAD Ashley Tanner WEB DESIGN LEAD Sean Bridge CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Janice Buckler Jenna Conter Shannon Ferguson Anita Flowers Calli Gregg Dan Monk Brittany Pickrem Christi Rideout Elizabeth Spencer SOCIAL MEDIA & ADMIN Kate Davis GRAPHIC DESIGN LEADS Aaron Jeffrey COMMUNICATIONS LEAD

We at Spotlight on Business Magazine would like to thank all First Responders for the difficult job they do every day by putting their lives on the line to help those in need especially during this pandemic you are all

Remember we are all in this together.

Lee Ann Atwater, Editor

Calli Gregg PUBLISHER AIDACA Media

T rue H eroes

P.O. Box 35007, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3M 0G3 P: 902 405 2000 E: info@spotlightbizmag.com spotlightonbusinessmagazine.com

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

December

LAGO APPAREL OVER 32 YEARS OF PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY BRANDED PRODUCTS FOR ALL INDUSTRIES BEST OF WE LOOK BACK AT OUR TOP STORIES FROM THIS YEAR WITH OUR “BEST OF 2020” HONOURS 2020 30

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03 SPOTLIGHT ON DECEMBER 08 UPCOMING EVENTS 16 FAREWELL TO NOVA SCOTIA You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten 18 SPOTLIGHT ON INDUSTRY 20 CONTRACTORS CORNER Impacts of COVID-19 on Construction & Business 24 COUNTRY MALT GROUP Growing an ever-evolving business for 25 years 38 BREW MOVERS Handcrafted Logistic Solution Specialists 44 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS 48 HAWK TAIL BREWERY Brewers drawing inspiration from the Alberta wild 56 BLACK DIAMOND DISTILLERY Locally sourced award-winning craft spirit company 72 OLD NICK WILLIAMS COMPANY America’s Most Famous Forgotten Distillery 80 BUILDING BRANDS WITH BRITTANY Overlooked & Undervalued: 3 Areas of your Brand to Stop Ignoring 82 SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION 84 NITRO BROS COLD BREW Cold Brew that is out of this World 90 BIRDSONG BREWING COMPANY Brewing amazing beer with sunshine 98 THE CUP STORE Helping brands get into customer’s hands 112 SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH & WELLNESS 114 HOLISTIC HEALTH Nutrients A to Z: Vitamin P 124 MOM TO THE RESCUE All I’m trying to do is wash his face!

ICONIC BREWING COMPANY THE “BETTER FOR YOU” BRANDS in the spotlight MEGAN CALLAHAN OWNER & FOUNDER OF TRIM DESIGN INTERIORS 10

COLDSTREAM CLEAR DISTILLERY CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF FAMILY VALUES, CLEAR VISION & BRAND INNOVATION

RIVERWOOD ACOUSTICS CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF FAMILY VALUES, CLEAR VISION & BRAND INNOVATION

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DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

B y putting a spotlight on your business, organi- zation or community with effective and interactive media and advertising we will help you capture the interest of business leaders and potential clients, giving you an opportunity to promote your brand and grow market share through mobile, online, print, video and social media support, helping your business connect and stay engaged with your customers.

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

December EVENTS

NATIONAL IMPRINT CANADA SHOW January 7th – 8th, 2021 Virtual Conference To kick-off 2021, a full-scale Virtual Trade Show will be held for two days in January showcasing full collections available from sup- pliers, and will feature enhanced networking capabilities for all del- egates to best proceed in the new year with tremendous offerings and great connections, along with elevated knowledge and exper- tise. Imprint Canada has produced and managed Canada’s most success- ful trade shows and education- al workshops and seminars for imprintable sportswear and pro- motional product buyers across Canada. For more information on this event go to https://icvirtualshows.com/

LANDSCAPE ONTARIO CONGRESS

SHOWSTOPPERS CES January 6th – 20th, 2021 Virtual Conference ShowStoppers, like many other event organizers, is re-imag- ing how to connect exhibitors, thought-leaders and media from around the world – while prioritiz- ing health and safety. While you may not be able to meet in person in Las Vegas in January, you can still anticipate an excep- tional experience that you’ve come to expect from ShowStoppers. The organizers are excited to bring their portfolio of virtual products and experiences — as your partner to amplify and advance your brand, message and products. By offering an aggregated showcase of com- panies in a virtual booth. This is a scheduled opportunity! Exhibitors can introduce and demonstrate product, upload press releases and video, and interact with the media as they click from booth to booth. For more information on this event go to https://showstoppers.com/

