[For-Profit Companies] [Non-Profit Organizations] [Pro Bono Work]
[As You Were Saying...] [Spark in the News]

At Spark we take great pride in the exciting work that we do and the wonderful people and organizations that we work with. Here's a brief sample of our clients.

Non-Profit Organizations

Dalai Lama Centre, Sierra Youth Coalition, Northern Society for Domestic Peace, Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and some specific examples of our work are:

Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR)

Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR) is a membership organisation of Canadian businesses committed to developing and sharing expertise in socially responsible business practices.

Spark has lead and delivered most of CBSR's consulting projects during the start-up of CBSR's consulting arm

• Green Venture Forum - In October 2001, Spark organised and managed the Green Venture Forum, a one-day event designed to bring together green business owners, entrepreneurs, investors and advisors. The first of its kind in BC, the event was an enormous success with a sold-out audience and an information-packed day, featuring several prominent presenters and panellists from the green business and investor community.

• Good Company Guidelines for Corporate Social Performance - In the winter of 2001, Spark led the process of revising CBSR's Good Company Guidelines for Corporate Social Performance. These guidelines provide companies with a framework for implementing socially and environmentally responsible initiatives. The guidelines provide ideas for practices that companies can implement and a quick self-assessment tool to determine what stage your company is at within the environmental and social arenas. Visit the CBSR website for an on-line version.

• Report: Socially and Environmentally Responsible Business Practices in British Columbia: Opportunities and Realities - In the winter of 2001, Spark interviewed 25 British Columbian companies who are interested in or actively practicing socially and environmentally responsible business. In our research we investigated what motivated these companies to adopt socially and environmentally responsible practices, what obstacles they have encountered, and what support they require to take their company's social and environmental responsibility to the next level. Click here for an executive summary of our findings.

• Report: Government and Corporate Social Responsibility - An overview of selected Canadian, European and International Practices - In the winter of 2001, Spark worked together with Pacha Partnerships to research and report on governments' support and encouragement of corporate social responsibility in select Canadian, European and International governing bodies.

• Greening Your Small Business brochure and website - In the fall of 2000, Spark researched, wrote and produced a paper brochure and website with processes, tips and resources for BC's Green Economy Secretariat and the Ministry of Small Business, Culture and Tourism. This project was completed in an extremely small timeframe (2 weeks) and exceeded client expectations.

• BC Green Pages - Spark led the process of gaining stakeholder support and involvement in the creation of a Green Pages directory for BC consumers. This included the facilitation of four focus groups with over 60 participants and the creation of on-line survey questionnaires with over 100 respondents. This information was concisely summarised in order to determine the priorities for moving forward.
  
  

The Sierra Club of BC (SCBC) - Outcome-based planning and evaluations

The Sierra Club of BC (SCBC) is an organisation committed to protecting BC's wild lands and wild life. They provide responsible grassroots action, a voice backed by credible information, and serve as an environmental watchdog of industry and government.

SCBC is one of three organisations participating in a pilot project hosted by the Wilburforce Foundation in Seattle to create a methodology and tools for outcome-based planning and evaluations in environmental non-governmental organisations. Spark has been working closely with the Sierra Club to develop their planning and evaluation methodology and to evaluate the effectiveness of three of their core programs and campaigns (the Education Program, the Coast Campaign, and the Marine Campaign).



The Gaia Project

The The GAIA Project is a joint project between the Sierra Club of BC and the Salvadoran Centre for Appropriate Technology (CESTA). Both organisations share common environmental and developmental goals and have, since 1991, fostered a unique partnership. Their long-term vision is to link people in the North with people in the South by supporting practical, hands-on solutions to local environmental problems. This is being achieved through the promotion, development, education and support of appropriate technologies and models for sustainable living.

Spark has worked on behalf of The Gaia Project in the following projects:

• Volunteer Coordinators' Retreat - In June 2001, Spark facilitated a two-day retreat for The Gaia Project's Volunteer Mentorship Program. Volunteer Coordinators from four participating organisations(Lifecycles; the Victoria Compost Education Centre; Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary; and Capital Regional District Parks) attended the retreat to share experiences and fine tune each other's volunteer programs. In the coming months, these coordinators will be mentoring environmental non-governmental organisations in rural areas as they develop volunteer programs of their own.

