When Doreen Braverman is not running her chain of retail stores known as The Flag Shop, she is sitting on boards of directors at organizations such as the Architects Foundation of B.C., Coast Mental Health Foundation and VanCity.

She resigned as a director of GrowthWorks’ Working Opportunity Fund because she said people could perceive it as a conflict of interest, given that her son-in-law, Colin Hansen, is B.C.’s minister of economic development and is responsible for the fund.

Braverman’s business influence stems from her success founding and building her business. Her flag shops generate approximately $6 million in annual revenue.

“Nobody believed anyone was going to buy my flags. That’s for sure,” she said, remembering what it was like starting from scratch in 1975.

“We were the first retail flag store in the world. I’ve never had that disputed. We were certainly the first for Canada.”

The Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce bestowed to Braverman its 2004 honour of Westside businessperson of the year. Profit Magazine and Chatelaine have noted her as one of the top 100 women business owners in 2001 and 2003.

Braverman, who has an MBA, started her career as a teacher with the Vancouver School Board.

What professional achievement are you most proud of?

Establishing a retail business in a brand-new niche, which was selling flags. Now we have stores across the country from Victoria to Dartmouth.

What’s the greatest barrier you’ve had to overcome in your career?

When Heritage Canada had a program in the 1990s when they gave away a million Canadian flags. That’s our No. 1 product and a seven-year supply. Our sales plunged 26 per cent that first year. That was the worst thing that happened to us. It didn’t happen all in one year. It took a long time for some customers to come back to us.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?

My husband, who was in sales. I had not been in sales before. I saw his work ethic. He worked when he worked and played when he played without mixing the two. That’s the way I’ve done my business.

What network or organization has most helped you in your career?

We’ve belonged to a lot of organizations. I was active with the board of trade. I was one of the first women in the Canadian Manufacturers Association. I was on the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. I got something out of everything I belonged to.

What was your toughest decision?

Expanding the business to another half of our building during the recession of the 1980s.