January 12th – 14th, 2021 Virtual Conference

Congress is THE annual trade show and conference for Canada’s horti- cultural and landscape profession- als. You’ll find all the innovative expertise, ideas, products, peers and professional development that will make your profits soar. Much more than a market place, Congress hosts a rich conference program that imparts a wealth of knowledge to enhance your business acumen. With over 15,000 people at Congress 2020, we can’t realisti- cally hold an in-person event of comparable magnitude. So, like everything this year, change is coming as this year’s event will go virtual. We understand that this is a huge change for many partic- ipants however, we hope that you can attend to keep up to date on industry information. For more information on this event go to https://locongress.com/

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE January 5th – 7th, 2021 Virtual Conference SE Regional Conference and Trade- show is the largest educational conference and trade show in the southeastern United States that unites growers, vendors, and sup- pliers. Anyone with an interest in specialty crop agriculture is invited to be a part of this event. Even though we aren’t meeting in Savannah this year, your SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable Con- ference team is still dedicated to bringing you the educational and networking opportunities to help you unlock the unlimited potential for your farm operation. This year, you will be able to par- ticipate in over 85 hours of educa- tional programming and browse through our virtual exhibit hall, all without leaving your farm. For more information on this event go to https://seregionalconference. org/

SOUTHWEST AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE (SWAC)

BANFF PORK SEMINAR (BPS) January 5th – 7th, 2021 Virtual Conference

January 6th – 7th, 2021 Virtual Conference

The Banff Pork Seminar is a technol- ogy transfer meeting for the pork industry which convenes attend- ees who represent all aspects of pork production and every large pork organization and business is well represented at the seminar. Offering a view to the future in its plenary sessions and practical “take home” information in its breakout sessions, the Banff Pork Seminar now attracts more than 600 dele- gates from all across Canada, the USA, Europe and Asia. Attendees represent all aspects of pork production and every large pork organization and business is well represented at their seminars. As such, it is now the premier pork educational seminar in North America. For more information on this event go to https://www.banffpork.ca/

The Ontario Agricultural Confer- ence is a combined effort of The Southwest Agricultural Conference, Golden Horseshoe and Heartland SCIAs and Eastern Ontario Crop Conferences. AS COVID-19 continues to create many unique challenges including our ability to meet in person we are committed to keeping our agri- cultural community updated with current and timely information. The combined team is very excited to bring you an incredible line up of speakers, presenting 40 sessions, providing attendees with interac- tive sessions full of the tremendous knowledge and experience they have come to expect. For more information on this event go to https://www.southwestag- conference.ca/

WANT TO HAVE YOUR EVENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT? Send an email 4 weeks in advance to production@spotlightbizmag.com with all the details of your event.

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS: Tell us a little about yourself, your hobbies, what you like to do in your spare time when you are not helping clients get the most out of their property investments? MC: I am 42 years old and married to a surfer dude for the last decade. We have 3 awesomely wild kids and 3 rescue dogs. As a child, my brothers and I were lucky enough to travel the world with our parents. Our dad was in the Canadian military and our parents were always up for an adventure! When I’m not busy with my family and not dressing houses up to hit the real estate market I’m trying to take part in my life’s passion; I am an animal activist doing my part to end animal exploitation. I am a member of the St. John’s Animal Save, a volunteer with www.challenge22.com, and a board

IN THE SPOTLIGHT MEGAN CALLAHAN OWNER & FOUNDER OF TRIM DESIGN INTERIORS

by Lee Ann Atwater I f you know Megan, then you know she has an eye for detail and a passion and drive for helping clients get the most out of their property investments with her full range of interior design services for both residential and commercial properties. Spotlight on Business Magazine caught up, which is not easy to do especially on a dirt track,with this energetic and adventurist from Newfoundland to learn more about the person behind Trim Design Interiors.

“My dream job is a professional AMA motocross racer, so in my spare time I go to the motocross track and work on that. I know I’ll have to stick to my day job, but a girl can dream and keep practicing, right”

member for Boarding For Rescues & Animal Welfare – an amazing animal rescue group in South Texas that rescues and rehomes hundreds of homeless dogs and cats a year. My dream job is a professional AMA motocross racer, so in my spare time I go to the motocross track and work on that. I know I’ll have to stick to my day job, but a girl can dream and keep prac- ticing, right (Megan says with a laugh)?

