When you picture The Netherlands, a few images probably come to mind: Windmills. Brilliantly colourful tulips, and shops that beckon to be explored. But this European country has so much more: Beautiful canals, historical architecture and museums that cater to every interest. Not to mention the food – everything from stroop wafels to delicious Gouda cheese.

With so many uniquely wonderful experiences to enjoy, it’s no wonder tourism in The Netherlands is growing and expected to soar over the next decade. According to The Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions, 18 million tourists from abroad visited the country in 2017. By 2030, that number is expected to hit 29 million.

If you’re looking to travel to The Netherlands on a budget, we’ve got good news – we’ve put together some tips based on our personal experiences and research of the best travel bloggers who’ve covered one of the hottest destinations in Europe.

Geography

If you’ve never been to Holland or The Netherlands, the first thing you must know is that you’ll often hear these two terms used interchangeably. However, they’re actually different.

Holland is in The Netherlands  and is actually divided into two provinces- North Holland and South Holland. Adding to the intrigue (and confusion) of this historic locale is that while Holland is a part of The Netherlands, it’s also used as a synonym for The Netherlands. The country is home to a breathtakingly beautiful landscape of colourful tulip fields, winding cycling routes, world famous canals and of course, the iconic windmills. Its transportation system is one of the best in the world.

Go for a bike ride through Rotterdam

The Netherlands is most vibrant and bustling throughout the spring and summer.  The high season stretches from June to August. If you’ve got your heart set on a bike ride through the picturesque city of Rotterdam or spending the morning relaxing with your newspaper at a café terrace, this is the time to go as you’ll enjoy balmy temps.

Bonus: Everything is open. Keep in mind the famous museums will be packed with crowds and you’ll pay peak prices, so Lonely Planet says you should book ahead

During the “shoulder season” (April & May, September & October), you’ll find most sights open and the fewest crowds. Plus, prices are moderate and you’ll only need to book popular places in Amsterdam if you’re planning on sightseeing, says Lonely Planet. However, weather can be wet and cold. Bring warm clothes for outdoor cafés.

In contrast, you’ll find many sights outside the major cities close during the low season of November to March, and weather can be chilly and snowy (cyclists beware), but deals abound.

Stick to Airbnbs, hostels and budget hotels to save on accommodations

Costs for accommodation vary wildly depending on where you want to stay. Here’s what Nomadic Matt says you should budget for different types of Airbnbs, hostels or budget hotels. If you’re hoping to stay in Amsterdam, expect to pay more for each of these options:

Airbnb

Average about 15 euros (€) per night for a shared room; €50 to €60 euros per night for entire homes, including studio apartments.

Hostels

Typically €15 to €30 per night per dorm room (If you’re looking for a private room, make that €60 to €80 per night per two-person room, and add €20 to that in Amsterdam).

Suggestion: The Flying Pig Downtown, St. Christopher’s at the Winston  and The Meeting Point, all in Amsterdam.

Budget hotel

€50 to €60 per night for a private bathroom and wi-fi.  If you go the hotel route, The Brave Dame has a list of budget-friendly hotels, including:

• Marnix Hotel (Amsterdam)
• Kingkool The Hague City Hostel (The Hague)
• Budget Hotel (Leiden)
• Hostel ROOM (Rotterdam)

Visa information

The Netherlands is a Schengen area country (Canadian citizens do not need a visa to travel within the Schengen area, but visa-free travel only applies to stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel. Find out more about short stay visas and travelling between Canada & the Netherlands at Netherlandsandyou.nl.

Hop on a train, take the metro or rent a bicycle

Thanks to its highly populated cities and modern infrastructure, the Netherlands boasts one of the best, most reliable public transportation systems in the world, and the country has one of the most dense road networks. After touching down at one of the major airports, many look to the rail network to get around and even cycle between destinations.

