Yuri Akuney of Digital Perfections is now a Google trusted photographer. With his help, people from all over the world can walk virtually off the street and into your business.
Akuney comes in, does a photo shoot, and turns it into a virtual tour. Then the images are linked to Google street view.
"When you are doing a street view tour,
if you see a double arrow, you can click on it and go into the business and have a look around," he explained. "It's a great way to showcase your décor or ambiance and the unique qualities of your business. And all of your images go through Google blurring and privacy standards before going on the web."
Your images appear on Google search
results and it makes you searchable on Google Maps and Google+ Local. The images are easily embedded on your website and you can link and share on social networks.
"It is an ideal way to present your business 24/7," said Akuney. "Your customer can see your business before they walk through the actual door. It's a great advantage when you are dealing with businesses with a lot of choices, like salons and spas, restaurants and small boutiques.
"It's also a way to build the image of your company. For non-retail businesses, it shows your workspace and is a great tool for attracting new people into the workforce or trying to attract new clients."
For a better idea of how this works go to Akuney's site at digitalperfections.ca, click on the link that says learn more, or call him at 250-718-4308. 

A Grand party
The Delta Grand Okanagan Resort is throwing a business Christmas party
Dec. 13 with a special holiday lunch and reception featuring live entertainment, festive turkey lunch, door prizes, Chef's Hat competition, a parade, and a visit from Santa Claus.
The event attracted over 140 people last year, and sparked lots of excitement when the grand prize winner won a catered lunch for 25 people. This year, the event is expected to attract 300 attendees, including local businesses looking for a unique alternative to hosting their own Christmas party.
Dubbed Kelowna's largest office Christmas party, the lunch runs from
11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the ballroom at the Delta Grand at 1310 Water St. To reserve your tickets, call Allison Fallis at
250- 868-5608, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Tickets are $40 per person, or $300 for a table of eight, plus HST.

A warm feeling
It may be cold in Canada at this time of year, but it certainly warms our hearts to see volunteers hitting the streets to distribute winter kits to Canadian homeless
shelters.
On Dec. 11, hundreds of volunteers from Invis-Mortgage Intelligence, will take to city streets across Canada to donate new winter clothing and supplies to those in need as part of its community program, Angels in the Night. Since inception
10 years ago, Angels in the Night volunteers have raised over $1.8 million.
The top five items requested by the shelters this year are: hats, gloves, basic toiletries, personal items such as underwear and socks, and bedding. The event takes place in Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Kelowna, Vernon, Cranbrook, and Vancouver.
Event start times and locations will be released Dec. 11. For more info go to invis.ca and click on the Angels in the Night Link.

A helping hand
The holiday season is all about family and caring for each other. Marjorie Horne, started CareSmart Seniors Consulting to help adult children, elder advocates and caregivers discuss and implement solutions that will support an older adult in
aging well through life transitions. She is a certified professional seniors consultant with years of experience in nursing and seniors housing management in the Kelowna area.
"We listen to your concerns and collaborate with you through a circle of care," said Horne. "Our approach is to find the best
solutions to meet everyone's needs."
Services include everything from senior care monitoring to relocation assistance and SMART monitory technology.
For more information, call her at
250-863-9577, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the website, caresmart.ca.

Tag, you're it
Bananatag, a local tech start-up launched in August, already has more than 15,000 users and has surpassed the one million mark for e-mails opened and tracked.
Bananatag allows individuals to track opens and clicks on their daily e-mails. Until recently, only marketers and salespeople using mass e-mail services were able to track and see statistics.
Check out the video at bananatag.com.

Christmas cheer
Distinctly Kelowna Tours is sold out for the first Christmas Charity Light Tour for the Kelowna Community Food Bank, but you can still bring them donations for the foodbank.
From Dec. 3 to 16, Monday to Friday,
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., you can drop off a non-perishable food item at its offices at 1310 Water St., at the north entrance of the Delta Grand.
Got news about your business? Send it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Darcy Nybo
is an award-winning writer, freelance journalist, book and online magazine
editor.