Just Good Business 🍁

Discover how Canadians are embracing domestic tourism more than ever before! In this insightful episode, Al sits down with Sean McCormick, VP of Business Development at Moneris Data Services, to discuss his findings.  Learn about the reasons behind the increased focus on local travel, how the exchange rate and political factors are influencing travel decisions, and get a sneak peek into the upcoming Elevate Festival in Toronto.Whether you're in the tourism industry or just curious about travel trends, this episode is packed with valuable information you won't want to miss!Also in this episode:Amanda Ibrahim, Senior Events & Sponsorship Specialist at Moneris talks about the upcoming Elevate FestivalLinks of Interest:Moneris Data ServicesAngus Reid InstituteElevate Festival  Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Canada’s economy has had a wild ride this year—but is it as bad as it seems?In our latest episode, BMO Chief Economist Douglas Porter returns to break down the numbers behind the headlines. From inflation and interest rates to the surprising strength of domestic tourism, Porter shares insights that every small business owner should hear.💡 Why hasn’t Canada hit a recession?📉 What economic myths are holding entrepreneurs back?🌍 How are demographic shifts reshaping business creation?Whether you're navigating uncertainty or planning your next move, this episode offers practical takeaways and a fresh perspective on Canada’s economic outlook.👉 Listen now and find out why the current climate might be more manageable than you think.Links of Interest• BMO Economics  Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

With the average age of business owners at 58 and many lacking succession plans, Canadian small businesses are facing climbing rates of closure. Al is joined by Dr. Sarah Burrows, Assistant Professor at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business, to discuss the growing concern of succession planning in Canadian small businesses.Dr. Burrows discusses the "Silver Tsunami" and the impact of changing tax laws on family-owned businesses.Explore innovative solutions like Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) for sustainable business transitions and learn how local businesses can adapt amidst economic uncertainties.If you’re a business owner who hasn’t thought about succession planning, start listening!Also in this episode:Kerry Smith, National Leader, Famiy Office Services at MNP talks about succession planningAreen Pabla, Sales & Marketing Intern at Moneris reviews July’s calendar of eventsLinks of InterestDr. Sarah Burrows on LinkedINSmith School of BusinessQueen’s UniversityFamily Enterprise CanadaFamily Firm InstituteBusiness Development Bank of CanadaMNP Family Office ServicesSoulFestCanadian Food Truck Festivals  Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

This month, Al is joined by Jeff Calderwood, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), to discuss the economic impact of golf in Canada and how the industry reflects this year’s tourism trends. Jeff also delves into how golf courses are adapting to changes in travel due to tariffs and the various programs and services offered by the NGCOA to support its members.Also in this episode:Lynne Dubuc, Director of Events at Elevate talks about Toronto Tech WeekSean McCormick, VP of Business Development at Moneris Data Services talks about consumer spending during round 2 of the NHL PlayoffsLinks of InterestNational Golf Course Owners Association CanadaTake A Kid To The CourseToronto Tech WeekElevateMoneris Data Services Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Al welcomes Douglas Porter, Chief Economist at the Bank of Montreal, to the podcast to discuss Canada’s current economic landscape. They delve into topics such as Canada's economic performance in the first quarter of 2025 and the effects of trade wars with the U.S. on Canadian businesses and consumers. Porter shares valuable advice for small business owners and entrepreneurs navigating this uncertain economic climate. He also offers his perspectives on the 'Buy Canadian' movement and inter-provincial trade barriers, and what they could mean for the economy. To lighten the mood, Sean McCormick, VP of Business Development at Moneris Data Services, joins Al to share early consumer spending data from this year’s NHL Playoffs.Links of Interest:BMO EconomicsMoneris Data Services  Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Rising costs, labour shortages, sustainability, and yes, tariffs, these are just a few of the challenges facing the food service industry in Canada. What is being done about it? Al sits down with Max Roy, VP of Federal and Quebec at Restaurants Canada to talk about it.Also, we all know how important trust is in business, but how do you measure trust? Bruce MacLellan, Chair at Proof Strategies has been measuring trust in Canada for the past decade and each year they release the Cantrust Index to share their findings. Al speaks with Bruce about their findings.Links of Interest:Restaurants CanadaRC Show 2025Proof StrategiesCanTrust IndexMoneris’ ESG Report  Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

It’s March, and the #1 topic on the minds of most Canadians is tariffs. How will this affect purchasing decisions moving forward? Al welcomes Gary Sands, Senior VP @ Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) to the podcast. They talk about how independent Canadian grocers are already preparing for the imminent tariffs and what this could mean for consumers.March is also Fraud Prevention Month. Al chats with Amisha Parikh, VP Security Solutions @ Mastercard. They talk about Mastercard’s latest research on the impact of fraud on Canadian’s financial health.Also This Episode:David Litwin, Manager, External Communications at Moneris with insight and advice about Fraud Prevention Month.Links of Interest:Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG)Mastercard Trust CentreCybersecurity Assessment ToolFraud Prevention ToolsWhat The Fraud : Fraud Prevention Resources Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

