Enderby Analyzes Business Input

Enderby Council has a better idea of how the city’s business community is feeling these days.

The results of last month’s Business Walk survey of 36 businesses shows 80 per cent feel the state of their affairs are fair to increasing.

Mayor Greg McCune feels it shows the importance of working together.

“The key is to look at the results of those. When people are talking and telling you what they’re really look for in town now it’s up to us to figure out how to go out and provide that at a reasonable cost.”

Some ideas identified as critical to helping business thrive included more local events and improved marketing.

The mayor says Shop Local is important.

“I mean we have to be competitive. Obviously the grocery stores and all those stores have to do what they do and try to do it was well as they can but there’s opportunities there. We`re probably ripe for somebody to come along and do a clothing store in Enderby.”

The survey also found many respondents want to see an increase in growth and development in order to inject more people and businesses into the community.

One challenge is finding employees, which Mayor McCune points out is a challenge everywhere.

“Spallumcheen gave a report about some of the businesses in their industrial park that have got some pretty amazing incentives where they`re willing to take you on, pay you a fair wage, provide benefits and provide the opportunity for schooling pre-paid year-after-year to grow inside their business but they`re struggling to find people.”

Business points to marketing as one opportunity to try to do that.

Other challenges listed in the survey were themes related to crime within the community and competition with big box stores and online retailers.