October 17, 2012

2 0 1 2

Je and Cody Kreklau of Routes Grill see page 3

Honouring our local economy

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Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Lake Country Calendar

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Lake Country Calendar Wednesday, October 17, 2012

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK • www.lakecountrycalendar.com Z3

small business week

Restaurant helps by doing what it knows KEVIN PARNELL When restauranteur Jeff Kreklau and his partners opened up the Routes Grill in Winfield, they wanted to involve the community in their operation.

So just six months into their new venture, Kreklau and his wife Cody, along with business partner and co-chef Michael Coates, decided they would help out the Lake Country Food Bank while offering Lake Country residents a four-course dinner accompanied by local wines and entertainment.

And the results were excellent, from the dinner to the music to the benefactor—the local food bank.

“We went to the chamber of commerce meeting last month and they were talking about rebuilding the local food bank and looking for funding,” said Kreklau.

“Being a restaurant and being in the food industry we know how hard and expensive it is for food and produce.

We wanted to do what we could for the food bank. We want people to eat healthier and the food bank does that as

‘‘

BEING A RESTAURANT AND BEING IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY WE KNOW HOW HARD AND EXPENSIVE IT IS FOR FOOD AND PRODUCE. WE WANTED TO DO WHAT WE COULD FOR THE FOOD BANK.

well so we are happy to help out.”

The first of what will be four special evening dinners was held last Wednesday night and it was sold out with 50 tickets purchased. A portion went to the food bank with a goal of raising $1,000. Another evening is being planned for November and two more for early next year.

The restaurant partners with a local winery at each event with Arrow leaf Cellars on hand for the first night.

“It will be a series of wine dinners and we’re going to try to use all the local wineries,” said Kreklau.

“On top of that we’re trying to use as many local farms and local pro-

Thank you to the community of Lake Country for your business and continued support.

Looking forward to 2013!

• Meat • Produce • Dairy • Deli • Bakery • Grocery • Floral • RBC Bank Machine Type of Business: Grocery Store Number of Staff: 34 Years in Business: 36 yrs.

#9-10017 Main Street Winfield Shopping Centre

250-766-5474

▼ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Okanagan has all the indicators of a great place to do business BARRY GERDING

CONTRIBUTED

JEFF AND CODY KREKLAU in their restaurant, Routes Grill. duce as we can.”

The Routes Grill is located along Highway 97 through Winfield. It opened six months ago with Kreklau moving from being the catering chef at the Cabana Bar and Grill in Kelowna.

He and his wife have 15 years of experience in the restaurant sector. They say they have found a welcoming community in Lake Country.

“We’ve had incredible support from the community,” he said.

“We’ve been really excited. We’ve had people from all over Lake Country coming in. We’re getting people from Vernon and Kelowna. We were full from day one.”

Kreklau says the restaurant is trying to pro-

vide the best of all worlds, from fine dining to family fare. There is a kids menu as well as a features menu and everything in between.

“I think Lake Country needed a restaurant like what we were trying to,” he said.

“We wanted to offer a family restaurant that you could bring your kids to but that was comfort able for adults. It’s a place where you can come in and get a burger, a pizza, pasta and ribs.

“Then on our feature side we lean towards the high end customer,” he said.

The Routes Grill is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

You can find them on the web at www.routesgrill.com.

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The Central Okanagan is a mecca for small business entrepreneurs.

Whether starting out as a service provider, a retail store operator, or generating new entrepreneurial ideas, surveys consistently point to the Okanagan region as a great place to start a business.

Why? Robert Fine, executive director of the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, says there are several reasons.

Most notable is the lifestyle and climate in our region, he says, but equally important is the relatively low unemployment rate which reflects a healthy work base that has money to spend, and the infrastructure additions that government funding has provided in recent years.

“Enrolment at both

the university and college is at an all-time high, there has been a major expansion in health care services and the airport continues to set new records for the number of passengers,” Fine said.

“That by itself creates a lot of niche opportunities for businesses to be developed to serve those markets.”

As well, Fine notes the population continues to attract more people to the region.

