In The News

The Toronto Star writes on StickerYou Inc., a small but lucrativeToronto startup that specializes in customized stickers. The company saw tremendous growth this June as World Cup fever drove demands for flag stickers from across the globe.

"Since the World Cup began, demand for flag stickers has skyrocketed, says StickerYou president Andrew Witkin."

"The company is known for customized stickers so it's no surprise at StickerYou.com soccer fans can choose not only which flag stickers they want, they can customize the size of those flag stickers."

"Witkin, 39, founded StickerYou after a trip to California when he noticed that stickers played a prominent role in the Golden State's culture."

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original source Toronto Star

The New York Times Travel Section recently featured King Street West, likening the strip between Spadina and Bathurst to "one long fashion runway, with its see-and-be-seen restaurants, bars and clubs". The article is accompanied by a slide show of the area's hotspots; a list that includes Portland Street's Jimmy's Coffee, the Spice Root restaurant and the first Thompson Hotel built outside of the United States.

"King West feels like one of those glamorous, tourist-friendly neighborhoods that was once to be avoided, like the meatpacking district in New York. At the turn of the 20th century, King Street wasa textile-manufacturing hub, but by the 1980s, many of the sturdy but humble brick buildings sat empty, so the city rezoned the land for mixed development. In the shells of those old factories, a destination neighborhood was born."

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original source New York Times

The Huffington Post interviews Wilf Dinnick, founding editor and CEO of the new Toronto-based news website, Open File. Open File distinguishes itself from other media sites in that every story published is initially pitched by a reader. An excerpt from the interview:

"What's the big idea behind Open File?"

"I've had a great career as a journalist for ABC News, CNN and the three major Canadian networks. Like many journalists, I saw that big, traditional media companies didn't know how to harness the power of the web. My wife (Sonia Verma, founding editor) and I wanted to create an online news model that hadn't been done. We wanted it to be run by journalists, based on the most important journalistic principles, such as transparency and accountability. We wanted it to be collaborative -- that is, stories are suggested by readers and readers contribute to them. And we wanted it to be about local news."

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original source Huffington Post

Blog TO gives a glowing review of Jedd's Frozen Custard, Toronto's new and only frozen custard cafe. Located at Yonge and Eglington, the 3-month old business has already cultivated a loyal following for its unique dessert.

"Frozen custard tastes like ice cream, except it's much smoother and creamier. The difference between the two is that frozen custard is made with extra egg yolks and cream, but less sugar."

"Jedd's Frozen Custard sells much more than their famous namesake, but the frozen custard attraction is what separates them from the rest. This place has all the bases covered from sandwiches, desserts, breads and jams to coffee and tea. With crystal chandeliers, WiFi and glass windows bursting with treats, the space is fresh and clean."

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original source Blog TO

The MaRs Centre, Toronto's internationally renowned not-for-profit innovation centre, launched its "Angel" program breakfast series last summer. The program, launched with Canaccord Genuity brings start-ups together with "angel investors". According to the Globe & Mail the initiative has been a success so far "there have been five Angel events and about half of the program's 15 members have received some form of funding".

"The start-ups come from three areas: ICE (information technology, communications and entertainment), cleantech as well as life sciences and health care. Those accepted to the program are mentored by Jim Meenan, former president of AT&T (Canada) and Ron Close, former president of Bell New Ventures at BCE. These advisers teach the start-ups how to articulate effectively what they would do with seed money."

"Don Duval, MaRS' vice-president of business services, can't stress enough how imperative it is to make a solid pitch. "You gotta hit it out of the park," he said. To make sure the start-ups get it right, MaRS makes them run through a dress rehearsal because the organization's name is at risk. "We're telling the angel investment community that this company is worth 20 minutes of your time," Mr. Duval said."

"MaRS has seen some recent success. One of its clients, Sysomos, a social media start-up, was recently bought by media distribution manager Marketwire. Although Sysomos didn't pitch its business as part of the Angel program, it did prep work with the Angel team and even went on a MaRS roadshow."
 
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original source Globe & Mail

The Huffington Post writes on Canada's sustained economic growth. Last month Canada boasted strong numbers in job creation and a rise real estate prices, outpacing its neighbour to the South on the road to economic recovery.

"Stubbornly high unemployment rates got you down? Not sold on the economic recovery? Look no further than America's polite neighbor to the north, where jobs numbers are surging and home prices have been rising steadily for nearly a year."

"Yes, Canada's economic recovery is outpacing our own. In terms of sheer job creation, June saw Canada create jobs at a pace that was five times the rate predicted by economists, Bloomberg News reports. Canada added 93,200 jobs in June, while U.S. private employers added just 83,000."

