Tell us about your business

Yesterday’s Treasure Market Inc. is an emporium filled with an amazing selection of vintage, antique, and collectible goods. We are sometimes referred to as an antique mall because we actively have over 50 people contributing to this outstanding collection of fine goods. While perusing our aisle you will have the opportunity to purchase gifts or home décor goods varying from wall art to vintage cameras, petroliana man cave décor, vintage kitchen items to large furniture, knick knacks from the past, sports collectibles, jewelry, vintage clothes, art glass, collectible coins, nostalgic candy, early hand tools to antique books of all topics.

Why did you open your business in Calmar?

We live in Calmar and have been town residents since the early 1990’s. Opportunity knocked on our door 5 years ago with the possibility to purchase a historic building located on main street Calmar (Hwy 39). We have always felt Calmar was a great community and we wanted to bring a business to the town that in itself was a small community. Five years later, we are so happy with our successful accomplishments.

What is it like operating a business along a highway?

Hwy 39 is utilized daily by members of our community, as well as several communities to the west of us. The summer months see an even higher volume of lake traffic travelling to Pigeon and Wizard Lake, as well as Buck Lake and even Twin Lakes. Our customer base has expanded thru local support, social media advertising and promotions, as well as drive by folks that catch a glimpse of our displays and circle the block to come inside and have closer look. We are very grateful to be exposed to so many people daily and have a growing customer base because of the high load corridor.

Do you have any advice for a new business opening on Main street?

To be successful, any small town business should be consistent with high quality service and products that will entice local support. Great value is essential to secure customer loyalty and create repeat visits. We believe that promoting our community that we live and work in is a key factor to drawing in a larger customer base from outside of our town. Our community of Calmar is pretty amazing – and we aren’t afraid to boast it’s attributes to anyone passing thru! Lastly, it is also important to design your business with thoughts to compliment existing businesses which will help to bring exponential growth to the business community and your new business as well.

Tell us about your business

I have owned and operated my home-based business in massage therapy since 2001. At CC’s Therapeutic Massage, I use a wholistic approach of natural healing through touch. I am proud to operate my business in our little rural town of Calmar. I offer a wide range of different massage techniques from Thailand, Sweden, India, China, Indonesia, and Hawaii to name a few. I feel I have travelled the world with these modalities; Elemental sciences, Hot stone, Reiki, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Jamu, Indian head massage, Thai foot and hand stem massage, therapeutic massage and so much more.; My business is unique with what I offer because I am able to provide different techniques to help my clients to feel comfortable in whatever they are experiencing. Providing these techniques of natural healing that have been around for thousands of years, sets my business apart from others. I am always learning new techniques and skills. By continuing my education; this is an important benefit to my profession.

Why did you choose to open a home-based business in Calmar?

I chose to open my home-based business in Calmar because when we moved here, I knew I wanted to be able to provide a new service to people to help heal them in whatever experience they were feeling. Starting my business in my home was a way to get established in the community first. I could set my own hours to best provide for my clientele, and this gave me confidence to keep building out my business.

I am very compassionate in my profession, and learned early on that most people in the area were not familiar with a lot of my different modalities. I started with a few loyal clients and through word of mouth, my business began to grow. As my clientele grew, so did the variety in the services I provide, I now provide all of my modalities to clients from all over this region.

What is it like operating a business in rural Alberta?

It is pretty fantastic! I admire people who are willing to try new things and travel to our little community. I have found that the clients that travel to Calmar for treatment, they also stop at our famous bakery, the hardware store, the grocery store, have some great Chinese food, and visit some of our neat little treasure stores.

I really appreciate all of the support that I have received from the community over the years that I have been operating CC’s Therapeutic Massage. Choosing to open my business in Calmar has been rewarding to say the least.

Is there anything you want to add?

I have been practicing massage in my home for over 27 years. I offer a wide range of massage services. With the culture and history of these modalities, it allows me to provide a unique experience to each client as though they were there themselves. I have been lucky enough to find a wonderful community of friends and clients in Calmar and I look forward to many more years providing my talents of massage techniques. I have flexible hours and would love to hear from you if you have any questions about my services.

Tell us about your business

We bought the New Shanghai Restaurant in September of 2016. This year will be our 7th anniversary. We would love the residents of Calmar to come in and celebrate with us in September.

We have worked seven days a week for those seven years with only missing three days of work. Our business is important to us, and we work very hard to make a living at it. There are only two of us working at the restaurant and we both work seven days a week.

Why did you choose to buy a business in Calmar?

We bought the business because the price was very attractive, and the small community was also attractive. We chose to take on the restaurant life and hope we are doing a good job for the residents of Calmar. We took our chances by buying a restaurant and our sales are enough to support the two of us. We would love to grow and be able to server more people from the town.

What is it like operating a business in rural Alberta, along HWY 39, the High Long Corridor?

Operating a business along a provincial Highway is interesting. The government doesn’t keep their roads maintained so our customers have t navigate potholes when they come in the parking lot. It makes it hard for new customers to stop by and try our restaurant out if they cannot get into the parking lot. If the road conditions would improve, we think we would see more travelers stopping for lunch and dinner.