Airports

Flying into The Netherlands, you’re likely to land in one of the country’s top five civilian airports:

• Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
• Eindhoven Airport
• Rotterdam The Hague Airport
• Maastricht Aachen Airport
• Groningen Airport Eelde

While it’s the most convenient airport to Amsterdam, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is also less affordable choice, as some of the major low-cost carriers operate out of smaller airports. See TripSavvy’s list of Netherlands airports for details, pros and cons.

Pick up an OV Chipcard

You’ll want to buy an OV Chipcard (Chipkaart), which is like a fast pass or e-card you swipe as you board and leave to pay your fares on a bus, train or metro. You can get a personal OV Chipcard by applying and providing a photo. There’s also an anonymous one, which can be purchased at machines  throughout the rail system. Top up your anonymous card (7,50) with €20.

Tips: Always keep your OV Chipkaart topped up. If you don’t have enough to pay for a fare, you could be fined triple the cost. – Netherlands Tourism 

Take a train

Buy a day train card

Day train cards (dagkaart) are on sale at supermarkets and local shops, often for €15. If you have an OV Chipcard, you can also get an Advantage card (Dal Voordeel) for €50. Also check discount sites like spoordeelwinkel,, recommends DutchReview, which published a great guide to getting a cheap Dutch train ticket .

The national rail company NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) operates most of the trains in the Netherlands and you have a few different options when it comes to taking one, including:

Sprinter trains

These trains travel in short spurts, stopping at regular intervals in small towns (as well as the big stations) in between. If you need to get to a small town, this is your best option. But beware: Travel blogger Adventure Ellen says Sprinters chug along slowly. Plus, there are no bathrooms or wi-fi, and conductors always check tickets.

Her tip: Always wait the extra 10 minutes for the intercity.

Intercity trains

If you’re traveling from one city to another, intercity trains are your best and quickest option, says Amsterdam Tips. In contrast to the Sprinter, Intercity trains are faster and make limited stops between major cities. Many of these trains offer free onboard wi-fi and have live travel information screens.

There are distinctions between double-deckers (VIRM – Verlengd InterRegio Materieel), single-deckers (ICM – Intercitymaterieel), and Intercity Direct. Amsterdam Tips has a comprehensive guide to trains.

Other options for public transit

There are so many options for public transit in The Netherlands that we can’t explain them all in detail here. In a nutshell, in addition to trains you can also catch a tram or take the bus. Amsterdam and Rotterdam have underground metros, while other cities offer over-ground metros (both of which get packed in peak hours). There’s also the popular ferry/boat service.

Another option: Rent a bicycle. The Netherlands is a cyclist’s dream as bike lanes are generally separated from car traffic. Learn more from DutchReview’s in-depth guide to public transport in The Netherlands.

Just don’t take a taxi or Uber, which are both expensive, says solo travel blogger The Brave Dame.

Tip: Whether you’re driving or on foot, pay attention to cyclists and when crossing bike paths. While on foot, make sure you’re not inadvertently walking on a bike path. These commonly run alongside sidewalks and are not always clearly marked. – Government of Canada

Check out street vendors, snack bars and food markets

A couple of the travel blogs we checked say to keep your expectations for Dutch food low, but that there are a few things worth munching on – you just have to know where to find them. The Brave Dame says to check street vendors or snack bars for patat (thick cut French fries), poffertjes (tiny, fluffy pancakes) or a delicious stroopwafel (syrup waffle).

Try a meal at any inexpensive chain restaurant, such as:

• Febo (fries and snacks)
• Wok to Walk (Noodles and other stir-fried stuff)
• Julia’s (Pasta)

You can also skip the chain restaurant route and visit Rotterdam’s food markets, as recommended by The Wanderlost Way. Markthal is a huge open marketplace with foods from all over the world.

There’s Gouda cheese, herring, Dutch apple pie (the quintessential Dutch dessert), and more delicious Dutch food  to be found in Amsterdam.

Culture Trip has even more tasty delights  you should keep an eye out for.

Tip: Offering criticism is more common than offering praise. Try not to take offense as the Dutch speak directly.

