Top Nova Scotia reads of 2019
Thursday, January 16, 2020
2019 was a busy year in Nova Scotia. We celebrated new trade deals, launched programs, recognized Nova Scotia businesses making waves, and shared their stories. Here are the top reads of 2019:
When 600,000 plastic bottles became a home
In June 2019, JD Composites unveiled its first concept home made from more than 600,000 plastic bottles (that's right, an entire house made of plastic bottles) in Meteghan, Nova Scotia. And the internet went crazy for it. Read the story here.
Nova Scotia craft brewers raise the bar
It was a big year for the Nova Scotia craft brewery industry, which saw significant growth with a 49.3% increase in craft brewery sales, adding $15 million to the province’s GDP in 2017 and 2018. Read insights about this exciting industry – from the one piece of advice every craft brewer should take, to selling outside the province, to filling an epic shipping container headed to Maine with Nova Scotia craft beer.
Iris Booth 2.0 conquers the world
In February 2019, Iris Booth launched their new mobile photo booth in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. The company’s founder, Sue Siri, shares their secret sauce for success in this Q&A article.
Chocolate sales increase by 233%
Readers loved one of our tastiest articles – chocolate made in Nova Scotia. Between 2016 and 2017, Nova Scotia’s chocolate sales increased by 233%, and in the past five years we have exported chocolate to the US, France, Cuba, the UK, Uruguay, and Ireland.
The next generation of entrepreneurs
For the past several years, NSBI has worked with students through the Junior Achievement Nova Scotia Company Program – a small step in supporting the next generation of exporters. The Program is an 18-week learning experience where students launch, grow, and manage a small business of their own.
Looking ahead - recommended reads for 2020:
- Three things to watch in 2020 from Entrevestor: looking into what to expect from Atlantic Canadian startups in the 21st year of the 21st century.
- Top 5 business articles of 2019 from BDC: a review of their most popular articles of 2019, which give practical advice to help grow your business or start from scratch.
- EDC Economics looks at the road ahead for 2020: if you love economic data trends, this rich read is for you! EDC highlights both the opportunities and challenges on the horizon as we head into 2020.
- What the Biggest Business Deals of 2019 Tell Us About the Next Decade from Harvard Business Review: a recap on M&A activity as an indicator for the coming decade.