This Commerce Life

A retailer's point of view. We talk to Beth Potter, Marketing Manager, Community Natural Foods about how she got to CNF, and the role that Natural Health Stores play in local markets and the Canadian retail landscape.  Find Beth here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-potter-90b71b16/Shop Community Natural Foods here: https://communitynaturalfoods.com/ Register for CHFA Now: https://chfanow.ca/vancouver/Shop OGB here: https://oldgrowthbeverages.com/

She's designed snowboards, shoes and wanted to open a restaurant. Sonya Laurenssen talks about taking over Jusu and the brand's origin story.You can find Hearts & Carts here: https://canadian-podcasts.com/podcast/hearts-carts Find Sonya here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-laurenssen-983946b/Shop Jusu here: https://getjusu.com/ Find Fieldagent here:  fieldagentcanada.com/360    or email Jeff and his team at client@ca.fieldagent.net  

Founder of P3 Natural Muscle & Joint Pain Relieving Cream, Registered Massage Therapist, Sports Therapist, owner of multiple clinics, lavender farmer makes John Forde an interesting guest. His stories about the Vancouver Canucks is probably the most ordinary of his stories when you start looking at what he's built so far.  Find John here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-forde-96190a49/Find P3 Cream here: https://www.p3cream.com/ This episode is sponsored by Fieldagent Canada. Find their 360 Innovation booster here:  https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/360

They could have bought a McDonald's in 1976, but his dad and his brother chose to get into granola instead. Fast forward, Randy Sihota is still in the family business. He talks about the ups and downs of being in a family business, what it's like to figure out how to be independent yet connected to the family.   Find Randy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-sihota-04593444/Find Nationwide Natural Foods: https://nationwidenaturalfoods.com/ This episode is sponsored by Field Agent Canada.Check them out at: fieldagentcanada.com/360   or email  client@ca.fieldagent.net

She appeared on Dragon's Den. Got her chocolate bar listed at Sobey's based on the name alone. It all started because she wanted to get her mom her favorite chocolate bar and discovered it had been discontinued. Crystal Regehr Westergard talks about becoming a Heritage chocolate bar brand specialist.  Find Crystal here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-regehr-westergard-11692948/ Find Cuban Lunch here: https://cubanlunch.ca/ Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring this episode. You can find Field Agent 360 Innovation Booster here: fieldagentcanada.com/360 or you can email them at  client@ca.fieldagent.net

This one was burning a hole in our pocket. Cristina Bardorf comes on to talk Negroni, Lowgroni, (Low-Proof Negroni) If you're celebrating a Dry January, this episode with Cristina and the knuckleheads talk about Lyre's and the growing non-alcoholic spirits segment.  Cristina talks about her time growing up at J&J, and her journey to this new emerging category.  You can find Cristina here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinabardorf/Shop Lyre's here:  https://lyres.ca/ 

He started as a bag boy at Save-On Foods. He faxed his resume in for an advertising assistant, and next thing you know, Kyle Leslie has spent a lifetime in retail. Today, he's the President of Star Marketing Ltd.  Check out Star Marketing here:   https://starmarketingcanada.com/Find Kyle here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-leslie-45b17b21/

One of the first six organic farms in Canada - Filsinger's is named for it's founder Alvin Filsinger. When he decided to sell, Shaun Becker and his cousin decided to buy the place, with no experience in farming or making ciders or vinegars.  Check out Filsinger's here: http://www.filsingersorganic.com/Find Shaun here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-becker-56935295/

We talk about the gift of time. This podcast was recorded before Christmas, but the conversation around "time" is definitely relevant. If anyone has solved the mystery - hit us up - we'd love to hear it. But really, we had Gage Mitchell on, he runs Modern Species - he helps impact-driven CPG brands grow through strategic branding, sustainable design, and community. Check out Modern Species here: https://modernspecies.com/Contact Gage here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

Just the Knuckleheads today. We talk about what we want out of the podcast this year, what to expect from the podcast this year. We also do something we don't do well - we ask for what we want.   

