Recently I had the pleasure of entertaining two visitors to my business: Brian Highley, local business person and president of the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce; and Petra Veintimilla, also a local business person and an Oliver Town councillor.
Brian and Petra were conducting a Business Walk, apparently “one of the most effective economic development tools for gauging the prosperity of our community,” according to local media reports.
The pair had about five questions for me. It began with how I would rate my level of business: poor, fair, or excellent?
Fair… but not excellent.
The questions continued, and they were all good ones. I do hope the information will help future economic conditions in Oliver and the South Okanagan.
But one of the questions spurred me to write this letter in order to shine a little light on something that’s been rubbing me raw, like a pebble in my shoe.
The question was essentially, “How can the Town and/or the Chamber of Commerce help your business be more successful?”
Interesting question; more so when asked directly by a representative of each the Town and the Chamber.
In fact, I had trouble answering with a straight face.
You see, I believe both the Town and Chamber contract out-of-town providers for the very services I provide right here on Oliver’s Main Street.
For example, this past summer, I understand the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce contracted an out-of-town provider who is currently building them a new website – without asking me for a quote. (There was some initial talk about the possibility of me quoting, but they did not allow it in the end.)
And though I have been in business for almost five years, the Town has never yet hired me to do a single bit of graphic design or website work. (To be fair, perhaps they had an established contract with another provider already, when I went into business, or perhaps it is possible that they use another local businessperson.)
I do understand that outside service providers will be used if I am proven to be unreasonably more expensive, or if it is clear that I am incapable of the job at hand – but certainly that must be very hard to judge without a formal interview or bidding process.
So, my answer to the question about how the Town and Chamber could help my business is, “Give me your business.” Help local businesses stay solvent! It would put money directly into the local economy, and it would speak to the talents of local providers, helping them to get more business.
On a final note: I hold the utmost respect for both Mr. Highley and Coun. Veintimilla. I mean neither of them any ill will, and I certainly understand neither of them are personally responsible for the decisions made by their respective entities.
Laurena Rehbein, Oliver