What to do

Stroll the tulip fields near Keukenhof

If you’re visiting between late March and early May (especially in April), you get a special treat – the opportunity to see iconic Dutch tulips in bloom! Although you can shell out €30 to see the fields at Keukenhof (the world’s largest flower park, travel blog WanderlustingK  has some tips on how to explore them for free:

If you’re traveling with family or are on a budget, taking a train to Schiphol Airport then grabbing a one-way ticket to Keukenhof by bus (the 858, for €6 ) is the easiest route. Once you get off at Keukenhof, you’ll have about a 5 kilometre, half-hour walk to Hillegom to see the best fields.

Tip: The weather changes unpredictably, so bring a raincoat on your excursion. – WanderlustingK

See the sites in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of The Netherlands’ two capitals (the other is The Hague) and has everything you could want in a charming European city – breathtakingly beautiful canals, historical architecture filled with character, more museums than you could ever visit, vintage shops, and much more.

“Amsterdam has so many great places to visit,” says Helen. “I preferred the Rembrandt museum to the Van Gogh museum. Anne Frank’s house is so interesting but it books up well in advance. You can book a canal tour at night and have dinner on a boat,” she added, adding she found it easy to hop on a tram, and English was widely spoken. “I also loved the wax museum.”

Explore museums

If you’ve got an interest or hobby, there’s probably a museum in Amsterdam dedicated to it. Whether you want to learn about chess, funerals, Heineken, houseboats or even the history of sex, there’s probably at least one of 75 to capture your attention, from the Rembrandt House Museum to Body Worlds , Amsterdam Heineken Experience  and, of course, the sobering Anne Frank House , a hidden annex of an Amsterdam canal house where the iconic Jewish girl wrote her diary before being discovered and deported to a German concentration camp. This one is often sold out months in advance, but you can attend a two-hour guided tour of the South Amsterdam neighbourhood where she grew up.

Tip: Visit the tourist shops to get tickets in advance for all the tours and save time in lines for all museums. – Helen

Take a canal tour

If you have an evening free, why not take a stroll along the UNESCO-listed Canal Ring? This world heritage site is actually three canals that form a shape around the old city centre and is recommended by On the Luce as one of the best free things to do in the city, along with some lovely parks.

Visit the red light district for some taboo fun

Europeans are well-known for their liberal attitudes towards sex, and you’ll see that during your journey throughout Amsterdam, from its red light district (which is actually one of the safest parts of the city to its sex museums, such as Sex Museum – The temple of Venus and the Erotic Museum, an old warehouse in the middle of the red light district.

Take a day trip to Utrecht

Discover Domkerk’s cathedral in Utrecht

Just a half hour’s train ride from Amsterdam, Utrecht is a great day trip destination and one of the oldest cities in the country. Bonus: A lot of the attractions are free and the city is walkable.

The Domkerk  is a mammoth church cathedral and a landmark at the heart of Utrecht. Its Gothic architecture serves as the backdrop to a beautiful courtyard. If you’re up for it, pay  €9 to climb the 465 steps to the top of the tower.

If you’re a foodie, rejoice – there are tons of spots in Utrecht to have lunch or a snack , from cheap options to trendy cafes, suggests Olive Magazine.

Discover Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a famous port city that’s now a hub for modern architecture and the arts. There’s lots to see on a budget. Room Rotterdam recommends renting a bike for cheap or taking a guided walking tour to explore the waterfront, see amazing architecture and spot some of the best bars in town.

If you’d love to see some iconic Dutch windmills, head to the UNESCO village of Kinderkijk, where you can find 19 of them on the waterways.

You can explore The Netherlands on a modest budget and get almost anywhere you need to go on public transit – if you plan ahead, know where to look for deals and discounts, and stick to local haunts for deliciously cheap eats. You can even see unforgettable sites like the famous tulip fields, iconic windmills and charming canals on day trips to different cities.