Do you have any advice for a new business opening on Main Street?

We jumped in with both feet and not a lot of research when we bought the New Shanghai Restaurant. I would not advise anyone to do that, but we are surviving and making a good living. We try to give back to the community we we can. We sponsored the “Hardest Shot” game at the Calmar Canada Cup Street Hockey Tournament on Canada Day. We enjoy visiting with the residents and getting to know everyone who comes into the restaurant. If you want to own a business in Calmar, you need to become part of the community!

Tell us a bit about your business?

We insulate pipe. It does not make any difference to us the type or size of pipe, we insulate it. We have been doing it for over 50 years so gotten pretty good at it.

What made you want to work for a business in Calmar?

To be honest. I did not know where Calmar was when I started working for Urecon in 2016. I live in Edmonton and the best thing about working in Calmar is the drive. Compared to Edmonton, getting to and from Calmar is so easy and there is no traffic. You can’t beat the gas prices here in Calmar either.

How long have you been operating in Calmar?

Urecon established itself in Calmar in 1982. We had multiple expansions and developments since that time. The last in 2009. In 2019 we were bought by Georg Fischer and became GF Urecon.

Do you have any advice for a new business opening up in Calmar?

Be aware of your local community. The majority of your workforce will be from here or nearby communities. Support the local businesses and people and they will in turn support you.

Is there anything you want to add?

In 7 years of travelling to and from Calmar I have become very fond of the town, although I don’t live here, I speak highly of the community to friends in Edmonton. Of course, the bakery gets a lot of conversation started the the Town as a whole has a lot to offer. Great community spirit, very friendly locals and all the amenities you need.

Tell us about your business

Hayduk Lumber and Hardware is a Canadian and family-owned company. A third-generation business, William P. Hayduk originally opened its doors in the 1940s as a farming supply company and later a building supplies and lumber yard, with his son, Brent taking over management in 1985. He owned the business for many successful years until it was solid in 2011. Fast forward to 2021, Brent and two of his children, Meagan and Garrett, have teamed up to carry on the family legacy, as proud members of the Castle Building Centre Group.

Why did you choose to open a home-based business in Calmar?

Hayduk Lumber and Hardware has been a staple in the community for over 80 years. We felt it was important to keep the business hub in Calmar as it is central to the many surrounding communities we serve.

What is it like operating a business in rural Alberta?

We feel fortunate to be located where we are. We can help customers from near and far. We meet many interesting people who stop in along their journey to their destination.

Do you have any advice for a new home-based business opening up in Calmar?

The people of Calmar are great, loyal people if you treat them well.

Is there anything you want to add?

We look forward to opening our new storage building at yard 1 in the spring, where we will be able to store even more materials to help serve the community even better.

1. We have a 2000 sq. ft. garden centre that is open for the months of May and June and stocked with a beautiful variety or annual bedding plants and hanging baskets. Be sure to stop by this spring and check it out!
2. We rent equipment! From small power tools to larger saws and lawn equipment. We are always adding to the fleet – stop in for the most up to date list of items (or check out our website)
3. Looking at financing a bigger renovation project? We can help – visit https://castle.ca/flexiti/ to be approved in minutes

Tell us about your business

We are in the business of providing remote, modular accommodations, site offices, and support solutions to Canada’s most challenging environments. What does this mean? In areas where building on-site is not feasible or possible, we provide modular solutions that can be shipped via truck or barge to locations in a timely fashion. We work in all provinces and territories and support the following sectors: Mining, Oil & Gas, Hydroelectric, Northern Construction, and various levels of government supporting emergency response efforts and infrastructure builds in remote communities.

Why did you choose to open a business in Calmar?

We had previously been operating in Morinville and the proximity to our major suppliers was very inefficient. We wanted to be closer to the international airport, our transportation providers, and many of our industrial suppliers in Nisku/Leduc. We stumbled across an ad in Calmar for a 3.3 acre parcel that was serviced, flat, square, and compact. It has been our main storage yard and home to our service and maintenance department ever since!

Do you have advice for a new business opening up in Calmar?

Get to know your neighbours and learn about the services offered right in our backyard. There are many great businesses, new and old, that might be more closely aligned with synergies to support each other than you think. Oh, and make sure you stop by the Calmar Bakery, once in a while, and bring some goodies back to your staff or home to your family.

Is there anything you want to add?

We currently have positions open at our Calmar & Edmonton locations, including opportunities to work remotely within our projects team. If you or anybody in your network have an interest in joining our team or learning more and about why Komplete is a great place to work, we would love to hear from you!

Available positions include:
– General Labour
– Skilled Labour
– Admin Assistant (Part time and full time)
– Accounting Clerk (Part time and full time)
– Project Coordinators
– Health & Safety

Please email info@komplete.ca or call 780-619-5594

For the Love of Perogies “N” Stuff

Tell us about your business

Hi! We are a retail outlet selling “Yo Baba” Ukrainian foods, plus we are the Ultra-Pure R/P water refill station. We are also happy to carry “Rainbow Acres”, locally grown, produce and preserves. As well as “A & A Sausage” products. We proudly market locally produced and home-made crafts and gifts. If you are looking for gift certificates, we have those in the amount of your choice.