• Sustainable Business Workshop - In May 2001, Spark developed and led a two-day train-the-trainer style workshop on the principles and practices of sustainable business. The Gaia Project's summer interns delivered an introductory workshop on Sustainable Business in communities across BC as they toured through the province in the Sustainable Living Bus.
  
  

The Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS) - Sales growth, staff effectiveness, systems support, and strategic planning

IMPACS is a young and dynamic registered Canadian charity, filling an important niche in civil society. They work to strengthen communications between not-for-profit organisations, government and the media, both in Canada and internationally. They are the only public relations team committed exclusively to increasing the profile of Canadian not-for-profits.

Spark is currently working with IMPACS' Communications Centre to assist them in moving their successful organisation to the next level. They want to increase their profits, delight their clients, and support each other as a team. Spark assisted them by providing visioning exercises, sales templates, financial modelling tools, strategic planning, and project management support.


Café Etico (a project of Co-Development Canada) - Sales and financial measurement, support systems and tracking

Café Etico, a project of Co-Development Canada, is a fair trade organic coffee supplier and distributor.

Café Etico wanted to double their sales so Spark worked with them on their financial modeling to create profit and sales targets. We provided one-on-one coaching and sales tools to help them create a sales plan and reach their targets. We are pleased to say they are continually increasing their sales.



Northwest Environment Watch BC (NEW BC) - Systems training and inventory management

Northwest Environment Watch BC (NEW BC) is a non-profit charitable organisation in Victoria committed to building an economically dynamic, ecologically sound, and socially just model of how to live in British Columbia. Founded in 1998 and officially incorporated in 1999, their goal is to inform media, educators, policy makers, business leaders, activists, and the general public about market-based solutions to pressing environmental crises in BC.

Spark trained one of NEW BC's key staff in MS Office programs and developed an easy-to-use inventory management process in Excel for keeping track of their publications.


Callanish Healing Retreats - Strategic planning and staff effectiveness

Callanish Healing Retreats is an organisation that hosts five-day retreats for people with life threatening cancer to provide them time to be cared for deeply. Visitors explore how they want to approach this massive challenge by talking to others with cancer, by doing personal work, and with the support team who are part of the retreat. It is modeled after Commonweal in the US and is the only program of its kind in Canada.

In its set-up stage, Spark facilitated a spiritual and pragmatic planning session with Callanish's team (doctor, nurse, nutritionists, yoga instructor) to create their three-year plan. Spark then worked with them to create an action plan, a financial plan, and a strategic plan for the Executive Director. They are now a thriving non-profit lovingly supporting those with cancer.

For-Profit Companies

VanCity (Green Loan research and presales, CSR division), Ethics in Action Winner Creative Wonders, Karyo Communications, VanCity, Gallery Cafe, Home Hardware (Half Moon Bay) and some specific examples of our work are:
 

• Taylor Munro Energy Systems - Financial modelling and strategic planning

  Taylor Munro Energy Systems is a renewable energy company dedicated to providing high quality sustainable energy solutions. Their work is focused on solar water heating applications such as domestic hot water, swimming pools, and commercial water heating.

  Spark is currently working with Taylor Munro to increase sales and profits and to improve staff satisfaction levels through financial modelling and strategic planning.
   

• Ideaca - Values articulation and social and environmental practices

  Ideaca is a business incubator and e-business consulting firm based in Calgary, Alberta, and Toronto, Ontario. This rapidly growing company is a professional services company providing assistance for businesses to identify, understand, and exploit the myriad of opportunities available in the digital economy.

  Spark worked with Ideaca in its early phases to articulate its values and help the company build those values into the core of its business through innovative social and environmental practices. We facilitated a workshop in which key employees reviewed real models of social and environmental innovation in Canadian businesses and customized their own program based on these case studies.
   

• Maverick Real Estate Corporation - Business planning and progress measurement, staff effectiveness

  Maverick Real Estate Corporation is a leader in urban real estate project marketing. It specializes in the contract sales and marketing of multi-unit real estate projects to individual unit home-owners and investors.

