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TRANSCRIPTION WITH SPEAKERS
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[00:00] SPEAKER_00: It's Calgary's podcast on the Canada's podcast network.
[00:15] SPEAKER_01: Hello, this is Mario Tonigüzi coming to you today with Calgary's podcast on
[00:20] SPEAKER_01: the number of Canada's podcast network where we talk to the entrepreneurs who are
[00:25] SPEAKER_01: making it happen in the city of Calgary, Alberta.
[00:28] SPEAKER_01: So you can listen, discover and engage.
[00:32] SPEAKER_01: Today's guest is Karen Berry, who is president of Berry Commercial Real Estate and founder
[00:36] SPEAKER_01: of Beltline Cannabis Calgary.
[00:39] SPEAKER_01: Welcome to the show Karen and thanks for taking the time today to be here for our listeners.
[00:43] SPEAKER_02: Thank you very much Mario.
[00:45] SPEAKER_01: Tell us a little bit about Beltline cannabis, its history and how it started.
[00:49] SPEAKER_02: Well, Beltline cannabis Calgary was a vision and originally when I bought the building
[00:56] SPEAKER_02: in 2011, it reminded me very much of Amsterdam where I spent some time in a long time ago
[01:04] SPEAKER_02: bartending and when I bought this building, I looked at it and I just thought that's
[01:09] SPEAKER_02: Amsterdam and it was just, it put us my own on my face so I bought the building.
[01:14] SPEAKER_01: Why did you get into this business?
[01:16] SPEAKER_02: It was really opportunity.
[01:19] SPEAKER_02: I had the building, I had been turned down by three of the national call it recognized cannabis
[01:27] SPEAKER_02: retailers and I couldn't understand why no one wanted this building to lease and I ended up
[01:36] SPEAKER_02: then working with a couple of people that weren't as well capitalized and when I was reviewing
[01:43] SPEAKER_02: their financials, I looked at it and thought well, my financials are certainly there as well
[01:49] SPEAKER_02: and so I took on the project.
[01:52] SPEAKER_01: What are the biggest benefits of doing business in Calgary?
[01:57] SPEAKER_02: Well, Calgary has been an ebb and flow.
[02:00] SPEAKER_02: Barry commercial was founded in 2007 after a 20 year career in investment sales commercial
[02:10] SPEAKER_02: real estate and Calgary has always been such an entrepreneurial environment that the platform
[02:17] SPEAKER_02: to jump to get even low-lying fruit was typically easier. I came from Ontario which is much more
[02:25] SPEAKER_02: of a hierarchy. I think that the decision-making in Calgary is flattened somewhat so the opportunity
[02:32] SPEAKER_02: is there for people that work really hard.
[02:35] SPEAKER_01: What are the biggest challenges of doing business here?
[02:39] SPEAKER_02: Well, the challenges have changed. So looking at 30 years ago, I think there were some challenges,
[02:45] SPEAKER_02: gender challenges. In 1988 was the first time that women were even allowed in the petroleum club.
[02:54] SPEAKER_02: I arrived here in 1994 with stars in my eyes and absolutely no background on any gender
[03:02] SPEAKER_02: situation. So for me, it was just full guns blazing and away we go.
[03:07] SPEAKER_02: As things have changed and evolved and prosperity and economic growth has happened here,
[03:15] SPEAKER_02: we have started to see a bit more of an infrastructure on decision makers.
[03:22] SPEAKER_02: Because these people have had such a successful up run since call it the early 90s,
[03:28] SPEAKER_02: they have certainly grown in their own organization. So now we have a bit more layering
[03:34] SPEAKER_02: in that decision-making process. So it's a bit more difficult to get to that CEO, that decision-maker,
[03:41] SPEAKER_01: but it's not insurmountable. Why would you recommend Calgary to entrepreneurs who are just starting
[03:47] SPEAKER_02: up a business? Calgary is a mindset city. While we have been through these very large swings
[03:58] SPEAKER_02: economically, it is about the mindset. Coming from Ontario, and again, this goes back many,
[04:06] SPEAKER_02: many years ago, it was much more of where do you think you're going to get in life? And for me,
[04:13] SPEAKER_02: at that time, the aspirations were somewhere in middle management. It wasn't really sort of an
[04:21] SPEAKER_02: initial goal of mine to own and run at this point for different companies. But as business evolved,
[04:30] SPEAKER_02: it just made all the sense in the world. So I would say that it is a significant mindset difference
[04:38] SPEAKER_02: between Calgary and I would even suggest to you versus Edmonton versus Vancouver versus Ontario.
