Your Business Winter 2020

business

YOUR

WINTER 2020 ISSUE

BRouGht to you By the newMaRKet chaMBeR oF coMMeRce

CELEBRATING

Excellence EASY EVENT

PLANNING

GETTING

SOCIAL

MAKING YOUR WARDROBE

WORK HARDER

Business owners: Get MORE!

For details, or to request a free quote, visit:

CH_8.5x11postergetmore_1017_e

CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE

18

04

inside track

Cover Story

05

calendar

06

Behind the scenes

07

learn News, Knowledge & insights Event Planning Made Easy Chamber Happenings

09

connect Bridging Business & community Smart Commute Member News Event Photos

13

thrive tips, trends & intel Make Your Wardrobe Work Harder Town of Newmarket Update

15

Features Getting Social Spotlight on Business Excellence

22

Members Milestones Nab Some "Me" Time

13 Making Your Wardrobe Work For You

15

Getting Social ON the cOVer: Oh, what a night! Huge congrats goes out to our Business Excellence Awards winners.

Top L to R: Brian Johns, Maria Ciarlandini, Darryl Sills, Martin Muhs, Arlene Stephenson, Henry Valdes, Gus Khouri, Jennifer McLachlan, Mariam Ekram. Bottom L to R: Tracy Walter, Cassandra Grant, Stacey Muhs, Susan Manahan, Joe Derochie and Bri-Ann Stuart.

NEWMARKET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SMART COMMUTE CENTRAL YORK STAFF

Tracy Walter

Chair, Bri-Ann Stuart

President & CEO

Oxford Properties Group/Upper Canada Mall

Program Services Jennifer Brien & Andrea Stephenson

Rosanne Antunes Event Manager

1st Vice Chair, Jim VanDusen NewRoads Automotive Group

Jennifer Buchanan Manager, Member Services & Engagement

Secretary/Treasurer, Pierre Bonhomme Chaggares & Bonhomme Chartered Professional Accountants

Lori Clayton Office Manager Leslee Mason Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives Tyler Nakeff Program & Events Specialist Abdus Samad Manager, Government Relations & Policy Adam Soppelsa Research & Policy Analyst

YOUR

business

Past Chair, Joshua Campbell Knowledge Broker Real Estate

CONTACT US 470 Davis Drive (The Old Railway Station) Newmarket, ON L3Y 2P3 T: 905.898.5900 F: 905.853.7271 W: newmarketchamber.ca E: info@newmarketchamber.ca

Kyle Burgis Minken Employment Lawyers James Daigle Treefrog/Ubiqweus Carol Shirtliff-Hinds Shirtliff Hinds Law Neil Stratton The Black-Stratton Group at ScotiaMcLeod

Your Business is published quarterly by the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce.

To advertise: advertising@newmarketchamber.ca

INSIDE TRACK

DIGGING INTO DEEP wORk F or years, I’ve employed a productivity strategy involving my inbox. When a new email comes in I typically give it a cursory glance. If it’s something I can address within five minutes I answer it. If not, it gets filed into an “Action” folder. Less pressing emails go into a separate folder. Once addressed, emails are categorized and filed.

When I’m working on something that requires a great level of concentration, I turn off all distractions and close my office door. Still, I can’t help but wonder whether all my superficial busyness is having a negative impact overall.

The ability for “deep work,” a coin termed

by Cal Newport, is apparently something many of us are increasingly struggling with. Newport is an author and a computer science professor who has written extensively on the intersection of technology and culture. Deep work, he says, is the activity of focusing without distraction on something that is cognitively challenging. Even

a quick glance at your phone or inbox, he says, dramatically impedes that.

What to do? Newport outlines four rules for deep work in his 2016 book of the same name.

Among them is making time in your day for undistracted work. Block off chunks of space in your calendar and give a task your undivided attention.

Newport also suggests allowing yourself to get bored. Deep thinking lacks constant stimuli. If you frequently rush to your phone or computer for a quick hit of Facebook, you teach your brain to seek it out. Think of it like your morning cup of coffee. Yes, you could make do without it but you likely don’t want to!

Another “deep work” rule? Ditch social media.

(Newport’s idea—not mine!) The premise here is to be selective about the technology that adds value to your life and avoid the things that don’t.

I get the sentiment—those daily digital distractions can easily eat into valuable time (who

hasn’t taken a “second” to check social media and emerged ages later?!). But social media is also an incredibly valuable tool for business owners and operators. So perhaps fewer cat videos and a more thoughtful approach is in order? (We show you how on page 15.)

Finally, Newport suggests giving “shallow work” a place in your day but not letting it dominate.

(Shallow work consists of tasks that may be important but are less cognitively demanding such as returning calls and emails, scheduling meetings and so forth.) It’s good advice and I’ve adjusted my approach to email as a result.