“That is a huge asset, that people want to live here, but we have to also remember there are a lot of nice places to live in the world, there is a lot of competition out there, so we have to keep getting the word out about what we have to offer.”

Fine recalls a recent conversation with an engineer from Alberta who has created a start-up business in Kelowna.

“What he said to me

was, ‘Why isn’t everybody coming here? The weather is great and I love living here. It’s a welcoming place and there is lots to do.’ Attrac ting people like that is what creates a strong business sector.”

But for all the positives, Fine acknowledges that local small business owner face challenges, from a feeling of being over-taxed and buried in red tape bureaucracy, to the economic turbulence of the last three years.

Fine was among the participants in the Business Walks survey, carried out in Peachland, West Kelowna, Kelowna and Lake Country earlier this month.

The results from that survey and will be released at the inaugural Central Okanagan Economic Summit taking

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Z4 www.lakecountrycalendar.com • SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Lake Country Calendar

small business week

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▼ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Chamber courts outlying communities to bring their shopping dollars to Lake Country KEVIN PARNELL STAFF REPORTER

Aside from a couple of larger businesses like Cooper’s Foods, the district of Lake Country business community consists mostly of locally owned and operated small businesses.

From wineries to hardware stores to restaurants and small, mom and pop shops, the Lake Country business community is focused on being local.

According to the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce, almost all of the businesses are owned and operated by Lake Country residents who live in the community and in turn shop locally, to help the business community compete with the larger centres to the north and south of it.

“There is no question that most people that work here live here so they have a lot invested in the community,” said Lake Country Chamber of Commerce president Marvin Farkas.

“It’s a tight-knit community and everybody likes dealing with each

other. A lot of people realize the value of shopping locally and supporting local business.”

According to Farkas, the district of Lake Country has issued about 650 business licenses in Lake Country, while the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce has 230 members. Farkas says that’s a good percentage of businesses that belong to the chamber when you compare numbers to other centres.

And he says the businesses run the gamut of operations, giving Lake Country residents plenty of choice right at home.

“We pretty much have most things covered,” said Farkas. “We are well-known for our restaurants, we have some phenomenal local eateries.

“We have groceries covered and hardware covered and we have the real estate covered.

“There is a wide selection of stores offering just about everything you need,” Farkas said.

When it comes to business development, the chamber is doing its

best to spread the word about Lake Country.

The chamber recently held a trade show at UBC Okanagan where 40 local businesses set up to court the university’s faculty and students to take a left turn when leaving the university and head to Lake Country if they need to shop.

‘‘

IT’S A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY LIKES DEALING WITH EACH OTHER. A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE THE VALUE OF SHOPPING LOCALLY AND SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS. Marvin Farkas, Lake Country Chamber of Commerce

“Faculties at UBCO have their own budgets to spend, whether it’s on printing services or anything else and our goal

was to show them what Lake Country has to offer,” explained Farkas.

“We also wanted to let them know that if they needed to go somewhere on their lunch hour or to buy supplies or groceries, it’s closer to go to Lake Country than into Kelowna. In the future we may target students who are looking for places to live and for other needs.”

Other issues that the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce is working on include Main street in Lake Country, which still has some vacant buildings. All in all, Farkas says despite the global economic issues, things have stayed pretty positive in Lake Country.

“I would say it’s very positive,” he said. “We didn’t receive any negativity last week on our business walks and out and about in the community I’m not hearing too much negativity.

Over the next few years there is going to be quite a bit of residential expansion and that will bring on more demand for local goods and services so we are very positive about the future.”

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Lake Country Calendar Wednesday, October 17, 2012

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK • www.lakecountrycalendar.com Z5

Petrina Koltun, Royal LePage Kelowna/Lake Country, says there are many reasons to be excited about living in Lake Country! As well as being located in close proximity to some major expansion, large projects for the Kelowna International Airport, Okanagan University College and the Highway 97 upgrade, there are also millions of dollars being spent in the community. These positive enhancements generate business opportunities, employment, and expand on the thriving tourism industry. This in turn increases consumer confidence and results in a healthy local real estate market.

