A Fresh Start For Your Business

Julie Starr • August 16, 2021



A lot of businesses are very process-driven – it’s what keeps them running. But over time, some of these practices can become stale, leaving your employees tired, while also limiting your chance for growth. 

Businesses can benefit from a change to help them stay relevant to modern business practices, while also bringing renewed energy back to the workplace. It can be a chance to assess and rebuild, ready to focus on a bright future. After the past year, now is the perfect opportunity to transform your business. By making some changes to the way you do things, you can also make sure your business remains 

Want a fresh start for your business? Here are some ideas to get you started.

Consider a change of location

Many businesses have had to think about their location since the pandemic. For many, flexible working will be an ongoing part of the working fabric and could mean there are opportunities for you to downsize your office or move it to a more suitable location.

 

If you decide to remain in your existing space, there are things you should do to help make it safer and more sustainable moving forward. If employees have been away from the office for a long time, you should bring in a commercial locksmith to change the locks to prevent security risks. There are also opportunities to put your space to better use. You could let out some space to others, create coworking spaces, and more. You can also bring in new policies such as using energy-efficient lighting and equipment to reduce your business’s energy use.


Since the target is about giving your business a fresh start, consider changing your old business name in addition to changing your location. This can be particularly important if your old name no longer represents the new brand image or fresh start you’re seeking to create. Understandably, picking a unique business name that flows with your brand can be tricky. But you can always rely on the internet to suggest some good ideas for business names.

 

Complete your digital transformation

Digital is the future for many businesses, providing opportunities to do things better and more efficiently than before. You might have already made some changes to your practices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but is there more that can be done to modernize your business? 

Digital transformation can bring a lot of benefits to your business, helping to make it more secure while also making information easier and faster to access. With your systems operating online, you’ve got an opportunity to take your business paperless and take another step towards creating a more sustainable workplace.

Brainstorm ideas with your team

It’s been a difficult time for everyone, and teams can feel disconnected after spending a lot of physical time apart. Taking the time to bring your teams back together to bond can help them reacclimatize to working in the office, or to work out how hybrid working can work as you take the next steps for your business.

Giving your teams the chance to share their ideas about the future of the business can help them feel empowered and more motivated. It can also help them take ownership of their work, helping to ensure better results for them and for your business too.

Clean up your office

Could your office benefit from a cleanse? A cluttered, disorganized office doesn’t make for a great place to work. But by having a clear out, you’ll probably find that there are a lot of things you no longer need, and things you can do differently to maintain order in the future. 

 

When clearing out old equipment, furniture and paperwork, make sure you do it sustainably. There are companies that can help you with this, or you can look for local organizations that could benefit from your unwanted office items. Finding a sustainable dumpster rental you can ensure your items aren’t going to go to waste.

 

Think of ways you can give back

A fresh start for your business can also help you think about ways you can give back. There are a lot of ways businesses can give back to the community that can help you do good, and making sure your business isn’t just about making money. 

There is a lot you can do to help the environment as a business too, so why not get involved in some local initiatives and clean-up campaigns to help you do your part? With benefits for both your business and your employees, it’s good to lend a helping hand.

Over the last year, businesses have faced hard times and tough decisions. Some will have undergone permanent changes to secure the future of their business and adapt to different priorities. As your business bounces back, it’s time to think about what you want the future of your business to be and how you can make it happen. Building a happier, more efficient, and more sustainable workplace could be the key to ensuring your continued success.

By Julie Starr July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.
By Julie Starr July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.