Are you travelling to The Netherlands for the first time? Returning to a favourite destination? What are your best tips when it comes to saving for vacations? We’d love to hear what you’ve planned, or any trips we missed! Share your story in the comments and tell us what destinations are on your wish list. Our team love saving for holidays and we hope to inspire our members with exciting suggestions to spend your Caddle money.

Why I chose St. Catharines

Four years ago, I had just quit my full-time marketing job to establish and launch Caddle. While we could have chosen Toronto or any of the cities within Hamilton or the GTA, we’ve never wavered from knowing that St. Catharines, Niagara is home.

Making the choice was easy because we want to see St. Catharines thrive. For myself and many of our management team, our decision was personal; we have roots in Niagara and want to be part of its success as it becomes a major contender in Canada’s digital economy.

Here are a few reasons I continue to choose St. Catharines:

Source: Wikimedia

1. Access to high-quality talent and lower startup costs

Four years in, I’m still often shocked by what’s here. If we can’t find the talent we need right in St. Catharines, it’s in Grimsby or another of Niagara’s municipalities. We chose Niagara as our home for the region’s lower cost of living, beautiful natural wonders, high quality of life, and arguably easier access to talent. The cost to launch is lower here, too – a huge plus when you’re a founder of a small startup looking to establish a home base. If we’d located in Toronto, we would have at least quadrupled our burn rate with the increase in costs.

In contrast, Niagara offers the best of both worlds – a growing region, it’s just far enough (about an hour and a half) away from hectic mid-Toronto traffic but close enough that we can jump on the QEW and zip up to the big city when we need to. Plus we now have the daily GO train going right into Union!

While Toronto’s talent pool may be 50 times larger than Niagara’s, there are 100 times more companies in Canada’s largest city competing for top employees. In terms of high-quality talent per capita, I feel we’re in a better position here.

Caddle is thriving and continues to grow. In Toronto, we’d have been one of a million promising startups. In St. Catharines, we’re a big fish in a small pond. We attract highly talented web developers, marketers, Customer Experience and IT staff, and more.

2. Exceptional quality of life and sense of community

Our employees love the short, easy commute as well – Brian Cline, our Head of Technology, lives in Niagara Falls and commuted to Etobicoke for years. Now, he has about a 20-minute drive to work.

Most of our staff live within a 15 to 20-minute drive, which means they can spend more time with their families and less time facing the gridlock of GTA traffic every day. I walk to work in about seven minutes and often bring my dog, Maya, in with me. We find that our staff love the community they live and work in. They’re also invested in our long-term success and are passionate about helping to build a positive, dynamic company culture.

From the first day, I’ve always stressed the importance of family, flexibility, and work-life balance. Because our employees tend to stick around, they enjoy a lot of trust and flexibility within our team, which makes for a happy, productive work environment.

If you’ve got an important appointment to attend or a can’t-miss recital for your kid, you can take time off and do that here in Niagara (which is essential – happy families mean happy people!) We always say that no matter where you are in the region, for the most part everything you’ll need – schools, food and entertainment, shopping, outdoor spaces like parks and hiking trails, the gym – is within a 30-minute drive. This all contributes to high employee satisfaction, low turnover rate and great work-life balance.

Source: Instagram

3. Government funding and support

While access to talent is a critical factor, so is funding and support.  There are also unique opportunities for funding. For example, we’ve gained access to funds from federal and provincial levels of government looking to fund outside of the GTA.

As for local support, there’s Innovate Niagara, a business incubator and one-stop shop for the region’s entrepreneurs for intensive workshops, training and educational and networking events. The team there have been critical to our success, from walking us through incorporation to legal advice and hiring employees. They are one of many organizations, agencies, and companies playing a role in building our flourishing tech community.

When I knocked on their door, I had an idea, but I didn’t know how to turn it into an app. I didn’t know how to incorporate or where to find local talent. We’ve been with Innovate Niagara for more than two years, eventually joining their incubator at 1 St. Paul Street in downtown St. Catharines. We’re currently both located a few blocks from there, in the same building at 43 Church Street. Within our first three months, they’d connected me with legal resources, given me names of three local web developers, and introduced me to their executives in residence. They also provided access to mentorship, coaching, and funding for an early public relations campaign.

