b'CCAB BUSINESS RECOVERY FORUMVirtual BrainstormingBy Matthew BradfordT h e I n d i g e n o u s b u s i n e s s c o m m u n i t y t a c k l e s c h a l l e n g e s t i e d t o C O V I D a t C C A B s f i r s t v i r t u a l b u s i n e s s f o r u mI nSeptember,Indigenousanddiscovered innovative ways to network,for eBay Canada. Bigler pointed out that non-Indigenousbusinessescollaborate and exchange ideas toIndigenous businesses could use online cametogetherforanindustryrebuild their business and prosper inplatforms, including eBay, to stay active, first:CCABsvirtualBusinessthe new reality. The event successfullyexpand their markets and engage tech-Recovery Forum, streamed live toenabled Indigenous and non-Indige- savvy customers. It is not a temporary fix, hundreds of CCAB business members,nous businesses to come together virtu- he stressed, but rather one that can be governmentmembers,Indigenousally when the need for collaboration ismaintained well into the future. business leaders and entrepreneurs, andat an all-time high.organization leads.Commerce of today is online, consumer-This pandemic has forced us to think differ- driven, technology-enabled and very The September 16th event was borneently, said CCAB president and CEOglobal, Bigler told audiences from his out of necessityrestrictions causedTabatha Bull in her opening remarks. Mosthome studio. There was already a move by the COVID-19 pandemic quashedimportantly, it has taught us more than everto online before the pandemic, espe-original plans for large on-site gath- of the need for collaboration, and it hascially in retail, but COVID-19 has acceler-eringsbut CCABs unique platformshown us that we need to do better. Weated this trend by several years. If you successfully brought together hundredscan use opportunities like todays Forumarent online, get onlineits not too late, of participants from across the countryto find solutions to move forward, to buildand thats where your customers are.and beyond. A live studio with a comedicour networks, explore new possibilities host, Stan Wesley, guided viewersand strengthen our economy. One of the key benefits to online selling through the virtual landscape with aplatforms is they can open doors to promise that by the end of the day theRebuilding Our Economy Together was anexporting opportunities. Maximizing 600-plus people logged into the eventapt theme for the day-long event, whichexport is something that should be of would take away some valuable insightsnot only underscored the importance ofparticular interest to Indigenous busi-and make some great connections.coming together during the pandemic butnesses, said Bigler, given that 24 per also highlighted the need for companiescent of Indigenous respondents in a Those who watched the presentations,to be on their toes and agile enough torecent Canadian study indicated they panel discussions and award ceremonies,adapt to entirely new and unprecedentedwere already sending their products to chatted in the various networking rooms,marketplace conditions. international markets. This community visited the virtual trade show booths, andis already doing more about exporting connected in one-on-one meetings, didIn the age of social distancing and officethanotherCanadianbusinesses, so from the comfort of their own loca- closures, going digital is criticalapointed out Bigler. You already under-tions. Using a visually engaging and inter- message delivered by the events keynotestand it, and you see how it helps busi-active conference platform, participantsspeaker Robert Bigler, general managernesses succeed. 34A CCAB PUBLICATION2020'