VERNON, B.C. – Precision Dental has been in business for almost two decades, but as their chief financial officer Joan Weiten looks ahead to 2016, she acknowledges there is a lot of uncertainty.
The Vernon company makes and sells dental equipment. They buy a significant amount of their product from the United States, and the Canadian dollar being at its lowest point in over a decade has impacted their buying power. With around a quarter of their business coming from Alberta, the downturn in that province’s oil patch is also on radar. However, cavities always need to be filled and she sees the potential for positives too.
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The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says in December small business confidence across the country was the lowest it had been all year. While B.C. fared better than many parts of the country, small business confidence in this province is also down.
“In British Columbia it is also weakening but perhaps not as quickly. In fact, the British Columbia small business confidence is 10 points above the national average so that is good news. Entrepreneurs in our province are the third most confident in the country,” says Richard Truscott CFIB vice president for Alberta and British Columbia.
But he does believe Alberta’s economy is affecting business optimism in British Columbia.
While the business climate in Alberta might feel bleak, on a hyper-local level the Downtown Vernon Association says the abundance of new shops and services opening are good signs for business in the neighbourhood.
“I think it is a positive climate for 2016. I think with the redevelopment of some of the bigger lots… that is just a sign of what is to come for 2016,” says Lara Konkin, their executive director.
Back at Precision Dental, Joan Weiten sees the silver lining.
“We just try to figure out as we go where we can find opportunities,” she says.
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