Petrina loves to share her passion and commitment to Lake County with people within the community and also with people who are thinking to move here. “When visitors are looking for a home it is very easy for me to express why they should move to Lake Country.”

Petrina loves her community and is very proud to call Lake Country home.

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Z6 www.lakecountrycalendar.com • SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Lake Country Calendar

small business week

‘People are tired of hearing negative economic news, they want to get on with things’ FINE FROM Z3 place later this month at the Bottega Farm Inn, 4485 Sallows Rd. in Kelowna.

“I did my walk in West Kelowna, and the general sense I came away from that with was people are starting to feel a little more positive about their business, about how things are going,” Fine said.

“I think people are tired of hearing the negative economic news

all the time, and want to get on with things.

I think companies that survived and thrived through the recent challenging economic times are still with us and in better shape than before the recession hit because they had to be.

“You are starting to see signs of stores ordering higher levels of inventory, becoming more active and involved in what they see are signs of a brighter economic future. Business owners seem to be feeling more

Construction and Engineering Surveyors

Robert Fine

Jeff Ennis

Office 250.861.5656 • Cell 250.868.7372 15045 Highland Road, Lake Countr y w w w. o s d c . c a • i n f o @ o s d c . c a

positive I think.

“Call it a cautious optimism but people are starting to feel better about things.”

Another aspect of Central Okanagan busi-

Winfield

ness growth is reflected in the numbers. Provincial numbers indicate about 16,000 businesses operate in the Central Okanagan, with about 57 per cent of those are an owner/proprietor.

Fine said what that reflects on the downside is if you move to the Okanagan looking for a

job, your choices are limited because what we don’t have is the larger companies and head offices here.

“So the challenge is to help those companies to grow here so that instead of being owner operator or having two or three employees, they have 10 people working.”

While there is help for the small business community, both through direct grants or information sources provided by various government programs, Fine said getting that information onto the radar of people who need it often gets lost in the translation.

“Some of the feedback we get back is small business owners don’t have the time to keep current on what programs are available at a given mom ent that may help them.

They are too busy just trying to run their business day in and day out,” Fine said.

“It’s an ongoing challenge to get the message out there.”

Fine said the chamber of commerce helps in that regard, as does the Uptown Rutland Business Association and Downtown Kelowna Association.

Fine says social media

can also help, as does a new initiative at area municipal halls where business license applic ants receive information packages on programs and services that can potentially assist them.

“The first point of contact often for new business owners is the business license or planning department,” he said.

As a comparison, Fine said a recent conference he attended in Houston, Tex., revealed the difference in optimism between American and Canadian business owners.

“I think the level of optimism, or lack there of, is very different in the U.S. Small businesses are not comfortable where things are at and remain unsure where the government is going,” he said.

“It’s an election cycle this year, which means trying to figure out who is saying what and do they really mean it. I think the U.S. economy has been the primary economic engine in the world and that is not the case anymore, and the trickle down effect from that is people begin to feel less secure.”

Fine believes despite

complaints about excessive bureaucratic red tape and taxation policies, the reality is government, in particular at the civic level, is making strides to be more responsive to the needs of their business communities.

He adds that the upcoming economic summit will see successive business entrepreneurs such as Lane Merrifield, one of the founders of Club Penguin, and Al Hildebrandt, successful in the high-tech software field, among the guest speakers, along with both Debra Buszard, vice-chancellor of UBC Okanagan, and Okanagan College School of Business instructor Heather Schneider.

“We are really trying to focus on small business and provide networking and information opportunities to grow and expand their businesses,” he said.

Fine added that the Business Walks survey is a program worthy of continuing.

“I think business owners were impressed to see council members or the mayor of their communities step into their establishments to see what they’re doing, and to listen.”

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It is the foundation of our business. We believe that frank, accurate and honest communication is always in everyone’s best interest.

Fairness We are advocates for our customers and shareholders and the trusted representatives for our suppliers. Our credibility rests on our determination to see that everyone gets what they deserve.

Value We believe that nobody owes us a living. Our skills and knowledge must generate meaningful, positive results for all concerned. We will strive to be the best we can be.