This month, Al welcomes back Sean McCormick, VP Business Development at Moneris Data Services to talk about consumer spending data in the first half of the tax holiday in Canada.Was it worth it for Canadians? Obviously every bit of savings helps. But what about Canadian Businesses? Did it change anyone’s shopping behaviour?Listen now to find out.Also This Episode:Daniel Stranges, Senior Events & Sponsorships Specialist at Moneris with a look at February’s Events CalendarLinks of Interest:Moneris Data ServicesSecond Harvest Sweepstakes Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

In the first episode of 2025, Allan welcomes back Sean McCormick, VP of Business Development at Moneris' Data Services, to discuss holiday spending trends from 2024 and their implications for 2025. They touch on the significance of Black Friday sales, regional differences in consumer spending, and predictions for economic recovery. Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

In this episode, Kate Horton, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada (RMHC), pays Al a visit to discuss the organization's mission to support families with critically ill children. She shares insights into the history and impact of RMHC, including the challenges faced by families and their need for support.Kate also highlights heartwarming stories of families helped by RMHC and details ongoing campaigns and ways small businesses can contribute.Also in this episode:Sean McCormick, VP Business Development at Moneris talks Taylor Swift numbers.Amanda Ibrahim, Senior Events & Sponsorship Specialist at Moneris.Links of Interest:Ronald McDonald House Charities CanadaMoneris Data Services Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

One of the victims of moving to a more cashless society in the past has been charitable organizations that rely on people’s generosity during in-person donation opportunities. There are many people who simply just don’t like carrying cash with them.For the past few years, we’ve been following the progress of Canadian startup tiptap as they’ve grown from a conversation-starting curiosity, to a fixture on many national charitable campaigns, and not-for-profit institutions.Al has a sit-down with tiptap Director of Sales Mark Jordan to talk about a couple of these national campaigns The Poppy Campaign and The Red Kettle Campaign to learn how tip tap has helped them bridge the cashless gap.Also in this episode:Neal Isaac, Managing Director, Open Banking & Payments at ATB is our expert on open bankingSean McCormick, VP Business Development at Moneris Data Services shares consumer spending data.Links of Interest:Atb.comOpen Finance Network of CanadaFintechs CanadaCanadian Chamber of CommerceBudget 2024: Canada’s Consumer-Driven Banking Frameworktiptappay.comMark@TipTapPay.com  Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Over the past few months we’ve talked a lot about grants and programs, both from the government and corporations, but how do you apply for these grants?This month, Al speaks with “Grant Angel” Stephanie Sang, Founder at Granted Consulting. As her nickname implies, Stephanie knows all about grants and shares her expertise with us.  Also in this episode:Sean McCormick, VP Business Development at Moneris Data Services shares consumer spending data.Ella Urquhart, Events Manager at Moneris gives a rundown of Ocober’s events calendar.Links of Interest:granted.caRonald McDonald House CanadaRMHC Great Games ChallengeSmall Business Forum Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

What came first? Your brick and mortar business or your ecommerce business? Whichever one you chose, one thing is almost certain, if you have a brick and mortar location, you most likely have a way to sell your product or service online as well. You may have noticed some challenges with keeping both channels synchronised, whether its with inventory management, scheduling, or sales. In this month’s episode Al speaks with expert Jason Grossman, Senior Product Manager at Moneris about how you can better align both those channels.Al also speaks with Mayumi Bae, Founder of The Plant Based Workshop and winner of the Visa She’s Next Grant Program. They talk about how and why she started her business and what her plans are for the grant.  Also in this episode:Sean McCormick, VP Business Development at Moneris Data Services shares consumer spending data.Matt Rovet, Senior Events Producer talks about September’s busy events calendarLinks of Interest:Moneris Total CommerceThe Plant Based WorkshopShe’s Next, Empowered By Visa2024 Elevate FestivalTrellis TransitGlow RitualCanada Fintech Forum 2024eCommerce North Innovator ChallengeToronto Oktoberfest Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

We’ve taken a look at government support for small business in Canada, but what about corporate support? Al is visited by Gerardo Welter, Vice President – Marketing & Business Insights Canada and Latin America at American Express. They talk about Amex’s Shop Small campaign, and they also share some promising trends for shopping small in Canada based on consumer shopping research.Another great event to support small business in Canada is the Elevate Festival. Al brings you on-the-scene interviews with participants from last year’s festival to give you a taste of what you can expect this year.Also in this episode:Daniel Stranges, Sr. Events & Sponsorship Specialist at Moneris cohosts.Sean McCormick, Director Business Development at Moneris shares consumer spending data.Links of Interest:Shop Small With American Express2024 Elevate FestivalAfrican Bronze HoneyAfter 9 Inc.HypeDocs  Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

