This is a free event and will be a great time to socialize and network, exchange ideas, and talk business in a relaxed and informal setting.

Beverages will be available at happy hour prices.

This is a free event and will be a great time to socialize and network, exchange ideas, and talk business in a relaxed and informal setting.

Beverages will be available at happy hour prices.

SBAB members are encouraged to attend and bring along future members! Your 2011 Membership Forms have been mailed to you.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to reply to sally_p@shaw.ca

Hope you can drop in at the Balkan on Wednesday February 2/11, 4-6 PM. We look forward to seeing you there!

At the SBAB meeting on the 7th, Mayor Karen Sorensen discussed several Town of Banff budget items, at the meeting Karen agreed we could post the notes on the blog, and these follow:-

As discussed at Small Business Association of Banff Meeting December 7, 2010
BUDGET NOTES (Prepared by Mayor Karen Sorensen):

• The Town’s administration creates the initial budget from a $0.00 base and builds the budget from there, based on services required as approved by Council in the draft 2010 Services Review.
• After the Financial Plan was approved by Council, confirming an Alberta rate of inflation of 1.2% and setting that as a cap to the draft budget, administration reduced expenditures to match a max 1.2% tax increase. After further unknown expenditures came up – WCB, RCMP as examples - the budget is cut further to maintain the 1.2% Alberta rate of inflation cap, as directed by Council.
• The RCMP budget has increased by 250,000 this year – this expenditure alone is greater than a 1.2% increase. (A 1% tax increase equates to 197,000.00 )
• The first draft of the Operating Budget was presented to Council on Nov. 29 showing a tax increase of 1.2%.
• Also in this budget is an additional 1.1% (over the 1.2%) for regional transit – a new service, that we believe industry favours.
• Council uses the Financial Plan, the Service Review and the Resident Satisfaction Survey to determine the budget they eventually approve.

In the draft version of the Resident Satisfaction Survey – 450 people responded

• Quality of Service – 87% said good to very good.
• Value for tax dollars paid – of those who pay taxes – 68% say they receive good to very good value for their tax dollars.
• In order to maintain or expand services the majority say to increase taxes by Alberta rate of inflation (33%) or adopt new user fees (38% )
• In order to reduce taxes TOB should cut services 6%
• In order to maintain taxes TOB should cut services 5%

• Wage freeze 2009 - Hiring freeze 2010 - Hiring freeze continues in 2011.
• Currently, in budget deliberations, Council is at a total 2.7% increase including RCMP, transit, and a few other new initiatives.
• Taxes will be reduced by 3.1% and waste collection will be moved to a utility.
• Wages and Benefits have made up a high of 44% and a low of 36% of the total operating expenditures over the last 10 years. There has been a general decline in this percentage since 2004. 2011 is at 38% in the draft budget thus far.
• From taxes and utility revenues Wages and Benefits represent a high of 48% and a low of 40%. In 2010 41% (2nd lowest) and 2011 42% (3rd lowest over past decade)
• Of all of the TOB revenues we receive, taxes represent a high of 56% and a low of 47%. In 2011 our 48% of TOB revenues will come from taxes. This number has been declining since 2005. Taxes are forming a reduced amount of our revenues.

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Banff Lake Louise Tourism (BLLT) have been approached by a member who wants to bring a concept similar to Canmore’s mountain market to Banff.

They have been asked to support this concept so are asking members to attend a meeting, next week, to see if there is interest from a broader group to pursue an adjusted Banff version.

This is an occasion to make your voice heard.

Are you happy to see traders in the street, or Central Park, through the summer. Whatever your opinion BLLT would like your views.

Direction of Side walk sales

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The other reason for the meeting is to ascertain if members want to continue the sidewalk sales, stop them or move in a different direction.

As requested by the industry, in 2010 Banff Lake Louise Tourism worked with the Town of Banff to instigate a pilot program for Sidewalk Sales in Banff. BLLT would like feedback and would like to know what retail members would like to see in the destination in regards to ideas for future initiatives.

BLLT are in the process of business planning for 2011, now is the time for this conversation.

Please attend

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Your opinion is valued. Please take the time to attend a meeting on November 2 at 2:00 PM in the Banff Lake Louise Tourism Board Room to discuss what has been learnt and what future direction is desirable.