Loyalty We place our faith in long-term relationships, through thick and thin. We support our communities.

Through our three core businesses of Insurance Brokerage, Life Insurance and Banking, we aim to deliver a comprehensive range of quality financial products and services to our chosen customer groups in Western Canada.

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Lake Country Calendar Wednesday, October 17, 2012

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK • www.lakecountrycalendar.com Z7

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Z8 www.lakecountrycalendar.com • SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

Serving Lake Country for the past 24 years

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Lake Country Calendar

small business week ▼ HEARING FROM BUSINESS

Business owners asked what could be improved Family owned & operated

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A one-day business visit blitz on Thursday, Oct. 4, coordinated by the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, saw more than 300 businesses paid a walk-in visit throughout the region.

Business leaders including local politicians, municipal and regional staff and chamber of commerce representatives asked owners the following questions when they dropped in on their businesses: 1. How would you describe the current state of your business: poor, fair, good or great?

2. What do you like about doing business here?

3. What could be done to improve your business?

The goal of the program is to strengthen relationships with business and help grow the economy.

A tangible way the Business Walks can help is by letting business-

CONTRIBUTED

GARTH MCKAY (left) of IDA/Rexall and Tracey Fredrickson of the Central Okanagan EDC, joined Lake Country Mayor James Baker during Business Walks in Lake Country last week. es know what resources municipalities, cham-

bers, the commission and business groups of-

fer – all have avenues for companies to network

SEE WALK Z10

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SMALL BUSINESS WEEK â&#x20AC;˘ www.lakecountrycalendar.com Z9

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Z10 www.lakecountrycalendar.com • SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Lake Country Calendar

small business week ▼ BUSINESS WALKS

Lake Country embraces business survey WALK FROM Z8 and promote their business.

“I was very pleased to take part in opening a positive and constructive dialogue with the Lake Country business community,” said Coun. Jamie McEwan. “The Okanagan Business Walks pilot project was well attended by Lake Country representatives.

In fact, we had the

greatest number of volunteers per capita of any community that participated.”

Lake Country, along with Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland and Westbank First Nation were included in the Okanagan pilot project for Business Walks in Canada.

Business Walks have had great success in U.S. cities such as Sacramento, California, where

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they are done four times a year because the input and follow-up help is so valuable.

“Civic leaders can better connect with businesses in their communities through the face-toface conversation that is initiated, and identify and remove barriers to doing business in their areas,” said Corie Griffiths, business develop ment officer with the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission.

“All together, 335 businesses were visited; and we were really impressed with the media coverage from four local newspapers as well as Global TV.” Lake Country sent three staff members, along with Mayor James Baker and Couns. Jamie McEwan and Lisa Cameron; the chamber had five participants and the COEDC sent one person, which gave Lake Country four teams of three, enabling them to canvas more than 80

18

th Anniiversary

businesses in Lake Country.

“I was really impressed with the business owners I had the pleasure of speaking with, and found new businesses worth frequenting,” said Cameron. “Some of the takeaway points we heard were more professional space is needed, residents need to be educated on the value of shopping local and the importance of bringing more people into town through events or festivals like ArtWalk.”

“Overall, I think this pilot project was a huge success but it’s only the beginning. We need to continue working with the business community to help our local economy thrive,” added McEwan.

“This was a great chance for the district and the business community to work together to create a better climate for growth in the community,” said economic development manager Ryan Roycroft.

“The Chamber of Commerce and COEDC led the charge on this initiative and it was well supported. The response of business owners was really positive.”

DOUG FARROW/CONTRIBUTOR

MARSEL AHMADZADEGAN, at his Lake Country business, Mona Vision.

▼ AT WORK

Experience is key in business Experience means a lot in the worlds of business and life.

Lake Country businessman Marsel Ahmadzadegan he has enough experience to last a couple of lifetimes, if not more, in both of those worlds.

The owner of Mona Vision in Lake Country for the past 18 years, Ahmadzadegan offers his clients cutting edge products and services in the eyeglass industry while leaning on decades of experience in the industry.

