The rays of sunshine slicing through Wednesday morning鈥檚 cloud cover outside City Hall wasn鈥檛 just a sign that Victoria wasn鈥檛 quite ready to surrender to the region鈥檚 inevitable autumn downpours.
It also reflected a palpable spirit of optimism felt during the Small Business Provider Information Session, the first such event of its kind here, presented by the City of Victoria鈥檚 Business Hub.
It was a full house in council chambers, where dozens of business students, investors, entrepreneurs and aspiring small business owners assembled to learn more about operating a small business in Victoria.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of a one-stop shop for people who are looking to open a business, expand a business or people who already have a business and are looking for support regarding financing, loans or business networking,鈥� explained Quinn Anglin, the city鈥檚 business ambassador.
Anglin, who ran her聽own downtown business for six years, the lifestyle store Nest and Cradle, assumed the position last year.
The main goal of the Business Hub, created as part of Mayor Lisa Helps鈥檚 economic action plan, is to make it easier for people to do business in Victoria and connect them with resources they require, said Anglin.
Thirteen local partners 鈥� including the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, The Reger Group, Women鈥檚 Enterprise Centre and Community Micro Lending 鈥� shared their expertise after the mayor鈥檚 opening address.
Anglin said the Business Hub was formed in part to help people who are confused about the business and development process through City Hall, and to dispel misconceptions.
鈥淪ome people think we鈥檙e more of a business adviser, saying 鈥業聽have an idea for a business. What should I do?鈥櫬犫�� she said.
It helps demystify issues such as zoning, permits and inspections, and explains the differences between getting a business licence at the municipal level, and registering your business.
鈥淎 lot of people also don鈥檛 understand how our municipalities work,鈥� said Anglin.
鈥淢y first question is usually, 鈥榃here do you live鈥�? Oak Bay Avenue? OK, you鈥檒l have to go to Oak Bay鈥檚 [municipal] hall.鈥�
A question that representatives of the sa国际传媒 Ministry of Finance revenue division often hear is: 鈥淒o I need to register for provincial sales tax?鈥� outreach and public information official Jacquelline Roodbol said.
鈥淚s my business considered a聽small-seller, and what鈥檚 the criteria?鈥� she said at the ministry鈥檚 information table.
鈥淲e hear those questions all the time.鈥�
Business Works for Youth coach Larry Earnhart was also on hand on behalf of Ethos Career Management Group to inspire younger members of the crowd.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to turn youths into entrepreneurs!鈥� is how he began his address, which detailed a program that takes individuals aged 15 to 29 through a six-month process of building a business plan.
鈥淯sually you do this through pain and agony,鈥� Earnhart said later. 鈥淲e help people learn the pitfalls and overcome challenges and have better odds of having a successful business.鈥�
Camosun College business administration and marketing student Jessica Hogg said the information session dealt with a number of issues she hadn鈥檛 thought about.
鈥淚鈥檓 a hairdresser and my plan is to open my own salon so this is super-helpful,鈥� said Hogg before she and classmate Breanne Cruickshank dashed back to school armed with business cards and brochures.
Kerri Milton, executive director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, described the event as a useful tool to help accelerate downtown鈥檚 vibrancy.
鈥淪mall business is our bread and butter. It鈥檚 what really matters to any downtown,鈥� said Milton.
鈥淥ur job is to help facilitate them through a difficult system, from getting business licences and permits to renovations.鈥�
The DVBA also answers questions business owners ask about the impact of homelessness downtown. It participates in crime prevention through environmental design initiatives, she said.
鈥淲e provide guidance on things like better lighting and we鈥檒l go in with police to see what can make your building safer, things that can make it difficult for people to break in.鈥� Questions DVBA staff are most often asked include inquiries about the best locations 鈥� 鈥渉ow can we get people into our store?鈥� 鈥� how busy certain areas are at different times of day, and marketing advice, she said.