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

TELLS US ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE BEFORE YOU WERE BITTEN BY THE ENTREPRENEURIAL BUG. MC: I completed the 3-year Business Manage- ment Accounting Program at College of the North Atlantic. From there I lucked into a job with a company that I will always consider myself fortunate to have worked for. I was a Business Analyst with Provincial Aerospace (PAL) for 6 years until my family moved to Texas. WHAT WAS THE DRIVING FORCE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR AND START YOUR OWN BUSINESS? MC: It was during our stay in Texas that I put pen to paper and started to plan my business. It seemed to be light-years away since I was far from home with 2 kids under 2. As soon as we moved back home to Newfoundland, everything started to fall into place. I wanted to do what I love as a job. The thought of making that happen was so exciting to me. The timing was finally right. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND TRIM DESIGN? HOW DO YOU KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST TRENDS INDUSTRY PLUS KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO BE A CLASSIC LOOK OR PIECE? MC: I have always loved decorating, furnishing homes, deciding on paint colours, etc. Myself, my husband Jason Callahan, and my mother Ann Ring came up with a plan of attack. Each with our own distinct roles in the business, Trim Design quickly became what it is today. On the design side, we wanted to help people bring their ideas to fruition. The goal is to make the final product one a homeowner will love every time they walk into the room. Everybody knows what they like but putting it together and making everything flow can be a more difficult task. That is where Trim Design comes in. On the staging side, I wanted to give each home the added touch that creates a welcoming and inspi- rational experience for buyers, showcases the home, and shows off its full potential. The fact that I could help people in these areas as my job

YOU OFFER MORE THAN JUST STAGING SERVICES CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT YOU OFFER? MC: We offer real estate staging - vacant house. It can be difficult to see the full potential of an empty space. No matter how nice a house may be, without depth and emotion, a house may not have that ‘dream home’ feeling to buyers. We will perform the full staging of the house to maximize the interest from potential buyers. We will supply all furniture, wall art and accent pieces. The result will maximize the space, showcase the layout, and highlight the selling features. We also offer virtual staging. We take photos and measurements of your vacant home and using our virtual staging program, we ‘stage’ the selected rooms with virtual furniture and accents. For those that would like to do it themselves we offer staging consultation or DIY tutorial. A staging consultation consists of a thorough tour of the home, complete with an in-depth discus- sion to point out areas to accentuate what will make the home most appealing to potential buyers. I leave the homeowner with a detailed to-do list to complete before real estate photos as this is a perfect way to kickstart a DIY home staging project. Suggestions will include house- hold improvements, furniture rearrangement + removal, colour schemes, and curb appeal. For those that have recently purchased a home or looking to do some work on their current home we offer home consultation – kind of a fresh start. After a new home is purchased or when you’re looking for a refresh of your current home, it is time to mix things up! We offer a home consulta- tion to get you on your way! This service consists of an in-home discussion with the homeowners to understand their lifestyle, likes and dislikes. We will then outline a design plan, focusing on key areas and features, colour schemes, and fur- niture selection and (re)arrangement.

“I have always loved dec- orating, furnishing homes, deciding on paint colours, etc.”

was a dream come true. While it is important to stay on trend, every job is different and needs its own unique touch. When we figure out what look, style, and character will best represent each home we execute the plan and wait to see the sold sign.

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

DO YOU HAVE A TYPICAL CLIENT? IF SO, TELL US ABOUT THEM? IF THEREWAS SOMETHING THAT YOUR CLIENTS HAVE IN COMMON, WHAT WOULD IT BE? MC: On the staging side, the majority of my clients are realtors. We work as a team to get each home sold for the homeowner. The realtors I work with are nothing short of amazing. There are 3 Keller Williams’ agents that I work with daily: Nicole Darbaz, Josh Stokes, and Michelle Stokes. They have a certain entrepreneurial spark about them that continuously inspires me to grow and succeed as a business owner. My realtor clients are driven, they care deeply about their clients (homeowners), and they don’t need sleep. A winning combination of traits! TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE WORKED ON. MC: Some of my favorite projects are the tough ones! From time to time, we’ll have a homeown- er who needs the extra push to get through the staging list for their occupied home. Those ones take a lot of realtor-stager team effort. The home usually has amazing potential, but there is a large to-do list in order to get it to reach that poten- tial. This list does not consist of high dollar renos. It does generally mean a lot of hands-on work; decluttering, moving furniture, painting, etc. In many cases, the homeowner doesn’t initially see the benefit of the changes and feels the house is perfect the way it is. Oftentimes, homeown- ers don’t have the time to put in or the space to store excess items. With the right realtor-stager team effort, and a lot of TLC, we’ll always get the picture-perfect real estate listing and then the sold sign! Those projects are close to my heart and I burst with pride when it all works out. No greater sign of success than when a homeowner can move on to the next chapter of their life.

