Winter start
It has been a long time since the last blog update. Since then we have had some new members, and on behalf of the board of directors of the Small Business Association of Banff, we welcome you.
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.