As a year of uncertainty continues, it has become more critical than ever for small businesses to find creative ways to succeed, and many are turning to for advice and support. Operating across B.C., the free has been helping businesses grow since 2016 鈥� now, it鈥檚 stepping in to help businesses like Bold Promotions from Fort St John to innovate and adapt.

Export Navigator is a free program that connects business owners with a local export advisor who can help them find new customers beyond B.C. From growth planning to information about exporting, business owners across the province have applied free advisor support to expand with confidence.

Throughout the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the advisors at Export Navigator have been helping businesses find ways to pivot and succeed in the face of new challenges 鈥� such as taking advantage of e-commerce platforms and learning how to access government funding resources. With more businesses turning to the program, its now span a range of industries and countries.

Honorable Minister Mungall, responsible for the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness, believes it鈥檚 the local aspect of Export Navigator that has been fundamental to its success in helping small businesses:

鈥淎s a resident of a rural community, I see so many innovative people creating products and services that deserve wider distribution. Every business and every community is different, and I think that鈥檚 why Export Navigator鈥檚 regional approach has been so valuable.鈥�

Dawson Creek-based export advisor Lilia Hansen has been working with businesses across the Northeast to help them export. One of Lilia鈥檚 success stories is , an outfit from Fort St. John that helps local companies promote their business by supplying branded products for conferences and events. The COVID-19 pandemic brought many of these activities to a grinding halt, and Bold Promotions found Samantha Warren needed to get creative to keep her business running. Supported by Lilia鈥檚 expert guidance, Samantha Warren applied for funding support from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to pivot and sell sanitizing products to her community.

鈥淚 switched gears to develop a Bold line of hand sanitizer that has allowed me to bring everyone back to work. This Relief Fund is a huge help in covering the costs of starting this new product line.鈥�

From solo startups with a small customer base to larger corporations that already export to some select markets, Export Navigator is available to businesses of all sizes in Cariboo and the Northeast, and across B.C.

To continue helping businesses in Cariboo Region, the free program is accepting . To support underrepresented groups, businesses owned by Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth can expect specialized support and are also encouraged to apply.

Export Navigator gratefully acknowledges that we live, work, and play on the traditional territories of the Indigenous Peoples of British Columbia.