Do you have any advice for a new business opening up in Calmar?

Spend some time and do your research to find out what the Town of Calmar and the surrounding areas are lacking. See if your plan has a chance of succeeding. Find a suitable location and if the majority of the stars line up, take a plunge! It might be the best thing you took a chance on! So far, for us, it has been a great experience, and we look forward to serving our community and seeking where For the Love of Perogies “N” Stuff takes us.

Is there anything you want to add?

We’d like to thank our amazing customers, family and friends for your continued support. If you haven’t had the opportunity to stop by, please do and see what we have to offer. Call us at (780) 826-0955. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Why did you choose to open a business in Calmar?

We felt the community and surrounding area would benefit from the delicious hand-made Ukrainian foods along with all the other “stuff” we carry!

What is it like operating a business in rural Alberta, along HWY 39, the high load corridor?

Every day is a new experience for us. With the high traffic load, we are pleased to meet new people. Some are just curiously checking us out, and then usually become customers. Others are customers that quite often become friends. All in all, its turning into an amazing experience.

Feist Real Estate

Tell us about your business

I help guide homeowners and non-owners through the process of buying and/or selling their homes. I deal in residential town properties as well as acreages and farms.

Selling the home starts with advising on simple fixes that will get their home ready for the market, then showcasing it with photos and staging, as well as advertising/promoting their property, then helping negotiate offers and the final sale.

When buying, I help clients with determining a budget that works for them and then help limit the leg work they have to do in searching to find that perfect place. I book showings and use my experience and training to help point out the good and the not so good features of homes/properties. Once buyers find a property they like, I help them write offers and negotiate a fair deal.

I consider myself more of a consultant than a salesman. I provide my clients with as much information as necessary for them to make the decision that is right for them.

Why did you choose to open a business in Calmar?

After raising our family in Calmar and now living here for over 30 years, it made perfect sense to focus on the community that we live in and love to start my real estate career.

Knowing all the great things the town has to offer and the great people makes it easy to brag about it to potential new residents and current ones looking for a new place to hang their hat.

What is it like operating a business in rural Alberta? 

Like having a business in any centre, there are ups and downs but having my business based in Calmar (rural Alberta) has more ups than downs. Having the opportunity to help so many people I know with their real estate needs is enjoyable and rewarding, especially when it is a young adult that I have watched grow up and is now looking for their first home. It also gives me the opportunity to give back to the community that supports me and see the effects of it firsthand. I always feel privileged when I get the opportunity to sponsor events, and/or community groups, or just volunteer.

Do you have any advice for a new home-business opening up in Calmar?

Talk to people in town to get an idea about what the town needs, and then keep listening to community members to find out how you can keep evolving your business as the community grows.

Is there anything you want to add? 

I would just like to thank the community for their support over the years and say that Michelle and I are so grateful that by chance we ended up moving to Calmar and making it our home. I also hope to see everyone at the pancake breakfast this summer and feel free to chat me up with any of your real estate questions.

Spreen Repair Services

Tell us about your business

Spreen Repair Services is a family owned Heavy Duty Mechanical Repair Shop. We have been in business in the Calmar area since 2008, and have been operating from our current location in the South Industrial Park since 2016.

We offer a wide variety of mechanical repair services, maintenance programs, and mobile repair solutions to the trucking, farming, and construction industries of Central and Northern Alberta.

How do you like operating a business along HWY 795?

Our business runs parallel to Hwy 795 going South out of Calmar. Having a highway facing property in Calmar’s Industrial Park gives us great exposure to the summer lake traffic and those that commute and use Glen Park Road. We see a lot of boats and bikes go by our yard!

What made you want to open your business in the Town of Calmar?

Opening a business in the same town where we live is important to us. We moved from Red Earth Creek to Calmar in 1997 so that we could raise our family in a small community that has similar values to our own. Having paved sidewalks was a big perk too.

After working for a rig moving trucking company in Leduc, Darren branched out with a service truck to operate from a shop along Glen Park Road. When the opportunity arose to grow the business and move into town 8 years later, we knew that we could finally include our family in the company. Now our two oldest sons, Tim and Mike, work for us, as well as a few others that we are proud to call “our boys”!

Do you have any advice for a new business opening up in Calmar?

Calmar has the advantage of proximity to major corridors that connect many industries, like oil and gas, agriculture, and tourism. When we take advantage of our location and small town charm by providing a service that is honest and competitive, we can create a sustainable customer base. Any new business to Calmar can benefit by getting to know the community and visiting their neighbouring businesses. Research what services or products the community needs, and provide that without duplicating what is already available.

Is there anything you want to add?

We pride ourselves in providing honest work for a competitive price. From building custom hoses or charging your tractor’s air conditioning, to major rebuilds for your heavy truck and completing your annual CVIP, we’ll get the job done.