  Spark facilitated Maverick's strategic planning sessions to define its one-year goals and created an action plan for realizing those goals. We then supported Maverick's team with the implementation of this plan and worked closely with members of its team to improve overall staff performance and satisfaction.
   

• SHL System House - Sales growth

  SHL Systemhouse is one of the largest management consulting and computer companies in Canada. It sells its services and products to executives and senior managers. The 23 sales staff all have quotas of several million dollars a year.

  SHL Systemhouse hired Spark (under its previous name, Bradshaw and Associates) to assist them in growing their sales by 30% in one year and increasing their overall profitability. This included adjusting their lines of business and setting up a sales process that all of the sales staff agreed to. It also involved coaching sales staff in their strategic approach to clients. SHL Systemhouse successfully hit their targets that year.
   

• Communicopia.Net - Strategic and tactical planning, financial modeling, and staff effectiveness

  Communicopia.Net is a professional internet services firm that builds Websites that Matter for businesses, foundations, and non-profits across North America. Based in Vancouver, BC, they have been providing creative design, application development, and strategic consulting services to organisations large and small for over eight years.

  Spark worked with the partners to identify the direction they wanted to take their company and what roles they each could best play in moving their company in that direction. Spark assisted them in implementing their vision. This work included facilitating their company's one-year planning session and creating quarterly plans that mapped into their staff performance plans. Spark worked on financial modeling to assist them in setting targets to meet their goals. In addition, Spark provided staff management options and assisted them in the staff's performance management reviews and development of their choice.
   

• The ReSource Group - Systems development and company start-up

  The ReSource Group is a green building consulting firm that provides expertise and information to support the creation of healthy and environmentally-friendly buildings.

  Spark worked with ReSource to create its sales and marketing approach and tools, its project methodology, and the templates to support its project implementations, which were used in launching this successful new business.
   

• Style Box - Sales growth and staff effectiveness

  Style Box is a socially and environmentally friendly clothing designer and retailer based in Vancouver, BC. It designs clothes that are flattering for all female shapes, that use environmentally friendly materials and dyes, and that are manufactured here in Canada in carefully-screened facilities.

  Spark worked with Style Box to increase its sales and the effectiveness of its retail team by developing a customised sales approach and toolkit, and creating a staff support system that encouraged employee retention and growth.

• OmniLogic, PriceWaterhouse Coopers - Sales growth and business case

  OmniLogic/PriceWaterhouse Coopers contracted business with Spark (under its previous name, Bradshaw and Associates) to lead its business development for Western Canada. Spark grew OmniLogic's training group from $150,000 to $1 million in sales, growing the profitability of their training program by four times. Spark was also responsible for the $12 million BC Rail project by making the sale, creating the executive steering committee course, preparing the business case, and tracking the benefits on behalf of OmniLogic and PriceWaterhouse Coopers.
   

• Primary research - Successful social and environmental entrepreneurs

  In the summer and fall of 2000, Spark interviewed leaders in social and environmental responsibility about what it takes to be profitable while implementing innovative social and environmental practices. Businesses interviewed include: Working Assets, White Dog Café, Renewal Partners, Vermont Bread Company, The Cooperative Bank, Wild Planet Toys, Alice's Restaurant, Citizen's Bank of Canada, and Business for Social Responsibility.
   

Pro Bono Work

Markets Initiative - Greening the Supply Chain Workshop

The Markets Initiative is dedicated to finding practical solutions to preserve the world's ancient forests. A coalition project of three environmental organisations (Friends of Clayoquot Sound, Greenpeace Canada and Sierra Club of BC), they work with Canadian companies to reduce their consumption of ancient forest products. By doing so, the Markets Initiative is helping to stimulate a growing market for environmentally sound paper and wood alternatives within Canada.

In the winter of 2001, Spark donated its time to coordinate a workshop called "Greening the Supply Chain: Eco-friendly wood and paper purchasing for your company" in Toronto. The workshop was a forum and working session for businesses implementing environmentally sound wood and paper purchasing policies. Nineteen companies joined us in February 2001 to benefit from the first-hand experience of other Markets Initiative signatories and to learn about how to implement wood and paper purchasing policies in their organisations.