Tracy Walter President and CEO Newmarket Chamber of Commerce

A b i g t h a n k y o u t o o u r Pa r t n e r s PreMier PartNers

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newmarketchamber.ca

cOrPOrate PartNers

cOMMuNity PartNers

CALENDAR OF EVENTS for a list of all events, information and registration, visit newmarketchamber.ca/events

JANUARY

8 16

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Social School: Mastering Your Digital Media Strategy 12–1:30 pm Newmarket Chamber of Commerce

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LEARN Seminar: The Ins and Outs of Networking 9–10:30 am Newmarket Public library

ONGOING

FEBRUARY

11 12 20

th

Breakfast Networking 7:30–9:30 am Newmarket Community Centre

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Social School: Building and boosting your online presence 12–1:30 pm Newmarket Chamber of Commerce

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LEARN Seminar: Your Brand on the Show Floor—Maxing your efforts easily at trade shows, exhibits and more 9–10:30 am Newmarket Public library

Member Orientations: January 29, february 26, March 25 Awesome Foundation Newmarket: Grant Application Deadlines, 15th of Every Month Entrepreneurs In Motion Networking Group: Every Thursday and friday Mastermind Group: Third Tuesday of the Month Not-For-Profit Mastermind Group: Second wednesday of the Month

march

TBD

Annual Economic Luncheon 11:30 am–2:30 pm Cardinal Golf Club

5 10 11 19

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Women in Business Luncheon 11 am–2 pm Cardinal Golf Club

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Women of Excellence Awards 6:30–10 pm Newroads Centre for the Performing Arts

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Social School: Instagram Stories 12–1:30 pm Newmarket Chamber of Commerce

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LEARN Seminar: Brand Boosters: Reviews and Testimonials 9–10:30 am Newmarket Public library

APRIL

3-5 rd

th

Newmarket Home & Lifestyle Show book your booth now. Space is limited. visit newmarketchamber.ca/homeshow

find us on: yOur BusiNess | Winter 2020

5

BEHIND THE SCENES

BOARD Kyle Burgis

Lawyer, Minken Employment Lawyers

Get To Know The Newmarket Chamber Q. What’s your favourite quote or motto?

A. ‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.’ -Robert Frost

Q. Name one thing on your bucket list.

A. Travelling to Easter Island to see the stone head statues called Moai.

Q. Best thing about your job?

A. Meeting businesses and people, learning what they do, and discovering what they are passionate about.

Q. What’s your favourite productivity strategy?

A. Schedule, schedule, schedule… and then stick to it!

VOLUNTEER Richard Mewhinney

Mortgage Broker, Homeguard Funding Ltd. Chair, Entrepreneurs in Motion

Q. What’s your proudest accomplishment?

A. Giving back to people less fortunate and perhaps having a small positive impact on the lives of people in a community in Northern Uganda.

Q. Best thing about your job?

A. The opportunity to help my clients find the best options to achieve their dreams of buying a home or executing a refinance.

Every day is different and every client has different objectives.

Q. What’s your favourite productivity strategy?

A. Always follow up with my clients wherever I am in the world and even while out of the office—don't leave all the follow-up to assistants in the office.

MUSIC FROM THE 80's, 90's & NOW

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newmarketchamber.ca

LEARN

News, Knowledge & Insights

EVENT PLANNING MADE EASY

Whether it’s a seminar, celebration or something big like a conference, careful planning and organization is critical to success. Help your next event go off without a hitch with these tips from Rosanne Antunes, Event Manager with the Newmarket Chamber

By Sahil Asthana Know Who and Why Events are a lot of work so before you do a deep dive into planning one, consider what your company wants to get out of it and what experience you want to provide its attendees. For example, maybe you’re looking to do a customer appreciation day where you thank loyal clients, or you want to educate people on something your company does.

Get SMART Have a list of Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals in mind when planning an event. “Setting goals early on makes the planning process much easier,” says Antunes. Write down everything that needs to be done and set timelines for completion.

For example, do you need special lighting or centrepieces, what food (if any) will you serve, what date and time will your event run, and so forth. Focus on the bigger picture in the preliminary stages and work toward the smaller details as you go.

Budget, Budget, Budget Take time to meticulously plan your budget and

cash flow. Common mistakes include leaving out things like an emergency fund for unforeseen expenses, as well as taxes and gratuities. A detailed budget will keep you focused and help filter out some of the more extravagant options you might be considering.

Get Inspired Tight budget? “Find different ways to get the most bang out of your buck,” says Antunes.

She believes that creativity can take you a long way especially when it comes to decor. Look to websites like Pinterest for inspiration and new ideas. Knowing your audience’s needs enables you to spend your budget on what matters most, rather than something that might go unnoticed.