As a young man, he

‘‘

THERE IS A LOT OF RESPECT AND FRIENDSHIP SO YOU HAVE TO BE SHARP IN MAKING SURE YOU ARE TRUSTWORTHY AND DO A GOOD JOB. Marsel Ahmadzadegan

was jailed in his native Iran because of his faith but then escaped persecution and moved to Canada 30 years ago, ar-

riving in Lake Country in 1989.

“I was a resident of Lake Country before I had my business,” he explained. “I find the people of Lake Country extremely friendly. There is a lot of respect and friendship so you have to be sharp in making sure you are trustworthy and do a good job.”

The job he has been doing has been good, leading to good word of mouth and clients from Lake Country to Alberta to L.A.

SEE EXPERIENCE Z13

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Wishing all the best in the upcoming year to all small businesses in Lake Country The Lake Country Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to encourage and support a healthy business community in Lake Country.

The Chamber offers benefits to its membership that includes business oriented events and access to competitive rates for a variety of business needs. #40-9522 Main Street, Lake Country 250-766-5670 Toll Free 1-888 766 5670 www.lakecountrychamber.com

Lake Country Calendar Wednesday, October 17, 2012

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK • www.lakecountrycalendar.com Z11

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14,890

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04 BMW X3 2.5i Sport Utility SUV

$

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Z12 www.lakecountrycalendar.com • SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Lake Country Calendar

small business week

Gullion loves to have her own business, Just Because Dee Lake Wilderness Resort is offering winter rentals on cabins and full service cottages November 1st through to March 31st.

As well as nightly rentals on our full service cottages throughout the winter.

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Lake Country Husky 10550 HWY 97N Lake Country, B.C. 250-766-4448

Lotto Centre • Propane Cylinder Fill •Auto Propane • Live Bait • Diesel Type of Business: Gas Bar - Convenience Store Number of Staff: 8 •In Business Since 2002

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For the past nine years, Carrie Gullion has owned and operated Just Because Boutique in Lake Country. It’s a unique store that offers the latest trends in home decor, giftware, garden and patio accents along with women’s fashions, jewelry and handbags, a baby and children section in the store.

To get an insight into running a small business, the Lake Country Calendar asked Gullion some questions about running a small business in Lake Country.

Question: How long have you been in Lake Country and why did you first open your business?

Answer: I purchased an existing store in a much smaller space in October of 2003. By August 2005, I had the opportunity to move into a much larger space (right next door) which allowed me to expand my inventory and selection. I had been a legal assistant prior to getting into the retail business, but I had always had a passion for

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Q: How many employees do you have and has your business grown in the past years?

A: I have been very lucky over the past nine years to have had the greatest employees who are now friends. Currently I have two employees on a part-time basis and again—they are both very much appreciated.

Q: Where did you come up with the name of the store?

A: Believe it or not I came up with the name from a male customer. He was purchasing jewelry for his wife so I had asked if it was her birthday and he replied “No—its just because.”

Q: How do you like operating in a community like Lake Country?

A: I love Lake Country and the people that I have met over the past nine years. It’s nice to go to your grocery store, drugstore, dentist, vet etc. and you’re on a first name basis. I was new to the community when I started my business and now I have many friends—can’t get better than that.

Q: What are some of the benefits to working in a small business?

w w

DOUG FARROW/CONTRIBUTORw

CARRIE GULLION owns and operates Just Because Boutique in Lake Country A: The only benefit I can think of owning a small business is that I’m the boss and I can make my own choices on how I want to run my business. I think people do not realize the amount of hard work and time you put into your own business. It is not a 9 to 5 day job and there is no guarantee you’re going to get paid at the end of day.

Q: What are some of the challenges that you face in Lake Country?

A: Well, it certainly has been a struggle in this community with being so close to Kelowna

and competing with big box stores. We live in a busy society, so when you work in Kelowna you tend to do all your shopping there before heading home to Lake Country. Often that means people go to larger stores so you can get your groceries, gifts, clothing, etc., all in one stop.

Also, we need to develop main street as a vibrant downtown where people want to stay here and not go to Kelowna for shopping or dining. It took years to finally get a main street and then the economy went

sideways. So, now we have this beautiful street with empty fields of dead grass—not very appealing to locals or tourists. w Q: What are your plans for the future of your business?

