Recent Canadian TV ratings have shown OLN TV show " The Liquidator " as one of the highest in Canadian cable TV history. Jeff Schwartz, the owner of Direct Liquidation, from Burnaby BC will be coming to Brandon in late April for the Grand Opening of a new Direct Liquidation franchise.  The new location is owned and operated by Brandon business guru Darcy Willy, and he has been doing some large renovations to the old Sobey's Cash n Carry location. Also stay tuned for your chance to win dinner for 2 at Browns Socialhouse with Jeff Schwartz. Jeff Schwartz  

On the heels of our very successful Facebook promotion where Kathy Gross won a mattress just for liking the Facebook post on an earlier contest we are pleased to announce our latest promotion. You now have the opportunity to win dinner for you and two of your friends at Browns Social House on Saturday May the 28th with Jeff Schwartz, The Liquidator as well as Brandon franchise owners Darcy and Doug Willey. Entering is simple and you have six days left to enter. All you need to do is simply go to our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/bdnmb.ca/) and like the contest post in the middle of the page for a chance to win this exciting opportunity. Everyone who likes the promotion will automatically be entered into the draw. Draw date April 26th at 6:00 PM. Stay tuned to this, and our Facebook page, for other upcoming features and promotions.  

Charlie Clark named Brandon Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year Award. Maybe not your typical story of a guy starting a small insurance business and then some 30 years later having a tech business with over 100 employees and growing by the minute.  But in fact this is what Charlie Clark has done. Thursday night at the Keystone Centre Charlie was presented with Business Person of the Year and  feeling a bit humbled by the experience is how he would describe it best. To get from Point A to Z the timeline of Charlie Clark is an interesting one.  In the early 80’s he had an insurance business and with the assistance of his brother he helped Charlie write code to streamline his business.  “The computer had 2 floppy drives and a green screen monitor and the cost was $10,095.00”.  He admits “ I had no idea to even how to turn the things on”  However the code that he and his brother had written helped double sales.  Progression started towards technology in his life as he then assisted Computerland on Rosser Ave. Then moving from the kitchen table to an office on 356 – 10th Street is where Microage was born.  The premise was to assist small and large business with memory upgrades and overall computer hardware and software assistance.  The business model continued to expand and then they had to step up and move to Princess Ave.  Former location of Microage on Princess Ave. The year was 1994 and Compusmart is where Charlie felt the computer business was booming. Charlie said” people would buy a $5000.00 computer and I would make 30 percent margin….. 9 years later the average sale was $1500.00 with a 10% margin”  Bidding on Gov’t jobs was cat and mouse “ we would bid below our cost to hopefully get the job because by the time we got the job the prices would have come down and we could still make some profit”.  In 1997 Charlie sold his shares in Compusmart and then started Infometrics.  Compusmart on Rosser in the early 2000's “ I didn’t understand why people were really paying 5000 dollars for a computer without having Internet access or availability”  So in 2004 it was the turning point without a question as he purchased what is called SPECTRUM.  The best way to explain it is like a radio station used 94.3 to broadcast their signal to the public.  However after winning the auction for the spectrum he went to his wife Laurel and now current GM and business partner Tami - Rae Rourke Clements office and said "HEY I NEED A CHEQUE.  We couldn’t use or sell the spectrum until 2008.  So needless to say a gamble at the time that has seen huge rewards. “ We have purchased much more spectrum over the years and will continue to acquire more because it is like land they don’t make it any more” Future is bright as NetSet has 150 towers in Manitoba and another 45 being added as we speak.  Charlie’s father thought he was crazy moving to their current location on Douglas with 10,000 square feet.  Charlie said “ my father said we would never use the space and now today we are moving to a new building with 20,000 square feet.  NetSet is expanding dealers in Manitoba and their offices in Winnipeg and Eastern Manitoba. Current location on Douglas A huge asset for Charlie was the day he hire

Hard to imagine it was only 10 years ago Riley Day was suiting up in the WHL for the Medicine Hat Tigers and Brandon Wheat Kings.   And last night Riley, and his brother Spencer, won the award for Best New Business in Brandon as chosen by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. The easy question is were you surprised picking up the hardware?  “Always surprised that we were nominated and voted in by our peers ….. Shocked and humbled it was a great day for our company" said Day. Some people have said you guys have a monopoly is that accurate?  “ No wouldn’t call it a monopoly we have 5 or 6 companies we compete with. We provide products and service that no one else can we offer.” Marketing is important and from what I can see you guys have a very modern approach.  “We present ourselves as professional as possible, with our clothing, and our white vans….we have set goals early on and stuck beside our branding and imaging." Good The Bad The Ugly working with family?   “We have a unique relationship and we strive to be superior on a daily basis….. Me and Spencer never have crazy blowups or fights.” How do you see the future?  “ Don’t believe in stopping growth or being happy with what we have we will work hard each day to set the bar higher” Riley Day is the Co Owner of Progressive Sanitation in Brandon

The local restaurant scene continues to heat up as the much-anticipated new restaurant, Fired, opened for business on February the 2nd in Brandon. The brand-new restaurant, specializing in, you guessed it, wood-fired pizza will focus on authentic, ingredient-driven 9-inch and 13-inch pizzas made from a wood fired pizza oven firing at 750 degrees. Pizzas here are formed, topped and expertly fired in a matter of minutes. Their pizza toppings range from the classic Margherita with fresh basil to chef-inspired variants such as a fire roasted chicken, red onion, basil pesto, bruschetta, and feta cheese pizza. The menu also contains an array of made-to-order offerings including wood-fired cheese sticks, Korean meatballs, a 6 cheese Mac-n-Cheese, and a Spicy Avocado & Sriracha Burrito. Sandwiches include the Turkey & Feta Chipotle Panini comprised of whiskey turkey, cucumber, roasted red peppers, spinach, goat & feta cheeses, and a chipotle aioli. Fish lovers will certainly enjoy their Baha Pickerel Tacos with slaw, Cajun pickerel, pickled red onions, and a Baja sauce. Location: Unit 4, 2430 Victoria Ave Hours: Sunday – Thursday 11am – 12am Friday & Saturday 11am – 2am