Just Good Business 🍁

Chapter 1: Small Business & Charity: How Communities Support Ronald McDonald House  

Al is joined by Kate Horton from Ronald McDonald House Canada. She shares stories of how the organization supports families during their child's medical treatments. Ronald McDonald House Canada has supported more than 500,000 families across Canada since inception in 1981.

Learn how you can help make a difference.

Chapter 2: Inside Black Friday 2025: What the Data Tells Us

Join Al as he dives into the results from Black Friday 2025 with resident data expert Sean McCormick. Despite high hopes, spending was down 4% year-over-year, revealing intriguing regional differences and consumer behaviors. Discover key insights into the holiday shopping season, economic pressures, and strategic tips for merchants.

Links of Interest

• Roncy Packs
• Ronald McDonald House Canada / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook
• Moneris Data Services

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:00:52 - Chapter 1: Kate Horton on Small Business & Charity: How Communities Support Ronald McDonald House
• 00:11:16 - Call For Small Campaign Winners
• 00:11:50 - Chapter 2: Sean McCormick on Inside Black Friday 2025: What the Data Tells Us
• 00:21:22 - Outro

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If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at [email protected].

Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Chapter 1: Maximizing Your Restaurant’s Profitability: Insights from David Hopkins

Canada's restaurant industry is grappling with rising food and labor costs, shifting consumer habits, and economic uncertainties. David Hopkins, President of The Fifteen Group, discusses how restaurants can maximize profits and create new concepts. Hopkins emphasizes the importance of detailed business planning for new restaurants and strategizing for peak seasons like the holidays. He also touches on trends and the cautious use of technology and Ai in the industry.

Chapter 2: Tech to Table: How Moneris Go Restaurant Elevates Your Business Operations

Al dives into the latest technology to streamline restaurant operations with Gad Elharrar, VP of Product, and Michael Monaghan, Director of Product at Moneris. They introduce Moneris Go Restaurant, a commerce solution designed for small and micro-merchants. Learn how this solution is exceeding expectations and meeting the evolving needs of Canadian restaurateurs.

Chapter 3: Putting a bow on consumer spending during the Toronto Blue Jays’ epic post-season

The World Series has wrapped up, and unfortunately for Canadian baseball fans, the Toronto Blue Jays came up short. While the on-field results weren’t what we hoped for, the story at the cash register tells a different tale for small Canadian businesses. Al sits down with consumer spending data expert Sean McCormick to break down the numbers from Toronto’s postseason run. The conversation even takes a therapeutic turn as Sean helps Al process the loss.

Links of Interest

• The Fifteen Group
• Moneris Go Restaurant
• Moneris Data Services

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:00:48 - Chapter 1: David Hopkins on Maximizing Your Restaurant's Profitability
• 00:13:54 - Chapter 2: Moneris' Product Team on How Moneris Go Restaurant Elevates Your Business Operations
• 00:22:09 - Chapter 3: Sean McCormick Putting A Bow On Consumer Spending During The Toronto Blue Jays’ Epic Post-Season 
• 00:30:58 - Outro

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If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at [email protected].

Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

October Baseball’s Economic Impact On Spending Across Canada

Al is joined by Sports Expert and VP of Business Development at Moneris Data Services Sean McCormick to discuss the excitement of October baseball as the Toronto Blue Jays enter the postseason, examining the impact on local and national spending. Sean shares insights on how playoff rusns boost restaurant and bar revenue, referencing data from previous NHL and MLB events.

Introducing Moneris Go Retail: New Features For Modern Retail Needs

Last month, Moneris launched significant enhancements to its Go Retail solution, addressing the evolving needs of modern retail. Al is joined by VP of Product Gad Elharrar and Director of Retail Products Alexandra Silverberg to discuss the new features designed to streamline operations for small and micro businesses.

Links of Interest

• Moneris Data Services
• Moneris Go Retail

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:01:01 - Featured Interview: Sean McCormick with October Baseball's Economic Impact On Spending
• 00:09:57 - Ask An Expert: Moneris' Product Team Introduces Moneris GO Retail
• 00:15:37 - Outro

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If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at [email protected].

Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Discover how Canadians are embracing domestic tourism more than ever before! In this insightful episode, Al sits down with Sean McCormick, VP of Business Development at Moneris Data Services, to discuss his findings.  

Learn about the reasons behind the increased focus on local travel, how the exchange rate and political factors are influencing travel decisions, and get a sneak peek into the upcoming Elevate Festival in Toronto.

Whether you're in the tourism industry or just curious about travel trends, this episode is packed with valuable information you won't want to miss!

Also in this episode:

• Amanda Ibrahim, Senior Events & Sponsorship Specialist at Moneris talks about the upcoming Elevate Festival

Links of Interest:

• Moneris Data Services
• Angus Reid Institute
• Elevate Festival

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:01:16 - Featured Interview: Sean McCormick with Insights On Domestic Tourism
• 00:12:07 - Save the Date: Amanda Ibrahim with September's Events Calendar
• 00:14:25 - Outro

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If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at [email protected].

Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Canada’s economy has had a wild ride this year—but is it as bad as it seems?

In our latest episode, BMO Chief Economist Douglas Porter returns to break down the numbers behind the headlines. From inflation and interest rates to the surprising strength of domestic tourism, Porter shares insights that every small business owner should hear.

• 💡 Why hasn’t Canada hit a recession?
• 📉 What economic myths are holding entrepreneurs back?
• 🌍 How are demographic shifts reshaping business creation?

Whether you're navigating uncertainty or planning your next move, this episode offers practical takeaways and a fresh perspective on Canada’s economic outlook.

👉 Listen now and find out why the current climate might be more manageable than you think.