Be Prepared Create a contingency plan for all potential eventruining mishaps, like the featured guest speaker failing to show up or the catering company pulling out at the last minute. “At a big event, one of our dessert vendors failed to show and we had to make a last minute dash to the grocery store,” says Antunes, adding nobody ended up noticing. Having a back-up plan meant she was

ready to deal with what could have been a major setback. Her suggestion? Try and come up with solutions to all potential issues so that you’re better prepared (and more confident) going into your event.

Generate Advanced Interest Consider running an early-bird promotion to incentivize people to register and purchase tickets in advance. This will help you forecast the number of potential guests and allows you to adjust your budget accordingly.

Spread the word via your website, newsletters and social media and, if the event is public, encourage attendees to share it.

Follow Up And Get Feedback Send a thank you email paired with a feedback form. Consider whether your goals were met.

Were there any unexpected hiccups? Identify the strengths and weaknesses and apply the learning when planning future events. Finally, don’t stress about all the things you wished you had done better. “Taking your mistakes in stride is part of the charm of event planning,” concludes Antunes.

YOUR BUSINESS | Winter 2020

7

LEARN

Tempted by

ThAIlAND!

NEw Teladoc Service

The Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan just got even better! The Teladoc telemedicine service has been added to all policies at no additional cost. All plan members (and dependents) who hold a Chambers Plan extended health care benefit can access the service. Teladoc helps members connect with

a physician about non-urgent medical matters by video conference or phone from wherever they are, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Download the Teladoc app to get started. Not a Chambers Plan member? Contact Chelsea Dell or Dan Hutton at the Norbram Group at 905-479-6711 (norbram.ca) for more info.

ThE NoT-for-ProfIT Join us April 18–May 2, 2020 when we head to Thailand. Hit the highlights on a 15-day adventure that strikes a balance between cultural landmarks and stunning beaches, activity and relaxation. Up north, enjoy culinary adventures in Chiang Mai and visit the River Kwai. Then head to the southern shores for some downtime at Ko Samui and Krabi and a rainforest eco-walk and dinner in Khao Sok. Bask in the radiance of golden temples, enjoy long-tail boat rides, learn to cook authentic Thai food and so much more during this truly spectacular trip.

Newmarket Chamber member? Take advantage of the special price of $4,900 CAD per person. For info, visit newmarketchamber.ca/ Thailand. deadlIne to ReGISteR FoR the tRIp IS wedneSday, deceMBeR 18th.

tRavel aGency: Laura Mozes | Voyageur Travel 8-1250 Journey’s End Cir. Newmarket, ON L3Y 0B9 Office: 905-895-2433 ext. 222 Email: laura@voyageurtravel.ca

mastermind Group If running a business is hard, then operating a not-for-profit organization can take challenges to a whole new level. We’ve created a Not-for-Profit Mastermind to help. Facilitated by Victor Woodhouse who also runs the Chamber’s Small Business Mastermind, the group is made up of representatives from local NFPs looking to have a greater impact in the community.

Our NFP Mastermind meets once a month to share ideas and info and hear from experts on a variety of topics such as grant writing, fundraising and social media. Interested in learning more? Contact Leslee Mason at leslee@newmarketchamber.ca or 905-898-5900.

From left to right: Ron Pickett (Newmarket Squash Club), Rick O’Connor (SMSnet), Liora Sobel (Women’s Centre of York Region), Heather CairnsMills (Walk It Off Spinal Cord Wellness Centre), Judy Poulin (Newmarket Food Pantry), Laura Parsons (DeafBlind Services Ontario), Dave Engel (North Newmarket Lions Club) with facilitator Victor Woodhouse (Woodhouse Insurance). Missing: Ryan Dibisch (NewMakeIt), Danielle Koren (Routes Connecting Communities), Laurie Docimo (Shine Through the Rain Foundation) and Erin Cerenzia (Neighbourhood Network).

2020

wE’rE rEADY for You!

School’S In SeSSIon. Our Social Media Clinics are now Social School.

Join Hollie Hoadley from Creative Solutions for fun and informative workshops designed to help you master social media so you can better market your business. don’t JuSt Stand theRe—leaRn SoMethInG! From networking to making reviews and testimonials work harder for your business to sticky branding tactics, attending our Learn seminars is one New Year’s resolution you’ll want to keep. Your business deserves it.

Voyageur Place Hotel 17565 Yonge Street • Newmarket • Ontario • L3Y 5H6 Direct: (905) 895-2131 • Toll Free: 1(800) 575-0601 info@newmarkethotel.com www.newmarkethotel.com Each Best Western® branded hotel is independently owned and operated.

