​Whether you're getting married for the first time or you're making a repeat trip down the aisle, there's a lot to think about when planning your big day. Thankfully, there are also lots of dedicated wedding experts right here in our community who have the skills and experience it takes to make your big event everything you always dreamed it would be.

Wedding dresses are unique in the fact that they don't come ready-made - buying a wedding dress involves choosing your budget, narrowing down the style you like, and having a fitting to try out a variety of dresses.
During your first fitting, plan on wearing the same undergarments and shoes you'll wear on your wedding day, since these both affect the final fit of your dress. You'll be paired up with an expert dress fitter who will make sure you're happy with the color, neckline, and trim - once those details are confirmed, a seamstress will make numerous alterations to give you a truly customized wedding dress.

Whether you plan on having a big formal meal, light appetizers, or even a casual cook-out on your big day, there's plenty of options to choose from in our community. Start by thinking about what kind of food you want to serve, and whether or not you'll be providing alcohol to your guests. Set a budget and contact various vendors for quotes as early as possible - the most popular restaurants and catering companies book up early!

​In the past, weddings were usually held in churches, but today's couples are increasingly opting for alternative locations like parks, golf courses, hotels, and even private homes.
Our region offers a wide variety of unique wedding venues which means it's a good idea to start early when looking for your perfect spot to exchange your vows. Some venues also offer on-site wedding services such as food and accommodation, giving you the option of holding your entire event all in one convenient spot.

​You've put a lot of thought into planning a renovation for your home or business, you've invested time in researching local contractors and hiring the best one for the job, and you've looked forward to seeing the beautiful results unfold. Unfortunately, things don't always go according to plan. Sometimes it's a small hiccup that you can easily recover from; other times, however, you end up with a massive (and expensive) mess that can only be blamed on your contractor. Here's what to do when your contractor does poor work.

Few contractors provide a bad first impression. Most will seem professional at first, but over time, they'll begin to show some warning signs, such as:

• Showing up late or working unconventional hours
• Doesn't provide consistent communication
• Can adapt when challenges crop up
• Tries to bully or intimidate you
• Drinking on the job

​Among the most important things you can do when you suspect that your renovation is going to become a bigger headache than anticipated is to document everything. Every single conversation, phone call, email, text message, and every attempt you've made to contact them should be documented. If they've abandoned the job and cannot be reached, send certified letters with return receipt requested, outlining the problems that you're experiencing and ask that they contact you immediately. If you later go to court or seek out the assistance of a third party, these records will play a crucial role in supporting your case.

​Most contractors agree to accepting a small upfront payment to cover materials and labor and then payment in full when the job is done. If your contractor is dragging out the job, use the money that you still owe them as leverage to encourage them to finish the job. If the job is done, full payment has been provided, and the work ends up being subpar, then the threat of bad publicity may be all it takes to prompt them to come back and make any necessary repairs and improvements. Threaten to take your complaints to a local reporter and post about your negative experience on social media.

​If your efforts to resolve the issues yourself aren't yielding the desired results, then it may be time to seek out help. For example, if you've paid your contractor an upfront amount for supplies and he or she ghosted, then obviously that constitutes theft and you should call the police. Other options include pursuing the contractor via the board that approved their license, hiring an attorney, or contacting the Better Business Bureau, your local consumer protection office, or your state's attorney general's office. In the end, you may not be able to recoup your financial loss, but you can have the satisfaction of ensuring that no one else is taken advantage of.
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Improving your home or business comes with risks. As with any large project, taking the time to thoroughly vet the people that you're entrusting with your renovation can prevent a lot of frustration later on.

In football, it is the quarterback who drives each play. However, the quarterback also has to contend with the other team's defenders coming in to try to tackle him before he can make a play. It is his offensive linemen who hold off the defenders to give him the time he needs to find an open player down the field.

Although your employees won't have defenders trying to tackle them (hopefully), they'll still come across a variety of setbacks and complications when working on projects. Just like a quarterback in football, your quarterback employee, or team leader, needs to have protections in place as well. This will better enable them to do their job properly with minimal distractions. Here are the primary areas you need to defend.

​Whenever you make changes to your company's products or services, your customers are bound to have input on the changes. Make sure that you have dedicated employees whose responsibility it is to deal with customer comments and complaints. Your team leader needs to be focused on the bigger picture, which is difficult for them to do when they are bogged down in talking to customers. Have your customer service representatives make note of the comments and complaints received to be passed on to the team leader, freeing him or her up to focus on the overall progress of the project.

​It is not just the others in your company who can protect your team leader, but those on the team as well. Just as a quarterback has to rely on wide receivers, running backs and tight ends to find an opening, your team leader needs to have confidence that they can rely on the members of their work team. Make sure that the people you choose to work on a team are up to the task and can handle their duties with minimal supervision. Of course, the team leader will provide general guidance, but they should not have to guide their team members through each individual step.

