My name is Rick. I’m a Prairie boy now living on the West Coast in beautiful Victoria, BC. I grew up in rural Saskatchewan and attended Brandon University, where I started studying Music and English before switching to a Psychology major and a Sociology minor. After graduation, I spent the first years of my career working for people with physical, intellectual, and sensory disabilities.

Around the turn of the century, I moved into administrative work and began studies in writing and graphic design, which lead to my work in magazines, which then lead to working in book publishing for ten years. I left to earn a post-degree diploma in marketing from Camosun College, which I completed in December 2018, making the Dean’s Honour Roll in each of my three semesters.

I’ve learned a lot in the first 25 years of my career, but I’m a strong believer in life-long learning, so I have no intention of stopping. I want to take the diverse skills and knowledge I’ve acquired, build upon them, and share them with others who are growing their own business, tackling a project, or chasing a dream.

What is a crux?

• • a vital or decisive stage or point, often in the phrase “the crux of the matter”

• • a baffling problem or difficulty

• in climbing, the most difficult and often decisive part of a climb or pitch

I chose Crux because despite growing up and living in a flat landscape, I’m a passionate climber. I love the physical and mental challenges that come from puzzling out a climbing route, and I have found many wonderful, kindred spirits in the climbing community. It has also taught me many valuable lessons in trust, communication, mentorship, and conquering my fears.

How can I help you?

I provide guidance and education to small and home-based business owners in Victoria, BC,  on marketing solutions that help them reach their audience, acquire and retain customers, and grow their sales.

There are plenty of great marketing agencies in Victoria, but for some business owners, it’s like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly; they are meant to serve larger companies. I enjoy working with individuals and home or small companies of two to three people. It’s also where I’m most effective.  Whether you’ve just started your business or you’ve been at it for a while but are new to marketing, I can help you build a solid foundation, get you up to speed with the basics, and develop a strategy and tactics, all within your limited budget.

If you are new to running your own business and need help with the basics of marketing.

We’ll review your business objectives, define your audience, and explore some of the marketing options that will help you reach your goals. We determine goals and develop a plan to reach them that fits your budget. I teach you some of the skills, systems, and strategies you can then implement yourself going forward, aiming to make you a more efficient, productive, and successful business owner.

If you are an experienced business owner who wants to evaluate and improve your existing marketing efforts.

We will review your past and current goals and efforts, exploring what did or did not get you the results you were seeking. We’ll set some new objectives, strategies, and measurements to evaluate your marketing and hone in on what will work for you.

If you need an extra set of hands to free up some of your time for other priorities.

If you already have a marketing strategy in place, but don’t have the time to implement it or the budget or need to hire new staff, I can work with you to fill in the gaps and free you up to focus on your priorities. We would establish a plan, budget, and timeframe that works for both of us.

Please reach out to me if you would like to set up a free consultation (30 to 60 minutes) to review your marketing needs and see if we’re a good fit. If you have any questions, whether it’s about a consultation or some general marketing advice, feel free to ask. I’ll do my best to find an answer for you.