A: Well, the future of my business really depends on the economy and the people living in this community to support not just my business but all local businesses. Everything has a ripple effect: If you support your business community—the businesses can then support the community.

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Lake Country Calendar Wednesday, October 17, 2012

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK • www.lakecountrycalendar.com Z13

small business week ▼ MONA VISION

Build a business foundation gradually EXPERIENCE FROM Z10 “It’s been steady growth since opening at Mona Vision.

“It’s like building gradually over a foundation,” he said. “The way our growth has been, has been slower but as the community is growing we are benefitting and we have that much more of a solid clientele.”

Ahmadzadegan worked in optical labs in Prince George and Kelowna before opening Mona Vision, named after his daughter, in Lake Country where he has built his business by offering big city products with small town service.

A father of three, Ahmadzadegan says trust is the foundation of all human virtues and be brings that philosophy into his business. He imports products for clients, stays in touch with current trends in vision

care and travels to many different showcases.

“Being knowledgeable and on top of the industry, clients can hear from me what they will hear in the major centres but I’m able to offer them the exact same thing right here in Lake Country,” he said.

As far as trends in the eye glass and contacts world, people nowadays are bombarded by screens nearly 247, as hand-held devices, computers and TVs the norm for more and more people.

Ahmadzadegan says the industry is adapting to that.

“Nowadays our eyes are bombarded with electronic waves but there are new lenses that are able to reduce fatigue that comes to the eye and make it more pleasant to look through and enjoy what we are reading or seeing,” he said.

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Z14 www.lakecountrycalendar.com A14 www.lakecountrycalendar.com • SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Lake Country Calendar

small business week

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Groom your website for growth Imagine you own a shoe store. It’s in a busy shopping mall and has an inviting storefront with an attractive sign and window displays.

You’re almost guaranteed traffic—and probably sales, too, if you’ve got halfway decent products and prices.

Now picture that same shoe store on an out-of-the way country road with a grimy window and a crooked sign.

It doesn’t matter how great your footwear is.

You probably won’t have enough customers to stay in business.

Now ask yourself which of those two stores most resembles your company’s website. In today’s business world, your website is like your storefront. It could be the main way customers are finding you and forming an impression about you.

A properly designed site is especially important if your business is growing and you are trying to improve your profile.

But many small businesses don’t devote a lot of effort to optimizing their site to ensure it’s easily found via internet search engines and geared to help make sales.

SITES NEED IMPROVEMENT “A well-designed site can help your company compete effectively with businesses that have deeper pockets and larger marketing budgets,” says Michel Bergeron, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs at the Business Development Bank of Canada.

Ranking high in search engine results is vital for your visibility online, Bergeron says.

People rarely venture beyond the first page of a Google search result. Indeed, research indicates that websites appearing on the first page attract 90 per cent of the traffic.

Having a poorly optimized website can be a problem even if most of your sales don’t happen over the Internet, says Mark Evans, a leading Canadian digital marketing and startup consultant. “The Internet is the way most people discover new products and services.”

Happily, small businesses can use simple, inexpensive tools to help level the playing field with large businesses, Evans says. “A small, agile, creative company can be as effective online as a big company.”

Philip Murad has

Bounce }

found a way to turn his website into a gold mine for his fast-growing business, Philip & Henry, which books magic shows for a network of magicians across North America.

Murad’s website accounts for three-quarters of his sales, which have been growing up to 30 per cent annually for the past decade.

CLEAN, SIMPLE LAYOUT Visitors to Murad’s site are greeted with a clean, simple layout that’s easy to navigate without a lot of scrolling or clicking. The site prominently displays links allowing them to get a price quote or book a show in their area.

There’s also a short YouTube video featuring happy customers, and contact information is easy to find at the top of the page.

The site also ranks phenomenally well in Google searches—showing up on the first page out of 150 million results for the term “magic shows.” A paid ad for Philip & Henry is the top result in a search for “magician.”

