With one of the most youthful and energetic demographics in the province and a recent highway upgrade ready to channel cash-bearing visitors into town, the potential for success in the Squamish retail/service sector looks promising. But first impressions can be deceiving.
The failure rate for start-ups is high, especially in the downtown core. A combination of unrealistic expectations, coupled with a lack of understanding of the finicky commercial landscape, can result in shelves filled with unsold stock, nasty debts and a migraine headache.
Still, there are many entrepreneurs who have discovered the formula for success in the Shining Valley.
Anna Kirman, the proprietor of Anna's Attic, has a winning combination of business intelligence, attention to customer service and a selection of products buyers want. During her 23 years on the downtown roller-coaster, she has cornered a niche market for eclectic room-scapes and household accessories unavailable at the big-box stores.
In December 2003, husband-and-wife team Don Ryan and Abe Shukuko opened the Naked Lunch in the Chieftain Mall and more recently began operating a drive-through in the Squamish Industrial Park. Don has 25 years of experience as a trained chef and his staff provides customers with prompt and friendly service, fresh ingredients and an imaginative menu selection.
A more recent addition to the Squamish business landscape is the Tom Harris outlet in Garibaldi Village. The cell phone retailer and Telus services partner is run by operations manager Paula Mason. Along with a persistent emphasis on customer satisfaction and a large product selection, she provides a high level of professionalism and is a strong leadership role model for her young staff.
A few doors away, Urban Alpine offers Canada's first online ski leasing facility and a full-service ski shop, as well as skis, snowboards, winter apparel and summer-related equipment and attire. The operation is the brainchild of Drew Hitchmough and his wife, Meredith, who have more than 20 years' experience in the sports retail sector. They are banking on a winning combination of a high-traffic location, competitive pricing and a staff comprised of passionate sports enthusiasts with extensive product knowledge.
Just up the road, the Sea to Sky Adventure Co. is into its second year of sports equipment rentals and guided outings. On the surface, the enterprise, which recently moved into the Adventure Centre, has all the earmarks of a high-risk undertaking but owner/operator Jeff Levine comes to the table with an MBA, boundless optimism and a well-researched vision to capitalize on the potentially lucrative Squamish outdoor excursion trade.
So what does all this mean? A growing number of local groups, including the Inside Edge Knowledge Association, our municipal council and the Chamber of Commerce, are in the process of devising a blueprint for sustainable business development.
Let's remember that real sustainable growth is not just about luring new ventures here. It is also about providing a blueprint for success for existing businesses as well as newcomers. Input from some of the aforementioned commercial leaders, along with contributions from many other successful local retailers and service providers, should become an essential component of that process.