[04:45] SPEAKER_02: And those are all places that I have done business. And I think that Calgary is sort of as out
[04:52] SPEAKER_01: front with respect to that entrepreneurial spirit still. Tell me a little bit about where you've
[04:59] SPEAKER_01: get your inspiration and your ideas. And where do you recharge? Well, there's always balance
[05:06] SPEAKER_02: in what I do is paramount because as an entrepreneur, there is such an ebb and flow. And you
[05:15] SPEAKER_02: do chase after once you make a decision to go after an opportunity. It's very absorbing.
[05:23] SPEAKER_02: You have to be passionate about it because if you're not passionate about it, you've got a higher
[05:28] SPEAKER_02: probability of failure. And let's face it in small business, when 25% of small businesses are
[05:37] SPEAKER_02: still in business after a decade, you can recognize how difficult that hill can be to climb.
[05:45] SPEAKER_02: I'm happy to say that Barry commercial is 13 years old. And Beltline cannabis is seven months old.
[05:53] SPEAKER_01: Tell me a little bit more about Beltline cannabis. What are you excited about this business these days?
[06:00] SPEAKER_02: Well, Beltline cannabis Calgary is a world class one of a kind eclectic retail cannabis experience.
[06:08] SPEAKER_02: We are in the package goods industry, but really what we're selling is a human interaction.
[06:16] SPEAKER_02: What we have noticed over the advent of artificial intelligence, the progress with computers,
[06:27] SPEAKER_02: what we've noticed is that there is a disconnect with people interacting with people.
[06:34] SPEAKER_02: So what we're selling here is that tangible go talk to somebody. No, we're not doctors,
[06:41] SPEAKER_02: we're not medical people. We will not give you medical advice, but at least you can go in and you
[06:46] SPEAKER_02: can meet somebody that you're going to see there next week. So our bad tenders, they are the
[06:53] SPEAKER_02: lifeblood of what we do here and they have cult followings. What's your vision for Beltline cannabis?
[07:01] SPEAKER_02: Well, the vision ideally is to maximize what we can do here and as well contribute to the
[07:09] SPEAKER_02: underlying fabric of the Beltline community. We believe that community and business have a
[07:23] SPEAKER_02: cognizant that as the out front people in this new industry within our city, we're stewards and
[07:32] SPEAKER_02: we take that role seriously. So it's extremely important that we do contribute back to the community
[07:41] SPEAKER_02: and also provide a service that we think people really want.
[07:46] SPEAKER_01: Tell me a little bit about the biggest challenges, I guess you're faced in setting up the cannabis
[07:53] SPEAKER_02: operation. That I could sigh for a long time. It was the fastest run down the street I have had in my
[08:05] SPEAKER_02: career and every day I would wake up and I'm a list person. So every day I would have no less
[08:13] SPEAKER_02: than probably 80 task items to get done when yesterday. So this went on for about eight months
[08:24] SPEAKER_02: from the time that we actually committed to making this a reality to actually opening the doors
[08:31] SPEAKER_02: and that stress level was palpable. I certainly credit the people around me to making it happen
[08:40] SPEAKER_01: with me. So when you look back in hindsight and what you know now, you know what you know now,
[08:47] SPEAKER_02: how can that have helped you at the beginning? I don't really think that there was too much that I
[08:54] SPEAKER_02: know now that could have helped me more than follow your nose. So having already experienced
[09:04] SPEAKER_02: various businesses, I was well prepared in terms of file setup, in terms of all of the moving
[09:12] SPEAKER_02: parts that go into any business, not just this business, but you've got legal, you've got insurance,
[09:19] SPEAKER_02: you've got administration, you've got printing, you've got promotion, you've got people, you've got
[09:25] SPEAKER_02: product, you've got systems, computers, rent, city items, licensing, governmental relations,
[09:35] SPEAKER_02: you have media relations, there are a hundred different roads involved in not just cannabis,
[09:45] SPEAKER_01: any business. As an entrepreneur, what's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
[09:51] SPEAKER_02: The best piece of advice that I have ever received was very simple. Opportunity reveals itself
[09:59] SPEAKER_02: at the time that you least expect. So while you might have fear and worry and all of those negative
[10:09] SPEAKER_02: things that sit happily on one shoulder, while optimism sits on the other shoulder, it is a constant
[10:18] SPEAKER_02: battle between the two of them to understand that you are good enough. You can do this and people
[10:26] SPEAKER_02: will pay attention. You just have to have the muster to make them listen.
