This Commerce Life

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...

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 h...

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-drinks Talk to Christos here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ch...

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 y...

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 y...

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 ca...

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 busi...

Gutsy Kombucha is dedicated to making the healthiest and tastiest fermented and powered by plants drinks. Founder Pierrich Picard talks about the focus on the best drink they can deliver, not world domination. We're impressed with his focus and his agility - changing formats to make sure Gutsy gets into the most hands possible.      Find Pierrich here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierrichpicard/ S...

Comeback Snacks, Emily O’Brien’s evolution from convict to entrepreneur is a story about lessons learned, resilience, determination, forgiveness and how to take a bad situation and turn it into endless positive opportunities. She talks about taking a bad situation, turning this into an opportunity, and creating a social enterprise that could also provide reintegration opportunities for the formerl...

Grown using only sea and sunlight, Kove snacks are here to help change the world. VP Sales & Marketing at Cascadia Seaweed and Kove Ocean Foods, Desirée Dupuis talks about working with indigenous tribes and the in and outs of growing one of the world's most sustainable crops.    Shop Kove here: https://koveocean.com/ Find Desirée  here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ddupuis/    

First zoom, first podcast. Tim (Timmie)  Moorhead comes on to talk pharmacy, pharmacy pharmacy. Tim runs a Pharmasave in Trail BC, and we talk about his career in retail, the difficulty of hiring these days and out of stocks. Kenny and Tim talk the old days, and changes in the town and how it affects retail.  Find Tim here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-moorhead-657b0033/ Shop Pharmasave Tra...

What would Laurie do? Actually, what did Laurie do? We talk to Laurie about the changes  she's made,  and she talks about her pivot and getting back into business with her husband Jim.   find Laurie here: https://laurieshopland.com/ or on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-shopland-86b86218/

Danny Ferraro talks about a lifetime of retailing - his and his family's passion for serving the consumer and finding the best products.  We explore what it was like to try and keep retail open and available during Covid, and Danny gives us insight on what kind of mindset it takes to make sure you look after staff and consumers like family.   Check out Ferraro Foods here: https://ferrarofoods.ca/

Live from the show! The Knuckleheads make it to CHFA East and we spend time talking to guests that were live and in attendance. We had a great time - thanks to Bruce Singer, Kyle Marsham, Sasha Rajamani and Kelsey Reidl for coming on with us.    You can find Bruce here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucesinger/ Find Kyle Marsham here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-marsham-08178583/ You can find...

Find Gavin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-mah-712a0041/ Shop Finlandia at : https://www.finlandiahealthstore.com/

Lorna Vanderhaeghe comes on the show. We talk history and what it takes  to succeed in the Natural Health Industry. We were pretty excited to get Lorna on the show - she's a legend in the industry, and such a wonderful person to boot. Knowing who Lorna is, is really required knowledge to be in the Natural Health space     Find Lorna here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-vanderhaeghe-96773027/  ...

He leaves a big CPG, jumps into a small business and 50 years later, he's helping brands of all shapes and sizes. We're inspired by Tony's humble nature and how many things he's help to build. Connect with Tony here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-luongo-84b3228/   Find Concord National here: https://concordnational.com/

From fighting forest fires to driving buses, Jamie Parker and his partner learned about coffee roasting and set about building a brand that wants to be the most influential outdoor lifestyle brand. Calgary Heritage Roasting Company is growing one coffee lover at a time!   Check out Calgary Heritage Roasting Company : https://www.calgaryheritageroastingco.com/ Find Jamie here: https://www.linkedin....

Kenny is worried about Wendy Yeung. She's amazing - thank you for listening to our podcast so faithfully. The knuckleheads get together and talk for the first time in a month. (did you miss us?) We talk vacations, taking a break, getting back in retail stores. We also talk about the business we launched. (the fractional COO business)   CHFA Launchpad details are here: https://chfanow.ca/toronto/ch...

An early pioneer to the natural products industry in Canada. Michael Theodor's story has some intrigue and lots of ingenuity and straight up sweat equity An industry icon comes on the show. We take a little longer to get thru his story, but such a compelling story nonetheless. If you've ever eaten Rice Dream, Jason, Blue Sky, Lightlife, KIND Bar, Silk, Annie’s, Blue Diamond, Yogi Tea (and many mor...

When a pancake...isn't a pancake. Andrew Maida is building a breakfast brand that brings delicious, healthier choices to the consumer He had a choice -become a tax lawyer, a doctor or run his dad's company. Instead he becomes...a pancake man? Except it's not really a pancake.  Andrew takes his experience as a self-taught Ecommerce guy, and becomes an omnichannel retail brand. check out Andrew here...

Devin Powell, GM @ Pulp & Press North America stops by to talk juice, the business of juice and how he went from a home services company to making cold pressed, raw, organic juices that use only the highest quality Canadian ingredients.    Find Devin here:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinpowellpp/ Shop Pulp & Press here: https://www.pulpandpress.com/  

He didn't want to be a snake oil salesman. SierraSil Health President Michael Bentley talks about pioneering research on bioaccessibility and bioavailbility. A big thank you to Michael for doing this episode after having a major bike accident the week before. (3 broken ribs and a punctured lung.)  oh and welcome home Daniel Vanucci!!!     Find Michael here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bent...

CEO and CMO of Five Strands, Austin Collins talks about taking career left turns, seeking better ways to help customers feel healthier. Austin, friend of Tazz Latifi, former college athlete and perpetual seeker of healthier ways to live talks about how to take back control of your health & wellness, and providing personalized results to live a healthier lifestyle.   Find Austin here: https://www.l...