“No greater sign of success than when a homeowner can move on to the next chapter of their life.” WHAT MOTIVATED YOU AS AN ENTREPRE- NEUR AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER? MC: My motivation was design. I have always had a love of interior design. My education took me down a different path, but when the timing was right, I was drawn to the industry. There is no greater satisfaction than a client being excited about my work in their space. That alone drives me to grow my business and reach more people. I love that my ideas and my work help people. To me, if my work is a part of their success, my job is important. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS 5 YEARS FROM TODAY? MC: Over the last few years, we have been growing our inventory and client base. We will continue with that and always search for new and improved ways to better serve our existing and future clients. When COVID-19 struck, we were forced to shift to a more virtual and remote approach to design and home staging. Although this was based on a business necessity at the time, it created an opportunity to expand our business outside our current demographic. We intend to grow this aspect of the business over the coming years. Lots of fun in our future! It is easy to see that Megan lives life to the fullest but is also a dedicated professional who is driven to perform whether that is to help agents and home sellers get that sold sign on their lawn or to be the first one to get the checkered flag on the dirt track. Either way we see a bright future for Megan and Trim Design Interiors.

“We work as a team to get each home sold for the home- owner.”

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

Farewell to Nova Scotia YOU MAY BE GONE, BUT YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

Some were taken from us as they provided vital services during the COVID-19 outbreak trying to ensure the safety of their communities during these unprecedented times, while others were self isolated to protect others in their communities, while checking in on neighbors or taking to social media to send positives messages to friends and family, doing their best to keep up the spirits of their fellow Nova Scotians in the uncertainty of the pandemic. Below are the names of those that were taken away from their friends and family due to this sense- less act of violence, words cannot describe the sadness that we and the rest of Nova Scotia and Canada feel for your loss. Those named above should be remembered for the amazing people that they were and not for the event that began in the rural beachside community of Portapique and ended in Enfield just outside of Halifax that they were victims of. As we all try to understand and get answers to how and why this tragic event happened, we can be sure that these amazing people look down on all of us and wish farewell to Nova Scotia.

by Lee Ann Atwater

This past year has been a tough one for all Canadians however, on April 18th it hit those in Nova Scotia extremely hard, as a gunman left a quiet cul-de-sac in the seaside community of Portapique, Nova Scotia leaving a trail of victims across the province until ending in a shootout with police just outside of Halifax on April 19th. The victims represented a cross-section of the province’s neighbourly and community service-mind- ed society from all walks of life: a police officer, a teacher, correctional officers, nurses, caregivers, business owners and trades workers.

Our message for our readers is this, if you are having thoughts of suicide or thinking about harming yourself or others please talk with someone, reach out for help and know that you are not alone. The Mental Health Crisis Line is 1-888-429-8167. Thoughts and prayers from the entire Spotlight on Business Magazine Team.

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

Spotlight on Industry Headlines

EXXON MOBIL UNVEILS NEW CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN

CANADIAN HOME SALES REMAIN HISTORICALLY STRONG S tatistics released today by the Canadian Real Es- tate Association (CREA) show national home sales continued running at historically strong levels in November 2020. So far this year, some 511,449 homes have traded hands over Canadian MLS Systems, up 10.5% from the first 11 months of 2019. It was the sec - ond-highest January to November sales figure on re - cord, trailing 2016 by only 0.3% at this point. AIRLINES WARNED OVER SAFETY AS JETS RETURN FROM PANDEMIC STORAGE Actual (not seasonally adjusted) sales activity posted a 32.1% year over year gain in November, the same as was seen in October. It was a new record for that month by a margin of well over 11,000 transactions. For the fifth straight month, year-over-year sales activity was up in almost all Canadian housing markets compared to the same month in 2019. R egulators, insurers and experts are warning air- lines to take extra care when reactivating planes left in extended storage during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing potential pilot rustiness, mainte- nance errors and even insect nests blocking key sen- sors. The unprecedented number of aircraft grounded as coronavirus lockdowns blocked air travel – at one point reaching two-thirds of the global fleet – has cre - ated a spike in the number of reported problems as airlines return them to service.

AIRLINES SCRAP INTERNATIONAL TICKET CHANGE FEES AS DEMAND WEAKENED BY PANDEMIC However, the company also noted in outlining new carbon goals that the plan ″includes input from share - holders.” For investors that doubt Exxon’s long-term strategy, the announcement signals that they are re- maining consistent with the path they are on, and that might lead some investors to sell shares or press for change in leadership. Time will tell. A week after multiple activist investor groups targeted Exxon Mobil for recent financial un - derperformance as well as climate change concerns, the oil giant has released a new five-year plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The com- pany stressed that the plan has been in the works for months as its previous five-year plan through 2020 is drawing to a close. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are getting rid of in- ternational ticket change fees, joining American Airlines in the measure that aims to spur travel demand that has been decimated in the coronavirus pandemic. Delta, American and United in August dropped change fees for domestic flights. American last month expanded that to international travel, including long-haul routes. Change and cancellation fees brought in $2.8 billion for U.S. carriers last year, according to the Department of Transportation. The cost to change international tickets ran at least $200 for many itineraries, plus a difference in fare. But with passenger traffic hovering around one- third of last year’s levels and once-lucrative international travel especially hard hit, airlines are scrambling to loos- en policies that would encourage travelers to book.