[10:34] SPEAKER_01: Ask you a couple of personal type questions. What's on top of your bucket list these days?
[10:40] SPEAKER_02: Well, right now I will be going down to California to do some personal development
[10:45] SPEAKER_02: through the Hoffman Institute and the Hoffman Institute is a world-renowned organization that is
[10:54] SPEAKER_02: based in mindful work. Much of what is happening and the movement in terms of mental wellness and
[11:02] SPEAKER_02: terms of balance is about being mindful. And that mindfulness provides an elevated level of you
[11:11] SPEAKER_02: can do it. You can do it. You need to be the promoter of who, of yourself. And you're the most
[11:19] SPEAKER_02: important advocate of what you're doing. So for me, I'm going down to do the Hoffman called
[11:27] SPEAKER_02: a Q2 down in Southern California and I attended the Hoffman here. I can't speak highly enough
[11:34] SPEAKER_02: for this. Not just for people with significant issues. This is about people that have,
[11:41] SPEAKER_02: if you're a workaholic as MI. So my issue is about balance. How do you find that niche
[11:48] SPEAKER_02: where family is good, work is good, and you're good? And let's not forget about the you're good.
[11:57] SPEAKER_02: So for me, mindful behavior every day when I wake up helps me.
[12:02] SPEAKER_01: If you were doing what you're doing now, what kind of a career profession do you think you'd like
[12:09] SPEAKER_02: to do? Well, a couple of things. First, doing what I'm doing now is a million-dollar question,
[12:15] SPEAKER_02: because right now I've got about four projects on the go. If I wasn't doing what I'm doing now,
[12:25] SPEAKER_02: people have asked me about running for mayor, which is a consideration. People have asked me
[12:32] SPEAKER_02: about doing speaking to assist others in seeking their vision. I think that those are two areas
[12:39] SPEAKER_02: that are important to me, mental wellness, addiction, I give back those are items where I get
[12:47] SPEAKER_02: passionate about that. And I think that with belt line, I will be afforded that opportunity.
[12:54] SPEAKER_02: It will show itself to me. And then I'll take that road. But remember, opportunity reveals itself
[13:01] SPEAKER_02: at the time that you least expect. So you need to be paying attention. Because when it happens,
[13:07] SPEAKER_01: you don't even know that it's there. What book are you reading right now?
[13:12] SPEAKER_02: The most recent book that I read was called The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. And it is a book
[13:20] SPEAKER_02: which identifies Dan Millman, who was part of the Olympic US team. And he suffered some extreme
[13:32] SPEAKER_02: tragedy. Ultimately, the book is about ego and how to manage through ego. And what happens if
[13:43] SPEAKER_02: what happens as an example in his life when he was going bigger, harder, stronger, faster and ran
[13:50] SPEAKER_02: his motorcycle into the ground and ended up crushing his leg. He's a gymnast. He fought back.