​Team leaders report to their managers, who then report to their own managers, and so on up the chain of command in your organization. Any communications should follow the chain accordingly, meaning that those at the highest levels of the company should not be pressing your team leader for details; instead, they should seek the answers they need from the team leader's manager. This way, the team leader can focus on completing the task at hand, rather than trying to assuage the worries of stakeholders.
Of course, defenders in football can and do break through the offensive line on occasion, and this will happen to your team leader as well. However, the more protections you can put into place for your team leader, the better their chances of getting their project done on time. Listen to your team leaders to identify the areas where they could use additional support, and do your best to provide them with that support whenever it is possible.

​Looking for a drug-free way to deal with chronic pain, sports injuries, stress, and other medical issues?
If so, you might want to explore acupuncture - the ancient practice of inserting tiny, sterilized stainless steel needles into specific spots on the body to manipulate the flow of energy (known as 'Qi).

​According to the UC San Diego Center for Integrative Medicine, acupuncture works by "stimulating specific anatomic sites - commonly referred to as acupuncture points, or acupoints." This is designed to relieve any blockages of energy within the body caused by injury or illness, which in turn promotes natural healing within the body.
While tiny needles are usually used to stimulate these specific 'acupoints', acupuncture practitioners can also use manual massage, cupping, heat therapy, and topic ointments to promote the flow of 'Qi' within the body.

The World Health Organization recognizes that acupuncture has been proven to provide measurable, effective relief from a host of health conditions, including:

• Side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer patients
• Depression
• Peptic ulcers and gastritis
• Headaches and facial pain
• High blood pressure
• Joint pain, including arthritis-related pain in the knee, shoulder, and lower back
• Stroke
• Morning sickness
• Sprains and post-operative pain

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In addition, the WHO recognizes that acupuncture shows promise in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases, including diabetes, herpes, osteoarthritis, gout, vascular dementia, and colitis. It has even been used to help people in recovery from opioid dependency.
So, the next time you need relief from an injury, chronic pain, or other health problem, why not visit your local acupuncture clinic?
 

Moving is challenging, as you have to coordinate everything perfectly so that you can move straight from your old property to your new one. Unfortunately, this isn't always possible. The purchase of your new home may take longer to close than you had expected, or any renovations you are working on for your new property could run past their scheduled completion date.

In these and other similar cases, you won't be able to move into your new property right away. If you have already sold your old home or given notice to move out of a rental property, you'll need somewhere else to stay until your new home is ready.
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Of course, you could stay in a hotel for the duration, but this can end up costing you a lot of money on top of your moving expenses, especially if you will be displaced for an extended period. Here are some other options available to you to help you save a bit of money in this area.

​Many hotels offer attractive rates for those who plan on staying for an extended period. Some have full kitchens, bachelor suite or 1 bed room suites. As an added bonus, hotels also offer amenities like washer and dryer, parking, free local calls, gym, pool.  Some are pet friendly. 

​Websites like Airbnb and VRBO make it easier than ever to find properties to rent temporarily. If you choose to go this route, you'll be renting a fully furnished property that the owners treat somewhat like a hotel. Each property owner sets their own specific rules for their guests, so be sure to do plenty of research in advance to ensure you can find a property that can accommodate children, pets and any other needs you have.

​Of course, you always have the option of staying with friends and family if they'll allow it. Family and friends may even let you stay with them free of charge, but you shouldn't assume that this will be the case. Always offer to pay your way. Even if your host chooses not to take you up on your offer, they'll still appreciate that you took their needs into consideration.

When it comes to real estate, the only thing that is certain is that nothing is certain. You could be without a permanent home for just a few days, or it could go on for months on end. Take some time before you move out of your current property to come up with a contingency plan in case things don't progress as smoothly as you had hoped.

​Building a positive workplace culture results in happier employees, which in turn, increases your production rates. Basically, a happy workplace is good for everyone. The question is, how can you create a positive, supporting workplace culture quickly. Check out these tips to get started!

​You might tell your employees that you have an open-door policy, but do you really make them feel comfortable approaching you? Take a few minutes each day to interact with your employees. Listen to their ideas, and help them solve problems they're having. When you show genuine interest in your employees, they know that you care about them and appreciate the work they do — and they'll be a lot more comfortable entering your office to have a chat when needed. Also, say "hi" to people you pass in the hallways and smile frequently — it's important for the boss to lead the way and small gestures like this show your employees that you're happy and they should be too.

​Don't be afraid to let loose once in awhile. It's good to have some fun with your employees. It shows them that you're just a regular person, not someone who's powerful and scary. Host company-wide events such as a family picnic or an office holiday party. You can also host team-building events for each team. Simply choose fun activities that require team members to work together such as a trip to the nearest escape room facility.

