Red Deer Downtown Business Association

Downtown Business Spotlight: GrupDesk

Red Deer DBA

Published

4 years ago

6 minute read

It’s Monday and this week our Business Spotlight feature is GrupDesk! This open and collaborative workspace is located at 5212 48 Street, Unit B102. We had the chance to sit down with owner, Gio Aguirre, to learn more about the space!

What is your business?

GrupDesk is a new concept for co-working space, a space that catapults businesses, small business owners and freelancers to the next level. It’s for somebody that is looking to do their work in a professional environment, or they can not work from home because it’s too distracting. Now, with COVID, people cannot work in their offices or go to Starbucks or other coffee shops, which are too noisy or too busy. Some people can’t afford to get a full office, with all the expenses that come with that, so that is why GrupDesk was created, to be that middle ground. A professional environment for people to come do business with customers, while still being able to keep the cost down.

When did you open?

We opened in 2018, officially in February. We have been going strong since then! I think it was a little bit of a hard adoption, people didn’t know what we were about as it is a new concept. In Red Deer there was only one coworking space before our time. When we opened, we saw the need in the market. I myself am an entrepreneur with other businesses but I needed a place to run those business from and this was the perfect opportunity to create a coworking space where people like myself could come do business.

What would you say makes your business unique?

I think the uniqueness comes from us breaking the standard of normality. Usually when you open a business you rent an office, you meet with your customers there but you have this huge overhead. We are the flexible middle ground, for a little a month you have a full office and professional environment. I think that’s what makes us unique. Also, GrupDesk offers mailboxes and printing services as well. I think that’s the differential point, no one offers those three elements but GrupDesk is a place to do business and meet with customers, a place to do printing and a mailbox that gives you a business address instead of your house.

What are some products/services that you offer?

So we have the coworking space, of course, and for the mailboxes the difference between that and other businesses that offer mailbox service is that we provide a city address. It’s not a PO BOX, it’s a suite number so for online ordering that’s huge. What makes us really awesome is that we send email notifications as soon as you get mail, which other people don’t do. So that’s super important. For me, I needed that for a long time. I had to drive all the way to Red Deer from where I live in Blackfalds just to find an empty mailbox. So, when I started this, I was like that’s not going to happen anymore! So, we started the email notifications. When we took over this space there was a printer here already, so we took over that contract and now we can offer printing services that are competitive with the online printing providers. A lot of people don’t know we do this so were pushing forward with promoting that services but its one of our strongest points.

Why did you choose Downtown Red Deer as the location for your business?

It’s the central point of the city. If you’re coming from the North or the South, Downtown Red Deer has everything. Everyone knows Downtown, everyone passes through Downtown so that was the main reason why we chose it.

What do you think makes Downtown vibrant?

The variety of businesses in the area. So, if you go to the South it’s a conglomerate of certain types of shops, but Downtown has everything that anybody can think of. We have a travel agency, a VR place, a grocery store, lawyers and a coworking space. A huge variety of businesses, I think that’s what makes downtown vibrant.

I love Downtown Red Deer because… it’s so flexible and you can find everything in Downtown and the environment that has been created around business and customers. I think it’s a great community. It’s not isolated to the North or the South, Downtown is the heart of Red Deer.

GrupDesk is the place to check out of you’re looking for a new space to work from if you’re working from home or looking for a new space to run your small business.

Website: https://www.grupdesk.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grupdesk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grupdesk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrupDesk

Red Deer DBA

downtownreddeer.com

We serve approximately 500 businesses and property owners in Downtown Red Deer, Alberta. Our Mission is to build an engaged Downtown community, develop a Downtown brand and enhance the Downtown experience.

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City of Red Deer

Council boosting budget for Downtown Business Association

Published on December 4, 2023

City of Red Deer

Council approves 2024 DBA budget, increased investment in events

The Downtown Business Association is investing more time, money and energy into downtown events following City Council approving its 2024 budget. During the presentation today, DBA Executive Director, Amanda Gould and Board Chair, Brandon Bouchard outlined the organization’s plans for the upcoming year to continue to work towards creating a busier downtown that intends to result to increased support for businesses within the Business Improvement Area (BIA).

“The DBA remains steadfast in its objective to build on the growth seen in 2023. The collaboration between The City of Red and the DBA is at all time high and with the pending actions set to be delivered through the Downtown Activation Playbook, I know there are many great things to come that will support our business community and create the thriving downtown we all want to experience,” said Amanda Gould, DBA Executive Director.

“Today Council demonstrated their commitment to their strategic priorities with the support shown to the DBA through unanimous support of the 2024 budget. This mighty Association continues to do great work on a shoestring budget and the 2024 Board of Directors are keen to lend their expertise and entrepreneurial skills to benefit the downtown in its entirety.”
Brandon Bouchard, DBA Board Chair

The DBA’s budget is partially funded through the BIA tax levy, which is collected by The City of Red Deer. Each year, the DBA presents its proposed budget to Council for their consideration. When reviewing the budget, Council considers alignment between the DBA’s downtown priorities and City’s community priorities.

