b'BUSINESS RECOVERYcapabilities, integrating a new vendor-managed inventory (VMI) system and boosting connectivity with platforms like Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams.THE MISSING CONNECTION?With the shift to remote work and stay-at-home orders, Canadian businesses have had to work virtually as much as they could. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been espe-cially impacted, and since the majority of Indigenous businesses are SMEs, the burden fell disproportionately on them. CIPS and Superior Strategies both have the advantage of being located in large Superior Strategies launched Warrior Supplies, a safety workwear and casual apparel subsidiary,urban areas that are well served by digital that also began producing in-demand products like hand sanitizer networks. Many Indigenous businesses cant say the same. When dealing with In addition to using the downtimeWe definitely saw a slowdown on thehis Indigenous clients, Jacobs finds to adjust its strategic direction, CIPSservice delivery and project management upped its digital game, revamping itsside in March last year, says Superior web presence and updating features toStrategies president Jason Thompson, a enable clients and partners to connectmember of Red Rock First Nation. We online. As this went to press, Jacobstook some downtime, but in a few weeks, said he was also about to hire more staff. and once we understood what we were dealing with, we were able to develop a Superior Strategies Inc., located onprotocol for handling the situation and the Red Rock First Nation in Nipigon,ramp back up.Ontario, also found the pandemics silverAnd the apparel and office supplies side? lining. Adding to its existing training,Nothing but positive. We had access to consulting and project managementhand sanitizers, wipes and masks from services, last spring Superior Strategiesearly on and we were able to source them launched their Warrior Supplies safetyfor a lot of customers. We gained around workwear and casual apparel subsid- 300 customers over the past year. iary. At around the same time the company also added office and busi- Superior Strategies has also doubled its ness supplies with the acquisition of Thestaff over the same period. Like CIPS, Office Supplier. the company has worked on its digital The Leaders in Railway Maintenanceand Construction Services Across CanadaREMCAN is committed to building positive, respectful, and sustainable relationships with Looking for a career in the rail industry?Indigenous communities.Our focus is on promoting employment opportunities, pre-employment www.remcanprojects.com/careers training, and business ventures or partnerships through community engagement.COMPETITIVEREWARDINGCUTTING-EDGEPAIDCOMPENSATION WORK EQUIPMENT TRAININGAboriginal BUSINESS REPORT41'