Please RSVP to Stuart Back at stu@banfflakelouise.com.

Small Business Association of Banff.

We are pleased to announce the Small Business Association of Banff’s Annual General Meeting. All members are invited, and encouraged, to attend.

Details
• Tuesday, May 4, 2010
• 1:00 pm
• at Banff Park Lodge - Glacier Salon

Agenda
• 12:30–1:00 pm - Registration
• 1:00 pm - AGM and Complimentary Buffet Luncheon (for SBAB 2010 Members & Invited Guests)
• 2:00 pm - Adjourn

The room is booked until 3pm in order that members that would like to network, or catch up with old friends, can do so.

So that we have the right numbers for catering please RSVP to Sally, at sally_p@shaw.ca, by next Thursday, 29th April.

If you are not yet a member you can download an application form here or contact Sally Plunkett to receive one in the post.

Also you are reminded that members can advertise their business here at no cost. Just provide your web address or a contact number and a message to potential clients (no more than 30 words). As this becomes more used by members and more businesses can be found then it will feature more prominently in Google searches.

The Town is posting out tax assessments tomorrow (Friday). Having received your notice, or phoned your Landlord to discuss the same, you will no doubt have major concerns.

Frank Watson is with Bow Valley Property Valuators. He assists the Town of Banff with Property assessments. He does not set the Mill Rate so he is not to blame for increasing taxes but he is the one that is in the ‘know’ on how the system works and what the Town may be looking at.

Frank has agreed to attend our regular monthly meeting. These meetings are always open to the membership. However this time, to encourage attendance, we have generously been provided with a larger venue and a FREE LUNCH. (Our thanks to Vicki Smith of Banff Rocky Mountain Resort).

Frank will be able to answer any questions we may have, he is an excellent resource for us to have available and we thank him for taking the time to attend. This is your chance to get a feel what the Town of Banff is faced with, and how they are going to implement their tax increase and how it will affect you as a Small Business Owner.

Time is money they say but spend some time by coming along to try and save some money.

The meeting is on Tuesday, next week, March 2, 2010, 12:00 – 1:30 pm at Banff Rocky Mountain Resort.

To get the Luncheon numbers right let Sally, at sally_p@shaw.ca, or by phone to 403-760-9414 know that you will be attending by Monday.

Guests are welcome to attend this special presentation and complimentary luncheon.

If you are not yet a member you can download an application form here or contact Sally Plunkett to receive one in the post.

A summary of advocacy efforts and marketing events the SBAB has successfully been involved with include:

• Annual National Parks Planning Forum and Banff National Park Management Plan
• Town of Banff, Budgeting Process and Commercial Taxation
• Town of Banff, By-Law Review
• Town of Banff, Community Plan
• Buy Local/Save Local Advertising Campaign
• Banff Refreshing
• WinterStart - Parade, Window decoration competition, Snowman
• Dress Western Days for Stampede
• Alternative Revenue Strategies

SBAB has established a highly respected voice within the community, offering feedback on a variety of issues to the different levels of government and organizations that encompass this unique business environment. The benefit of having that respected voice comes at the very reasonable price, even in a difficult trading environment, of the cost of membership.

The SBAB committees include:
• Advocacy Committee: to give small businesses in Banff a strong voice on a wide variety of issues affecting our unique business environment.
• Membership Services Committee: to assist with membership recruitment and growth; to offer benefits to members (such as workshops); and to help businesses become more competitive and informed through a communication network system.
• Marketing Committee: to promote small businesses through promotional and special events; to partner with other organizations.

The renewal notice includes an invitation to take part in the committee work of the SBAB. Please consider doing so, as the time commitment is not great but the rewards to the general membership are potentially so.

When you receive your renewal notice please respond immediately, to avoid forgetting. If you are not yet a member you can download an application form here or contact Sally Plunkett to receive one in the post.

To properly represent you SBAB has prepared a survey “Business in Banff 2009″ (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Yc_2fiU5o6nNABCIyCnI0mBA_3d_3d) and the results of this survey will be incorporated into a SBAB presentation to council in the coming days.

