Calgary sees record number of business starts amid economic downturn

Originally published on Oct. 26.

When Kelly Bruce was laid off from her job, it ended a 17-year career working in the oilpatch corporate office towers in downtown Calgary. The news came on a Wednesday in January, and at first she was in shock. The next day she was angry. By Friday, she was over it and knew exactly what she was going to do next.

Using her severance pay, Bruce turned her online stationery store from a hobby into a new career.

The websiteLittle Blue Canoe has expanded well beyond stationery tonowoffer500 productsfrom more than 75 vendors across Canadaand is approaching its 1,000th sale.

"It's really ballooned into something I've never imagined," said Bruce.

Kelly Bruce's tips for those starting their own business

8 years ago

Duration 0:51

The former oilpatch worker now runs her own online business, Little Blue Canoe

The downturn in the oilpatchhas claimed tens ofthousands of workers. Thousands of businesses are closing, evenan iconic century-old Western wear shop.

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Flurry of activity

But while Calgary is experiencing a record level of business closures, at the same time there is also a record number of new businesses opening, according to the city's chamber of commerce. The latest city licence numbers suggest business closures are on pace to exceed 7,000 this year, an increase over 2014 and 2015. The number of new business licences taken out is also on pace to surpass 7,000 in 2016, which is higher than past years.

Most people close to me thought I was crazy to be buying into a business in Alberta.- Laurie Gauthier, Silkstone & Granite

The figures, however, do not show the size of the firms, so it's unclear whether the number of new employees being hired is keeping pace with the number of employees who were laid off.

Despite the downturn, the entrepreneurial enthusiasm remainsstrong in people like Laurie Gauthier.

"Most people close to me thought I was crazy to be buying into a business in Alberta at this stage of the game," saidGauthier, who took over countertop maker Silkstone and Granite in April.

Gauthierhad retired after selling a pharmaceutical distribution company. His investments were weighted heavily in Alberta's oilpatch. The returns were great, he said, until his portfolio crashed a few years ago as commodity prices plunged.

"I found myself in a situation where, if I looked into my crystal ball for the next 15 or 20 years, there's just not enough in the pot to get me through," he said."Buying a new business was a way of getting back behind the wheel and having some control over my future."

Despite the downturn, Laurie Gauthier became a small business owner

8 years ago

Duration 1:37

His investments were tumbling and he missed the excitement of growing a business

He specifically wanted to buy an existing business rather than start from scratch.

"It's not like I was starting anew, which I would not have done. It's just too risky and an amazing amount of work," said Gauthier.

Contributing factors

There's no single reason for why so many new businesses are emerging inthe city. Calgary likes to tout its entrepreneurial spirit, which may be strong even in a recession. It may also be born out of desperation.

A combination of severance packages and a tough job market have people looking to take employment into their own hands. People are also saying goodbye to the of the oil and gas industry's ups and downs.

"We're seeing a period of change in our economy," said Scott Crockattwith the Calgary Chamber of Commerce."Things that were profitable in the past are becoming less profitable now, and new emerging industries are coming up and one of the real trends we are seeing in Calgary is tech businesses starting up."

One advantage of starting a new business in a slow economy is the lower cost of leasing real estate and the increased labour pool. Finding enough qualified workers was a problem for many businesses during the boom years and it often showed in the quality of service.

"If you walked down Stephen Avenue to go have a drink after work it was standing room only. I can remember going down and ordering a beer and getting wine and I was just happy to get a drink," said RobertFooks, a partner withMcLeodLaw."Now things are changing."

Lawyer Robert Fooks on the level of business growth in Calgary

8 years ago

Duration 1:05

One advantage of a slow economy for new businesses is the lower cost of leasing real estate and the increased labour pool.

The slowdown in the oilpatch is not preventing new businesses even in that sector.

Mike Smith left his job at an oil and gas investment firm to join a new company,Strait Financial, which focuses onpipeline and facility construction and financing.

"To be quite honest, it was just really slow," said the former Olympicdecathlete about his lastjob."As part of my DNA, I have to keep my feet moving."

Mike Smith didn't want to leave Calgary

8 years ago

Duration 0:37

He figured it was a calculated risk to help launch an oil and gas company, even with low commodity prices

Despite continued slumping commodity prices, he had little apprehension about being part ofa new company, where he will have an ownership stake. He called it an educated risk.

I have to keep my feet moving.- Mike Smith, about joining a new company in a downturn

"An opportunity came up that rhymed with what I was doing in the past," he said.

Being an entrepreneur isn't for everyone, as new businesses often require long hours and wearing many hats. While the risk of failure can be high, owning a business does offerperks over a 9-to-5 job.

Bruce, the owner of Little Blue Canoe, says she is now less stressed, although the transition wasn't worry-free.

"It's always a little nerve-wracking when you think, 'Oh my goodness, what if this doesn't work?'" she said."Hopefully it works. If not, I've tried, I've learned and we'll see what happens."

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