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

There are a few ways to address these needs and allow more people to overcome these limitations and remain independent where they live: New Homes Designs – If new homes were all built with universal design principles, they would minimize the need for anyone to move from their home prematurely. The Disabilities Act (2005) defines Universal Design (UD), as:

CONTRACTOR’S IMPACTS OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN & ACCESSIBLE LIVING by Dan Monk

Often with age comes mobility issues where everyday tasks, such as climbing stairs, taking a shower, or preparing a meal become more dif- ficult. In some cases, these daily tasks become so challenging that we must leave our homes and move to facilities built specifically to reduce these challenges. This also applies to people who have become injured due to work related acci- dents or other activities and people with physical or mental disabilities from birth or that develop over time. From my experience, most people with these mobility challenges typically wish to be at home in a familiar environment with their family to continue to live as limitless as possible for as long as they can. This decision takes a lot of planning, but ulti- mately, if this is what people want, then we need to see the possibilities beyond the current limitations

to empower these people. We must do whatever is best for their personal safety and personal freedom to allow them to stay in their home.

“The design and composition of an environment so that it may be accessed, understood and used (a) To the greatest possible extent (b) In the most independent and natural manner possible (c) In the widest possible range of situation (d) Without the need for adaptation, modification, assistive devices or specialised solutions, by any person of any age or size or having any particular physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual ability or disability” The Disabilities Act paved the way for the Accessible Canada Act (2019), which has been a significant move forward in addressing the future needs of all people to live as independently as possible. “Aging in Place” Renovations – Now for my area of expertise, this is taking the principles of Uni- versal Design and applying them to the specific needs of the current and future homeowner. The Centers for Disease Control defines Aging in Place as: “The ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regard- less of age, income, or ability level.”

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

In many cases, we must adapt the existing home in order to provide accessibility or limit hazards. A few typical examples of renovations that can allow people to stay in their home are as follows: • Ramps or mechanical lifts at the entry or on stairs within the home • Accessible bathrooms with level entry showers rather than tubs and installing grab bars • Lever handle door knobs for ease of entry • Accessible sinks & toilets • Increase lighting or motion sensor lighting for safety at night These are only a few renovations to allow people, regardless of their ability, to remain in the comfort of their own homes as long as possible.

Cost of Care Facilities – To give perspective to the cost of care facilities versus the cost to help keep someone in their home with renovations, let’s project a few numbers. Let’s say that the average nursing home bed cost the taxpayer $200/day ($73,000/year per person). If significant renovations were required to a home (bathroom, kitchen, lighting, ramp/lift), it could cost approx. $100-120K, therefore, if a significant renovation could keep one person in their home for 2+ years, it would save taxpayers’ money and continue to grow the economy with renovation projects. If we keep a couple in their home, this starts to show significant savings. Unfortunately, provincial budgets only show cost, not savings! There must be a demand from taxpayers and persons with disabilities or lim- itations for the government to start investing in

“aging in place” renovations and actively choose to save taxpayers money and further stimulate the economy. Universal design, aging in place renovations, and government investment to help keep people in their own homes are all progressive tools to solve this issue. Canadians from coast to coast to coast must strive to be a model as a caring and respectful society in terms of being more inclu- sive for all people. I hope you have found this article both helpful and informative. My goal is to help educate and make the public more aware of the significant skill, professionalism, and organization that is required to be a Trusted Professional in the reno- vation and new home building industry.

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

Growing an ever-evolving business for 25 years COUNTRY MALT GROUP I n 1995, Bryan Bechard and his father, Claude, opened his malt supply business in a lawn mower shed behind his parent’s house with six bags of grain and no customers. Today Country Malt Group supplies an extensive portfolio of malt, hops, and other brewing supplies to hundreds of breweries and distilleries throughout North America. by Anita Flowers

“We started with six bags of malt and no customers.”