Source: Innovate Niagara

Wrapping up

Today, I love contributing my time to Niagara’s entrepreneurial community by speaking at events and participating on panels where I can promote Niagara.

Bonus: Doing this also helps me meet people working on amazing projects, and to develop as an entrepreneur. I’m still learning from our team, consumers, and the wider community every day, and don’t see that slowing down any time soon.

The future looks bright. We’re confident in the leadership at city hall and wholeheartedly believe in Mayor Walter Sendzik’s vision for the future. With the right programs, opportunities for incubation and the right incentives, St. Catharines (and Niagara as a whole) will be at the forefront of innovation. I look forward to the day when Caddle is just another of the many digital pioneers who saw Niagara’s potential in its early stages.

Demographics and loyalty in the workplace

There are many reasons why living in Canada is so desirable: access to healthcare, education, our abundance of fresh water and beautiful nature – even employment. In fact, Canada continues to show a downward trend in unemployment year to year. Statistics Canada reports that in January 2018, Canada’s national unemployment rate was down to 5.9% from 6.8% in January 2017.

This positive trend in the workforce is not necessarily as beneficial for employers, however. Earlier this year, The Globe and Mail reported that 89% of Canadian employees are prepared to leave their current job for “the right offer,” up from 78% in 2014.

Analyzing employment trends, the Caddle team decided to ask Canadians if it’s okay to apply and interview for jobs, even if there is no intention of leaving a current position.

The majority of Millennials (29%) and Generation Z (31%) considered it completely acceptable to apply for other jobs, compared to the majority of Generation X (29%) considering it only somewhat acceptable, and Boomers (33%) considering this not at all acceptable.

When it comes to interviewing for a job you have no interest in taking, however, all four generations shared more similar views. The majority of Millennials (28%) and Generation Z (31%) considered this action only somewhat acceptable, while the majority of Generation X (30%) and Boomers (43%) considered this to be not at all acceptable.

There’s another split when it comes to gender as well – particularly around interviewing for a job despite being happily employed. The majority of men (28%) deemed this completely acceptable, while the majority of women (32%) deemed this not at all acceptable.

There are positives to applying and interviewing for jobs even if you’re happily employed: it’s valuable practice, an opportunity to expand your professional network and it’s a chance to get a better sense of where you stand compensation-wise. If you decide to apply or interview for another job, though, avoid letting it affect your day-to-day responsibilities, and always be careful not to burn bridges with either party.

Caddle Survey

In a recent survey of 10,000 Canadians, Caddle found that the majority of the workforce chose their current job for its better salary over their previous job (24% of Millennials and 23% of Generation X).

It appears that employers are recognizing this cash-driven culture and responding accordingly to attract new talent. In their 2018 Salary Guide, Export Development Canada (EDC) reports that 40% of employers are willing to break salary guidelines to recruit new hires, and offer 15% over expected salary to attract highly skilled professionals. EDC aptly points out that this approach is problematic, however, as the same 3,500 hiring managers EDC surveyed showed a continued trend toward offering less than 3% salary increases to existing employees. This results in a growing number of people willing to move jobs, up to 90% in 2018 from 75% in previous years.

With increasing expectations around salary and an aging population, how do Canadian employers stay competitive when hiring and attract top talent?

Human resources (HR) platform Pro Sky recommends focusing on developing a positive work environment, considering candidates with potential (i.e., over experience to date) and focusing on coaching and mentoring opportunities. Providing recognition and understanding work-life balance are other key assets.

HR consultant Sharlyn Lauby of HR Bartender suggests establishing a solid employee referral program, giving candidates a realistic job preview, and considering boomerangs (former employees who can return with fresh perspective and skills). Sharlyn also recommends focusing on the application and interview process, making it easy to apply and training hiring managers to interview well.

