Mink Chocolates Becomes Small Business Success Story in South Surrey Through Support by Envision Financial

LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - May 8, 2012) - It's hard not to get excited when you talk with Faith Gibson about her café, Mink Chocolates in South Surrey, and how it came back from near collapse just over a year ago. Gibson's dream of owning a café nearly vanished without her serving a single customer as unforeseen construction delays and cost overruns were pushing her debt levels higher, and threatened to force Gibson to close up shop. That all changed the day she turned to Envision Financial.

"Ever since I was eighteen years old I wanted to own a café," says Gibson. "Having never owned a business but always wanting one, I took everything I had, every penny, and invested into it." Small businesses are a vital part of the B.C. economy, but starting a new business, especially a successful one, can be difficult. According to Statistics Canada, 46 per cent of B.C. businesses are considered small and have accounted for 47 per cent of all jobs created on average from 2001 to 2010. However, 49 per cent of small businesses also end up closing within the first five years of opening; a fate that Gibson was too close to realizing.

Gibson adds, "Mink Chocolates is this beautiful concept of combining a coffee bean and a cocoa bean, two amazing beans together to make one amazing product. I've loved it from the start and didn't want to lose everything I had sacrificed for, so I reached out to Envision for help as I have been a member there for 22 years."

"At Envision, we believe in acting local, " says William Rajalingham, commercial account manager with Envision Business Services. "We believe that successful local businesses are at the heart of thriving communities and that's why we work so hard to provide the tools, personalized service and local expertise to help small business owners realize success."

"If it wasn't for Envision Financial, I wouldn't have gotten my start," says Gibson. "They believed in me, and they believed in my business; I couldn't find that anywhere else. Without their support and step-by-step guidance I wouldn't be here today. Fast forward one year and it's so much better. I can honestly say that Envision Financial made my dream come true."

Mink Chocolates is located in Morgan Crossing one of South Surrey's newest neighbourhoods and has become an anchor for many South Surrey residents, who at times are waiting at the door before the store opens to get their morning coffee. "Once I get you in here I've pretty much got you," laughs Gibson. "The response I get is overwhelming. People love it just as much as I do."

Click here to watch a video to learn more about Faith Gibson and her Mink Chocolates café success story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps6tAKDz_aY&list=UUp3vsbzMI3y5PPhyjoobIyw&index=2&feature=plcp.

About Envision Financial

Envision Financial is a division of First West Credit Union, B.C.'s third-largest credit union with 37 branches and 29 insurance offices throughout the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Kitimat and Okanagan, Similkameen and Thompson regions. Led by Launi Skinner, First West has approximately $6.6 billion in assets under administration, over 169,000 members and nearly 1,400 employees. For eight years running, Envision was named one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada. Envision is designated a Caring Company by Imagine Canada.