Murad credits years of experimentation with search engine optimization—the art of getting

search engines like Google to rank your site near j the top. He sprinkles his content with a few dozen keywords that describe his business and help him stand out from the competition.

He also works hard on attracting links to his site. That’s because such links are one of the main ways Google uses to determine search engine y rankings. The more links to your site, the higher you’ll usually rank.

“There’s a saying: ‘Content is king and links are queen,’” Murad says. “The more people talk about you and share your content on Facebook, social sites and YouTube, the more it improves your ranking.”

All his online efforts have paid off with a payback higher than for any other kind of marketing, W he says—worth up to $100 in returns for each $1 in costs for his bestyielding campaigns.

“If there was no In- w ternet, we’d be finished.

It’s huge for my business—absolutely huge.”

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Lake Country Calendar Wednesday, October 17, 2012

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK •www.lakecountrycalendar.com www.lakecountrycalendar.com A15 Z15

small business week

Tips for financing your growing business

Whether it’s a major technology upgrade for you business or shiny new equipment, you probably spent hours shopping around for the best product.

Then comes the hard part: How to pay for it? Here’s where many entrepreneurs could be doing a better job. It’s critical to make sure your investment doesn’t stretch your cash flow and sink you.

Small business owners often make the mistake of financing growth out of their cash flow or by cobbling together a patchwork of smaller loans for each individual purchase, says Patrice

Bernard, senior vicepresident at the Business Development Bank of Canada.

Protect cash flow “It’s as if you used a credit card to finance your home renovations.

Your cash flow would be really affected,” Bernard says.

Bad financial planning is especially common— and risky—at fast-growing companies, says Peter Brown of financial advisory firm Deloitte, where he is national leader of private company services. “High growth can kill you if you don’t have the capital.”

The solution is to take time to do a finan-

cial plan for upcoming investments, preferably at the beginning of each year.

The first step is to work out how much financing you’ll need based on your overall business growth plans.

Next, meet with your financial partners early on to discuss your plans and brief them about your needs for the coming year. This is the time to secure a credit line for your investments in the coming year, which you can draw on as needed and then convert into long-term debt at the end of the year.

Plan Financing Plan your financing to

have the best conditions for your debt. The exercise may even show that you need more than one financial partner to give you enough flexibility.

And never pay for large expansion projects out of your cash flow, Bernard says, even if it looks like you’ve got oodles of extra cash on hand.

“That’s a big mistake,” Bernard says. “If a company is growing, it has to invest much more than other companies. And profits usually won’t be enough to cover your investments.”

Rob Read always used self-financing at his quickly growing fire

extinguisher maintenance company, Bison Fire Protection, as it ballooned from five employees to 50 over a decade.

But when Read and partner Émile Jolicoeur decided to expand into new lines of business they realized they needed better financial planning.

They brought in an outside consultant to help them plot out their overall business strategy, and that included laying out a financial plan.

Read started including his financial partners more in his planning through regular meetings to discuss coming needs.

Thank You! In recognition of their contribution to our community, I salute the small business people of Kelowna-Lake Country.

Your commitment and determination to succeed make our local and national economies stronger.

Make the most of the effort you put into your website

Ron Cannan, P.C., M.P.

ges. All this should guide the design of your website and social media properties—and the content on them.

Keywords—Make a list of 20 to 50 keywords that you think potential customers will use in Internet searches to find your services. Choose terms that help you stand out, and sprinkle them through your site.

Social media and links—Search engine optimization means not only rank-

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WEBSITE FROM Z14 these tips in mind.

Plan—Your online efforts should be guided by an online strategy that’s aligned with your overall business strategy, especially if you’re in growth mode. It should spell out your online goals (whether that’s making sales, generating leads or boosting your brand), your target audience and key messa-

Kelowna - Lake Country

ing well on Google, but also on social media sites. Post compelling and informative social content that visitors are likely to share. The more your site gets talked about and linked to elsewhere on the web, the higher you’ll rank in search results.

Website design—Visitors shouldn’t have to scroll or click a lot to find what they need.

Prominently display your contact info and a call to action.

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Z16 www.lakecountrycalendar.com • SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Lake Country Calendar

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