Fostering Economic Resilience: How Canadian Business Can Thrive in Hostile Waters
Businesses across Canada need to weather economic storms—and a resilient marketing plan is now more crucial than ever.
As we officially get used to the realities of a trade war with the USA, I am grateful that the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) recently launched its Roadmap to Resiliency.
While written for the Okanagan Valley in central British Columbia, the key principles of this well-studied strategy are applicable Canada-wide. Perhaps, by sharing this wisdom and building resilient plans, our businesses can be more prepared to weather political, economic and literal tempests. Whether you’re on Vancouver Island, our hometown Kelowna, or in the distant lands of Calgary, Winnipeg, or Toronto, this knowledge is for you!
The storms keep rolling in, so how can we strengthen our economy to withstand it all?
4 Pillar Blueprint for Resilience
-
Drive Economic Resilience: With a questionable leadership team at the helm of our main trade partnership, we need to tend our own fleet. The COEDC recommends both short-term crisis management and long-term innovation to foster strength and adaptability.
-
Build a Skilled Workforce: Prioritize attracting and retaining skilled workers, improving housing affordability, and aligning local post-secondary programs with industry needs. Perhaps tides will turn and our precious up-and-coming workforce will have the luxury of stability. I think we would all like our children to avoid the cost-of-living maelstrom the Kelowna population presently finds itself.
-
Promote Innovation: The Okanagan is charting a course toward innovation across all industries. By fostering cross-industry collaboration and involving local education and research, the region hopes to steer its economy into calmer, more profitable waters (with or without climate disasters or a schoolyard bully).
-
Grow Export-Focused Industries: Strengthen Canada’s position in global trade by developing resilient supply chains free from external constraints. By attracting new investors and expanding export markets, the Okanagan aims to turn today’s challenges into future successes.
The COEDC has pegged this fleet of industries as high-value and therefore crucial to economic resilience in our beautiful (and very much sovereign) nation. Source: COEDC Report Pg. 22
Why Your Business Needs a Resilient Marketing Plan
Changing gears from macro economics to micro, down at the level of an individual company, a resilient marketing plan isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. A solid plan addresses the 4 pillars by supporting growth, attracting talent, and opening new markets. It helps with adaptability, so businesses can shift strategies quickly to stay relevant in tough times.
A resilient strategy helps your company act and react faster than the competition, and thinking ahead means you’re not just riding the waves—you’re steering the ship. Ahoy!
A resilient, robust plan offers peace of mind and helps your business paddle forward confidently.
How We Help Build Resilient Strategies
Twin Creek Media can help your business through the rapids by creating marketing strategies that align with your goals and respond to industry changes. For 20+ years we have helped companies across Canada achieve growth through their marketing efforts, which means we have a little bit of wisdom to help get you through challenges—just ask our clients. Here are a few of the many ways we can help:
-
Strategic Planning: Start with a solid marketing roadmap for the year ahead. We'll develop flexible strategies to help you adjust to market shifts.
-
Marketing & Design: Strengthening your brand's ability to communicate with your audience with the right messaging for the moment. Let's create the marketing assets and tools that are missing to help your survive and thrive.
-
Monthly Advertising: Here's where we execute a resilient plan as your loyal & fierce marketing team. Data-driven decisions keep us focused on what's really working and helping you grow. No forced long term contracts (although our average client relationship is about 5 years). No commission earned on ad buys. And we don't work with your competitors!
If you could use a great crew on board, get to know us.
Canada has the opportunity to rise above challenges and thrive both locally and globally.
Final Thoughts
The COEDC’s Roadmap to Resiliency highlights the need for businesses to be agile and proactive. Let’s chart a course for your business—future-proof, adaptable, and ready for whatever the horizon holds.
Is your business ready to sail in choppy waters? Let’s build your resilient marketing plan today—there are sunny skies ahead. Contact us!