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original source Huffington Post

The Toronto Star features Vitess bicycles, a Toronto company founded by 32-year-old entrepreneur Julien Papon, that manufactures custom-built luxury bikes. The company has quickly earned the respect of the city's cycling aficionados; Vitness employees spend hours with each customer helping them to design their perfect bike. Vitness models are not sold in stores or online, but exclusively by appointment at company's Lakeshore Blvd. showroom.

"At the showroom, a pristine space where demo bikes are neatly displayed, a professional bike fitter will spend nearly three hours with you, measuring your body, testing your flexibility and examining your cycling habits. That information is then used to select the appropriate bike frame, handlebar and many other components that will be used to build the bike that fits your body exactly."

"We work one-on-one to understand the needs of each particular rider before we build the bike," Papon says."

"Like a bespoke suit, these high-end bikes are designed for clients who appreciate luxury. The custom-made bikes aren't cheap. They start at $4,000 and climb to $14,000, depending on the components. Since opening the showroom in November, Vitess has sold about 25 bikes. Most cost between $6,500 and $11,000."

"Papon, who holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Kellogg-Schulich program, knows he could sell more bikes if he sold them through stores or offered some models at lower prices. But the avid cyclist says his goal is not to sell the most bikes possible. It's to focus on the higher end of the market."

"Do we have a product that is capable of winning the Tour de France? We do. Is it our branding aspiration? No. If you have competition in one end and prestige/exclusivity on the other end . . . we're much more in the exclusivity/prestige field," Papon says. "

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original source Toronto Star

Toronto's Urban Harvest has been supplying Torontonians with locally harvested plants and seeds since the first location opened in the late 1990s. Blog TO writes on the impressive history of the company, "the first urban agriculture business of its kind in Toronto" and the tenacity of its founder and owner, Colette Murphy.

"The Safe Seed Pledge, found right on the main page of Urban Harvest's website, reads like a gardener's ultimate manifesto - advocating for the health, safety and security not just of the food and conditions in which it is grown, but of the individuals and entire communities who consume it. Perhaps equal in mandate is Murphy's own passion for educating and enabling others to nourish themselves by bridging the gap between urban living and healthy, homegrown food."

"Urban Harvest is a supplier of over 270 species of 100% certified organic flower, herb and vegetable seeds. To keep up with demand, Murphy has expanded over time from a modest plot of land into a network of local growers and organic farms, including a greenhouse at Downsview Park."

"Although Urban Harvest has changed locations every year for the past four years, Murphy is dedicated to serving the Parkdale community with its most recent and permanent outpost stationed at Sorauren and Fern Avenues. Since the store's official opening on May 6th, Murphy's most loyal and avid gardeners have already sussed her out."

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original source Blog TO

The Miami Herald has named Toronto Canada's "hip capital of business, arts, nightlife and sports". The article cites Toronto's dynamic neighbourhoods (including Queen West, Leslieville, Kensington Market and the Junction), diverse industry, and abundance of unique galleries, eateries and boutiques as among the city's many assets.

"Is Toronto Canada's coolest city?"

"Only in recent times has it seen its sense of self-confidence grow along with its size. Best of all, it's still growing: dozens of skyscrapers under construction, a Frank Gehry-designed art gallery just opened, a new opera house, and a recently refurbished city square."

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original source Miami Herald

The Globe and Mail recently featured Brainrider, a Toronto marketing start-up that helps companies improve their online content. According to the Globe's John Warrillow, Brainrider seems poised for success not only because of a quality service but because its three co-founders - Scott Armstrong, John Kewley and Nolin LeChasseur - are finding innovative ways to keep overhead costs low.

"Brainrider was founded in January, and I think Armstrong and his partners, John Kewley and Nolin LeChasseur, are well on their way to building a valuable, sellable business."

"What struck me was the raw entrepreneurialism they were bringing to their new business. Instead of leasing expensive office space, which is de rigueur for marketing companies, Armstrong has worked a deal to get free office space from Toronto-based PR firm Cohn & Wolfe in exchange for sharing his social media expertise."

"Instead of buying a $4,000 phone system, Armstrong is conserving cash by having his employees use a combination of virtual PBX, mobile phones and Skype. Instead of purchasing a company server, he's buying each of his employees a laptop and using software available on the Internet like Dropbox, Google Apps and Gmail. In all, Armstrong estimates it costs him less than $1,000 to get a new employee up and running with Brainrider."