[13:58] SPEAKER_02: He fought back without his ego. So things became a lot more difficult for him. And he still made
[14:05] SPEAKER_02: the Olympic team. It was difficult, but not insurmountable. What I would suggest to people in terms
[14:12] SPEAKER_02: of what I've taken away from that is that when you can manage through that negative nally sitting on
[14:20] SPEAKER_02: that shoulder, I'm not good enough. I can't do this. Why would I? I'm too old. I don't have
[14:28] SPEAKER_02: enough money. If you can manage through those things, then anything is possible.
[14:35] SPEAKER_01: If you had one word to describe yourself, what would it be and why?
[14:41] SPEAKER_02: The first word that comes to mind is colorful. Colorful is an easy word because there's so many
[14:49] SPEAKER_02: different connotations towards colorful. You can be colorful in business. You can be colorful creatively.
[14:56] SPEAKER_02: You can be colorful speaking. For me, color is what drives me every day. So depending on what
[15:03] SPEAKER_02: that hour is or that afternoon or that morning is, it's about being passionate and colorful in
[15:11] SPEAKER_01: what you're doing. Is there anything that keeps you up these days concerned about? Well,
[15:18] SPEAKER_02: my main concern is our city. And I thought about this one long and hard. And leadership is
[15:26] SPEAKER_02: something that I'm also extremely passionate about. And leadership is never easy, but it is less
[15:33] SPEAKER_02: taxing in a positive environment. But real leaders, not real leaders, colorful leaders, show their
[15:43] SPEAKER_02: colors when times are very difficult. And I would suggest you, Mario, Calcari since Barry commercial
[15:53] SPEAKER_02: started in the end of 07. We have had, let's say, half of those last 13 years in economic turmoil.
[16:03] SPEAKER_02: And in that time, you will note that leaders rise to the top in tough times. So what we're seeing now
[16:13] SPEAKER_02: is we are seeing the tsunami wave from our city council, marred with what we experienced for four
[16:22] SPEAKER_02: years with our provincial governments, and then further through our federal stewardship. So I see
[16:30] SPEAKER_02: that as probably the most single critical issue facing business today. It's trickled down. We
[16:42] SPEAKER_02: get upset that there have to spend more money. Therefore businesses don't hire people. Then what
[16:48] SPEAKER_02: happens? People get laid off. Then what happens? They can't pay their taxes. Then what happens?
[16:52] SPEAKER_02: They close their doors. So this is a bad cycle that we're in right now. And ultimately, what I see,
[16:59] SPEAKER_02: and I have not seen in any of the media, is where the heck are the budgets being cut?
[17:06] SPEAKER_02: Okay, because with the advent of computers, with the advent of artificial intelligence,
[17:12] SPEAKER_02: our operating expenses are supposed to be going down. And that is not happening.
[17:18] SPEAKER_02: What I found was super interesting when I started business was that if I had an employee,
[17:26] SPEAKER_02: I would be okay with that employee. Sure, that employee is doing a decent job.
[17:33] SPEAKER_02: But I don't have the resources to just have average people. Calgary shouldn't lower the bar to that.
[17:42] SPEAKER_02: What we have to do is elevate our efficiencies. So I understand that no one wants to have the fear
[17:49] SPEAKER_02: of layoff, but hey, we are capitalists. We have been on the receiving end of layoffs for effectively
[17:55] SPEAKER_02: the last six of 13 years that I have had very commercial. Now, fortunately, I have a situation
[18:02] SPEAKER_02: where I can hire people where we do see some growth. Lucky me, isn't that fortunate? But what we're
[18:09] SPEAKER_02: seeing is an imbalance between government and capitalism. And that imbalance will only have a
[18:19] SPEAKER_02: wider gap as we move forward if we don't take. And I hate to say it at this point in time,
[18:25] SPEAKER_01: drastic action. Where creatures of routine, do you have a specific routine that you follow every day?