First timers on the podcast, Avi and Binny talk about Good Karma Farming from the Okanagan. One is a pharmacist and the other an engineer, but wind up taking over Avi's parents' farm. They talk about learning the business, becoming part of a family business, and how they look to evolve the business.   They've recently won BC Food & Beverage Silver Product of the Year Award for their Pear Soda.  Check out Farming Karma here:   https://www.farmingkarma.ca/good-karma/  

She might be the missing link on our podcast. Simona Irwin, Managing Director of Uprising Naturals  started her retail journey starts at 7 in Shakespeare Ontario. We've had Simona on a #fastthoughts already and we were glad to hear her story finally.  To contact Simona: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonairwin/To contact Uprising Naturals: https://www.uprisingnaturals.com/

She pretty much grew up in the industry and didn't know that there was anything else in the world.From listening to her mom on early morning radio shows and helping to pack boxes from a young age, she's got retail in her blood. Caitlyn Vanderhaeghe, President and CEO at Kidstar Nutrients dishes on growing up in a retail family, and her own search for a solution, not finding one, and building one.  You can find Caitlyn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlyn-vanderhaeghe-134486101/Shop Kidstar here: https://kidstarnutrients.com/

He always wanted to be an entrepreneur. Scott Currie talks about what the journey looks like after drinking the corporate cool aid.  "Growing up" at P&G, then breaking away to build his own business, then finally becoming CEO of Wakewater Beverage Company. You can find Scott here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-currie-2400ba1a/Shop Wakewater here: https://wakewater.ca/ 

Drew Butterworth talks about doing something worthwhile and doing something better than working for money. He left tech space and started making juice with his buddy Lloyd (Arbour).  We talk about their hero sku - Sick Day and the unique format, and the challenges of merchandising a single sku.  Today, they're in Loblaws, Goodness Me, Nature's Emporium and just about everywhere else. Find Drew here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-edward-butterworth-5834a139/Find sick day and goodvibes juice here: https://goodvibesjuice.com/collections/sick-day

Christos Kalaitzis is the Founder of OPUS and he talks about expertly handcrafted cocktails and the rocky road to making and selling alcohol free drinks. Christos is a fountain of knowledge on alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and the social behaviours that come with drinking Shop Opus here: https://www.drinkopus.com/shop-alcohol-free-drinksTalk to Christos here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christos-kalaitzis-b7942378/  

The founder of Two Bears talks about doing things that you love versus doing what everyone expects of you. What happens when you do? Coffee - cold cofee, hot coffee, oat milk, oh my! FRESH ROASTED COFFEE. ON REPEAT.  Check David out here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/twobearscoffee/Shop Two Bears: https://www.twobears.ca/ps - I love their coffee spot. If you're around, message me, I'll meet you there. (this is Phil)  195 Norseman St Unit 16, Toronto

Inspired by her time in France, she looked for, couldn't find yogurt that tasted the way it should. So she did what came natural. She started on her kitchen floor, recipe testing, cracking open her own coconuts. Fast forward today, she's just won the 2022 BCFB Award for Woman Entrepreneur of the Year . Jade Herrmann talks about the path to making great, non-dairy, thick, creamy and delicious alt yogurt. Find Jade here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-herrmann-51540b63/Shop Yoggu! here: https://yoggu.ca/collections/all  

Rattan Bagga is a Forty under 40 Winner in 2021, and is the CEO of Jiva Organics. We talk to Rattan about the heritage and legacy of being part a family business and how he and his family approach work and family life together.  You can connect with Rattan here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rattanbagga/Check out Jiva Organics here: https://www.jivaorganics.ca/Rattan also built a notforprofit called Yell Canada, Canada’s first high school Entrepreneurship course eligible for university credit, providing youth with practical tools and experiences they need to succeed in the real world. Check it out here: https://yellcanada.org/

He's baack!! Jim Shopland comes back to bring an update. Jim was the original guest on This Commerce Life. (episode #7) He comes back to talk about how his business has shifted and now how he's working with Laurie Shopland, and how he helps them with business coaching, integrating family and business together. Contact Jim here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimshopland/Find out more about his business here: https://shoplandhealth.ca/coaching/