Off the Ground Blog
The Sharing Economy
Taking an Uber home from a night on the town, booking a cutesy cottage on Airbnb, and even signing up for some freelance tasks on Upwork. What do these three things have in common? These increasingly popular actions are all ways to participate in the growing economic model known as the sharing economy. What is a Sharing Economy? According to Entrepreneur.com, a sharing economy is an economic model that “connects individuals who need a particular product or service with other individuals who have or can render that particular product or service”.
Industry Overview: Tourism
The tourism industry in Canada is growing, and British Columbia is no exception. 2016 saw an increase of 12.3% in international visitors and tourism is now one of BC’s leading business sectors (DestinationBC, 2017). Local tourist treasures have also been winning accolades including:
The Best of #SBALibrary 2017
Our #SBAlibrary summer reading challenge was a great opportunity to delve into the world of business reading. With help from community members and organizations, we featured books that help entrepreneurs keep up with trends, build important skills, and be inspired by innovation. As we wrap up #SBAlibrary for the year, we want to take an opportunity to spotlight some of the most outstanding business reads that we featured this summer.
Industry Overview: Video Production
Lights, camera, action! Video production involves the capture of moving images on various forms of electronic media. The video production industry has made headlines in British Columbia as the province is in the midst of a boom. We decided that now is an ideal time to spotlight the SBA’s resources for video production businesses.
Becoming a Better Manager
It's no secret that business owners need many different skills to succeed: they're responsible for everything from making strategic decisions to making sure the water bill is paid on time. But amid the daily bustle, one important skill is at risk of being overlooked: management.
Industry Overview: Graphic Design
Graphic design involves using both graphics and text to convey a concept or idea. The graphic design industry includes many activities, including corporate identity/branding, advertising, print production, and web design. Graphic designers create logos, posters, newsletters, brochures, signs, and other forms of visual communication. The graphic design industry in Canada is slated to grow as high-quality graphic design services will become increasingly integral for companies seeking to develop brand awareness.
Emotional Labour and Your Business
Have you ever had to show confidence when you felt fear or express enthusiasm when you felt anxious? Maybe you’ve used a smile or a calm tone of voice to put someone else at ease. If so, you have performed emotional labour, and you’re not alone.
Original innovators: A profile of the First Nations Technology Council
June 21 is National Aboriginal Day, which is an opportunity for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the diverse cultures and outstanding contributions the First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. Here at the SBA, we would like to recognize an important organization that is leading the advancement of digital technologies in First Nations communities throughout British Columbia: the First Nations Technology Council.
Take the #sbalibrary Summer Reading Challenge
We’ve all heard it before – reading helps entrepreneurs keep up with trends, develop skills, and be inspired by innovation. But how do you decide what book to pick up next, and how do you motivate yourself to keep reading? The SBA has a solution for that!
Accelerate Your Learning with Video Tutorials
Want to learn how to define your business structure, use social media for your business or sharpen your Excel skills, but don’t have time to take a course? No problem! With the growth of online videos, it seems there are online video tutorials for almost any topic. And that includes business research!