The BC Tech Association challenges employers to reduce response time and rounds of interviews, as top talent – especially in the tech industry – won’t necessarily stick through the whole process anymore.

Most importantly, EDC reminds employers to take care of the employees they already have before anything else.

Exploring travelling in Canada by car

In a Caddle survey taken this year, 90% of Canadians confirmed that they would recommend travel to Canada – and it looks like the world agrees. According to Statistics Canada, the number of U.S. tourists rose by 3.1% from 2016 to 2017, reaching 14.3 million in 2017.

If you’re inspired to see all Canada has to offer, here are just a few of the destinations you can reach by car from our many border crossings:

Alaska

If you’re driving through the Alcan border crossing:

·       Yukon Wildlife Preserve (Yukon) – 5 ½ hours

o   Miles Canyon (Yukon) – additional 30 minutes

o   Emerald Lake (Yukon) – additional 30 minutes

·       Nahanni National Park Reserve (Northwest Territories) – 16 hours

Washington and Idaho

From the Blaine border crossing:

·       Whistler (BC) – 2 ½ hours

·       Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (BC) – 6 hours

From the Eastport border crossing:

·       Yoho National Park of Canada (BC) – 4 hours

Montana and North Dakota

Crossing from Sweetgrass:

·       Dinosaur Provincial Park (Alberta) – 2 ½ hours

·       Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (Saskatchewan) – 3 ½ hours

·       Banff National Park (Alberta) – 4 ½ hours

·       Jasper National Park (Alberta) – 6 ½ hours

·       Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada (Northwest Territories) – 17 ½ hours

Crossing from Raymond:

·       Prince Albert National Park (Saskatchewan) – 6 ¼ hours

Crossing from Dunseith:

·       Riding Mountain National Park (Manitoba) – 2 ½ hours

Michigan, New York and New England

Entering Canada from Detroit:

·       Bruce Peninsula National Park (Ontario) – 5 ½ hours

Entering Canada from Niagara Falls:

·       Algonquin Provincial Park (Ontario) – 3 ¾ hours

Entering from the Chateauguay border crossing:

·       Ottawa (Ontario) – 2 ½ hours

·       Mont Tremblant (Quebec) – 2 ½ hours

Entering from Jackman:

·       Quebec City (Quebec) – 2 hours

From Fort Kent:

·       Kouchibouguac National Park (New Brunswick) – 4 ¼ hours

Crossing at the Calais border:

·       Fundy National Park (New Brunswick) – 2 ¼ hours

·       Green Gables Heritage Place (PEI) – 4 ¼ hours

·       Prince Edward Island National Park (PEI) – 4 ¼ hours

·       Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse (Nova Scotia) – 5 ½ hours

·       Skyline and Cabot Trails (Nova Scotia) – 7 ½ hours

Travelling from the Houlton crossing:

·       Gros Morne National Park (Newfoundland and Labrador) – 19 hours

·       St. John’s and Signal Hill (Newfoundland and Labrador) – 25 hours

Provincial and Territorial tourism sites

travelyukon.com

spectacularnwt.com

nunavuttourism.com

hellobc.com

travelalberta.com

tourismsaskatchewan.com

travelmanitoba.com

ontariotravel.net

quebecoriginal.com

tourismnewbrunswick.ca

tourismpei.com

novascotia.com

newfoundlandlabrador.com

How to achieve work-life balance

Today, Millennials are approximately 22 to 37 years old, while those from Generation X are roughly 38 to 53 years old. With this age difference, many might expect priorities to differ when it comes to the workplace, but a recent Caddle survey reveals that the two generations actually share almost identical priorities at work. Both generations prioritize work-life balance first (31% Millennials, 30% Gen X), followed by respectful treatment (21% Millennials, 22% Gen X) and the opportunity to help others (15% Millennials, 13% Gen X).

