Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT(Jul 13/98) - John Parker saw a good business opportunity in Nunavut and he jumped on it.

Three years later, he's still earning a profit and hoping an Inuit-owned organization will move in and buy Boreal Tools, the Iqaluit-based business.

"We're looking at finding Inuit people that are interested in getting into a business that's fairly solid and has applications to their own people," Parker said, referring to his large Inuit clientele.

Specializing in carving tools, art supplies and some materials used by community contractors,

Parker acquired Boreal Tools primarily because it provided a much needed service in Nunavut and he has since expanded upon that.

But Parker said he does not intend to sit back and let the business stagnate while he shops around for a prospective buyer.

With tenders already making up 30 to 40 per cent of his business, he said he is considering increasing his tendering options in the south.

"It would be unique for a Northern business to extend their reach into the south," Parker said.

He added that providing tools to oil and gas operations on the east coast is just one tendering option he has looked at.

He has also planned to revamp his marketing strategies by updating his mail order catalogue for redistribution across Nunavut and he said he wants to step up his Web site sales.

"Internet business is one of the fastest growing areas of commerce," Parker said and he noted that service in Inuktitut and English on the Internet and in his store has always been available.

While Parker said he'll never get rich from the tool business, he knows the opportunity for considerable growth is available.

"It's always going to get better and better. There's lots of opportunity in Nunavut and outside of it to grow the business."