Back in August, Spotlight on Business sat down with Bryan Bechard, President of United Malt Group’s global Warehouse & Distribution business to talk about his growing, ever-evolving business and the 25th year anniversary of Country Malt Group. “I originally started the business with my dad. He retired from his job in 1995. I was pretty new out of college and had always had an interest in owning my own business. I just didn’t know what it was going to be. My brother was a home- brewer and well established in his career and the craft brewing scene was starting to emerge. He suggested that there might be an opportunity to supply malt to home brewers and such,” said Bechard. Bechard started the business out of a lawn mower shed in his dad’s backyard. “We started with six bags of malt and no customers. Those were lean years, but I look back on them fondly as the customer driven focus we continue to have in our business was established back then. The customer leads in your decision making. You adapt your value proposition and your portfolio around the needs of your customers. Country Malt Group began in September of 1995. “I recall going to the county clerk’s office and filing the paperwork to get started. It was North Country Malt Supply to begin. It evolved

“The values of our business aren’t just words on a piece of paper. Safety, passion, quality, integrity. They are at the center of how we operate as a business.”

into Country Malt Group (CMG) after we opened our Chicago facility in 2006. That was called Mid Country Malt.” The decision was made to roll all facilities under a consistent portfolio and in 2007, the brand become Country Malt Group. Bechard, a husband and father of two, lives in upstate New York not far from where the original Country Malt facility was founded. CMG is now part of the United Malt Group, a network of companies spanning North America, the UK and Australia. United Malt Group (UMG) has multiple malting assets with brands and distribution businesses around the globe. UMG includes Great Western Malting and Canada Malting, Bairds Malt and Brewers Select in the UK, Barrett Burston Malting in Australia, and Cryer Malt in Australia and New Zealand. “The values of our business aren’t just words on a piece of paper. Safety, passion, quality, integrity. They are at the center of how we operate as a business.” We’re going to find a way to do it safely or not do it at all. We’re not interested in doing something that could jeopardize the health and well-be- ing of our people, or visitors to our sites.” “If you don’t have any passion in what you do, or belief in what you’re doing, you should find some - thing else to do. We’re very passionate about what we do, about our customers, about our people. We know that customers have a choice. They don’t have to buy from us. We want them to see us as the best value choice every single time. They develop loyalty to our brand, to our service, and it becomes a mutually beneficial relationship, which is what we’re striving for.”

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

ents brewers require, along with our vast portfo- lio of malt and hops.” Local warehouses also carry some smaller maltsters regional based products to support the local aspect for our customers.

“Customer wise, I want to be as easy to do business with as possible. I don’t want the customer concerned with my company’s ability to execute. We want our customers focused on running their business.”

CMG supplies customers coast to coast in North America. “We have 13 distribution facili- ties in North America, nine in the US and four in Canada, the latest being Halifax, Nova Scotia, which allows us to reach the Maritimes. Our goal is to be within 24 to 48 hours of where our cus- tomers are enabling shortened lead times. We don’t want our customers to have to take on a bunch of stock. We want to help them manage their working capital and space constraints so they can source only what they need at any given time.” CMG strives to be a one-stop shop for brewer- ies and distilleries and carries a wide portfolio of products. “Malt is the core of our business. However, hops are also essential for our custom- ers and we’re proud to work with Yakima Chief in North America to provide their high-quality hops to our customers. We also offer cleaning products, spices, and numerous other ingredi-

For Bechard, it’s about quality, integrity and building relationships. “If you sell products or services that are of low quality that you yourself don’t believe in, or if you’re untrustworthy and don’t have a high degree of integrity, you will fail to build mutually beneficial relationships necessary for long term success. “Customer wise, I want to be as easy to do business with as possible. I don’t want the customer concerned with my company’s ability to execute. We want our customers focused on running their business. We want to be a partner they can count on every time. That means making sure we get them what they want when they want it how they want it and where they want it every time.” Country Malt Group continues to grow and expand their portfolio. “It’s a constant evolution to make sure we are looking for what’s next. What is it that customer is going to need both today and into the future?

“We have 13 distribution facilities in North America, nine in the US and four in Canada, the latest being Halifax, Nova Scotia, which allows us to reach the Mar- itimes.”

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

“We want to be the grocery store for the customer to enable an easy one-stop shop option and avoid customers paying unnec- essary freight fees and/or the need to delay production awaiting arrival of products from multiple vendors.”

“We want to be the grocery store for the customer to enable an easy one-stop shop option and avoid customers paying unnecessary freight fees and/or the need to delay production awaiting arrival of products from multiple vendors. CMG can be found at most brewing events and conferences. “We have a vast, and indus- try-experienced, sales team spread out across North America attendingmost all the industry related events. It’s a great way to talk about products, both current and new additions to our portfolio, and demonstrate support for our customers. CMG celebrates 25 years this year; however, planned events and celebrations are now on hold due to COVID-19. “We may celebrate next year with 25 plus one. We’ll wait to do that until we know it’s safe for our people and our customers to attend those events.” The company remains focused on our customers during these difficult times. “It’s just amazing to me how innovative the North American craft brewer is and how they have and continue to adapt and maneuver their business with addressing the current situation,” said Bechard.

