This Commerce Life

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...

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...

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...

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...

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:...

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.   ...

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...

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...