• Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Careers
  • Who We Are
    • Our Board
    • Our Staff
    • Governance and Accountability
    • Annual Reports and Financial Statements
  • Who We Serve
  • News
  • Learning
Community Futures North Okanagan
  • Home
  • Business Services
    • Starting Your Business
      • Self Employment
      • Buying a Business
      • Business Coaching
      • Planning Tools
      • Business Loans
    • Growing Your Business
      • Employer Support
      • Business Coaching
      • Succession Planning
      • Supports, Funding, Grants
      • Momentum
      • Business Exchange
      • Export Navigator
      • Continuity Planning
      • Business Loans
    • Loans
      • Loans Application
      • Business Loans
      • Micro Loans
      • 4-H Loans
    • Workshops
      • Workshop Calendar
  • Programs
    • Self Employment
    • Employ for Youth
    • Momentum
    • Business Exchange
    • Entrepreneurs with Disabilities
    • Export Navigator
    • Enterprize Challenge
    • Reach
    • SharED
    • WorkBC
    • Inclusive Hiring Hub
    • RNIP – Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot
    • Newcomers Loan
  • Employment Services
    • WorkBC
    • Employ for Youth
  • Contact
  • Menu Menu

Overnight success: Export Navigator helps Okanagan businesses reach new markets

February 25, 2022/in News

A trend of mid-life entrepreneurs idea to international sales potential with help from the free Export Navigator program

Imagine waking up from a dream with a business idea. You peel back the layers, the fog shrouding that dream dissipates and, in three short months, you’re running a successful business. It may sound like a fable, but for local export advisor Amber Piché, it’s a reality she’s seen come true time and time again.

“There’s a surprising number of entrepreneurs in the Thompson-Okanagan region who wake up with an idea that balloons into a viable business almost overnight,” says Piché, Thompson-Okanagan Export Advisor, Export Navigator.

The provincial Export Navigator program supports entrepreneurs with free advice from export specialists and helps entrepreneurs determine export readiness and develop strategies. Export Advisors also help businesses with everything from product development to marketing, financials, networking and logistics.

“Our unique market breeds passionate entrepreneurs who excel at finding success in an evolving business landscape,” says Piché.

June Alexander, owner of Sugar Free Please, embodies this type of emerging entrepreneur.

When Alexander started baking healthier treats made without sugar and gluten, she had no intention of running a business. The former interior designer loved making her sugar-free baked goods on the side. But, after selling out at farmer’s markets across the Okanagan, Alexander knew she had tapped into something bigger.

“I had no idea how many people out there ate a restricted diet like me,” says Alexander. “There was this whole silent world of people out there trying to avoid sugar.”

From humble beginnings as a lineup of delicious snacks sold at Okanagan farmer’s markets, Sugar Free Please has grown into a successful business with products available on shelves in local markets and retailers. Alexander quickly moved operations from her home kitchen to a commercial space in Kelowna. And, during peak business times, her team swelled to as a many as eight employees.

That’s when she met Piché. With the help of Piché and the Export Navigator program, business skyrocketed with Sugar Free Please more than doubling its revenue in 2021.

“You don’t know what you don’t know, and as I began working with Amber, she filled in gaps that existed in my knowledge because I was not coming from a grocery or manufacturing background,” says Alexander. “She had a lot of insight into that world that I did not.”

Piché works with select business across the gamut of industries to help them expand their product or services to reach new markets beyond B.C.’s borders. And for Piché, Alexander’s story of fast success is more common than people think.

In five short months, Kamloops rancher John Hollstedt turned his idea for a ground-adjustable support system for pole-mounted solar panels into a business with domestic sales projections nearing $1 million in his first year. Hollstedt reached out to Piché to help realize the potential for JH Solar Systems and is now scaling as the pair navigates interprovincial and international exporting.

“I love helping these entrepreneurs improve their business operations in the areas of marketing and business development,” says Piché. “It’s powerful to see others realize their dreams. I’m grateful that I get to be part of the process.”

For Armilla Tech’s Lance Heron, the idea for a new product actually did come to him in a dream: wearable football technology that empowers instant play-calling from the sidelines. Within a few short months of having his dream, the military veteran and football coach had a prototype.

