Small Business

Hit Me, Please

Last month, I stood on the brink of world domination. World Wide Web domination to be exact. I had completed the final touches on my awesome, hip, easy-to-navigate Web site.
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The Taxman Cometh

My cat should be tax deductible. She is an office expense; I use her as a paper shredder. Since she refuses to accept payment, I should be allowed to write off her food, litter, and catnip.
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Take a Hike: Managing Input Costs

THE SITUATION

The winter of 2000/2001 was unseasonably balmy in Alberta, but nevertheless, Albertan businesses experienced the chills. The deregulation of the provincial sale of power has arrived with electrifying results.
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To B.Com or not to B.Com

When John Putters hires new staff for CSM Systems, his four-year-old Edmonton technology company, he looks for vision, entrepreneurial flair and a can-do attitude.
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E-Commerce Connection

“A Web site without a (marketing) plan is like opening a drink stand in the desert. Only the lost will find you,” says Bob Gardiner, e-business expert and creator of Albertafirst.com.
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The Cup that Cheers

At Characters Fine Dining in downtown Edmonton, the waiter presents before us a boxed tray of loose tea blends as if it were an exquisite tray of desserts. The selections have names like “Life is Beautiful,” “Chai-Ish” and “Happy Dreams” and their aromas linger as we make our choices.
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Street Retail Renaissance

A renewed interest in urban street retailing has translated into a strong showing for Alberta retail streets in a study conducted by Calgary’s Fairfield Commercial Real Estate Inc. Stephen Avenue and 17th Avenue SW in Calgary, along with Edmonton’s Whyte Avenue are ranked among Canada’s top 10 urban retail streets when measured by rent per square foot.
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Profitable Palette

Making the right bet on a short-term trend can often mean the difference between healthy profits and dwindling sales. It’s no wonder so many retailers rely on colour trend forecasters for the latest predictions on everything from computers to cars to clothing.
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Small Potatoes, Big Plans

Four years ago, Angela Santiago was on her knees with a spade tilling the black, windswept soil of a family friend’s farm near Nisku.
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