Klondike business people and potential entrepreneurs will identify their own opportunities to change, expand or deliver new goods and services from the data in our household and business survey research reports.
The following is a first-cut listing of potential venture opportunities developed from that research in 2011. In some cases such as local foods, businesses are already in these markets but there is evidence that demand outstrips supply, availability could be improved or providers currently come in from outside. In other cases, they may not be feasible as stand-alone businesses and some may require unconventional social enterprise models such as co-operatives. Nonetheless, each represents potential to capture outside spending and deliver local services that will raise quality of life in the Klondike and generate improved employment opportunities.
We are pleased that since 2011, local innovators have already responded and are delivering on a number of these ventures. Where possible we have provided details.
In no particular order:
• Housing development and rehabilitation including, but not limited to:
o Land development
o Rental and home ownership development (Low Impact Development)
o Seasonal accommodations
o Heritage building rehabilitation
o Auxiliary services related to facilitating housing projects (Across The River Consulting)
• Recreation services including, but not limited to:
o Trail development, maintenance and management
o Fitness facilities, equipment and coaching/training
o Pre-school programming
o Indoor space rentals
• Outside bulk order expediting – freight, warehousing, distribution and administration
• Locally produced Arts and Crafts
• Year-round restaurants including full-service coffee shop
• Transportation links including, but not limited to:
o Dawson airport shuttle (Husky Bus)
o Whitehorse bus (Husky Bus)
o Car rental
o River barging
• Miscellaneous service categories including, but not limited to:
o Health services (dentist, physiotherapy etc.)
o Financial services (insurance etc.)
o Professional services (accountancy, law, etc.)
o Bookkeeping
o Website development and maintenance
o Tradespeople (electrical etc.)
o Gardening
o Hairstyling
o Small engine repairs
o Environmental clean-up
o Specialized recycling
o Special events management and tour planning
o Value-added food services such as sausage manufacture
o Large-scale printing (Atlas Expediting)
o Animal boarding (Red Canoe Dog Motel and Humane Society Dawson)
o Pet food distribution
o Downtown laundromat
o Computer repair
o Chimney sweeping
o Mini-storage (BHB Storage 993-5526)
o Meeting room rentals
o Sound equipment rentals
• Miscellaneous retail product categories including, but not limited to:
o Environment-friendly products
o Organic and health foods
o Local foods
o Landscaping materials (flowers etc.)
o Clothing (Klondike Drawing Company)
o Art, craft and music supplies
o Furniture, toys and electronics
Please contact Mark Wickham or Evelyn Pollock at our office for further information
