Jenifer Bartman

August 26, 2024  by

Celebrating 7 Years on the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (August, 2024)

Extremely grateful to celebrate seven years on the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel; there is nothing like live TV!  It started with two and a half years of appearances on set in CBC’s flagship studio, followed by a longer period of remote work, covering a wide range of business stories.  Below is a sample of topics where I have provided commentary over the past seven years (over 130 lines and counting!), all of it live:

Stories of particular interest to me are those that can bring in a range of factors, such as demographics, changing consumer preferences, global business trends, and even the political landscape.  Thanks for watching; it is a privilege to bring the news to you!

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August 19, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (August, 2024)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Elmer Kim and Marianne Dimain talking Canada Jetlines stops flying, growth in Canadian housing starts, and the membership crackdown at Costco.  You can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

I’ve seen many situations where entrepreneurs and potential business leaders are keen to get their new venture up and running.  Although this type of excitement is understandable, they tend to underestimate the problems that are likely to occur after launch, with some of these being issues that were identified in the planning stage, but not resolved, while others are challenges that might not have been anticipated.  Either way, problems that occur during operations cost “real money”, while those identified in the planning stage occur “on paper”.  This is why it is so critical to delay launch until these issues have been resolved.

Starting a company with insufficient capital is likely to result in strained operations, including cashflow problems and the inability to operate; this does little to raise confidence in the marketplace, something that is of critical importance to new ventures.  It is difficult enough to operate a company during periods of insufficient capital, much less a growing business, as growth requires money for various reasons.  The tip?  Keep the company parked in the planning stage until such time that critical issues are resolved.

Thanks for watching, and see you again soon!

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July 11, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (June, 2024)

Throwback to a breaking news edition of the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Sherena Hussain and Marianne Dimain talking the Westjet strike; you can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

Customers should not be impacted by a company’s internal matters, such as managing its staff group; the fact that this strike occurred on a long weekend at the end of the school year makes it obvious that vacationers and families were likely the most hurt by the hundreds of cancelled flights and chaos that resulted from this work stoppage.

Leaders are responsible for managing numerous stakeholder relationships, which need to be addressed on a proactive and ongoing basis; this applies to both Westjet and the union, and collective bargaining should also be done in good faith.  In a competitive business marketplace, customers that are treated poorly and not valued have the opportunity to take their business elsewhere, however, given that lack of competition in the Canadian air travel sector, they are too often relegated to a ”bit player” role in a company/union saga; this is unacceptable.

Customer loyalty should never be taken for granted, and their money has a direct impact to funding a company’s payroll.  Staff members are obviously an important component of any business, but in the absence of a loyal customer base, companies don’t need staff, as they typically are not sustainable entities.  In this scenario of limited competition, air travelers are left to keep their options open and transact with the business that serves them best, on a case by case basis, which is, effectively, the opposite of loyalty.

Thanks for watching!

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July 8, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (July, 2024)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Jeanhy Shim and Marianne Dimain talking Hudson Bay Co’s deal to purchase luxury retailer Neiman Marcus, home sales plummeting, and the abundance of vacant downtown office space.   You can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

One of the typical statements that is made when a merger or acquisition occurs is the expectation that “synergies” will be realized; these are often touted as being “significant”.  Types of synergies may include decreasing staffing levels, office or warehouse space, and combining technology systems.  It is important to remember that synergies are theoretical until they are achieved, and doing so is typically a difficult and lengthy process.

Those with significant implementation experience know the many pitfalls of achieving synergies, including:

  • System and information requirements that do not combine well, service providers who cannot get the job done, user backlash, and excuses (so many excuses);
  • The challenges of downsizing staff groups, often fraught with meddling from senior managers and executives, in terms of who should depart and who should stay (i.e., “not my people; those people over there should go”, etc.); and
  • Redundant space that is leased or owned, which takes time to divest.

This scenario can go on for years, while costs continue to be incurred, and it is not uncommon for synergies to not be realized at all.  When this happens, “duplication” results, an expensive, if not fatal, outcome.  Time will tell if the intended synergies can be realized in this particular situation.

Thanks for watching!