If you aspire to achieve greater work-life balance, here are tips on steps you can take on both professional and personal fronts:

 

At work

At risk of getting an infamously catchy song stuck in your head, your key mantra should be to “let go.” Forbes recommends letting go of the pursuit of perfection, and proposes the idea that quantity over quality in the workplace may be better for the soul.

Both Forbes and Mayo Clinic encourage you to delegate more; Mayo Clinic further adds that you should say “no” more often – this will help you prioritize, manage your time more accurately, and therefore perform at a higher rate. Mayo Clinic also provides sage advice around email management: reduce email checkpoints to three times daily (late morning, early afternoon and late in the day) – this allows you to start your day by prioritizing your individual tasks and challenges, not those around you.

While it may seem counterintuitive, asking for help, delegation, and saying “no” are all signs of professional growth – these same habits that help achieve work-life balance are also milestones that your manager is likely looking for in your development.

In life

While it may be cliché, there is so much truth to the saying that “health is wealth.” While it may seem nearly impossible with everything going on at work, making time to exercise and eat healthfully are fundamental factors to achieving work-life balance.

Another important factor in improving personal health and professional performance is proper sleep. Harvard Business Review makes the case for getting quality z’s and provides tips on how to do so.

Whichever steps you choose to take toward a better work-life balance, remember to start small.

Why I started Caddle

For seven years, I worked in Marketing and Sales at SC Johnson and we had one simple but critical pain point: we didn’t understand our consumers as well as we needed to.

In the digital age, brand loyalty is low, the competition fierce and ad-blocking technology is booming . The CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) industry is cutthroat. We were constantly struggling to keep up with a fickle customer base and win the race to get the next best innovation on the shelves.

In this environment, you need fresh and fast market insights to ensure your brand survives in today’s CPG landscape, but we had no way of getting those with shrinking budgets and archaic, bloated insights providers. Sourcing intelligence from multinational market research firms or focus groups wasn’t an option. Because it took time to gather, compile and publish the data in traditional market research reports, it was often dated and fragmented. Focus groups are expensive and time-consuming to organize and manage. We needed insights within days of spotting an opportunity, not months. By the time we got those insights, the opportunity had passed.

A Better Way

I knew there had to be a better way, and that there was a need for businesses to have recent, up-to-the-minute data on their potential and current customers at an affordable price. My first thought was to build a mobile app that would reward consumers for their engagement with cash back on the products they’re interested in.

Consumers would answer surveys to identify brands they wanted to connect with. In return, brands would get to engage directly with consumers.

‘Imagine having hundreds of thousands of consumers at our fingertips,’ I thought to myself. ‘Instead of using dated or US research, we could have direct access to our consumer to get the insights that would drive our brands.’

At SC Johnson, this would have cost me five (maybe even six) figures and months to get the research.

I spent the next two years thinking about my idea. Eventually, my wife (my girlfriend at the time) gave me a clear ultimatum: “You need to do it or you need to shut up.”

The Deadline

That was enough motivation for me. I gave myself a deadline of May 1, 2015 to make it happen or move on. Two weeks prior to my deadline, I watched an inspiring documentary about (the late) Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, the founders of Apple. Watching that film about two pioneers who grew what would become a multi-billion dollar company out of their garage was exciting and inspiring. I thought, ‘I want to do this, but I need a sign.’

A few days before my deadline, I attended a training seminar in Chicago for SC Johnson (my employer at the time). During my flight back from Chicago to Buffalo, I discovered, The Woz was on my flight! I instantly recognized him from the documentary. But one thing was missing: there was no Apple watch on his wrist.

As we checked our bags through security, I seized a window of opportunity and tapped Mr. Wozniak on the shoulder to tell him my story. In reply, he said, “I don’t need to understand it. The fact is, you have the passion to do it. It’s not whether it fails or not. It’s going to be that you’re glad you did it and failed rather than the regret of not doing it at all.”

This was the ‘sign’ I’d been waiting for! Steve’s encouragement during that impromptu chat inspired me to sell some investment properties and hire Symetric, a local web and graphic design agency, to build the Caddle app.