“DBA has constantly hit far above its weight in our downtown, I can’t think of a more supportive messenger of promotion than the team at the DBA, it’s so encouraging to see this strong support for our downtown,” said Mayor Ken Johnston. “I’m encouraged by the leadership and direction of the DBA and look forward to what they have in store for 2024. They continually bring positive initiatives to the downtown even with the constraint on finances.”

The DBA’s total approved budget for 2024 is $775,160, with $277,725 funded through the BIA with the remaining amount funded through items such as grants and contracts. The BIA portion for 2024 is an increase of five per cent from 2023.

The Downtown Business Association has been operating in Red Deer for more than 30 years, serving approximately 350 business owners in the Downtown area. Through partnerships and leadership in advocacy and promotion, the DBA is the catalyst for a vibrant and prosperous downtown that is the place to live, work, play and do business.

Red Deer

What’s Happening Downtown: Holiday Edition!

Published on December 4, 2023

Downtown Red Deer

Hey Red Deer!

Embrace the festive spirit downtown this holiday season! Immerse yourself in the dazzling brilliance of the city hall lights, delight in family-friendly events, and complete your holiday shopping at the heart of the city this December. Explore a myriad of activities and events designed to make your holidays truly magical. Read on for detailed information about the incredible lineup of festive events awaiting you this season!

Frost Street Patio Party

December 8th @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Join the DBA and Spandy Andy on the Ross Street Patio for some frosty fun! Check out the children’s entertainer’s activity booths and sip hot chocolate under the festive downtown lights. Bring the whole family together for an unforgettable outdoor celebration. Whether you’re grooving to the DJ or simply basking in the warm glow of the fire tables, the Ross Street Patio is the place to be for an evening of free family fun. Visit https://downtownreddeer.com/north-pole-stroll/ for more information.

Click here for updates!

Santa Bus

Dec 8, 9, 15, 16 @ 5pm – 8pm

Santa is back on the bus! Merrily cruising down the streets of Red Deer, you can follow Santa Claus on the My Bus App for his arrival time in your neighbourhood.

Click here for more info!

Christmas Pickle

November 15 – December 15th

A pickle used as a Christmas decoration may seem odd at first, but it’s an old tradition. When decorating the tree, the pickle is hung last, hidden among the branches. The first person to find the Christmas Pickle on Christmas morning receives a special blessing for the year and an extra gift! As part of North Pole Stroll, many Downtown Red Deer businesses place pickles in their stores. Customers lucky enough to spot them are eligible to win a prize from that business, such as a discount or raffle entries. Please click here for more information.

Click here for updates!

Mary Liv at the Velvet Olive Lounge

Dec. 20th | Doors 5pm | Show 7:30pm

Check out the talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Olivia Morelli, an emerging artist from Saskatoon, Sk.

Ticket price is $10 + 2.50 SC

The Velvet Olive Lounge hosts LIVE music 4 days a week. Check out the full December line up here.

Afro-Caribbean Cultural Cafes

& Storytelling

December 13th, 2023 @ 6PM

Discover a celebration of diverse cultures with tantalizing ethnic cuisine and captivating storytelling at the Flex (4919 49 ST). Join us alongside your family, friends, and colleagues for an enriching experience.

Free and open to the public!

Contact: 403-550-4067

Click here for more information or register at www.accoca.ca.

Supported by the African Caribbean Centre of Central Alberta and the City of Red Deer.

Window Scavenger Hunt

November 16th- December 16th

Many downtown Red Deer businesses decorate their windows for the holiday season. The Downtown Business Association has created a self-guided tour in the form of a scavenger hunt so you can see them all! Get a copy of the scavenger hunt at downtownreddeer.com for your chance to win a 300$ prize package. Email your completed copy to [email protected] with your name and contact info. The winner will be announced on December 16th.

Click here to learn more!

Winter Wonderland

November 3rd – January 24th

On display now!

Visit Curiosity Art & Framing for their Winter Wonderland temporary exhibit. Featuring art by Betty Schnell, Margaret Blank, Peter Caden and many, many more!

Visit their website www.curiosityartandframing.com for more information and examples of the artists work.

Twinkle Tour & Late Night Shopping

December 15th @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

For one night many Downtown businesses remain open late to help Red Deerians with their holiday shopping and to encourage the support of local businesses. From 4-7PM, downtown visitors are invited to grab a free hot chocolate and a copy of the holiday scavenger hunt on the Ross Street Patio. Check out the beautiful window displays and City Hall lights and pick up some Reindeer Food & Snowman Soup on your way to your favourite shops.

Visit https://downtownreddeer.com/north-pole-stroll/ for more information.

Writes of Winter Contest

Red Deer Arts Council and the City of Red Deer have partnered on a writing contest to keep our imaginations warm this winter. We invite Red Deer youth, teens and adults to create a short poem or story (fiction or creative non-fiction) with a maximum length of 500 words about winter and/or the holiday season in Red Deer. All submissions can be sent to the Red Deer Arts Council at submissions@reddeerartscouncil.ca for a chance to win exciting prizes.

Click here for more information!