Fort-McMurray-Alberta-Marketing-Agency

MM: Can you tell me a little bit about your store and the history behind it?
 
Melanie:  We are in our twentieth year; we started as a home-based business. I purchased a home-based business from another lady in town and ran it that way for about five years. Making chocolates at home I had a commercial kitchen set up & did little trade shows and markets. When I had young children it worked for me to be at home; because I could work around their schedule.
 
I started the storefront with a partner;  it was great because we shared the time at the store. Everything all rolled out very quickly and continue from there; we were downtown in the River City Center for a number of years before moving up to this location. 
 
We've held on; 20 years is enough time to see many changes in the community. We aren't the online random basket company. I have been challenged many times about this; I always say I would rather have a conversation with you and find out exactly what you're looking for!
 
Because of that, I think it's part of why we're still here; there's a personality behind the store and an experience when you do come in.
 
It's something that we've lost the whole mom and pop experience; where you walk in and everyone knows who you are and what you like. 
 
MM: What are some of the things you are most proud of with your business?

 

Plantlife Cannabis, is the first licensed independent cannabis retailer in Fort McMurray, they also operate other locations across Alberta. Since legalization last October the AGLC lists 196 licensed dispensaries in Alberta. ​

 Bradley Lussier, Plantlife Cannabis' General manager and Vanessa Brown their Corporate Management Trainer graciously sat down with McMurrian Media to discuss the exciting changes happening within the Cannabis industry and what operating a dispensary in Fort McMurray looks like.

As expected opening day Plantlife saw line ups going down the street; sales continue to stay strong with a steady flow of patrons visiting the shop.  

 
MM: How did you decide Fort McMurray was the next location for one of your stores? 

Brad: Fort McMurray is a major anchor as far as Alberta is concerned; the demand up here is really high and there wasn't anything currently available.  We had the concept and our locations picked out so we were ahead of the curve. We also had three other locations operating so it helped to get licensed with the AGLC.

​MM: How do you feel the reception has been for your business in Fort McMurray?

Self-care can mean different things to different people but the one thing I think we can all agree on is that self-care means we deliberately do an activity in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health.

Where better to take care of all three of these needs than at Achieve Wellness Spa. They offer services ranging from massage & physical therapy to microdermabrasion & nail treatments. To see their full list of available services visit their website.

MM: You've won a fair amount of awards over the last couple years but you've just won one recently?

Alethea: We won the top 25 spas of Canada in early 2018 which we're very proud of and we've won the Gold Star Award for customer service. 

MM: Are you the sole owner or is it group ownership and can you tell me a-little bit about your background?

Alethea: I am a co-founder with my husband, I moved here 15 years ago for our three-year plan and I fell in love with the community; I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

I'm a physical therapist by trade; I've worked in hospitals, schools, private clinics & rehab facilities. I just didn't like any of the models out there for wellness; I wanted to create something better. 

In 2009 my husband and I came up with the idea while we were on our honeymoon. We looked into different franchise models that were out there but nothing fit what we were looking for, so we did it ourselves. 

I wouldn't recommend going this route; its a lot of work but it's paying off.

We opened our first location uptown five years ago and we opened our second location downtown a year ago. We are actually planning on franchising this year and we will have locations opening in Edmonton, Red Deer & Calgary shortly.

​MM: You said you were on your honeymoon when you decided to open your business, how did you come up with the concept and decided what services you would offer?

Alethea: The services came about somewhat gradually, we knew right of the bat we wanted to open a wellness centre we just didn't know exactly what that would look like. We even trialled yoga when we first opened up but it didn't fit with our model; having yoga classes going on at the same time as a relaxing spa atmosphere. We tried counselling services, holistic nutritionist, hypnotherapist, those more holistic services didn't really fit the city wasn't really ready for them so we stuck with more "mainstream" services. ​

MM: Is there a particular struggle you've had to overcome having a business in Fort McMurray?

Alethea: Yes many; we signed our lease deal in 2013 when times were still booming. We signed in for a 10-year lease at a very high cost. 

It's a very high cost for personnel here; it's much higher than anywhere else. When the minimum wage increased to $15 an hour we all kind of joked because it wouldn't affect anyone here. 

We also had the economic downturn and a lot of people weren't spending money on luxuries like spa treatments. 

Then, of course, we had the 2016 wildfire which shut us down for two months and as we were about to open our doors there was a flood when the city flushed all their water lines that shut us down for another two months.

Its also not easy to find good quality staff members, so we offer retention bonuses and signing bonuses to bring people from across Canada to work here because we don't have a big pool of qualified professionals here.