As an entrepreneur in this country you may not be aware of all the help available to your business, and frankly, who has time to research? In this special bonus episode of Just Good Business we do the work for you. James Hicks, President and CEO of Moneris has a sit-down with the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Federal Minister of Small Business to talk about the state of small businesses in Canada, and some of the supports available to entrepreneurs and small business owners and where to find them.Links of Interest:Government of Canada Benefits Finder  Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Al meets with 4 members of Team Moneris. All of them have represented Canada in international competition, all of them elite athletes, and all of them are part of Moneris’ sales team.What is it about sales that attracted them to a career in sales? What is it about their pursuit of athletic excellence that makes them good sales professionals? How can you apply this knowledge to your sales process?Listen now to find out.Also in this episode:Mallory McWirtier, Sr. Social Media Specialist at Moneris cohosts.Jacqueline Tsai, Head of Client Relationships at Interac talks about Moving Day in Quebec.Sean McCormick, Director Business Development at Moneris shares consumer spending data.Teagan Hollenberg, Communications Intern at Moneris talks about July's events calendar Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

June is National Indigenous History Month and to celebrate, we’re talking about Indigenous business development in Canada. Al welcomes Hosna Kadary, National Market Leader Zero Barriers to Business at BMO to talk about the support programs available for Indigenous Entrepreneurs in Canada and to share some of their success stories.Also in this episode:Sydney Lupton, Marketing Intern at Moneris cohosts.Jessie Bell, Senior Product Manager at Moneris talks about Moneris’ latest integration with Apple Tap to Pay on iPhone.Sean McCormick, Director Business Development at Moneris shares consumer spending data around the 2024 NHL PlayoffsLinks of Interest:Building trust with Indigenous businessesSpecialty Lending: Zero Barriers to BusinessSlapshots and Spending Sprees: How the NHL Playoffs Put Canadian Cities on a Power Play Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

It’s May, and while in many parts of Canada we had a milder than usual winter, it seems Spring is taking its time getting started, but it’s here now. That means the start of tourist season.So how can your business take full advantage of this year’s tourist season? What can we expect after a few years of rising numbers out of the pandemic? Is there still room for more growth?Al welcomes Joe Passarelli from Discover Global Network to talk about what to expect from the upcoming tourist season and what advice he might have for businesses in tourist areas.Also in this episode:Niyati Budhiraja, Blog Content Specialist at Moneris cohosts.Sean McCormick, Director Business Development at Moneris shares consumer spending data around tourist season.Sydney Lupton, Digital Marketing Intern presents the final instalment of Merchant JourneyDaniel Stranges, Senior Events & Sponsorship Specialist talks about May’s events calendarLinks of Interest:Starry-Eyed Spending: The 2024 Total Eclipse doubles consumer spending in Niagara Falls and HamiltonDiscover Global NetworkDiscover SignageSaving Graze Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

This month we’re talking about the RC Show by Restaurants Canada. It’s Canada’s leading foodservice & hospitality expo. Al talks to Anna Pham, Director of Content & Programming at Restaurants Canada about what to expect at this year’s show and how you can make the most of your visit. Al is also joined by Maryam Saeed, Chief Risk Officer at Visa Canada to talk fraud prevention and what entrepreneurs can do to keep their business safe from fraudsters.Also in this episode:René-Pier Plourde, Content Marketing Manager at UEAT cohosts.Sydney Lupton, Digital Marketing Intern presents the fourth instalment of Merchant JourneyMatt Rovet, Senior Events Producer at Moneris talks about April’s busy events calendarLinks of Interest:eCommerce NorthRC ShowEcommerce Success Blueprint: Your Ultimate Guide to Marketing and ShippingUEATSaving Graze Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

This month’s episode is going to have a sport theme, but if you don’t follow sports you may want to listen anyway because it’s about how sporting events affect your business.Last month a couple of major sporting events took place. One, we cannot legally mention—it involves American football, Taylor Swift and Usher. The other big event was the NHL All-Star Weekend in Toronto.Whenever there is a bid for a large sporting event, a new sport venue, or even a new team, you’ll hear owners and politicians talk about the positive economic impact it will have on business in the area. This month we’ll share with you some real data showing that impact. Is it real? Listen to find out.Also in this episode:Sean McCormick, Director Business Development at Moneris co-hosts and takes us Behind the Numbers.René-Pier Plourde, Content Marketing Manager at UEAT shares restaurant data from last month’s big events.Sydney Lupton, Digital Marketing Intern presents the third instalment of Merchant JourneyLinks of Interest:Saving GrazeUEATMoneris Data Services Subscribe now!If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at podcast@moneris.com.Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.