The Garlick Press

The Garlick Press: Connecting People With Local Food

Owners: Diane Parker
Location:  Kamloops, BC
Website: n/a

The Business

Founded in 2009, The Garlick Press is a Kamloops, BC-based publication that invites readers on a journey toward embracing a more sustainable food economy.  The Garlick Press encourages interaction between food producers and the consumers who care to know where their food is coming from.

The publication features articles on topics like natural health, organic gardening, recipes, sustainability, and more, and is published nine times a year by Garlick Press Publications.15,000 copies are distributed throughout Kamloops, Ashcroft, Barriere, Cache Creek, Chase, Clearwater, Logan Lake, Merritt and Sun Peaks.

The Founder

Coming from a family with a long history in farming and food production, Garlick Press founder Diane Parker started the publication to help maintain the knowledge that was once part of every household.  In addition to writing for a variety of sources, working in public education and in international development, she also practiced organic gardening and worked in the restaurant industry.

Parker started The Garlick Press, with help from her hard-working partner Trevor Gagnon, to encourage others to become conscious of the health, economic and environmental benefits of eating closer to home, and perhaps inspires them to start growing their own food.

The Small Business BC Connection

Parker attended Small Business BC’s Marketing Seminar in Kamloops in October 2010, where she learned many practical ideas to help further her marketing efforts and reach her goals.

Small Business BC offers a wide range of seminars featuring business tips for small businesses across BC, with many available online.

Small Business BC Seminars & Resources for businesses like The Garlick Press:

• Getting your Story Told: Making the Most of Media
• Getting Incorporated – Essential Steps and Legal Tips
• Social Media and Online Marketing Tactics

Entrepreneurial Advice

For business owners looking to move to or start a business in Kamloops, Parker suggests becoming familiar with the community and the culture of doing business in the sector they’re interested in.  She believes the best way to understand a community is to become personally involved with it, and to learn about its past and where it is attempting to go. 

In addition to these words of wisdom, Parker also suggests getting involved with local business organizations.  She has enjoyed support from:

• Community Futures Thompson Country’s Self Employment Program
• The Chamber of Commerce
• Thompson River University
• Kamloops Food Policy Council

Through the Self Employment Program, Parker gained valuable insight into the importance of creating a solid business plan, which has become the framework of her daily operations.

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