• Guest Rooms • Meetings & Groups

8

• Dining • Rewards & more!

newmarketchamber.ca

Got a brilliant idea that benefits youth in Newmarket? An Awesome Foundation Newmarket grant can help you turn it into reality.

Applying is quick and easy! newmarketchamber.ca/awesome Awesome Foundation Newmarket

CONNECT

Bridging Business & Community

MAKING PANTS OBSOLETE W

orking from home, teleworking, working remotely... no matter how you say it, these are all terms that eliminate the need to commute to the office. According to a 2018 survey from Indeed, 65% of employers said their employees are more productive when they work remotely. In fact, some studies have shown that employees who work remotely are willing to “give back” 50% of their commute time to their employer by working a little longer. Not convinced? Les Hoffman, Director of Unified Communications at Phoenix Systems has been working from home for 10 years. Here’s what he had to say.

“

One of our video suppliers uses the motto “making pants obsolete”. I always make sure that my visible attire is business ready, but under the desk….one never knows!

”

-Les Hoffman on video conferencing How does Phoenix Systems support teleworking?

Every employee is encouraged to work remotely— it’s part of the corporate culture. Technology certainly helps. We use video collaboration and voIP tools to stay in touch with colleagues and clients.

What are the benefits you see from teleworking?

Teleworking removes the stress of having set hours and I don’t have to sit in my car for an hour a day! My office can be anywhere there’s an internet connection. It takes discipline, but once I close the door to my home office, it’s nothing but work and the day flies by. You can also save money on office attire!

How much do you save by working from home?

One could easily save $500–1,000 per month by not having to commute, given the cost of gas, insurance, repairs and wasted time spent in traffic. I also forego the stress of having to drive in traffic!

When speaking to other companies about teleworking, what are the biggest barriers you see to implementing a telework policy?

The mindset of employers with the ‘old school’ attitude that employees need to be on-site is the biggest. Our organization provides video conferencing solutions that can help employees stay

connected. Companies can lower real-estate costs, reduce turnover and sick time all while increasing productivity!

Consider implementing a telework pilot project and let the results speak for themselves. Contact Smart Commute (info@sccy.ca) and our expert staff can help you get started.

YOUR BUSINESS | Winter 2020

9

CONNECT

member news 40 Cheers For 40 Years!

This September, Buchner Manufacturing rang in its 40th year in business with Buchner Day celebrations at each of its five locations across Ontario. These open houses included giveaways, product demonstrations, and specials for homeowners and contractors alike.

Incorporated in 1979, Buchner Manufacturing Inc. is the brain- The Chamber’s Jennifer Buchanan (middle) with child of Founder Gerry Buchner, (left to right), Ashley Buchner, John Buchner, Gerhard Buchner, Jeremy Buchner, Johnny Buchwho started the business as a ner and Barley the dog. means to supply himself with superior products for his installation jobs. Since then, the company has shifted its focus from installation to manufacturing and today supplies distributors around the world. Along with manufacturing aluminum and steel products, Buchner also offers a wide range of products for other building needs, including metal roofing, eavestroughing, soffit, fascia, trims and vinyl siding.

Dancing Through

New Gale Courses

the Decades

Gabie’s Boutique is also celebrating a whopping 40 years in business. Founded by mother and daughter team, Gisela and Gabie, Gabie’s Boutique got its start as Gabie’s Sports Boutique operating out of a small 300-square-foot space on Davis Drive. While the store originally sold dancewear and sports apparel, within a few years, the duo decided to focus on their passions of dance, gymnastics and skating.

The company has seen some big changes over the last 40 years, including Gisela’s retirement and the move to their current location—a 3,000 square foot home at 18075 Leslie Street back in 2009.

Interestingly, the company is still run by a mother-daughter team; Amy—Gabie’s daughter—is the store’s Manager, acting alongside Gabie to create a dancer’s paradise for a whole new generation.

Available Newmarket Public Library’s free online certificate courses now include Microsoft Office 2019/Office 365 courses in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Project, as well as QuickBooks 2019. Upgrade your skills at newmarketpl. ca/free and look for Gale Courses under the eLearning tab. No library card? Contact us for an access code!

I can’t believe the library has

ONLINE COURSES Believe it.

From online certicate courses to eBooks, language lessons to digital magazines.

Newmarket Public Library provides access to it all at www.newmarketpl.ca/free

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

10 newmarketchamber.ca

CONNECT

EVENTS What’s been going on at the chamber? here’s a quick catch up in pics!

❚ Newmarket-aurora Federal election debate

Andrew McCaughtrie (the People’s Party), Walter Bauer (Green Party), Tony Van Bynen (Liberal Party), Yvonne Kelly (New Democratic Party), Lois Brown (PC Party).

