Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

NEW BUSINESS LICENSES

New businesses multiplying in Kamloops despite pandemic

Apr 6, 2021 | 4:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — There’s been no shortage of suffering for many small businesses during the pandemic, but the amount of new operations in Kamloops is growing.

New business licenses are being issued at record levels and that entrepreneurial spirit is backed by expert advice. Venture Kamloops (VK) says many are working hard not only get started, but weather the pandemic.

For the past ten years, VK Executive Director Jim Anderson says they’ve been tracking the number of new business licenses issued every month. Latest data shows even the pandemic economy hasn’t dampened interest in starting a new business.

“Of the top five months ever, three of them are from the pandemic,” he says, “and three of them are tied. The most we’ve ever had in a month is 92 (licenses issued). And we have three months at 89 — including March of 2021.”

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The majority of new licenses come from people who already live in Kamloops, but Anderson notes inquiries received from businesses outside the city have more than doubled.

“We’re meeting virtually, providing presentations on demographic and local business information constantly,” he says. “We have another one this week for another large company that’s looking at a fairly major project. And you know, that’s cryptic economic development speak and you hear that all the time, but this is real. It’s off-the-charts busy.”

So what kind of businesses are expanding or just starting operations? Venture Kamloops says there’s actually no single category trend.

“We’ve seen everything from industrial manufacturing to pet supplies — everything,” says Anderson. “It’s really remarkable the breadth of different opportunities that are being explored.”

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, many new businesses or ones who simply want to upgrade have been taking advantage of the programs and advice offered by Venture Kamloops, including Brynn’s Bakery.

“It was always our end goal to open a brick-and-mortar store,” says co-owner Brynn Hill. “We just were at max capacity baking for the (Kamloops Farmer’s) Market.”

The baking duo of Hill and Christian Andrews were a familiar sight at the Kamloops Farmer’s Market before expanding to a downtown storefront. Even during tightened restrictions and a last minute pivot to no longer have sit-down service, every day of the first week at the new location was a sell-out.

“We are planning to hire another baker so hopefully it won’t be too physically demanding, but we’ll slowly start getting there and hopefully have enough bread to last us throughout the whole day,” says Andrews.

Brynn’s Bakery took part in the VK Accelerate Program, which helps entrepreneurs find their first brick-and-mortar space. Those who qualify can receive mentorship from a business coach, an interior designer, a marketing agency and a realtor.

Hill and Andrews say the program helped them plan the move from home deliveries and a farmer’s market booth to a Victoria Street storefront. It took six months to fully renovate and open their doors and Hill says they were grateful to have so many locals show up to support on opening day.

“We do expect it (the excitement) to die down a little bit but we have really good feedback and we think it’ll continue to be popular.”

While it hasn’t been the case for every business in Kamloops, Anderson says extra planning and flexibility to change with health orders can be helpful to not only stay afloat, but flourish.

“There’s no denying that as we speak today, there are fewer jobs in Kamloops than there were in March of 2020,” reiterates Anderson. “But the opportunity appears to be there to grow in the future.”