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Glen Korstrom

@glenkorstrom.bsky.social

220 followers 120 following 250 posts

Reporter at Business In Vancouver, (Part of Glacier Inc.’s Lodestar.) Mostly cover #retail, #tourism, #hospitality, #travel, #AI / #tech, #consumer trends Photo by Chung Chow

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Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · Jun 2

Feeling honoured today to be selected to be inducted into the BC Restaurant & Foodservices Association (BCRFA)'s BC Restaurant Hall of Fame later this year.
Even more so, given that it is the current 150 or so inductees who voted on my selection.
#journalism
www.biv.com/news/hospita...

BIV reporter to be inducted into BC Restaurant Hall of Fame

Glen Korstrom inducted as a friend of the industry

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 9h

Check out my look into how Vancouver sports teams are vying for fan dollars in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup.

#FIFAWorldCup #WhitecapsFC #Canucks #BCLions #VancouverRise #PWHL

Vancouver sports teams eye World Cup gold rush

Global spectacle may heighten interest in following other team sports

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 23h

Just added a line to the story:
A restaurant patron can leave the premises, go to a private liquor store, buy a bottle of wine and return to the restaurant for the server to open and charge a corkage fee, but it is illegal for restaurant staff to make that shuttle run for the customer.

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 1d

It may sound crazy that a restaurant cannot buy a bottle of wine at a licensed private store and then sell it to customers.
That is the way it is in B.C. Many want it changed.
Check out my story.
#retail #hospitality #BCGEU

BCGEU strike prompts renewed calls for B.C. liquor law changes

Restaurant owners want to be able to buy booze from private liquor stores

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 6d

Looked into border data for September.
B.C. drivers visited the U.S. 40% less than they did in September 2024. It's the eighth straight month of y/y monthly declines.
#travel #tourism

B.C. drivers visit U.S. less for eighth straight month in September

B.C.-plated passenger-vehicle traffic to the U.S. via four border crossings dropped 40% last month versus September 2024

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 6d

- ‘Caps’ Jayden Nelson wins Best Young Canadian Player award;
- Canadian Ali Ahmed wins tournament MVP award;
- ‘Caps’ tournament success adds momentum as they aim to win MLS Western Conference shield (as best team). They are tied for lead with one game in hand.

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 6d

So many storylines:
-Müller now most decorated German footballer with 35 major trophies;
-Vancouver FC’s Nicolás Mezquida scores against former club;
-‘Caps star Ryan Gauld returns after 207 day injury absence, scores goal;
-Canadian Ali Ahmed leads way, scoring twice …

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 6d

Exciting to see such a huge night for Vancouver soccer —
MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps incredibly playing the lower Canadian Premier League’s Vancouver FC in a competitive Voyageurs Cup final.
Great win for the ‘Caps means inclusion in other tournaments.
#WhitecapsFC #VancouverFC

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 8d

Salmon n’ Bannock owner Inez Cook told me about her “expensive mistake” locating at Vancouver International Airport behind security.
She’s “hanging on by a thread.” And launching bannock mix #retail sales.
#restaurants #hospitality

Indigenous entrepreneurs seek success in B.C. culinary ventures

Authentic cuisine, craft beer thrive despite rising costs and uneven demand

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 10d

Check out my look into the importance of where companies are based, and how to determine that location.
The proposed #AngloTeck merger hinges on where it would be based, and identifying that site is not as simple as knowing where the CEO gets up most mornings.
#incorporation

Proposed Anglo Teck merger may hinge on home base

Defining where a company is based is not as simple as where the CEO gets up each morning

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 12d

Here's my scoop that Cactus Club co-founder Richard Jaffray has bought a significant stake in the nearly 100-location Keg chain.

He sold his stake in Cactus in 2022, and bought into Hawsksworth. The Keg is a much bigger entity.
Jaffray will be chair of the board as well.

#restaurants #TheKeg

Cactus Club co-founder Richard Jaffray's firm buys into the Keg

"I've always admired the Keg and have been a longtime customer," Jaffray said in a statement.

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 12d

Aritzia chairman Brian Hill wants Canada to eliminate its de minimis duty-exemption on small shipments, to match what the U.S. has done.
He claims Aritzia is at a 20% duty disadvantage for some parcels sent to Canada.
#retail #deminimis

Aritzia chairman urges Canada to eliminate de minimis exemptions

Brian Hill said his company is at a 20 per cent duty disadvantage on e-commerce orders to Canadians valued at $150 or less.

