The Growing Strathroy-Caradoc podcast has launched! This series was developed by the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc’s Economic Development department to highlight why the community is a place where people and businesses grow deep roots.
With a population of 24,000 people. It would be easy to assume that Strathroy-Caradoc is a sleepy part of Southwest Ontario, but new residents and businesses—from independent shops to multinational power players—are flocking here. The Growing Strathroy-Caradoc podcast aims to unpack the reasons behind the growth.
In the inaugural episode, two local businesses are interviewed about what it's like to run a small business in Strathroy-Caradoc. The guests are Debbie and Jeff McCallum from In a Jam in Melbourne and Patrick Saunders from CommonWealth Financial in Strathroy. They share how they got started, how they grew their businesses, and what it is about Strathroy-Caradoc that creates the ideal environment for them to thrive.
Listen now, or read on for a few highlights.
Strathroy-Caradoc Has Everything You Need To Do Business
Patrick says one of the community’s best assets is that it has everything you need to do business. Over the years—through an ownership transition, a move, and day-to-day operations—they’ve been able to find local professionals for almost everything, including banking, accounting, law, real estate, renovations, and IT.
Strathroy-Caradoc Has a Strong Local Market, Plus Through-Traffic
In a Jam has a strong customer base of regulars. Many of them are locals, but Debbie and Jeff say the retail shop doesn't only have to rely on the local market because there are lots of buyers travelling through who are willing to drop in. In particular, they get many people from Chatham who are headed to London via Longwoods Drive.
Strathroy-Caradoc Has Great Commercial Real Estate
CommonWealth Financial was in a different office space five years ago. Then the lease was expiring, Patrick says they had the opportunity to reimagine the business and where they wanted to operate. After considering all the options, including going closer to London, they realized Strathroy was still their number one choice and bought their current building.
Debbie started making jams, jellies, and preserves in her home-based kitchen. She expanded it once, but still outgrew it and knew the time had come to get a commercial space. She found the perfect building: a big empty space that she could transform into a kitchen, warehouse, and retail store. Even better, it was just ten minutes from home.
Subscribe to the Growing Strathroy-Caradoc Podcast
Episode 2 will continue the discussion on the community's business growth. We’ll be talking to insiders at two of Strathroy-Caradoc’s fastest growing manufacturers about why they've chosen to do business here, what's keeping them, and their growth plans.
Episodes will be released every two weeks. To make sure you don’t miss it, subscribe or follow now on your favourite podcast platform.
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