​Set reachable goals for your employees each month and give recognition awards to employees who meet or exceed their goals. Alternatively, start an Employee of the Month program and let your employees nominate their co-workers for the award. Also, when an employee reaches a small milestone, be sure to let them know that they did a great job.
Creating a positive work environment doesn't have to be difficult. The key to success is getting your employees to bond and interact with each other and ensure they feel valued and supported.

If your company has staff meetings, you know all too well how quickly these regular meetings can become boring, unproductive, and a real drag on employee morale. The good news is that with a little creativity, you can transform your typical meetings into original, exciting events that deliver real results for your business.
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Here are some tips you can use to make your next meeting more productive and original:

​Guest speakers can add a fresh perspective, transforming your typical meeting into an event. Look for guests who your team might not normally have the chance to meet in person, such as a supplier who you only speak with on the phone, or a customer who uses your products or services on a regular basis.

​They say hindsight is 20-20. If you only would have known. As a business owner, you may already have a few things you wish you knew. Would you have hired that one person? Perhaps you would have started your company sooner. While it is important to look back, reflect and learn from these decisions, it is also important to realize that, when you are at the end of your business ownership, your wishes may be much different.

​There are many things business owners wish they would have done differently. Here are some common themes that seem to come to light.

​It's quite common for businesses, especially those starting out and looking for solid footing, to actually make the move to get rid of employees that do not fit the mold. However, we know today from our workplace culture that it's important to create a sense of culture, respect, and dependability. Some business wonders wish they would have taken a problem employee into the office and let them go long before they did damage.

​Many business owners wonder about risk. For some, taking on too much risk is just too much of a worry. For others, it is all about not taking enough. When you are there, at the end of your life, you'll want to have taken that risk and experienced perhaps not only the thrill of the ride but also the struggles.
As you work to build your business, reach out. Embrace the community. Support each other. Provide mentorship opportunities. By taking these steps, you can solidify your business model now and learn from the mistakes and wishes of those business owners that came before you. It may be exactly what you need to push your business forward that extra level

Everyone likes to save money. Some save it in an account. Some save it under the mattress. But, if you could save money, while spending money. Counter-intuitive right? Well, we here at the Chamber of Commerce would like to show you this wonderful way of saving money. If you have just a little patience, you can save hundreds and possibly thousands every year. So, shall we start saving money?
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The secret to saving money while shopping is not clipping a whole bunch of coupons. No, the secret is to have patience, and by items at end of each season. Then, if you insist, clip those coupons, and save even more money.

• Home Gym Equipment - With more people doing their workout outside in the warm weather, manufacturers are eager to get rid of excess inventory. https://web.comoxvalleychamber.com/Sports-EquipmentSupplies​​
• Boats -It's off-season for boats and manufacturers want this big-ticket item off the books.  web.comoxvalleychamber.com/Marine​
• Cruises - Prices fall dramatically between January and March. web.comoxvalleychamber.com/Travel-Agencies

• Ski & Snowboarding Equipment – We're pretty sure no one is hitting the slopes. ​web.comoxvalleychamber.com/Sports-EquipmentSupplies

Don't buy spring fashion, furniture or new cars.

• Patio Furniture - As the temperature cools, so do the prices.
• Lawn Mowers - The grass is no longer growing and neither are the prices.
• Grills - the Bar-B-Cue season is unfortunately gone, but so are the markups.
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​Try to get your Christmas shopping done as soon as you can, the markups and crowds are coming to town!
See our Comox Valley General Retail page for a list of businesses.

Tipping in restaurants has long been the norm here in Canada, but despite the fact that it's a common (and expected) practice, how much you tip, when, and where, remains a personal and often highly controversial choice.
A recent survey by CreditCards.com shed some light into the differences between tipping habits not only across the country, by between different age groups, genders, and even political affiliations.

​Collectively, about 80 percent of the survey's 1,002 respondents reported always tipping in restaurants, with the median tip rate being 18 percent, and people earning over $75,000 annually top the charts in terms of the average size of their tips.

Tipping isn't limited to restaurants - nearly one-third of those surveyed tip both the baristas in coffee shops and housekeepers in hotels, while two-thirds also tip their stylist or barber. Whether you tip when getting your hair done often depends on your age - the older you are, the less likely you are to tip outside of restaurants.
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In fact, tipping isn't the norm across the world - in many countries tips aren't expected, while leaving a tip in some regions is considered to be an insult. In Japan, leaving a tip can lead to confusion, while China is also a no-tipping country. Switzerland's labor laws mean that restaurant staff are already well-compensated through their salary, and therefore, servers do not rely on tips to make up part of their wages.