“Most people can’t believe we created an entirely new system in such a short time,” says Heron, who quickly expanded beyond his home market in Salmon Arm with sales as far as Mexico and leads in Japan.

“Amber has been amazing and put us in touch with border brokers to help us bring Armilla Tech to international markets. She’s introduced us to people, helped us with our pitch, put us in contact with potential manufacturers, and started conversations with Canadian trade commissioners to really help us get out there and showcase our product.”

Through Export Navigator, Piché helps entrepreneurs tap into new markets every day.

“When entrepreneurs are getting started, even inter-community exporting can feel like a big step. These small steps are a great way to see what’s possible while building confidence in yourself and your business. It’s so inspiring to see entrepreneurs like June, Lance, and so many of my other clients turn their dreams into successful businesses,” says Piché.

“The reality is that you can export without me. A lot of companies export without using the Export Navigator program. But the purpose of the program and the reason why I like to work with clients one on one is to help make the process easier. We navigate the export process together as we work to bring your product, your service, your dream to new markets.”

To learn more about Export Navigator, book a free expert consultation with Piché, Thompson-Okanagan Advisor. Contact Piché via email at amber@exportnavigator.ca or 1-250-869-5323. Limited spots are available.

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery & Innovation and the Government of Canada through Western Economic Diversification Canada.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://www.futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Judy-Mori-Photography-Town-View.jpg 1001 1500 Natalie Appleton https://futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Community-Futures-North-Okanagan-Logo.png Natalie Appleton2022-02-25 12:55:022022-02-25 12:55:02Overnight success: Export Navigator helps Okanagan businesses reach new markets
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Pages

  • Apply To This Year’s Enterprize Challenge
  • Business Loan Application
  • Directions Application
  • Enterprize Challenge 2022 Final Pitch and Awards Program
  • Event Submission
  • Home
  • Momentum Application
  • Privacy Policy
  • Reach Application
  • Self Employment Program Application
  • Thank your applying!
  • Volunteer Application
  • Our Staff
  • Bridges Application Form
  • Bridges Application
  • Our Board
  • Who We Serve
  • Our Mission
  • Governance and Accountability
  • Annual Reports and Financial Statements
  • News
  • Self Employment
  • Buying a New Business
  • Business Coaching
  • Planning Tools
  • Employer Support
  • Succession Planning
  • Supports, Funding, Grants
  • Business Loans
  • Micro Loans
  • Newcomers Loan
  • 4-H Loans
  • Small Business Week 2022
  • Workshop Calendar
  • Employ for Youth
  • Momentum
  • Business Exchange
  • Continuity Planning
  • Reach
  • Entrepreneurs with Disabilities
  • Export Navigator
  • Enterprize Challenge
  • SharED
  • RNIP – Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot
  • Contact
  • Past Projects
  • Careers
  • Partners
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Categories

  • News
  • Success Story
  • Uncategorized

Archive

  • January 2023
  • October 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • October 2016
  • August 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • August 2015
  • May 2015
  • December 2014

About Community Futures

From our office in downtown Vernon, Community Futures North Okanagan offers employment, business and economic development services to help residents build their future and the community. We service Armstrong, Coldstream, Enderby, Grindrod, Lavington, Lumby, Mara, Okanagan Indian Band,  Spallumcheen, Splatsin and Vernon.

Careers Volunteer Partners Privacy Policy Issue Resolution Services en Français
Government of BC logo
© Copyright - Community Futures North Okanagan | Developed by Tambellini Design Studios
  • Terms and Conditions
Enterprize Challenge returns to Vernon stage for seventh yearEnterprize Challenge 2021 Winner KalecoDaina Bull, Anna's VitaminsReady to Grow: How Anna’s Vitamins Plus Scaled Up through Momentum
Scroll to top
Open toolbar Accessibility Tools

Accessibility Tools

  • Increase TextIncrease Text
  • Decrease TextDecrease Text
  • GrayscaleGrayscale
  • High ContrastHigh Contrast
  • Negative ContrastNegative Contrast
  • Light BackgroundLight Background
  • Links UnderlineLinks Underline
  • Reset Reset