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Chamber to host 2010 Workshop for retailers

Chamber and 2010 Commerce centre team up to help business

There are scores of business opportunities linked to the 2010 Games for retailers — you just have to know what to look for.

With that in mind the Whistler Chamber of Commerce is hosting a 2010 Business Opportunities Workshop on Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon at the chamber boardroom.

“The retailers in your area will have a lot to gain,” said Rob Arthurs, manager of procurement and business opportunities at the 2010 Commerce Centre, which is co-hosting the event with the chamber.

“What we are trying to do is give retailers a little bit more of an idea of what is happening, what does an opportunity look like, how to capitalize on those opportunities, and perhaps a chance to look at other revenue streams like bidding on contracts.”

Going for contracts is not something most retailers do, as in general their clients are their revenue stream, said Arthurs.

Joining Arthurs and the chamber’s Bernie Lalor-Morton will be Mark Startup, CEO of Retail B.C.

Arthurs said the team would be working to de-mystify the Request For Proposals process as well for retailers.

“Once you do one or two RFPs you get the knack of what is happening,” he said.

  “This is not a new way of doing business but it is a new way to the West Coast.”

And the opportunities are beginning to arrive in Whistler now, said Arthurs, thanks to the venues being finished two years ahead of schedule.

Many retailers may not see right away the type of opportunities this presents but now is the time to look for them.

For example, said Arthurs, many large corporations, such as Heineken, set up host houses at venue sites to support their athletes although it has no official sponsorship relationship with the International Olympic Committee.

“There is the whole other side to the Olympics with all these pavilions, which is massive,” he said.

“There is a whole other side that travels with the Olympics; it is not just the Olympics it is the VIPs.”

To register for the workshop call Jordi at 604 932 5922 ext.21.