Mark Brand - Profile and Q&A
Mark Brand is one of Vancouver’s most recognized entrepreneurs. After opening his first restaurant, Boneta, in 2007, he went on to open an independent clothing label and storefront called ‘Sharks + Hammers’, followed by The Diamond tapas restaurant and lounge, Seamonstr Sushi, Catalog Art Gallery, PortSide Pub and lastly, his largest undertaking to date, Save on Meats.
Founded in 1957 Save on Meats has been a Vancouver landmark since it opened serving the local community with a butcher shop and lunch counter. After closing down, Mark Brand resurrected the Save on Meats enterprise. Brand carried with him a vision to restore the building back to its prime for all Vancouver residents, and to be committed to it being a true social enterprise by working with partners to create a sustainable business model that serves the community. Through his engagement with the DTES Mark saw an opportunity to build capacity surrounding issues of food security and employment. From this A Better Life Foundation was created as a non-profit to expand the social initiatives Save On Meats created.
Mark Brand has since been invited to share his message of social enterprise at numerous conferences and universities in North America, as well as world-renowned events such as TED Talks.
CMV: Where do you find your best creative inspiration?
MB: Fuck I hate this question. Everywhere, yup that’s my answer, great right? Seriously though, everywhere. I’ve been in Bodegas and seen setups of products that influence a way I’ll lay out a part of a build. I’ll see patterns in commuting that change the way I look at space and layout. I could go on about this one forever so let me do that on stage.
CMV: What’s the one creative advice or tip you wish you’d known as a young person?
MB: The fear of different styles. When we were kids we always tried to rock the same penmanship or copy our favourite artists like Frank Miller or Bill Sienkiewicz. My favourite artists/designers/musicians forged their own style and once they gained acceptance I started to trust my own creative instincts, early. Rap Music in it’s formative years was a huge influence aurally and stylistically, as were artists like my best friend Rhek. Nobody had that style and it was/is the best.
CMV: Who would you like to hear speak at CreativeMornings?
MB: Alex Usow.
CMV: Where was the last place you travelled?
MB: I just got back from a speaking/business junket that took me to Ottawa for the United Way, Toronto for development of programs with restaurants akin to ours at Save On, Buffalo for the BALLE network (look them up, you’re welcome), Minnesota for a marathon in their airport (that place is ridiculous), Edmonton for the Alberta Governments volunteer and social programs convention and then home. I know what you’re thinking, glamorous rock star shit, you nailed it. Truth is I learned so much about how far ahead everyone is in the realms that currently interest me most. They’re most ahead in their openness to listen and try new approaches without getting caught up in typical Canadian politeness that holds us back so often. The best part is it was from all levels, the feds to the smallest social start up. It was very inspiring.
CMV: What was the best advice you were ever given?
MB: My mom gave it to me and I put it in the first booth at my first restaurant named after her Boneta. It was more advice veiled in a statement and it’s never left me. “There are two types of people in the world, those who wait to talk and those who listen. Whichever one you choose will change your life.” She didn’t elaborate on which one was wrong or right (I was 10 or 11 the first time she said it) but she continued to repeat it at opportune moments as I grew up. I chose the latter and it has certainly been the backbone to my life on all levels, especially creatively.
Mark Brand speaks at CM/Vancouver on Friday, July 5th, at 8:30 am. To get a ticket, sign up here.
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