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

OVER 32 YEARS OF PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY BRANDED PRODUCTS FOR ALL INDUSTRIES by Anita Flowers LAGO APPAREL

While working as a design assistance for a successful fash- ion-house in Vancou- ver she would also do freelance designs for customers ranging from musicians, bridal, mother of the bride to grad dresses as well as designed a few mini collections for local fashion shows. “I’ve always had a natural ability to sell and to connect to people, this and my apparel back- ground was a good fit for Lago.”

A little COMPANY History

F or 32 years, Lago Apparel has been building relationships across Canada one sales call at a time. Now a custom apparel business, Lago Apparel offers high quality branded products, such as hoodies, hats and sleepwear, for the corporate, brewery and souvenir focused markets.

Lago Apparel began with a road trip across Canada. In Dec of 1986, the company that Rick Kish and Sat Lali worked for closed its doors, putting them out of a job. Lali and his family, living in Nova Scotia at that time, made the decision to move back to Vancouver. Upon learning that a new product, the Rick Hansen Yoyo, needed immediate representation across Canada, Lali and Kish took up the challenge to promote it. “Basically, they packed up the house and drove across the country. It was one big long sales trip - hitting every customer they knew. That was the beginning of Lago Apparel, now celebrating 32 years,” said Lali’s son, Jonny. In the early days of the company, Lali and Kish worked repping products for other companies but became frustrated by production and shipping delays. They began to choose their own product line to sell. In 1987 Sat Lali bought the current property for a home with a small 800 square foot garage that functioned as the first ware - house. After an apparel company in Vancouver couldn’t keep up with their sales orders, the company gave Lago a transfer machine and their souvenir clothing adventure began. The company experimented with a variety of products – sunglass- es, doodle art and novelty items. Lali and Kish worked sales during the day and shipping and accounting at night. Lali’s wife, Sherry, and friends heat pressed the shirts. Soon the business outgrew the garage and Sherry evicted them before a semi-truck ran over their kids.

Meet Jonny Lali: Jonny Lali learned the business from his dad, Sat Lali, co-founder, President and CEO of Lago Apparel. “I grew up in the business, cleaning the warehouse, going on sales trips and filling orders. That’s what prepared me for the apparel industry – all the trips in the summer on sales calls with my dad. Him and Rick Kish were the main driver in sales for many years. What I learned was that it’s more of a relationship building business than anything else. It’s old school mentality.” Spotlight sat down with Jonathan “Jonny” Lali, Sales Development Manager &member of the Product Development team, and Linsey McTaggart, Sales Manager & member of the Product Development team, back in August of this year to talk about the company’s impressive 32-year history and remark- able philanthropic commitment. “I grew up in the business, cleaning the warehouse, going on sales trips and filling orders. That’s what prepared me for the apparel industry” Meet Linsey McTaggart: After a completing her business degree in Alberta, she had a breif stint in banking, decided it wasn’t for her and moved to Vancouver to study Fashion Design at the Art Institute of Vancouver. Linsey McTaggart began working in the fashion industry in Vancouver initially working the bridal industry.

“I’ve always had a natural ability to sell and to connect to people, this and my apparel background was a good fit for Lago. ”

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

The first warehouse of 3500 square feet was rented in Port Kells. The focus on clothing soon became the main business and the company continued to grow in sales and staff. Soon the company expanded into a 6500 sq. foot warehouse, bought their first embroidery machine and developed an in-house screen-printing department, then expanded again into a 10,000 square foot warehouse. After over- flowing that warehouse, and with a sales force that was building sales across Canada, the company expanded again in 2008 and constructed their own facility. In 2013, Rick Lali (GM and Production Manager), Ahmad Malik (CFO), and Elias Boutros (Sales) joined partnership/ownership group. The CULTURE & Challenges: The culture at Lago Apparel is familyfocused, value based and genuinely philanthropic. Currently, the company employs 35 during the slow season and about 45 as production ramps up. Employee reten- tion is distinctive with 30% of the staff employed for over 10 years and 35% for 5-10 years. 60% of the staff are women. “Overall, it’s a very healthy work environment. The ownership group is very support- ive, and there’s always room to grow. The company is always willing to take risks,adapt and change, which keeps things exciting and current. And then the fact that we get to travel across our beautiful country is huge It’s good to work for a company that has the same morals that we do and encourag- es giving back,” said McTaggart. The company value statement was written with par- ticipation and input from 90% of the staff. “We took everybody’s input and pared it down to five core values, including teamwork, compas - sion, honesty, integrity and respect.” said Lali.