Patricia Ristich and Joe Persechini.

Councillor Victor Woodhouse, Michael Waddington and Matthew Waddington.

George Puccia and Councillor Bob Kwapis.

Book Your Booth Today!

Chaggares & Bonhomme Chartered Professional Accountants is an established and reputable full service accounting firm. Whether you are a small or large size company, we offer financial guidance and solutions to achieve business success.

Give us a call today for a consultation if you are ready to take your business to the next level.

905-895-9922

or

1-888-353-8085

April 3rd - 5th, 2020 Ray Twinney Recreation Complex 100 Eagle St. W., Newmarket

4-355 Harry Walker Parkway North, Newmarket, ON L3Y 7B3 newmarkethomeshow.ca (905) 898 5900 facebook.com/newmarkethomeshow

016

017

yOur BusiNess | Winter 2020 11

CONNECT

EVENTS ❚ Career Pathways Expo

Jodi Terry and Michele Kearney from Buchner Manufacturing.

Jeff Paterson, Jimmy Abels, and Courtney Kearley.

Michelle Finlay and Karmalita Kraemer Bernardo from Winmar® Newmarket / York Region.

12 newmarketchamber.ca

Pantone 152

THRIVE

Tips, Trends & Intel

e’re constantly W communicating with those around us—

not just with words and body language but with clothing. How do you ensure your wardrobe is telling people what you want them to “hear”?!

We turned to Tonya Wilkinson, Fashion Stylist and Founder of UNA Fashion Stylist for these tips.

Package design is big business and one of the most important areas many brands invest in. We can use this same strategy when it comes to ourselves and our personal brands. As much as we all might dislike the concept of superficial judgement, clothing makes an important visual statement to others.

What you wear affects how others see you and how you perceive yourself. Confidence is like a super power and when you dress well, you tend to feel more selfassured. When you believe in yourself, it makes others more confident in your abilities as well.

making your waRdrobe work for you Plan Ahead

Throwing pieces together as you rush to get ready for the day doesn’t tend to produce the best outfits. You plan ahead for other aspects of your lives like meal planning and making grocery lists so why not do the same with your closet? Make planning your outfits for the week a habit too. Once a week, take some time to consider your outfits for the coming days. Think about what each day will consist of and be sure to take the weather forecast into account.

Make Your Clothing Work Harder

We tend to wear outfits on repeat—like the blazer and trouser combo you know works.

But you spend more money on clothing if each piece only serves one purpose. Instead, try using those pieces as separates; come up with new combinations using items within your existing closet of clothes. This will expand your wardrobe without you needing to spend a cent!

Create A Strong Foundation Building a house starts with the foundation. This same concept applies to your wardrobe. Your staple pieces act as your foundation and should consist of neutral colours such as white, beige, navy blue, black, brown, and grey. When choosing these items, look for ones that will stand the test of time.

Once your foundation has been built you can start adding trendier pieces—ones that represent you and your “brand.”

Make A “Look Book” For the next couple of weeks take a photo of every outfit you wear. Choose the ones you like best and then use those photos to create a “look book” and outfit reference guide. At the beginning of each week you can go through photos, pick the outfits for the week, and ensure all pieces are at hand. Your mornings just got less stressful and this will ensure you are dressing in confidence.

Tonya Wilkinson graduated from the International Academy of Design and has more than 20 years of experience in the fashion industry. A fashion Stylist for “the average person,” Tonya helps people dress with confidence, and perfect their professional and personal image through clothing. Follow her on instagram at unafashionstylist and watch her on YouTube under Una Fashion Stylist.

Learn more about her services at unashopper.com.

YOUR BUSINESS | Winter 2020 13

THRIVE

NEw PLANS for ThE new year town of Newmarket economic development update

Microcel is the one of the companies featured on the Town’s blog, “Where Work Meets Play.”

2

019 was a year of continued development and renewal for Economic Development at the Town of Newmarket. The newly elected council got right to work developing their Strategic Priorities, while a new Newmarket Economic Development Advisory Committee (NEDAC) was formed and began working towards a 2020–2024 Economic Development Strategy.

While some of these priorities more obviously impact the business community, the actions housed under each, and the progress made to date to advance them, play an important role in the economic future of the Town. To further advance Council’s priorities, the Town will have completed a comprehensive service delivery review by the end of 2019 intended to better serve our residents and business clients.

Planning for Mulock Property will be a strong focus within the Extraordinary Places and Spaces strategic priority. This project not only plays an important role in the future of recreation in this community but also is a key attractor to the Yonge and Davis corridor for office and multiresidential developments. The Town is also looking at key properties and other ways to leverage local assets to

nomic Development Strategy laid the foundation spur economic for initiatives such as the initial Marketing the growth.