From there, things took off. I quit my job at SC Johnson and launched Caddle in 2015. We attracted customers such as PepsiCo, Mars, and General Mills.

Dragons’ Den

An appearance on the popular CBC series Dragons’ Den resulted in four out of five dragons making a $125,000 investment in the company for 28 percent equity in the business (off-screen, we rejected the deal, and instead raised capital on more favourable terms with friends and family). Mick Higgins, our chief marketing officer, describes us as “ad blocking kryptonite.”

People listened to and believed in our pitch, and the market conditions continue to validate it. Thanks to our partners and the consumers who continue to support us, we engage everyone from millennial moms to tech evangelists, sports enthusiasts, and more – much faster than any old school focus group.

We launched and continue to grow our team in St. Catharines. Today, we have a team of 20 employees and a massive user base enabling brands to get the insights they need faster than any other platform.

You can find our app on iOS and Android

Saving for Travel

Combining travel to a warm, sunny destination with spending quality time with family and experiencing your culture can make for an unforgettable winter getaway.

That’s what Shauna Gayle-Robinson, our administrative assistant at Caddle, is doing this year as she packs for a visit to Jamaica in a few weeks.
<blockquote"I am currently saving and looking forward to my 2019 vacation in Jamaica. I am anxious and excited as this will be my first time visiting in years. The best part about my vacation is that it will be spent with my entire family. I'm looking forward to experiencing different aspects of my culture such as dance, food and the arts," she said.

Visiting Jamaica

Jamaica is a truly vibrant place where tranquil beaches, stunningly beautiful waterfalls, mouthwatering food and an eclectic culture all await. While it can be an expensive destination to visit, you can easily save some of your hard-earned Caddle cash with these budgeting tips:

Treat yourself to lunch and casual meals at local restaurants and dine on dishes like fish (a staple in the Jamaican diet), jerk chicken or pork, sweet potato and more. Expect to spend about $4.50 US for your average meal. Better yet, pick up your food at local supermarkets and cook your meals, says Nomadic Matt in his Jamaican travel guide..

For a taste of Jamaica’s famously rich culture, visit Kingston, the island’s capital (and largest) city. Travel blog A World to Travel says its blend of urban society with exotic jungle life means you’ll have fantastic opportunities to explore what the area offers, from the blue mountains to the busy natural harbour. And one of the best parts is that this trip is budget-friendly; there are many restaurants and guesthouses that won’t break the bank.

More Savings Stories

We love using the Caddle app as a team and telling the story of what we are saving for.

Read more about other’s stories.

Ajay’s Saving Story

Ryan’s Saving Story

Keith’s Saving Story

 

Sports fans know what it’s like to spend months anticipating the opening game of the season, and often dream of what it would be like to see a match live. If you’re dreaming of snagging stellar seats this year in your favourite stadium, Ajay Khanna, our Account Manager at Caddle, has some insights for you:

“At first, when I began working at Caddle, but as time passed, I realized the amount I could save within a given timeframe to myself and decided on Toronto Raptors Tickets for this season,”

“I plan to cash out very soon, but first I must decide what game & when (perhaps during my birthday in March). It could be a free birthday gift from me to me.”

When he’s looking to save with Caddle, he looks for the larger offers and those that offer the best cash back first:

“I love sharing but do take advantage of the larger offers on Caddle such as Slim Jim. I find the offers that show the best cashback value or purchase those items on my daily shopping list, such as toilet paper.”

Tip: Join your favourite team’s fan club so you’ll be one of the first to hear about ticket offers, advises U.S. News & World Report. “Sometimes membership has a nominal fee attached, but that fee can pay off if you attend several games in a season.”

You can also shop the secondary market on websites like StubHub.com, TicketCity.com or eBay, where ticket agents or season ticket holders unable to attend a game often resell their tickets.

 

Read about Ryan’s savings goals.

Read about Jaime’s savings goals.