We would appreciate if you could complete this short survey as soon as possible to provide strong data for the SBAB presentation, please find the time to take part as soon as you can.

In addition, please advise if you would be interested in assisting the SBAB Advocacy Committee with this initiative. We need a group of individuals with expertise and/or interest in the subject to help prepare for the presentation to council. Please advise Ossi Treutler if you can help.

Can you afford to pay more tax?

For most of us this has been a tough year and for many cash reserves are stretched. If next year stays depressed then spending by the Town Administration needs to reflect our circumstances. The time of year has come for the Town to deliberate budgets. The budget is only approached once there is agreement upon what the current financial philosophies of the Town are. As a commercial rate taxpayer and owner of a small business in Banff the Town is interested in your views. The proposed philosophy document can be found at 2010 Town of Banff Financial Plan. The Small Business Association of Banff is reviewing the document and putting forward comments upon behalf of its members. What do you want us to say?. You can have your concerns, or comments, taken into account by advising Ossi Treutler or Rob McIntyre. Or you can raise them direct with the Town.

Winter Start

The summer, for what it was worth, is now over and we look forward to a decent winter season. Banff Lake Louise Tourism (BLLT) are heavily promoting Banff as a Provincial winter destination and place to shop. To that end all members with a public frontage, and in particular retailers, are asked to play their part with the Christmas appearance and make sure they have their Christmas lights and decorations on for the Winter Start program which commences on November 16th (a week on Monday).

Part of the Winter Start program includes the Retail Window Competition on December 4th. The stakes this year have been exponentially raised with the introduction of a trophy. (There is no application process, your window will be judged on its merits as the judges walk around on the 4th).

Then on Dec 5th are the annual Santa Claus Parade of Lights and Christmas Tree Decorating Competition. Businesses are encouraged to enter a float, in the parade. Applications for events are made to Micaela Schrag by email, or call 403-762-0284, at BLLT with deadlines of 16th Nov for the Christmas Tree Decorating Competition and Nov 23rd for the parade. With the tree decorating there are nine trees, supplied by BLLT, they are positioned around Cascade Mall for the whole of the holiday season thus helping give the entrants a raised business profile.

BLLT business plan presentation

BLLT would also like to advise members that there is to be a business plan presentation on November 12th, 9 - 11 am, at the Banff Centre, Eric Harvie Theatre, West Lobby and the information will be available on a drop in basis at BLLT on the 13th from 2-3.30pm.

Small Business Lunch

The Small Business Association is to hold business lunches, when there is a speaker available who has a knowledge in areas of interest to members. Barbara Kosterski, of Banff Aspen Lodge, has volunteered to give the first talk on the subject of hiring foreign workers. Though not an issue this year, it may well be next, as many of us turn to hiring foreign workers again in the summer and know the frustrations that it can cause. We hope you will attend this event at 12pm on the 18th November at Banff Park Lodge. The first is to be complimentary to members and $15 to non members, to keep the annual fees to minimum it is highly likely that for future events there will also be a cost of meal charge for members. Please advise Sally Plunkett if you are attending or not, so that we can plan numbers.

This weekend is the Bike Fest special event, put on by Banff Lake Louise Tourism, which should bring quite a few folk to town and its Fathers Day, should my children have forgotten. So hopefully our members will do well.

July the 3rd is the start of the Calgary Stampede. The Small Business Association of Banff encourages businesses to participate in the “Dress Western” campaign to welcome the arrival of the Calgary Stampede. Starting June 28th until the end of Stampede businesses are encouraged to add some western flair to get in the spirit of Stampede. Decorate your window, get out your silver belt buckle and put on your cowboy boots; this is the time to show our guests our great western hospitality. There is no prize for best window or most enthusiastic staff - its just for fun. (Some cynical folk may think its to do with improving sales with a party atmosphere, but that is just an anticipated side effect.) It would be really neat if it was embraced by all the businesses so that even the plumber turns out to be dressed as a cowboy.

Further to our letter to Janis Tarchuck regarding the Alberta minimum wage we received her reply. The Hon. Hector Goudreau (Minister of Employment & Immigration) will be responding in more detail. We will advise of that response in due course.

Members are reminded that they just need to advise us if they want their details on the Members links on these pages.