Building for growth: How reliable connectivity became the foundation of Longhouse' North American expansion

Growth challenges · Oct 2, 2025

In 2021,

found himself spending over 20 hours on the phone with his connectivity provider's customer support, dealing with extended outages with little technical help. His Vancouver-based marketing company had doubled in size, and while business was growing, their infrastructure didn't keep pace with their success.

Recognizing that his clients deserved better service and reliability, Keenan knew it was time to explore new options for providers. "I realized that to truly deliver on our promise to help businesses and non-profits grow, we needed infrastructure that could support our ambitions and our clients' expectations," he says.

Longhouse: Where community meets innovation

Keenan had built

Longhouse

around a simple but powerful observation: everywhere he looked across Canada, talented small business leaders were masters of their craft but invisible online. "I started Longhouse because I saw so many exceptional entrepreneurs who were amazing at what they do but struggled to tell their story on the internet," Keenan explains.

Drawing from his SEO and digital marketing skills, he founded the company guided by one principle: "Our mission is your mission." The Longhouse symbol, representing a place where communities gather, work together and celebrate, perfectly embodied their vision of empowering local businesses and the greater economy.

Today, that vision has generated remarkable results with over 850 businesses served across 92+ industries, an estimated $785 million in revenue generated for partners, and recognition as one of Canada's most award-winning marketing companies.

The scaling challenge: When growth outpaces infrastructure

Success came quickly, but with it came growing pains. When Longhouse doubled from five to ten team members, Keenan had to step back from day-to-day client work to focus on leadership and strategy. The transition was challenging.

"We lost 40% of our recurring revenue, which was terrifying given that our expenses had also almost doubled," Keenan recalls. Partners felt they were losing access to him personally, despite receiving more dedicated attention from specialized team members.

The scaling challenge revealed the deeper connectivity problem. The constant issues created a ripple effect where team productivity plummeted, client retention suffered, and Keenan's stress levels skyrocketed as he juggled business growth with endless IT troubleshooting.

"As a small business owner, I wanted to focus on growing my business and helping clients, not spending my days playing IT support. Every hour troubleshooting was an hour not spent on strategy or innovation."

Finding the right solution: When brand values align

The solution came through an unexpected source; something beyond technical capabilities. "TELUS' commitment to supporting youth as well as

Indigenous Reconciliation

initially caught my attention. Their 'Indigenous Communities Fund' and the '

Connecting For Good

' programs made me want to learn more. I saw TELUS as a potential partner who cares about the things I care about.

But what ultimately convinced me was the consultation process, which revealed TELUS Business' deep understanding of small business needs. "As a busy leader, I didn't always know exactly what we needed. The team at TELUS Business asked the right questions, made me feel understood and matched us with solutions that gave me peace of mind to focus on what mattered most.

Record growth built on reliable connectivity

The results transformed Longhouse from a small business facing growth challenges to a company of over 20 employees and consistently impressive results. With TELUS PureFibre internet and TELUS Mobility as their foundation, this Canadian small business achieved extraordinary growth:

94.9% year over year growth
Awarded as Canada's #1 fastest growing marketing agency
Awarded as the World's #1 fastest growing branding company
850+ small businesses and organizations served across 92+ industries
$785 million in revenue generated for partners

"By investing in great talent and a scalable tech infrastructure, within 3 months of our expansion pains, we rebuilt stronger, with systems that increased our capacity. By staying aligned internally we've always maintained the results that Longhouse is known for. None of that would be possible with poor connectivity," Keenan emphasizes.

"We don't have these growth challenges anymore. The peace of mind in knowing that Longhouse is supported by TELUS Business frees me to focus on leading and getting results for our clients."

The blueprint: Essential lessons for small business leaders

Keenan's journey offers crucial insights for small business leaders:

Invest early: "Invest in technology early. Set up scalable systems before you hit problems. Preventative investment saves money, time and a lot of stress."

Plan proactively: "Take the time to plan and implement technology before there's an issue. Talk to TELUS Business and definitely don't wait until you're forced to play catch-up."

Embrace innovation: "The world evolves constantly. Dedicate time to explore and play with technology. Innovation is born from play and it's how you can avoid being left behind."

The foundation: Why connectivity matters for small business

Today, Longhouse stands as proof of what's possible when small business vision meets reliable infrastructure. Their journey illustrates a fundamental truth: reliable connectivity isn't just a business tool. It's the foundation upon which small business dreams are built.

"Reliable connectivity is critical. One day of disruption can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more." Keenan emphasizes, "With so much already on your to-do list, small businesses can avoid the preventable headaches by choosing a reliable connectivity partner like TELUS Business."

As Longhouse continues expanding internationally while supporting their home community of Vancouver, their partnership with TELUS Business provides the reliable infrastructure that keeps operations running smoothly. With connectivity no longer a concern, Keenan can focus on what matters most: helping entrepreneurs tell their stories and grow their businesses.

Ready to take your small business to the next level?

TELUS Business Bundles

give you the peace of mind you need, plus the right tech partnership to help you grow.

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