The confection business has produced a new profit source that is running away with the shelf space in the stores and on the racks as you check out in your favorite retail store. It is all about gum and sugarless gum with each of them trying to last longer with taste than the competition. The innovative packaging and the prices, depending on where you buy your new gum of choice, are reasonable. I am always dry and gum helps although I think I have had at least two doctors tell me that gum can cause you certain health problems but maybe that was in the sugar days. I know they don’t like you to chew mint. But I found a new reason to use gum. When you’re upset, your thoughts start to race, which can make us feel agitated. There is a solution. Chew gum! Scientists suspect that moving your jaw as you chew stimulates areas of the brain involved in processing information. There you have it, the new use for gum in your life. I just tried that spearmint with the big number 5 on the black package after my daughter Dianne insisted (and she was right)that the flavour seems to last forever...

It was good to read that the Loblaw Cos Ltd. (Superstore and Extra Foods) have finally, after three years, solved some of their most difficult problems - empty shelves. Getting the product to store shelves. It has been an embarrassment to the company because the logistics of doing that were hampered by the system that was developed in-house. They are a good organization and we want them to succeed. The Canadian chain controls about thirty per cent of the grocery market in the country. Their distribution centre in the east is 875,000 square feet, or thirteen football fields. I believe the distribution centre in Calgary is 525,000 square feet...

Walter The Farting Dog, Canada’s gassiest dog is going Hollywood. Fox is making a movie based on the best selling books, co-written by New Brunswick’s Glenn Murray. The Jonas brothers will star. I know what you’re thinking and I don’t know the answer...

The biggest wineries in B.C. BIV List for 2007 has Calona Vineyards in first place, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery remains in second place, Gray Monk Cellars is third, Quail’s Gate Estate moved up to fourth from fifth. In fifth spot also moving up one was the Domaine de Chaberton Estate Winery of Langley and the only winery outside of the Okanagan Valley to make the top ten. Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards sixth, Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery remains in seventh place, Cedar Creek dropped to eighth from fourth place, Tin Horn Creek ninth and Summerhill Pyramid Winery still holds the tenth spot...

Before she left for the south, Gov. Sarah Palin signed the bill authorizing the state to allow Trans Canada to start developing the 2,200 mile natural gas pipeline through Northern B.C. to Alberta. There should be some good jobs there...

Winnipegger Jennifer Cohen has created a new line of exercise shoes called NGR and that is short for No Gym Required. This is all about working out while doing everything else you do. These shoes will be available in the New Year. Based on your foot size the weights in shoe run from half a pound to two pounds. They will be only available through the web...

E-mail users worldwide are being buried in a blizzard of bounced messages caused by spammers. Dubbed "backscatter spam", this latest fad is clogging e-mail accounts and slowing victims' in boxes to a crawl. Up to 3% of all e-mail today is backscatter, says Dmitry Samosseiko, manager of SophosLabs Canada. "It is a major problem, and it is getting worse," he says...

The national media are so focused on negative but that is not the way it is out there. Retailers can expect to have a relatively good Christmas season as Canadian consumers look for the basics and value. Big-ticket items might just have to take a back seat to value oriented goods and services. Because retailers are motivated to sell and if goods are not moving they will offer sales and discounts just like you expect. If you have got money to spend then you’ll find lots of buying opportunities...

More than half of the money the movie companies put into the bank today comes from sales of the DVD’s...

We have Tom Peters, the master of marketing, speaking to a breakfast meeting in January, 2009. Tom wrote the book on marketing for most of us who got in the business. His “In Search of Excellence” is still being read. In our leadership series his presentation will be about creating the 21st Century Organization. Without question Peter Drucker and Tom Peters have shaped the idea of modern management more than any other leaders over the last six decades. In his 90-minute presentation Peters will discuss the critical elements that business has in today’s world to succeed. Identifying your unique role in leading and managing your organization to success...

Lambert & Paul Construction Ltd. is busy at work in a complete remodeling project for Gray Monk Estate Winery. The changes I’m told begin right at the parking lot. I'm going out next week to have a good look...

The President’s Choice brand is 25-years-old. It is one of the outstanding foods brands in the world. I was in a meeting way back then with Dave Nichol who was the president of Loblaw’s and was the creator of this brand for the chain. The company was selling this brand to other supermarket chains in the U.S. who were using it as their own. The meeting was all about B.C. apples and whether the industry could produce the quality of apples Nichol wanted to be labeled President's Choice. It didn’t happen at that time. The new Insider’s Report is out and it is a fine presentation of President’s Choice products. They have brought back items from the beginning of the idea and have priced them with the original price. It is well done...

2008 is shaping up to be the third highest year on record for new construction values in Kamloops. As of October 2008 the value of new construction is $194 million year-to-date versus $180 million for the same period in 2007...

New statistics show that in recent years, Canadians have been opening their wallets and giving more to charity. But when it comes to generosity, one British Columbia region stands out from the crowd. According to Statistics Canada, residents in Abbotsford and Mission are the most generous donors in Canada. It is a region where the median donation is $620. That's twice the median donation across Canada. Areas that ranked just behind Abbotsford/Mission in terms of their generosity are also located in B.C. In Kelowna, the median donation is $370. In Vancouver, it's $360...

Following the trend to be green and sustainable, local governments around British Columbia are starting to approve the use of Low-Speed Vehicles (LSV) for travel on their streets. LSV’s, also referred to as Neighbourhood Zero Emission Vehicles (NZEV), are electric vehicles that are permitted to travel at a maximum speed of 40 km/h. While the vehicles can, in fact, perform to a maximum of 60 km/h, Transport Canada has deemed the lightweight vehicles do not have the safety standards to travel at the same speed as regular gas-powered vehicles. Once banned on streets in BC, recent changes to the Motor Vehicle Act have allowed local governments to take another look at this alternative mode of transportation...

Just as the snow begins to fall and the holiday rush begins, Loblaw Companies Limited announced today that from December 5th to December 23rd inclusive, almost all Real Canadian Superstores will be open 24 hours, offering time-starved customers the chance to truly shop at their own convenience. In addition, most Extra Foods stores have joined in the holiday spirit and extended their hours to 7:00 AM until 11:00 PM. That means both Vernon and Kelowna.