Positioning Strategies are Critical

Living most of my life in Alberta and some of it in British Columbia, I have been able to witness first hand, many of the differences between the two economies.

One of the most obvious is that of infrastructure due to the stark, geographic nuances. The linear nature of prairie's versus the never ending twists and turns of the coastal waterways. But as I looked further, there were certain areas that were more striking than others when experiencing how the B.C. geographic system played out. The specific area I'm referring to is Port Kells in Surrey, located about 45 km east of Vancouver.

At first, Port Kells seems like your typical industrial park. There are several small, local businesses located along side a few larger, more recognizable names and then sprinkled throughout you'll find the likes of McDonalds, Wendy's, Bank of Nova Scotia etc. But getting to know the area more intimately, you realize the far reaching economic potential of this hub because of the brilliant geographical positioning.

A saw mill can receive a load of raw logs by barge from Vancouver Island, process them accordingly, load the subsidiary products back onto another barge, send it down the Fraser River to customers locally and/or continue all the way into the Port of Vancouver and on to a freighter for eventual customers overseas.

Other products that come out of those initial logs, such as rough cut lumber can be loaded onto a truck and sent 30-40 mins. down a highway that runs directly from Port Kells to the U.S. border. There are of course many additional spin offs for locally based companies. A hardwood flooring wholesaler also located in Port Kells can make a five minute trip to the same saw mill, pick up the necessary inventory, finish it accordingly and then distribute the product to their retail customers, located through out the Lower Mainland.

The geographic advantages of Port Kells, provide a strong visual parallel to the importance of positioning strategies. So as the economy continues to recover and throw a few curve balls, ensure that your company and your people are well positioned to ensure your success for the long term.

Kevin