myRetailer.ca

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As we prep our (Canadian) businesses for what the new HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) means for us, there’s lots of debate about how businesses will fare, adapt and implement the change to their systems, processes and financials.

I’m interested in your opinion.

Add your comments below – I’d like to know your point of view – as a consumer, business owner, politician, or anyone interested in the debate.

Links:

• HST – Frequestly Asked Questions (via CBC News)
• Better Practice Guide for Management of the HST (via Revenue Canada Agency) (.pdf)

Provided below is a summary of today’s ‘Economic Outlook 2010′ webinar hosted by Canadian Business featuring RBC Chief Economist, Craig Wright.  For more information, visit www.canadianbusiness.com/webinars

Economic Outlook 2010 (Abridged Summary Notes)

OCTOBER 30, 1:30 pm-2:30 pm, EST

To begin,  RBC is taking an overall view of “cautious optimism” towards the economy

• This was not a recession made in Canada, so we need improvements globally and in the US (where the recession began). We expect to see fiscal policy and low inflation and low interest rate will help lift us out of this economic recession.

Our growth is dependent mainly on other factors:

• Global financial market stability
• We can see this in key indexes such as the Volatility Index, TED Spread, Borrowing Cost, and Credit Standard that stability is coming back.
  • Global growth & global economy improving
    • We see an improving tone, Decline of 1.5%. Outlook has stabilized and outlook for next year has improved significantly. Continue to revise higher (3-3.5% growth range). We expect that global growth will be lead by emerging economies.
  • Recovery based on the condition that authorities make the right exit-strategy, but of course there’s a risk that errors are made and they pull out too early before a full recovery, creating a possible double dip in the economy.

Looking Ahead – and caveats in our economic recovery

The Canadian Outlook in detail

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Welcome to a new blog solely dedicated to providing ideas and insight that will help drive success for independent Canadian retailers. I’m Andy Buyting.

You might be wondering who I am and what I’m all about. I’m an independent retailer based in Atlantic Canada. My business, Green Village Home & Garden is one of Canada’s most successful retail home & garden stores. My family has operated the business for more than twenty years in Fredericton, N.B..Today we operate two stores in Fredericton and Moncton. We also operate a landscape service company in Fredericton with plans to launch our services toMoncton area residents in time for the 2009 season.

In 2007,I published The Retailer’s Roadmap to Success: 33 Secrets for Driving Your Business to the Next Level.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 14:59 — 13.7MB)