Corridors campaign, including the creation of Environmenthe blog “Where Work Meets Play,” the launch tal Stewardof our locally owned broadband network, ENVI, ship will be a Smart City initiatives, a robust corporate visiting key focus as program and so much more. Key partnerships new developand collaboration across the community were ments occur. invaluable to the success of economic developThe Town will ment over the last four years. continue to In the Fall of 2019, a NEDAC- and Councilencourage developers to engage in Low Impact facilitated workshop was held to begin the Design (LID), while also looking to strengthen process of developing key strategies that will partnerships with Newmarket-Tay Power continue to drive economic development in Distribution (NTPower), Lake Simcoe Region Newmarket over the next four years. Based on Conservation Authority (LSRCA), York Region local business perspectives, the Region of York’s and others for solar power, battery storage and recently completed economic development strapotential future projects. tegic plan and the insights of local stakeholders, More directly, economic development staff and Town staff will present the findings to interested NEDAC are working on initiatives that fall constituents at an Economic Development Sumunder Economic Leadership and Job Creation, mit to be held in February. The Town welcomes Vibrancy on Yonge, Davis and Mulock, and Chamber members’ input as we continue to Extraordinary Places and Spaces. These initiashape the strategy; for more information please tives include the rehabilitation and repurposing contact the Economic Development office or of vacant Town-owned properties throughout visit www.newmarket.ca/business Newmarket, the advancement of corridor development, and a continued focus on council’s strategic Priorities for 2019-2022 include: the downtown.

• Long-term Financial Sustainability One of the most important first steps • Extraordinary Places and Spaces in advancing New• Safe Transportation market’s economy • Economic Leadership and Job creation is the renewal of the Economic Develop- • vibrancy on Yonge, davis and Mulock ment Strategy. The • Environmental Stewardship 2014-2018 Eco-

Elizabeth Hawkins is the Business Development Specialist in Economic Development with the Town of Newmarket. Elizabeth welcomes questions and comments on this article as well as suggestions for future blog posts. To reach Elizabeth directly please call 905-953-5131 ext. 3 or email ebryan@newmarket.ca.

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FEATURE

GETTING

Social

your customers are online. are you? Writer lalaa comrie talks to three business owners who are bringing their ‘a’ game to social media and discusses how you can too

W

ithout customers a business cannot survive, it cannot thrive and success is pretty much non-existent. But how do you acquire and grow your customer base—especially if you don’t have a large budget to work with? The answer is simple: social media marketing. Despite that, there’s still a lot of businesses out there with little to no social media presence.

While there’s no doubt that social media can take up a lot of time and sometimes feel complicated (particularly for newbies), the positive aspects far outweigh the negative. Through social media, you can easily reach out to your potential customers and develop relationships you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to create.

According to a 2018 survey conducted by eMarketer, 88% of American businesses use

social media and customers spend 20% to 40% more on products/services by companies who engage with them on social media.

Stats like that make it hard to ignore the importance of getting social.

Planning is Key You wouldn’t get in the car and start driving without a plan and the same is true with using social media as a business—you need to know where you want to go.

Joshua Campbell has been in real estate since 2005 and founded Knowledge Broker Real Estate in 2016. His vision for his business is to bring a well-rounded customer experience and build long-lasting relationships, and social media is a big part of that. “Before we posted anything on social the first step was to create a strategy

and make sure that everything was branded,” says Campbell.

With a strong presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube, Campbell says shining on social media is about having that road map. “Mastering social media is all about planning,” says Campbell. “Planning well is what holds everything together because odds are if you don’t plan it, it doesn’t get done.”

His company creates a marketing calendar for the entire year ahead (a step that many businesses don’t take even on a smaller scale). From podcasts, blogs and videos, Campbell and his team are always creating content that is valuable to their audience, which puts them ahead of the game on social. And they don’t just stick to real estate topics. For example, on Campbell’s podcast, the team discusses everything from yOur BusiNess | Winter 2020 15

FEATURE Before we posted anything on social the first step was to create a strategy and make sure that everything was branded, says Campbell. social media tips to creating strong teams to brand value.

Focus on Quality With a huge number of social media options for small businesses it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

While some businesses choose to be present on many platforms it’s important to remember not to bite off more than you can chew. Rather than having a mediocre presence on every social network, focus on creating quality content on a couple platforms that you can manage.

That’s Zach Train’s approach when it comes to Tidy Canada, a company he co-founded which offers eco-friendly commercial and residential cleaning services in and around Newmarket.

“You can’t do it all and there’s no reason to try,” says Train. “We focus on the platforms we use and forget about the rest.”

Tidy Canada is present on Instagram and Facebook primarily. Although the company is young—just a couple of years old—they’ve excelled at telling their story on social, and engage in an authentic and meaningful way.