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May 6, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (May, 2024)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel alongside Mark Warner and Linda Ward, talking the Loblaws grocery boycott, London Drugs cyberattack, and ride-hailing startup, Hovr; you can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

A key aspect of holding a senior executive role is solving problems, not only within the company, but also more broadly; this could include working with external parties, such as government, regulators, and competitors.  Consumers have faced high grocery prices for years and this story has been reported from a number of aspects.  This is coupled with reporting on significant grocery retailer profits and CEO compensation increase requests, as well as the impact of supply chain challenges and rising labour costs.

There is an opportunity to find solutions around high grocery costs and to communicate with consumers about strategies that are being undertaken, in a transparent and proactive manner.  Instead of reactive pushback and criticism of initiatives, such as a Grocery Code of Conduct, executives should be working collaboratively to develop what is possible; this requires leadership.

Thank you for watching!

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March 4, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (March, 2024)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel alongside Mark Warner and Linda Ward, talking The Body Shop’s store closures, the Wendy’s surge pricing controversy, and questions around the fairness of Cineplex online booking fees.  You can watch our segment here and the Weekend Business Panel on Saturday mornings at around 10:15 AM ET on CBC News Network.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight (it’s a simple one):

CEO’s and senior executives need to remember to be very careful about what they say, especially in a public venue, as they are viewed to be speaking on behalf of the company.  In the case of Wendy’s CEO, comments and content on a presentation slide resulted in lots of media attention, in terms of the potential use of dynamic pricing to increase prices when restaurant traffic peaks.  Although this issue was clarified in a media release after the fact, being careful with wording and considering how it could be construed would have avoided this controversy.

I recall reading a study years ago that debunked the myth that CEO’s and business leaders can “do whatever they want”, by stating that research indicated the opposite; that business leaders typically exhibit lower levels of risky behaviour in relation to the decisions that they make, because there is more at stake.  This is analogous to the idea that behaviour becomes less risky, as the job held increases in seniority.  I have never forgotten this concept, and it is a good reminder, despite the fact that we see what can only be described as billionaire business leader bad behaviour on a fairly regular basis.

Thanks for watching!

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February 11, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (February, 2024)

It’s Super Bowl Weekend on the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Jeanhy Shim, Christian Bravo, and Marianne Dimain talking another round of layoffs at Bell Media, Google’s AI chatbot, Gemini, coming to Canada, and, of course, those commercials that Canadians won’t be seeing during the big game on Sunday.  You can watch the Weekend Business Panel on Saturday mornings at around 10:15 AM ET on CBC News Network.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

The importance of the female consumer demographic has long been known as highly lucrative, in that women have significant influence in a wide range of buying decisions, including in the areas of housing, vehicles, travel, consumer goods, groceries, anything and everything related to children, and more.  Not only do women have significant influence in this regard within a family unit, single women are also a very powerful demographic.  Over the years, numerous consumer research studies have reported these findings.

Which makes it more than a little ironic that it took a well known celebrity attending a handful of football games for some brands to decide to advertise during the Super Bowl (you guessed it), targeting women.  This, in concert with obvious efforts on the part of the NFL and its broadcast partners to utilize Taylor Swift’s attendance to increase viewership numbers (anyone who has watched sports for a long period of time will understand why this is so evident).

Millions of women have watched football for decades (myself included), however, it took the attendance of one popular female celebrity for this large audience to be of relevance.  Really?  And, yes, women do buy more than makeup!

Brands need to ensure that they understand their target market, in various respects, including size, trends, and the key aspects of decision making and influence in order to develop strategies to reach potential consumers.  From what we’ve seen here, it appears that the lucrative female football-viewing market has been poorly recognized until now.

Thanks for watching, and see you next time!

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January 15, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (January, 2024)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Mark Warner and Marianne Dimain, talking the CEBA repayment deadline, Hertz selling one-third of its EV fleet, and the SEC’s bitcoin decision; you can watch our segment here.

New year, new approach!  Going forward, my blog posts on media appearances will feature one “business advisor highlight” related to our discussion.  For this segment, the highlight is something that is straightforward, but very important:

If you’ve never run a small business or been in business for yourself, chances are, it is much more difficult than you realize.  Although some might be wondering why some small businesses are not currently in a position to repay their CEBA loan, it is important to recognize that many are facing a “snowball” effect of inflation, high interest rates, supply problems, and an ongoing tight labour market.  These factors combine to make generating revenue (and cashflow) much more difficult, which means that money simply doesn’t go as far as it used to.  When small businesses can no longer afford to operate, jobs are lost, which has a tangible impact to the local community.  When closures accumulate, the economic and employment impacts can be very significant.

