http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/10/05/bc-wine-expansion.html

BC wine producers are taking advantage of cheaper land costs in non traditional areas, moving out of high cost areas such as the Okanagan, Lower Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island. By moving to different areas, wine makers are able to cut costs by as much to $3-$4 a bottle. These cheap prices allow the wineries to target even larger markets without such deep pockets. The cheaper markets make up the majority of the consumers in the market and thus, by decreasing the prices to such incredibly low levels the spotlight that the BC wine industry spreads is expanded further. The new trend of buying into non traditional areas is showing to help grow BC wine makers influence with the number of vineyards rising 21.7% since 2008 and hectares devoted to wine production raising 8.7% since 2009. This huge expansion in the BC wine industry is reassuring in the current state of the economy, where most industries are taking heavy losses. The constant expansion of the industry also alludes to the increased demand for Canadian grown and crafted wines, with American wineries taking heavy hits. I fully expect to see this demand grow as the American slowly shrinks giving our comrades here in BC a larger share of the market to peddle their wares. Right now though, its nice to kick back and enjoy a glass of home grown wine, knowing that there is only better things to come for the industry.

http://www.bnn.ca/News/2012/10/2/RIMs-future-not-as-dire-as-portrayed-Marketing-head.aspx

There is no doubt that Blackberry (RIM) has been going through a rough patch (pun intended) following the release of the iPhone and other smart phones, but RIM is not as bad off as it appears to be. RIM has posted a 39% decrease in brand value since last year and reported a $235 million net loss while currently holding less than 5% market share. Despite these statistics RIM recently released that instead of a declining subscriber base, their subscriber numbers have grown by as much as 2 million. The media makes RIM out to be dead in the water but although RIM may be limping its not dead yet. With a subscriber base of 61 million world wide with dominating markets in South America, Indonesia and South Africa. With the release of BB10, RIM’s new operating system, combined with the market shares that it holds in countries around the world may show a new business model targeting the smaller and less wealthy markets. If RIM wants to remain in the competitive North American markets, they will need to develop a new touch screen system. In order to remain relevant RIM needs to recognize that the day of the keyboard has passed, pick up the pieces and move on to touchscreen technology or something beyond. If RIM can have a streak of creativity to combine with the new operating system they may see success in the future. All in all, RIM may have had a streak of bad weather lately but things look as if they may begin to ripen up soon enough for the Canadian company.