They aim to provide value to their followers in every post, and they ‘stay in their lane’—meaning they don’t post content that is out of their scope. “From the very beginning we decided that we would only post about three topics: Canada, cleaning and the environment,” says Train. “All our content provides real value on those topics and our audience knows exactly what to expect from us.”

Currently, Train spends 2–3 hours per day commenting on posts with specific hashtags and providing real value to the Tidy Canada community, predominantly on Instagram. “It’s not enough to post and leave—that won’t build your community,” says Train. “It’s about interacting, having a conversation and being active.”

The commitment has paid off. Tidy Canada receives many clients and requests through Instagram, and landed one of their biggest Newmarket clients as a result of their presence on the platform.

Commit to Value Like Tidy Canada, Skintology Health and Wellness Centre is a young company. A Newmarketbased medical facility that provides patients 16 newmarketchamber.ca

with innovative and novel healthcare treatments to help them feel better inside and out, the company uses social media to both educate their audience and engage with them.

“It was really important to us to create a page where people could go and get accurate information,” says Dr. Avneet Parmar, co-owner of Skintology. “There’s so much misinformation so we wanted to make sure that we were giving our audience the truth.”

The company is active on Facebook and Instagram, differentiating itself by providing information that’s not only educational but also easy to digest and interesting. They also use Instagram stories and interact in Facebook groups to reach a wider community.

Their posts are time consuming to create but are paying off, not just in terms of brand awareness but also helping to inform those who might use Skintology services. “When we began we knew that information was going to be our biggest tool—and it has been,” says Dr. Parmer.

Whether you’re a startup or an established business one thing is for sure—social media marketing cannot be done poorly if you expect any return. In other words, commit to doing it, post regularly and create quality. Bringing your A-game to social means different things to different businesses but the key is figuring where your business fits in.

Lalaa Comrie is an award-winning writer and brand manager on a mission to help brands tell their unique stories. Her passions include helping women live more purposeful and productive lives and talking about diverse books at thisblackgirlreads.ca.

Need some social media help?

Join us most months for Social School!

Presented by Hollie Hollie from Creative Solutions, these lunch-time workshops are a great way to learn what to post, when to post and how to bring your “A game to social media". Visit newmarketchamber.ca for dates and times.

5 Tips to Better Social 1. Have a Clear Plan in Place.

Nothing can be accomplished without a plan and vision so before you begin create a plan.

Every action you take towards building your social media presence should be a part of your plan.

2. Conversations Matter.

Remember that the key to social media is being social. Monitor and respond to all social media conversations—that builds your brand and the relationships in your community.

3. Engage in the Community.

It’s important to respond when people comment on your posts, but don’t forget to engage beyond that. For example, forge relationships with like-minded businesses and comment on their posts.

4. Choose the Right Platform.

There are so many to choose from but look at your demographics and your audience and find what appeals to them.

Wherever your audience is, that’s where you want to be as well.

5. Provide Content Value.

When it comes to posting content you should be providing your audience with something to encourage them to follow you and keep following you. Like any other relationship, if they are not receiving something of value they’re going to leave.

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YOUR BUSINESS | Winter 2020 17

FEATURE

Spotlight on Business O

ne night a year for the past 30 years, the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce has brought together the business community to celebrate accomplishment, leadership, and the entrepreneurial spirit. The Business Excellence Awards pay tribute to businesses across 10 categories. And the award goes to‌ Innovation of the Year

Not-for-Profit of the Year

International Safety Sponsor: Treefrog Inc.

DeafBlind Services Ontario Sponsor: XE Corporation

Sean Stephens with winner Gus Khouri from International Safety Systems Inc.

Susan Manahan from DeafBlind Services Ontario with Cecilia Tamez from XE Corporation.

Professional Services of the Year

New Business of the Year

Downsizing Diva Sponsor: Chaggares & Bonhomme Chartered Professional Accountants

iLoveKickboxing - Newmarket Sponsor: TD Bank Group

Sponsor Rob Chaggares with winner Arlene Stephenson from Downsizing Diva.

18 newmarketchamber.ca

Sponsor Tim Brown with Cassandra Grant, Stacey Muhs and Martin Muhs of iLoveKickboxing.

FEATURE Young Professional of the Year Joe Derochie Sponsor: H.J. Pfaff Newmarket

Drew Hoffmann with Joe Derochie of Orangetheory Fitness Newmarket-Aurora.

Manufacturer of the Year

Small Business of the Year

Celestica Sponsor: BDO Canada LLP

Cachet Supper Club Sponsor: CPG Aerospace

Joel Russell from BDO Canada LLP with Darryl Sills of Celestica.