Thanks for watching!

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November 7, 2023  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (November, 2023)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel from sunny Nova Scotia (yes, it’s bright!), alongside Mark Warner, Cristian Bravo, and Stephanie Skenderis, talking Alberta’s musings to leave the CPP, FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried’s fraud conviction, and changes at the helm at Blackberry; you can watch our segment here.  Some thoughts on our discussion.

Alberta’s Premier has gotten some attention with talk about Alberta leaving the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), however, the practical reality of this occurring is uncertain for a number of reasons.  The most obvious is the uncertainty around the portion of CPP assets that would apply to Alberta, as well as the practical mechanics of how a departure would happen.  In general terms, risk is mitigated through size, as smaller pools can be subject to increased volatility; there is also a lot riding on the expertise and strength of senior management and governance.  Fund results indicate that the CPP has performed very well, in comparison to other pools, while the majority of surveyed Albertans view leaving the CPP as either a “bad” or “very bad” idea.  Time will tell, as to whether this is simply more of the same narrative from the current party in charge, but don’t expect any big decisions anytime soon.

Sam Bankman-Fried’s fraud conviction is a reminder of a couple of things, with the most notable being “if something is too good to be true, it probably is”.  It is also notable that new or emerging industries tend to be associated with an “anything goes” rationale, which couldn’t be further from the truth.  Just because an industry or product is new does not mean that laws and basic business guidelines don’t apply (they do), and those who are regarded as “wunderkinds” or “geniuses” are probably in over their head.  One of the most important aspects of business is experience, and a new or creative idea alone does not equate with the necessary skill to build a sustainable business, and to fully appreciate the risks and guardrails associated with doing so.  In my experience, as a business advisor and former venture capitalist, those who ignore these realities also tend to be poorly advised, as anyone with expertise has probably also been ignored (and has long since moved on, as a result).

And, finally, as Blackberry’s CEO retires, there are questions around what the Company’s future could look like.  From my perspective, the next CEO needs to be strong in the finance chair, as results haven’t been great, and also needs to understand how to tap into the right markets in order to build a sustainable business.  Doing this requires a different skillset than that of “product” or “development” people, and who is next at the helm will be crucial for Blackberry’s future.  It is also high time that there is gender diversity in this role, as all qualified candidates should be fully considered.

Thanks for watching and see you again soon!

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September 11, 2023  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (September, 2023)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Jeanhy Shim, Michael Hyatt, and Natalie Kalata, talking all things interest rates and inflation; you can watch our segment here.

Some brief thoughts on our discussion, from a small business perspective:

  • Although the impact of interest rate increases takes a while to work through the economy on an overall level, small businesses can feel the impact in the short term, if not immediately.  Examples include the rising cost of money, as interest rates increase on outstanding loans/lines of credit and become a disincentive to pursue expansion plans, such as additional premises and equipment.
  • Remember that many small business leaders contributed cash or took out financing to secure the operations of their company during the pandemic years; recent studies have shown that approximately one-half of companies have not yet returned to their pre-pandemic financial performance level.
  • When small businesses reach the point where they are no longer viable, or where the owner does not want to carry to risk of operating any longer, the result is often closure.  Sometimes, the last straw can be a major cost increase, such as rising rates in terms of loan or mortgage interest.  The inability to find or afford staff members can also be particularly draining.
  • As an example, when a small business closes, it could put 20 people out of work.  This might seem insignificant, but as business closures increase, it may not be long before the numbers become quite concerning.  Consider businesses in your community that are no longer operating, keeping in mind that restaurants, services, and small retail can be particularly vulnerable.

Although it is important to continue to combat inflation, it is equally critical to not reach a point where “you can’t see the forest for the trees”.  Understanding the practical realities and challenges that Canada’s small business sector faces on a daily basis is essential for bringing the right balance to considering interest rates, and the current pause is understandably a welcome relief to many.  Going forward, as previous rate increases continue to work through the system, it wouldn’t be surprising to see continued pause for some period of time.

As always, thanks for watching!

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