Five Compelling Reasons to Hire a Squamish Business
The Squamish Chamber operates on the unceded lands of the Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw). We are grateful to work, live and play on their territory.
Read our latest guest blog from Amber Turnau, Co-Founder of Substrate Studios
Five Compelling Reasons to Hire a Squamish Business
Our photogenic town is well-known for its majestic vistas and adventurous
activities. But innovation, resilience, and deep connections are what make this a
truly special place to live and work. Find out why working with local business
service providers is great for your business and the community.
1. Small Town, Top Talent
Squamish may be a small place, but what it lacks in physical size, it makes up for
with talent (and not just the sporting kind). Consultants with a breadth of
experience are based in Squamish and they’re contributing their
skills and knowledge to support local businesses.
Expand your network and you may be trail running with a Silicon Valley investor
one day and hitting the slab with a global supply-chain guru the next. With the
onset of remote work and an exodus from urban centres, Squamish is an
appealing location for working professionals to set up shop and enjoy the lifestyle.
So, dive into the Squamish Chamber’s talent pool—it’s wide and deep.
“The ingenuity of business innovators in the community of Squamish regularly amazes me. There is a spirit of unconventionality here combined with a landscape that supports experimentation which allows highly visionary minds to create locally and share globally. You know, Forest Gump’s mom always said: ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’ Entrepreneurs are like that. And if Forest’s mom lived here in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, she would be inspired by the assortment.” — Mike Skrypnek, founder of Grow Get Give Coaching and The Unlimited Worth Project.
2. Business IS Personal (In a Good Way)
With a town population of just under 25,000, our lives intersect in many ways and
our community roots are deeply entwined. Working with other local businesses is
a great way to forge strong relationships with people who are invested in
Squamish, both emotionally and financially. Entrust your company’s success with
someone who takes it personally and creates a deeper relationship that goes
beyond formalities.
“Planting roots in Squamish 16 years ago was one of our family’s best life decisions. What I love most about this incredibly beautiful, vibrant and supportive community is how friendships and business alliances evolve naturally. I value the deep-rooted relationships that I have built and am honoured to put my design ingenuity to work to support the local business community.” — Rochelle Rae, Founder of RRM Creative.
3. Squamish Businesses Play Hard, But Work Harder
This is an energetic and outdoorsy place fueled by creativity and outside-the-box
thinking. In a town known for next-level athletes who are “Squamish fit,” sports
achievement is certainly one thing we do exceptionally well here. But, it’s not all
play; we work exceptionally hard too.
The very same traits of commitment and laser-focus that lead to goal crushing in
our personal lives just so happen to translate well into business. In fact, the
Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) recently named Squamish
one of Canada’s Top 10 communities for entrepreneurship, demonstrating that a
small town can hold its own against larger city counterparts.
As digital marketers who live, work and play in Squamish, we feel we have the best of both worlds. We work hard, but a lot of the time, we get to play while working too! When a brand from another part of the world contacts us to create content for them with "PNW-esque vibes" - we get to intertwine work and play by heading out hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, etc... to capture the perfect PNW- inspired shots! And, let's be honest - that’s a huge reason why we do what we do and live where we live! – Robyn Kelly, Co-Founder + Marketing Director, SWTCH HOUSE
4. Support Local and Build Community
Strong businesses are built by relationships. There are many diverse voices in
Squamish, which adds to our rich cultural fabric and helps foster creativity and
innovation within the professional community. It’s easier to find common ground
and build bridges with others when we have shared social connections and
common interests that are rooted in a sense of place. Support your neighbours,
grow your network, and contribute to our local economy when you collaborate
with other local businesses.
“We chose Squamish to launch our sustainable delivery pilot with Sea to Sky Courier because of their strong roots serving the community. It’s this strong tie to the community that made doing business in Squamish so appealing – for us it’s about creating a connection and contributing to the social fabric of this great town. Together, we’re now demonstrating an innovative sustainable delivery solution for businesses and residents in Squamish, creating cleaner air and quieter streets.” — David Lee, Founder of Zero Logistics.
5. Collaborate With People Who Just “Get” You
Squamish life is different and doing business in Squamish is different too. Do you enforce the 20cm ski day rule? Do you prefer Blundstones to Burberry for business attire? Did you get stuck behind a herd of elk crossing on your commute to work this morning? When you work with a Squamish business, you don’t need to explain, they just “get” you.
And that means less need for subtext and more time to ideate on how best to
reach your business goals in a genuine and authentic way.
“As a business that values the outdoors, community, and connection, partnering and collaborating with other businesses in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor has just made sense. We know that we're working with other companies that share our values and a love for the community and people that live, work, and play here. From working with a local, family-owned printing company, to connecting with other female entrepreneurs at the Locavore, to showcasing the incredible trails the Sea- to-Sky has to offer through our own events, we're proud to be members of the Squamish Chamber of Commerce.” — Danielle Leroux, Founder of She Summits Forum.
Whether you require creatives, knowledge workers, IT experts or training
professionals, Squamish businesses are ready to fulfill your business needs. Visit
our Member Directory to find your next supplier.
About Substrate Studios
Substrate Studios offers brand identity, graphic design and marketing services in Squamish, BC.
They believe that beautiful graphic design and insight-driven marketing are the keys to thriving in today’s competitive landscape. They are dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and small businesses leverage powerful marketing and creative tools to reach their customers at the right time and in the right place.
About Love Local. Love Squamish
This project is brought to you by the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, made possible thanks to funding from the BC Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Canada.