Friends of Clayoquot Sound (FOCS) - Strategic Planning

Friends of Clayoquot Sound (FOCS) is a grassroots organisation whose mission is to be peaceful and courageous advocates for the protection and defence of the ancient forest, fish and wildlife, air, land and water of Clayoquot Sound.

In January, 2001, Spark facilitated a one-day strategic planning session for FOCS. As part of this facilitation, Spark provided tools for FOCS to manage the implementation of their strategic plan.



Lunapads International Products Ltd - The Keeper FAQs for website

Lunapads International manufactures Canada's best-selling brand of washable menstrual pads, and sells other related products such as The Keeper reusable menstrual cup.

In November, 2001, Spark wrote the FAQs on The Keeper for Lunapads' website.

As you were saying...

"Spark Strategies is an innovative management consulting team. They have consistently provided us with unique and useful tools and expertise and continue to exceed our expectations." -- Adine Mees, Executive Director, Canadian Business for Social Responsibility

"Spark Strategies was a critical business partner during a very important period of Communicopia.Net's growth, transforming a small, youthful shop into a serious, professional services firm. Spark was a source of many creative ideas, positive energy, and best of all they brought a lot of fun to the workplace and were a joy to work with."
-- Jason Mogus, President, Communicopia.Net

"Spark Strategies is a gem! We were very pleased with their exceptional service and thoughtful attitude." -- Shelley Vandenburg, Sustainable Living Bus Coordinator, The Gaia Project

"We loved working with Nancy and Margaret at Spark. Not only did Spark fit seamlessly into the Maverick Team, they sure got us motivated. Their ability to cut through to the core of issues and design and strategize a plan of attack was instrumental in creating a better Maverick. Was the relationship beneficial? Unequivocally! Of course we'll be working with Spark again." -- Cathy Grant, Vice President, Maverick Real Estate Corporation

"Spark Strategies led our strategic planning this year, helping us to improve our internal processes and client services. Spark offers insight with compassion, providing ideas for strategic vision as well as tactical assistance for us to realize that vision." -- Joe Thwaites, President and Founder, Taylor Munro Energy Systems

"We would never have focused our energies and thoughts into being more effective without Spark's commitment and knowledge of strategic planning." -- Bill Wareham, Executive Director, Sierra Club of BC

"Spark Strategies has provided important change management support, advice and tools to IMPACS Communications Centre in recent months. Skills, however, are only part of what Spark brings: we also chose Spark for its commitment to social responsibility and ethical practices. Spark has given us templates, processes and systems that support the business of being a successful not-for-profit - from financial analysis and tracking systems to performance planning and project forecasting. We are delighted to see new successes daily, successes we know are rooted in the support, tools and advice we got from Spark." -- Catherine Ludgate, Director, Communications Centre the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society

"Spark's staff performance approach was key to transforming my business, empowering my team to take more of a leadership role and enabling me to step back from the day-to-day tasks of running the store. As a result, it has allowed me to focus on and expand other areas of my business, and the retail component is running smoothly without me." -- Dinny Lansdowne, Owner and President, Style Box Clothing Company

"Spark Strategies worked with us at Café Ético to develop a comprehensive plan that included Board planning, strategies for marketing our product, and staff training. For us as a non-profit with little experience in sales or marketing, Spark was superb to work with - they listened carefully to our concerns and needs, and they helped us every step of the way. Our experience working with Spark was excellent; it enabled us to reach the next level of development for our small business." -- Barbara Wood, Café Ético, Co-Development Canada

"In our experience, Spark was very professional - they always delivered on time, they were very clear in their communication, and they exceeded our expectations in terms of the value they provided. In addition to the creation of new systems, we benefited from the depth of business experience Spark has to offer and their creativity in finding solutions to our unique challenges. What stands out about our experience with Spark is that they were as committed to the success of our business as we are." -- Heather Tremain, CEO, The Resource Group

Spark in the News

In October, 2000, the BC Business article, "A kinder gentler e-business," featured Nancy and proves the link between compassion and good business.

Ethics in Action awarded Nancy for Individual Ongoing Social Responsibility in June, 2000 for her pioneering role in corporate social responsibility in BC.

Contact us to get more references or to learn what we can do for your organisation.