Let’s talk about your phone habits. It may not be a pleasant topic to discuss, but it does matter. How you use your phone can have a huge impact on your life and on your business. Sounds dramatic? Not at all. These mini pocket-sized computers are with us all the time and the constant flow of notifications can interrupt our workflow incessantly. Your mobile habits significantly impact your concentration span.… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Interest rate cuts would ease housing supply constraint, Fraser suggests Cuts to interest rates in Canada may lead to better housing supply, Housing Minister Sean Fraser suggests. As pandemic bills come due, are Canada’s small businesses in danger? How many mom-and-pop shops on our main streets are destined to disappear in the coming… Read more
As a business owner, you’re the architect of your business’s vision and culture. But in the hustle to develop products, chase sales, and keep the lights on, some of the foundation often gets lost in the mix. Core values—those guiding principles that shape your company’s identity—are more than just words on a wall or a statement in a handbook. These aren’t just buzzwords to sprinkle throughout your website – your… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Canada’s economy added 37,000 jobs in January as unemployment declines to 5.7% Canada’s economy added 259,000 jobs in February, surpassing expectations and reducing the unemployment rate to 8.2%, the lowest since March 2020. The gains were primarily in the retail and hospitality sectors, with full-time positions accounting for 80%.… Read more
When was the last time you felt that you had a week’s worth of energy to pour into just four days of work? As COVID-19 has reshaped our work-life balance and continues to redefine what is essential in our professional world, the concept of a shorter workweek is gaining traction. With proposed legislation in various states and countries, and the ongoing conversation among professionals, it’s evident that the discussion around… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Interest rates won’t solve housing problems, Macklem says While the Bank of Canada continues to grapple with the high cost of housing in its quest to tamp down inflation, the governor of the central bank is telling lawmakers that monetary policy isn’t going to fix affordability issues in the market. A… Read more
For a business to thrive and grow, it essentially needs two things: a strategic plan and an ability to continually find new customers and tap into promising markets. Here’s how you can do that. The untapped potential in existing markets Start by re-evaluating your existing customer base. Profiling them will help you to more accurately define who your target consumers are. Explore different distribution channels that could be more effective… Read more
As a business owner, you often find yourself pulled in different directions by competing responsibilities. It can feel daunting to classify tasks and tackle the most time-consuming ones first. But why is it so hard for us to start – or even finish – seemingly insignificant tasks? Why do these tiny tasks become the bane of our existence, tempting us into procrastination limbo? Let’s explore why we get stuck on… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. 2024 in charts: Experts predict what’s to come for housing, jobs, wages, interest rates and more Economists, academics, investors and business leaders pick a chart that highlights an issue that will be important to watch in 2024. Bracing for impact: The looming hard landing of Canada’s economy If you’re… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Fixed mortgage rates are on the decline. Is now the time to lock in? Rates on some fixed mortgages have dropped by a full percentage point in the past few months, opening up an opportunity for Canadians eyeing the spring housing market or with a mortgage of their own up for renewal. Canada… Read more
So, we’re officially in the thick of a cost of living crisis. This presents a challenge for entrepreneurs and is a nerve-wracking time for many small business owners. If you’ve had sleepless nights worrying about how you’re going to pay your suppliers or support your staff, you’re not alone. It’s likely you’ve already looked at where you can cut costs, but it seems like an impossible task when suppliers are… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Canadian dollar ended 2023 on a hot streak but don’t expect the momentum to last The Canadian dollar ended 2023 on something of a hot streak, but will be hard pressed to keep up the momentum in the new year as headwinds gather and fundamentals favour the greenback, currency analysts… Read more
Inflation – it’s a word that’s been on everyone’s lips recently. Rates are on the rise, and our small business community is feeling it the most. Increased supply costs, a lack of workforce, and dwindling profits are among the challenges faced. Let’s demystify inflation and delve into its impact on small businesses. Grasping Inflation In essence, inflation is the uptick in the cost of goods and services. Whether it’s a… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Bank of Canada will cut interest rate three times this year to bring rate to 4.25%, Deloitte predicts The Bank of Canada will likely start cutting interest rates in the second quarter of 2024, predicts the chief economist at Deloitte Canada. Get ready for the ‘great adjustment’ in Canada’s housing market Home prices… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Canada’s trade surplus grew more than expected in October Canada recorded a larger-than-expected trade surplus of $2.97-billion in October, as exports rose marginally but imports slumped, Statistics Canada said. Bank of Canada says immigration curbs long-term inflation, but has strained housing market Immigration pushed a steady decline in housing… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. No firm commitment to balance the budget: What economists are saying about Ottawa’s fiscal update The federal Liberals unveiled a series of measures aimed at addressing housing affordability in their Nov. 21 fiscal update, but also emphasized the need to keep government finances under control. Here’s what economists are saying about the… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. It’s been ‘hard to sell’ in many housing markets across Canada. Here’s why The balance is shifting in Canada’s housing market, with realtors in most major markets saying home sales are slowing from Vancouver to Toronto. For home sellers who missed the signs, the slowdown can come as a… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Over 2 million mortgage holders will face ‘interest rate shock’ in next 2 years: CMHC Canada’s housing agency is warning of a looming “shock” for borrowers renewing their mortgages as a new analysis shows the pain of higher interest rates is starting to put pressure on some homeowners. Canada Mortgage… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Interest rates could stay higher for longer. What that means for your portfolio Higher interest rates have weighed on many Canadian’s portfolios so far this year. Here’s how fresh expectations for the Bank of Canada’s rate path might affect markets. Plateauing Canada’s immigration levels ‘step in the right direction,’… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Retail sales slowdown shows rate hikes ‘seem to be working’: economist Some experts say retail has always been a tough business, as the sector continues to face the perfect storm of challenges — including high interest rates and supply shortages. Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.1 per cent to $66.1… Read more