Links of Interest

• BMO Economics

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:01:20 - Featured Interview: Douglas Porter on Navigating Canada's Economic
• 00:12:20 - Outro

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If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at [email protected].

Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

With the average age of business owners at 58 and many lacking succession plans, Canadian small businesses are facing climbing rates of closure. Al is joined by Dr. Sarah Burrows, Assistant Professor at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business, to discuss the growing concern of succession planning in Canadian small businesses.

Dr. Burrows discusses the "Silver Tsunami" and the impact of changing tax laws on family-owned businesses.

Explore innovative solutions like Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) for sustainable business transitions and learn how local businesses can adapt amidst economic uncertainties.

If you’re a business owner who hasn’t thought about succession planning, start listening!

Also in this episode:

• Kerry Smith, National Leader, Famiy Office Services at MNP talks about succession planning
• Areen Pabla, Sales & Marketing Intern at Moneris reviews July’s calendar of events

Links of Interest

• Dr. Sarah Burrows on LinkedIN
• Smith School of Business
• Queen’s University
• Family Enterprise Canada
• Family Firm Institute
• Business Development Bank of Canada
• MNP Family Office Services
• SoulFest
• Canadian Food Truck Festivals

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:01:45 - Featured Interview: Dr. Sarah Burrows on The Silver Tsunami
• 00:14:09 - Ask An Expert: Kerry Smith on Succession Planning
• 00:28:29 - Save The Date: Areen Pabla with July's Calendar Of Events
• 00:29:57 - Outro

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If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at [email protected].

Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

This month, Al is joined by Jeff Calderwood, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), to discuss the economic impact of golf in Canada and how the industry reflects this year’s tourism trends. 

Jeff also delves into how golf courses are adapting to changes in travel due to tariffs and the various programs and services offered by the NGCOA to support its members.

Also in this episode:

• Lynne Dubuc, Director of Events at Elevate talks about Toronto Tech Week
• Sean McCormick, VP of Business Development at Moneris Data Services talks about consumer spending during round 2 of the NHL Playoffs

Links of Interest

• National Golf Course Owners Association Canada
• Take A Kid To The Course
• Toronto Tech Week
• Elevate
• Moneris Data Services

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:01:21 - Featured Interview: Jeff Calderwood on The Business Of Golf In Canada
• 00:14:44 - Ask An Expert: Lynn Dubuc on Toronto Tech Week
• 00:19:42 - By The Numbers: Sean McCormick with Round 2 NHL Playoff Consumer Spending Data
• 00:27:30 - Outro

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If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at [email protected].

Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Al welcomes Douglas Porter, Chief Economist at the Bank of Montreal, to the podcast to discuss Canada’s current economic landscape. They delve into topics such as Canada's economic performance in the first quarter of 2025 and the effects of trade wars with the U.S. on Canadian businesses and consumers. 

Porter shares valuable advice for small business owners and entrepreneurs navigating this uncertain economic climate. He also offers his perspectives on the 'Buy Canadian' movement and inter-provincial trade barriers, and what they could mean for the economy.

 To lighten the mood, Sean McCormick, VP of Business Development at Moneris Data Services, joins Al to share early consumer spending data from this year’s NHL Playoffs.

Links of Interest:

• BMO Economics
• Moneris Data Services

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:01:15 - Featured Interview: Douglas Porter on Canada's Economic Landscape
• 00:17:09 - By The Numbers: Sean McCormick with NHL Playoff Consumer Spending Data
• 00:22:36 - Outro

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If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at [email protected].

Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Rising costs, labour shortages, sustainability, and yes, tariffs, these are just a few of the challenges facing the food service industry in Canada. What is being done about it? Al sits down with Max Roy, VP of Federal and Quebec at Restaurants Canada to talk about it.

Also, we all know how important trust is in business, but how do you measure trust? Bruce MacLellan, Chair at Proof Strategies has been measuring trust in Canada for the past decade and each year they release the Cantrust Index to share their findings. Al speaks with Bruce about their findings.

Links of Interest:

• Restaurants Canada
• RC Show 2025
• Proof Strategies
• CanTrust Index
• Moneris’ ESG Report

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:02:25 - Featured Interview: Max Roy on The Biggest Challenges Faced By Restaurants In Canada
• 00:16:52 - Ask An Expert: Bruce MacLellan on The Importance Of Trust In Business
• 00:34:32 - Outro

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If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at [email protected].

Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

It’s March, and the #1 topic on the minds of most Canadians is tariffs. How will this affect purchasing decisions moving forward? Al welcomes Gary Sands, Senior VP @ Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) to the podcast. They talk about how independent Canadian grocers are already preparing for the imminent tariffs and what this could mean for consumers.

March is also Fraud Prevention Month. Al chats with Amisha Parikh, VP Security Solutions @ Mastercard. They talk about Mastercard’s latest research on the impact of fraud on Canadian’s financial health.

Also This Episode:

• David Litwin, Manager, External Communications at Moneris with insight and advice about Fraud Prevention Month.

Links of Interest:

• Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG)
• Mastercard Trust Centre
• Cybersecurity Assessment Tool
• Fraud Prevention Tools
• What The Fraud : Fraud Prevention Resources

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction
• 00:01:30 - Featured Interview: Gary Sands on How Canadian Grocers Are Responding To The Tariff Threats
• 00:12:46 - Ask An Expert: Amisha Parikh on The Impact Of Fraud On Canada's Financial Health
• 00:20:50 - By The Numbers: David Litwin on Fraud Data In Canada
• 00:30:24 - Outro

Subscribe now!

If you have a payment-related or business question you’d like to submit to one of our experts, you can email us at [email protected].

Just Good Business is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.