The industry has changed over the years, bringing new challenges and competition. “Our number one issue in this industry is keeping up with technology and the requirement of having a website that fully meets our needs. This has definitely been one of the bigger challenges because we do so much custom apparel,” said Lali. Competition with big box stores is an additional challenge. “Our company is known for low minimums with a great price point and good quality, but it’s still hard to match some of the big box stores price points,” said McTaggart “Being able to customize product is an advantage in this regard.” A third challenge for this value-based company is finding ethically sourced goods. “One thing that the company has struggled with over the 30 years is ensuring our quality of garments being produced in an ethical way, at a good price place overseas. We’ve had to be very hands on with the manufacturing aspect,” said Lali.

“Overall, it’s a very healthy work environment. The ownership group is very supportive, and there’s always room to grow.”

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

The APPAREL 17 years ago, Lago obtained Canadian manufacturing distribution rights for Lazy One Sleepwear. “Lazy One has a strong brand image and it’s well known for matching family pajamas and sleepwear. It’s a good quality product and really fun, cozy designs,” says McTaggart. Lago Apparel handles its own manufacturing and importing. “From the conception of the garment to picking the fabric to getting it sourced overseas to the warehousing to the embellishment, we’re very involved,” said Lali. “Our production development and head of overseas production go overseas several times a year to see everything in person and make sure that it’s the quality and make sure the working standards are what they’ve been promised. “Our factories provide us with required certifications. We work with several government-based organizations which have certain requirements for manufacturing,” McTaggart says. Lago Apparel works with a variety of corporate customers across Canada suppling all their corporate apparel needs. Their customers include just about every industry from large corporations to small businesses and sports teams along with many shops in high tourism areas, retails stores and even hospital gift shops. “We have a very versatile line and a wide customer base. We even supply blank products to some smaller independent embroider and screen printers,” said McTaggart.

Low minimum orders, low lead times and fast turnaround times on custom orders are unique features of the Lago experience. Three in house graphic designers keep up with current trends, and work with customers to fulfill their specific vision. “Our sales team loves to have the face to face connection with customers. That fits our family approach and philosophy,” said McTaggart. “The sales team is mostly in house. We have 3 external reps & 4 internal reps for the whole country. Some of the companies we work with have been friends for 30 years. We were at a wedding for one of our customers last year. It’s really important for us to maintain that friendship over the years,” said McTaggart. Customer inquiries are initially directed to a sales rep and customers are provided with catalogs, price lists and other information. “It’s very common that within the first month of that phone call, we’ll actually show up at your location with samples to really help you get that initial order started,” said Lali. Once sales orders are written, the order goes into the production cycle which includes art graphics and garment proofs. “We don’t go to production until every- thing has been approved,” said McTaggart.

“Our sales team loves to have the face to face con- nection with customers. That fitsour familyapproach and philosophy,”

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

The PHILANTHROPHY

True to their values and philosophy, Lago Apparel works with a number of non-profits and other helping organizations. “It’s a long list. We have supported New Beginnings, an organization that focuses on helping First Nations people in East Vancouver for over 20 years. We support a music school that offers free lessons to underprivileged kids. We supported a group that was sent to Haiti in 2004. There have been many organizations that we’ve given free t shirts and bags with their logo. We’re currently supporting the BC Cancer Foundation, the BC diabetes foundation and local food banks. We distribute jackets and hot food to the less fortunate in downtown Vancouver as well,” said McTaggart. Amajor philanthropic effort for the company is Clothed in Dignity, the beginning stage of a movement toward a 100% fair trade factory, using 100% fair trade fabric, in Cambodia. Funded primarily by Sat Lali and his family and through private fundraising events, the goal of the project to train and educate eight women who were previously picking garbage in the dumps in Cambodia. The women are trained to sew while childcare is provided for their children. The first project was Lazy One draw - string bag. “They made 11,000 gift bags, where 100% of the proceeds go back into the project, they have made 300 school uniforms and now 1500 T dresses that we are now selling in our Lago garments catalog,” said McTaggart. The company’s ultimate goal is to create a 100% fair trade factory to lift families out of poverty. “The biggest focus is creating a legitimate living wage for people in these countries. Eventually, we would like for all our garments, to be made in a fair-trade way. Plus, a Canadian made line with the same standards! Fair trade garments are very tough. You have to go all the way back to the cotton being grown - which has to be fair trade - and to actually track that can be tough. But we’re working on it.”

“The biggest focus is creating a legitimate living wage for people in these countries. Eventually, we would like for all our garments, to be made in a fair-trade way. Plus, a Canadian made line with the same standards!”

DECEMBER 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2020

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