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 14d

Found this at court: a Kamloops kid is taking American gaming giant Roblox to court, arguing that the game is too addictive and as a result has negative health effects
#gaming #lawsuits #Roblox

B.C. kid sues Roblox for its 'addictive' online gaming platform

Hours of daily play have allegedly prompted "anxiety, depression, irritability and mood swings."

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 14d

Met Roots CEO Meghan Roach at the new Vancouver flagship store to discuss operations, as well as the COO of its Taiwanese partner that operates 120 stores on that island.
#retail #fashion #Roots

Roots launches new Robson Street flagship store in Vancouver

Store at Hornby Street replaces one that operated for decades at the corner of Robson and Burrard streets

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 21d

Checked in with some small-business owners about how they are grappling with unexpected disruptions
#smallbiz #entrepreneur

B.C. small business owners grapple with surprise disruptions

Sewage leaks and other unexpected problems can ravage bottom lines

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 21d

Good to see SFU's Fir, the fastest supercomputer in Canada, and the 78th most powerful supercomputer in the world, go online following an $80M upgrade.
#technology #supercomputing

Canada's fastest supercomputer goes online at SFU after $80M upgrade

Simon Fraser University has launched 'Fir,' a next-generation computing powerhouse.

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 23d

Thanks for the shoutout, Charlie!

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 26d

Check out my look at how B.C. alcohol sellers are adapting to the ban on U.S. imports, and customers buying less booze
#alcohol #retail #BCpoli

B.C. alcohol sellers adapt to ban on U.S. imports

Wine and Canadian whisky seeing sales growth, while overall alcohol wholesale sales fall

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 26d

It's a challenging time for restaurants.
They want provincial support as they urge the feds to loosen immigration policy so they can get needed workers.
That may be tough to get.
#BCpoli #Cdnpoli #hospitality

B.C. restaurant industry urges federal action on labour shortage

Industry wants provincial government support in its asks of the federal government

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 28d

Discussed strategies with small-business owners for how to survive now that the U.S. has eliminated its de minimis duty exemptions.
#smallbiz #deminimis

Vancouver businesses brace for steep costs as U.S. ends duty-free rule

Ending the long-standing de minimis exemption leaves local e-commerce businesses facing tariffs, duties and higher brokerage fees

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 29d

I looked into B.C.'s fastest-growing company between 2020 and 2024: Oxygen8.
Their 11,104-per-cent revenue growth rate is staggering.
Less surprising may be that they sell ventilation systems - products increasingly viewed as important since the pandemic.
#BCecon

How Oxygen8 turned the pandemic into exponential growth

Ventilation company grew revenue 11,104% in four years to become B.C.’s fastest-growing company

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · 29d

B.C.'s highest paid executive donates $2.2M in art to the Vancouver Art Gallery
#culture #art #VAG
www.biv.com/news/economy...

Telus CEO Darren Entwistle donates $2.2M in art to Vancouver Art Gallery

Entwistle was the highest paid executive at a B.C. company last year, generating $20.6M in total compensation

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · Sep 8

B.C. residents continue to reduce trips to the U.S.

Data is out for the number of B.C.-plated passenger vehicles heading south at four Washington state border crossings in August.

Traffic is down 39% year/year in that month.

#travel #tourism #tariffs

B.C. residents reduce trips to U.S. for seventh straight month

The 39% decline in B.C.-plated passenger vehicles into Washington state across four border crossings was a steeper decline than was shown in July

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · Sep 8

Found this at the courthouse.
Metro Vancouver woman sues airline for allegedly exposing her to cholera while on board.
#lawsuits #aviation

Surrey woman sues Qatar Airways, alleges she got cholera on plane

Shafika Mohamed Shakir alleged that she came down with vibrio cholera and suffered permanent physical disability as a result

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · Sep 2

Check out my look at the state of unionization in B.C.
It's timely given the BCGEU and Professional Employees Association launching pickets today, and Hullo Ferries workers voting this afternoon for strike action.
#BClab #Labour #unions

B.C. braces for autumn of labour discontent

More than 452,000 unionized employees in B.C. are seeking new deals

Glen Korstrom @glenkorstrom.bsky.social · Aug 28

Vancouver-based Best Buy Canada (one of the largest B.C.-based retailers) has revenue growth that significantly outpaced that of its parent's U.S. operations, according to an earnings report today.
#retail #electronics

Best Buy Canada far outpaces U.S. parent in sales growth

Best Buy Express locations launched last year after Best Buy Canada partnered with Bell Canada to take over what had been known as The Source chain of stores.