A Day on the Road With an Ignite BDO
Have you met our business development officers (BDO’s)? They’re usually out and around the Capital Region, braving the back roads, dropping off business cards, and getting to know the businesses that make our region so incredible.
I went on the road with Andrea, one of our Business Development Officers, to step into her shoes and see what a typical day on the road looks like.
Our first stop was Turner’s One Stop in Jemseg. This busy little spot is the perfect place to stretch your legs, grab a bite to eat, and maybe pick up a loaf or two of their selection of bakery-style bread.
Although it was busy, Andrea was able to have a quick chat with the manager to introduce herself and drop off a business card. We then headed across the street to say hello to the folks at Lakes Auto Care.
Then we were off to our next destination. We stopped by a few businesses along the way as we drove from Jemseg into Cambridge-Narrows. And while there were a few missed driveways and closed signs, we took every opportunity to leave a card to let our businesses know that we’re ready to help, no matter their busy schedules.
In Cambridge-Narrows, we visited Norwood on the Washademoak Bed & Breakfast – a beautiful, early 20th century, country home that has three bedrooms, a lakefront view, and two resident sheep named Dill and Dot. Inés was in the middle of some cleaning and rearranging but was nice enough to give us a tour and showcase the artwork on display from local artists in the area.
Our next stop was a follow-up meeting with a business that Andrea has been supporting, Love at First Bite. We stayed for a quick chat and to see the progress coming along on her new kitchen build. Emmanuelle and her business have come a long way, and we were excited to see so much progress.
We made sure to wave at Nove’s Place, where you can find more of Love at First Bite, as we looped back around to the Village of Gagetown.
It was the perfect day for a sunny afternoon stroll down Front St., where we admired the Tilley House Museum and enjoyed the views from the Gagetown Marina.
Our stroll took us back to Greig Pottery, our final stop, where we got a sneak peek at the behind the scenes. We chatted with Flo in her pottery studio while she was busy cleaning up some of her new creations.
With over 200kms in travel, a few handshakes, and lots of business cards being dropped off, we were ready to end the day.
But a BDO’s work doesn’t end there! Throughout our visit, Andrea was making new connections and dutifully making notes to make sure she can follow up with the businesses in Arcadia and offer them the support they need.
From foot traffic to funding, business owners across the region face new challenges every day. With support from Ignite, our BDO’s work to help these businesses and give them the tools and resources they need to overcome challenges, grow their business, and power the economy in the Capital Region.
Do you want to connect with our BDO’s for business support? Fill out our business intake form to let us know more about your business and how we can help.