Building Business with IT Solutions

Branding with Meaning: Cooperation and Connection

When Elvis Ng wanted to brand his business, he chose an image of two narwhals swimming in a circle.“

In Chinese that represents cooperation. It represents a relationship. It represents a partnership,” he says. “As a newcomer in PEI, we actually need to build our relationships with the Islanders, with our partners, with our customers, and also with other families.”

Building Relationships in a New Community

Elvis says PEI Connectors helped him build the relationships he needed to create Narwhal Business Solutions Inc.

Narwhal offers tailor-made IT solutions for retailers and other small businesses. The company specializes in point-of-sales systems — providing equipment, training staff, and integrating the technology into business operations. For example, Elvis might supply a point-of-sales system to a restaurant and then ensure orders automatically print off in the kitchen after the customer pays. “This is a totally a one-stop solution,” he explains. He also develops websites, often incorporating features like booking systems, and provides overall IT support. Elvis started Narwhal in Charlottetown in 2021, soon after his family moved from Hong Kong. They chose Canada for its diversity and openness, PEI for its scenery and landscape. “We would like our kids to be grown up in a very natural environment, so they can do more outdoor activities.”

PEI Connectors: Supporting Entrepreneurs in Their Journey

PEI Connectors was his first stop for marketing research. “I have a lot of business ideas, but I’m not sure which one will go best in PEI,” he says. He credits program officer Frank Fan Liu for steering him away from ideas that had proven unsuccessful. Other staff, including Holsen Wei, gave him marketing ideas and introduced him to supports like the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, Innovation PEI, and the PEI IT Alliance.

With his own business now established, Elvis — who has more than two decades of IT management experience — hopes to work with PEI Connectors and the Chamber to hold forums or talks specifically for the IT industry.

He adds that he’s still quick to call PEI Connectors when he encounters a challenge. “Every staff from there has lots of business experience,” he says. “They totally understand the business environment in PEI.”