Theirs no aesthetics school here in Fort McMurray so not a lot of aestheticians are wanting to make the move up here to Fort McMurray.

MM: Is there anything particular that you're proud of with your business?

Alethea: I think the reasons we have survived five difficult years are we really did a lot of strategic planning and business planning. We stuck to our core values we never skimped on anything; if it didn't fit in with what our core values were and our ethics were and the character of our company then we didn't do it. There were times when we didn't think we could stay open, financially it was tough for a lot of years. It's still tough because we keep reinvesting into the business, but we know it can be something fantastic.

I'm really proud of our quality, we are one of only twenty-one spas in Canada that is quality assured. so that means we bring people in that pick through our HR, charting, sanitation & training process.

MM: What is your most popular service here.

Alethea: Definitely massage, part of that is most people have benefits and they realize the importance of getting a regular massage. If you're going to get a massage that's paid for in part or full from your insurance would you rather go to a stale boring clinic or get the robe and slipper experience somewhere you can enjoy a glass of champagne and still get a therapeutic massage paid for by insurance. 

We have some very exciting news we have made a deal with Arlene Dickinson from dragons den, she has invested in our company. She believes in our model so much that she is now going to help us spread our wellness across Canada. ​

Whether you're looking to take the family out for dinner or just want to hang out with friends for appy’s and a drink - Mr. Mike’s has something for everyone. Their late night menu makes the patio a very appealing spot for post-game drinks and $5 appy's with your team.  

Mike Durocher one of the owners and general manager of Mr. Mike’s SteakhouseCasual in Fort McMurray, answered some questions for McMurrian Media and let us know about their history and their involvement in the community. 

MM: Mr. Mike’s SteakhouseCasual is a Canadian franchise, how did your group decide Mr. Mike’s was the right business for you?

Mike: We’re a group of five, we are majority indigenous-owned. We chose Mr. Mike’s SteakhouseCasual because it has a great reputation across Canada, they began with a single restaurant that opened in 1960 in Vancouver, British Columbia, the restaurant aimed at providing a low-cost dining experience for families and it became a hit.
 
We researched several different investment opportunities before choosing Mr. Mike’s SteakhouseCasual.   Then while attending a franchise show, we noticed Mr. Mike’s SteakhouseCasual they really stood out from the others.

We didn’t want to compete with the many fine dining restaurants in Fort McMurray, our primary goal was to create an atmosphere where families can come in and talk, turn off their phones and have quality time with their families. 

​MM: As a new business, what is your biggest struggle being a business owner in Fort McMurray?

Mike: Staffing is always an issue; in the service industry- You can have a great product and tons of customers, but if you don’t have experienced staff, it’s difficult to run a business. Finding experienced staff is tough! ​

Welcome to the gentleman's club, or more commonly known as the Thickwood Barber Shop by the Black Horse Pub. Everyone is welcomed into the shop and greeted - usually by name.  

Shop owner Ali Kdouh prides himself in learning all his client's names and memorizing their particular hairstyle, and it shows.  Many of his clients will wait until he's free to cut their hair; instead of getting in one of the other barbers chairs. 

MM: How long have you been living in Fort McMurray?

Ali: I've been living in Fort McMurray since 2009, I moved from Windsor Ontario; I lived there for three days before moving here?

MM: How long have you been in business?

Ali: I started my business in 2011.

MM: How did you decide to open your business?

Ali: I didn't' decide, I came to Fort McMurray not knowing what to do. I was always a computer science guy. I came here and started working with my degree and it didn't work for me. I wanted to work a job that I could sleep next to my wife every night and see my children every day.
​

So I started looking for a new opportunity, I started looking for a new job.

​I got an offer from my old boss, he told me to come work for him and he'd teach me how to cut hair. 
​
MM: What's the largest struggle you find having a business here in Fort McMurray?

Ali: The biggest struggle I face and I'll be facing forever is finding the right barber; I've been looking for barbers for the last few months. We have high standards for the barbers that work here; we are all highly skilled. 

This business is different because you can't just hire anyone. A barber is "the full package"; he's a character, he's a good barber who can cut hair, he's a listener and he's a friend. 

MM: What are you really proud of with your business?

Ali: The friendships and relationships I've made. This is the biggest thing I've achieved in my life. It's not just a job this is a lifestyle. Getting to know customers, their names & their hair cuts because you get to know them.

Whether you're looking to get a hot shave, a quick trim or a completely new hairstyle Ali and the team at The Thickwood Barber Shop have got you covered. 

​No appointment necessary, just walk in and have a seat! ​