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original source Globe & Mail

The Globe & Mail features Officeexec, the Toronto-based company that provides temporary and flexible office space for the at-home worker. Toronto entrepreneur Gratuz Devanesan opened Officeexec in March 2009 after recognizing that small businesses often require office type perks without requiring a permanent space. Devanesan's company responds to this need by providing clients with full receptionist services, as well as an address and portable phone and fax numbers. In addition, clients can get up to 10 hours of boardroom time each month at any of Officeexec's locations across Toronto.

"For $149 a month, clients receive the roaming use of office space at any location, or permanent space where they need it. They also get full receptionist services � there's always someone to answer the phone in your company name, forward messages and sign for deliveries. They get an address and portable phone and fax numbers they can take with them. Clients also get 10 hours of boardroom time each month."

"But Officeexec isn't just for startups. Established businesses have found the service useful as well."

Carter Hoppe, an immigration lawyer with offices in Toronto and Dubai, says: "Every once in a while I wonder how I practised law 15 years ago."

"Adam Evans, chief executive officer of Evolve Thought Media Group, a new, small advertising agency specializing in Web design and online marketing, has been using Officeexec for a little more than a year and loves the flexibility. "Essentially they don't charge for the little things that some of their competitors will � they include everything at one fair price. Basically, it helps keep overhead costs low."

"His previous company, which he sold, paid about $4,000 a month for a physical office space. He currently spends $149 a month. "I don't foresee an end to our relationship any time soon," Mr. Evans said."

"He has recommended Officeexec to five of his clients, and all have signed on to work in the "cloud office."

"We don't want startup businesses to feel small and startup," Mr. Devanesan says. "And we don't want people who have been in business a long time to feel worried about their professionalism and clients judging their setup. We really feel like we can service any kind of business, and give them all the professionalism they need without any burden."

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original source Globe & Mail

The Financial Times writes on the strength of Canada's economy and banking system and why the rest of the world can learn from what it's done right.

"For once, Canada has been able to plough a different furrow from its southern neighbour, even though the US makes up three-quarters of its foreign trade. "The Niagara River was a Berlin Wall as far as financial contagion was concerned," says John Kirton, director of the G8 research group at the University of Toronto's Munk Centre."

"On the banking front, Ottawa has provided liquidity support but no direct capital infusions. All six of Canada's biggest banks have maintained their dividends. Two � Royal Bank of Canada and Toronto-Dominion � are among only half a dozen banks worldwide that still enjoy a Moody's triple-A credit rating."

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original source Financial Times

Now Magazine looks at the eclectic mix of shops, craft vendors and restaurants popping-up along Toronto's lakefront. Due to condo construction in the area and the associated influx of residents, the lakefront is in transitioning, according to Now, from a dull tourist trap into a mature and exciting neighbourhood.

"The lakefront isn't all hippo buses, artfully buckled boardwalks and throngs of shutter-happy tourists. Nor is it the barren stretch of stinky marinas buried behind a wall of blas� condos that locals who haven't braved crossing under the Gardiner Expressway in a decade remember."

"Yes, chartered party boats blasting deep bass beats still cruise the shoreline, and the Island airport is a lot busier than it used to be, but Queens Quay between Bathurst and Jarvis is � dare we say it? � finally feeling kind of homey."

"It's a dense, maturing neighbourhood thanks to all those high-rises, and the population surge is slowly translating into a nice mix of shops and restaurants."

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original source Now Magazine

Toronto Star columnist David Olive looks at what make Toronto a world-class city worthy of international attention. Among other characteristics, Olive highlights the city's economic stability, booming medical-research industry, ethnic diversity and advances in urban planning.

"In many ways that people who live here don't fully realize, Toronto punches far above its weight.It ranks a mere 86th in population among world cities. Yet it is now included among the world's dozen most influential centres, outranking the likes of Washington, Paris and Frankfurt in the City of London's annual global financial centres index."

"As one of the smallest of alpha cities, Toronto's influence is far disproportionate to its size. A wide range of surveys puts it surprisingly high in world rankings. There's the City of London's annual global financial index, which rates Toronto among the dozen most influential centres. Toronto also places 10th in the latest Forbes ranking of economically powerful cities."

"Toronto is still the economic heart of one of the world's wealthiest countries, and it's projected to keep humming through 2020," says Forbes. "Along with London, Toronto is the fastest-growing G8 financial centre."

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original source Toronto Star

The London Times has named Queen West's Gladstone Hotel one of the world's "20 best hotels for art lovers".

"Walls decorated so that you feel you are sleeping in a forest, a room that makes you believe you are in the middle of a deep blue ocean, a "Parlour in Twilight" bedroom with odd neon fuchsia lighting, and a suite decorated almost entirely with glass boxes . . . the Gladstone is full of avant-garde art."

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original source London Times