[18:34] SPEAKER_02: I have done a great deal of studies in improvisation, in public speaking. And one of the courses
[18:43] SPEAKER_02: that I took, which was the forefather of improvisation, was a fellow by the name of Keith Johnstomp,
[18:48] SPEAKER_02: right from here in Calgary. And that was back when I was 17 years old. And through the teachings
[18:55] SPEAKER_02: of Keith Johnstomp and improvisation, I try to keep things fresh. You are taught to accept
[19:04] SPEAKER_02: what is given to you. As an example, when you see improv and you see Eugene Levy and
[19:10] SPEAKER_02: and some of his interactions, then suddenly he is forced to have a peg leg in front of an audience.
[19:18] SPEAKER_02: You are not allowed to not accept what is given to you. So from a very early age, I was taught to
[19:26] SPEAKER_02: understand that things are going to change and that you need to adapt. So I am a very unique person
[19:33] SPEAKER_02: in terms of adaptability. So I don't need to know what's around the next corner, like as an example
[19:39] SPEAKER_02: for this interview. In media, generally speaking, you would prepare. In this case, I actually didn't
[19:47] SPEAKER_02: prepare because it gave me a jazz this morning when I woke up thinking, how am I going to answer
[19:54] SPEAKER_01: these questions? Here's one that you'll probably not expecting. Tell me something that people don't
[20:02] SPEAKER_02: know about you. People don't know that I am the granddaughter of an Irish immigrant. So my
[20:09] SPEAKER_02: grandfather came over here and people don't know that I am the youngest of five daughters.
[20:18] SPEAKER_02: And all of my sisters are entrepreneurs as well. So quite unique, all very successful in their
[20:25] SPEAKER_02: own given industry, but all entrepreneurs. So I don't know if it was the water in our house or
[20:31] SPEAKER_02: the powdered milk or the margarine or the well-abal Some shampoo that was put into the well-abal Some
[20:38] SPEAKER_02: container from the no name. We grew up extremely humbly. We grew up in downtown Toronto. I like to
[20:46] SPEAKER_02: say we had a nice house, but no heat. So very, very humble beginnings. So what you see, which is easy
[20:55] SPEAKER_02: for people to turn around and go, oh, look at that. It was probably your folks by far, not my folks.
[21:03] SPEAKER_02: Not at all. Just humble, humble beginnings.
[21:07] SPEAKER_01: I can ask you kind of an odd question here. So imagine that we drop you off at some tropical
[21:14] SPEAKER_01: island where there's no, there's no kind of electronic stuff. So no Wi-Fi and no ability to grab the
[21:23] SPEAKER_01: internet or anything like that, except there's one foam booth there. Now we're going to leave you there
[21:28] SPEAKER_01: on the island. You can make one phone call to us to come and get you. How long do you think you
[21:36] SPEAKER_01: would last there on the island and before you make that phone call? And what do you think you'd be doing
[21:42] SPEAKER_02: on the island while you're there? Well, I don't have a TV. I don't watch TV. I guess I would stay
[21:51] SPEAKER_02: probably as long as the people on Survivor would stay because who needs to not lose a couple of
[21:57] SPEAKER_02: pounds for sure. As far as on the telephone, those that know me, while I had a phone glued to my
[22:06] SPEAKER_02: ear for 28 years, those that know me now know that I actually veer away from the phone.
[22:13] SPEAKER_02: So I'm not a good candidate on the phone. So I would probably have an adverse reaction if I
[22:20] SPEAKER_02: saw a phone booth. And how long do you think it'll last? 40 days and 49 days.
[22:25] SPEAKER_01: Alrighty. Is there anything you'd like to add Karen before you leave us today?
[22:31] SPEAKER_02: I just wanted to say thank you, Mario. Thank you to you and your organization. I want to say I have,
[22:38] SPEAKER_02: again, turned the tables on this. I have watched your career for a very long time. And again, in the
[22:47] SPEAKER_02: advent of media and content, you and your team are out front. Thank you.
[22:54] SPEAKER_01: Thank you for that, Karen. Thanks for joining us today.
[22:58] SPEAKER_00: Hey there. Thanks for taking the time today to listen to Calgary's podcast on Canada's podcast
[23:04] SPEAKER_00: network. We hope you enjoyed the show today. Make sure you sign up for our newsletters and write a
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[23:25] SPEAKER_00: See you next time.
