​Member Snapshots - March 2017

The strength of The Chamber is our members and the people that run these outstanding businesses. For March 2017, The Chamber featured:

• Gayle Robinson, Robinson’s Outdoor Store
• Darryl Hein, The Market Stores
• Chris Burdge, Social Media Camp
• Jayne Bradbury, Fort Properties Ltd.

If you would like to be featured in a Chamber Member Snapshot please send us an email or give us a call at 250-383-7191.

​Gayle Robinson, Robinson’s Outdoor Store

Name: Gayle Robinson
Position: Owner
Organization:Robinson’s Outdoor Store
Number of Employees: 14
Member since: 2005
We’re all about hiking, adventure travel & flyfishing. We source the best brands, & our friendly, knowledgeable staff will outfit you for any adventure. Victoria’s Outdoor Store Since 1929.
What is the best perk of your job? Getting to adventure travel all over the world. The Inca Trail, The Annapurna, the Galapagos... so awesome! 
What’s your favourite Chamber event? The Business Awards. I love to see businesses being honoured... and it’s an excellent promo for your own business. 
What is the best part about doing business in Greater Victoria? The people, the ocean... getting to do outdoor activities all year long. 
Best team-building moment or program you’ve ever experienced? Giving boxes of gear to our charity, Power to Be Adventure Therapy and knowing we had made a difference for so many young people. 
What is the one thing no one understands or knows about your business? We use our Air Miles to fly staff on adventures. If they take a trip, they stay with us another year.
What was it about a boss/co-worker/employee that made them great to work with? Combined hard work with a great sense of humour! 
What project is your business proudest of? Being a founder of ThinkLocalFirst. Now 190 member businesses. 
What is your company’s greatest strength? Absolutely our staff. They grow our reputation and make the store a place people enjoy coming to. 
What was your first job? A TV guide route... girls couldn’t have newspaper routes then! 
Favourite place on Vancouver Island? Anywhere on the beach. 
What do you think is the most important life lesson for someone to learn? Kindness. The Golden Rule. 
Who has had the biggest influence on your life? My Grandfather, George Robinson. He survived a depression and a world war. If I’m stressed, that puts everything in perspective. 
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. Courage is what counts. 
What’s your favourite event or festival in Greater Victoria? Busker’s Festival. 
If you had a superpower what would it be? Create World Peace. 
If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead who would it be? Robert Redford. 
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Darryl Hein, The Market Stores

​Name:Darryl Hein 
Position: Retail Operations 
Organization:The Market Stores
Number of Employees: 240 
Member since: 2008
We operate Two supermarkets in the greater Victoria area. Our focus is on customer service and offering our customers a high quality product at a fair price, with a great selection.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?Working with our excellent well trained staff. 
Business lunch or after work drinks? Business lunch. 
What is the best part about doing business in Greater Victoria? Victoria is a beautiful city. 
Do you have a business etiquette pet peeve?Impolite usage of cell phones. 
How is your business involved in the community? We donate to many community charities. 
What is your company’s greatest strength? The ability to adapt quickly. 
What was your first job? I worked in a family business in property management. 
What are you passionate about? Family, business, and golf. 
What do you think is the most important life lesson for someone to learn? That you can’t do it all yourself. 
Who is your role model or has had the biggest influence on your life? Ernie Skinner. 
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? You can’t do it all yourself, from Ernie, he has an endless amount of sayings like that. 
Where can we find you on the weekend? Gorge Vale golf course. 
What do you want to be when you grow up? I never want to grow up. 
Where do you like to eat in Greater Victoria? The Marina restaurant, Nautical Nellies, the Blue Crab, Il Terrazzo…

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Chris Burdge, Social Media Camp

Name:Chris Burdge
Position: President 
Organization: Social Media Camp
Number of Employees: 2
Member since: 2012

We are Canada’s largest social media conference. we tackle all aspects of social media. People come from all over North America, and from all sectors of the economy – small business, large business, government, education, and non-profit. 

What is the best perk of your job? I get to hang with 600+ people for 3 days twice a year. 
Business lunch or after work drinks? Lunch—preferably on a patio, in the sun. 
What is the best part about doing business in Greater Victoria? People are chill. 
What project is your business proudest of? Building a Victoria BC based event from zero to the largest of its kind in Canada. Now if we can just get the Prime Minister to attend… 
What is your company’s greatest strength? We bring in the brightest minds in social media from around the world and ensure they are accessible to our attendees. They always comment on how accessible our speakers are. 
What is the one thing no one understands or knows about your business? Paul Holmes (aka Justin Timberfox) is determined to bring MySpace back. Watch the video here.
What was your first job? Telemarketer. 
What’s your favourite mode of transportation to get around town? Bicycle. 
What are you passionate about? The outdoors. Last summer my daughter and I did a 5 day hiking trip to Cream Lake in Strathcona Park. It was the highlight of my year! 
Dogs or Cats? Dogs—Rhodesian Ridgeback to be specific. 
Favourite place on Vancouver Island? South Chesterman Beach—you’ll find us there every July. 
What do you think is the most important life lesson for someone to learn? Less talk, more do! 
Who is your role model or has had the biggest influence on your life? My wife—and she will hate that I said that and that’s one of the things I love about her. 
Where can we find you on the weekend? Stand up paddling on one of the many beautiful lakes or bays around Victoria.

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​Jayne Bradbury, Fort Properties Ltd.

Name:Jayne Bradbury
Position: Owner / Director 
Organization: Fort Properties Ltd.
Number of Employees:8
Member since: 2005

Fort Properties is a family-run real estate holding, management and development company proudly based in Victoria, BC. We create Space That Contributes. 

What’s your favourite thing about your job?Getting to work with our business tenants. I love watching them turn a concept into a successful operating business. 
What is the best perk of your job? Flexibility! I have two young girls and flex my schedule quite a bit so that I can spend time with them during the work week. 
Business lunch or after work drinks? Business lunch. Lunch is my favorite meal of the day, and my office is surrounded by amazing lunch restaurants. 
How is your business involved in the community? My sister (and co-owner) and I volunteer our time on a number of Boards in the community, including the DVBA, UDI and SIPP. 
What is the best part about doing business in Greater Victoria? The sense of community. We are very fortunate to work in a place with so many talented and dedicated business people.
What project is your business proudest of? The Fort Common District—the renovations turned out beautifully, and we have amassed an amazing group of tenants. 
What was your first job? As a retail assistant at London Optical, selling glasses. 
What is one job you could never do? Window washer! I hate heights. 
Favourite place on Vancouver Island? Cattle Point. I spent a lot of time there as a kid poking around in the tide pools, inspecting the sea creatures, and heading out fishing with my Dad. 
Where can we find you on the weekend? Having coffee and a croissant with my husband and daughters at one of Victoria’s many great cafes. 
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? I reflect on this quote often: “Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.” – Sara Blakely (Founder of Spanx)
What’s your favourite mode of transportation to get around town? My bike! Or my feet—I love to walk. 
Favourite social media for work/personal? Instagram for both—I am a very visual person.

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