Category: Business

By Paul Pimentel

A local film association is setting up an office to attract multi-million dollar film and television productions to Ottawa, which could have a major economic impact on Centretown businesses.

“I think that Ottawa’s perched on the edge of a boom in the entertainment industry,” says Barbara Jordan, a local producer. “I think it will have a serious economic impact on the region.” read more

By Dana Dougherty

Everywhere I go lately I am greeted by three words: visit our Web site! My question is why?

Why do such small stores go to the bother and expense of maintaining these sites? Every business from grocery stores to corner stores seems to have a Web site. read more

By Yen Yen Yip

Sparks Street Mall management is hunting for ways to attract more shoppers, and it’s following the scent of high-profile stores, like Roots and The Gap.

“The plan is to have good stores with good inducements,” saus Louis Fachinni, chair of the mall’s retail leasing committee. “They have their own marketing budget, and they will bring more people to the area.” read more

By Nicolas Van Praet

For Roland Comerford, a cigar is not just a rolled up tube of tobacco leaves. It’s one of life’s finer pleasures that takes time to cultivate.

And that, he says, is why the passion of Ottawa’s three year dalliance with cigars is over. The city’s quick-hit hipsters just don’t have the attention span of true cigar buffs. read more