Winner Jennifer McLachlan of Cachet Supper Club with Michael Waddington and Matthew Waddington.

Large Business of the Year

Entrepreneur of the Year

Employer of the Year

Buckley Insurance Brokers Ltd Sponsor: RBC Royal Bank of Canada

Mariam Ekram Sponsor: Metroland Media

Vince’s Market Presented by the Town of Newmarket

Henry Valdes from Buckley Insurance Brokers Ltd. with Sinthia Carroll from RBC Royal Bank of Canada.

Judy Fulton with winner Mariam Ekram from KOA NATURAL FOODS.

Brian Johns and Maria Ciarlandini of Vince’s Market with Mayor John Taylor.

YOUR BUSINESS | Fall 2019 19

ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING

Website to ERP Integration

What It Means For Your Business

In today’s highly competitive business world, out-dated technology can easily keep your business from delivering to its fullest potential.

In large organizations, speed, agility, and adaptability are essential to compete and win in today’s marketplace. When you have already invested tens of thousands of dollars into an ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning) for your manufacturing or operations, the idea of upgrading your website is daunting and often not even a consideration, let alone in the budget.

Imagine harnessing the data of your ERP in its existing state to drive website interactions. But is it possible to be digitally progressive without needing to update your entire ERP, even if your ERP is 20+years old? Absolutely!

HOW? Building an adaptive website that hooks into your ERP is simple (in theory). At Treefrog, we’ve integrated into systems such as Sage, SYSPRO, ACCPAC, PIM, and others. We’ve helped local businesses in York Region transform digitally without needing to update their systems. Here are some effects we’ve seen in our clients: •

Unleashed the opportunity to create new services such as: Bots, Chats, eCommerce, Machine Learning

•

Streamlined internal process, reduce data entry

•

Reduced human error through machine learning

•

Given customers real-time data on products, orders, delivery and more

•

Increased Sales

•

Improved the customer experience with self serve on-demand to your business

905.836.4442

|

WHAT? When your website looks old, and it is challenging to use, your customer is rarely going to interact with your business digitally.

However, when you give them real-time product inventory, custom quotes, order tracking, and customer-centric pricing – they now have the desire to engage with you online. When you are pushing your customer to your website daily, or weekly, this is a new source of communication to share specials, product information, crossing selling data, and other business or culturebased information.

Adding a layer to the relationship with your customer can result in a more loyal customer and advocate for your brand.

info@treefrog.ca

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www.treefrog.ca Advertorial

FEATURE

Chelsea Dell and Dan Hutton. Tyler Nakeff, Emily Wood and Melissa Hoving and Greg Deidre Dengo.

Moulton.

Our dapper emcee, Javed S. Khan, kept the audience Sam Hurai, Gian Detta Colli, Rouhad Slim laughing and the event flowing smoothly. and Leonel Cortes-Torres.

Christine Christine ChristineElliott Elliott Elliott MPP MPP MPP --Newmarket-Aurora -Newmarket-Aurora Newmarket-Aurora Newmarket Newmarket Newmarket businesses businesses businesses play play play aa a critical critical critical role role role ininin our our our economy economy economy and and and ininin our our our community community community by byby creating creating creating jobs jobs jobs and and and bringing bringing bringing opportunity opportunity opportunity to toto hardworking hardworking hardworking families. families. families.

That’s That’s That’s why why why the the the government government government isisis making making making Ontario Ontario Ontario work work work smarter smarter smarter for for for business, business, business, and and and better better better for for for people. people. people.

16635 16635 16635 Yonge Yonge Yonge Street, Street, Street, Unit Unit Unit 22, 22, 22, Newmarket, Newmarket, Newmarket, ON ON ON L3X L3X L3X 1V6 1V6 1V6 905-853-9889 905-853-9889 905-853-9889 1-800-211-1881 1-800-211-1881 1-800-211-1881 905-853-6115 905-853-6115 905-853-6115 Christine.Elliottco@pc.ola.org Christine.Elliottco@pc.ola.org Christine.Elliottco@pc.ola.org www.christineelliottmpp.ca www.christineelliottmpp.ca www.christineelliottmpp.ca

Derek and Katharine Schimnosky with Brad Dempsey.

Taylor Funeral Home: a special place to remember You are unique. Your loved ones are unique.

So at your time of need or when planning ahead, rely on our specialists to provide everything you need to create a one-of-a-kind remembrance.

Call us today for a FREE Planning Kit:

905-898-2100 taylorfh.ca

Taylor Funeral Home Newmarket Chapel

by Arbor Memorial

524 Davis Drive, Newmarket, ON Arbor Memorial Inc.

Family Owned. Proudly Canadian.

yOur BusiNess | Winter 2020 21

MEMBERS

MEMbErShIP

milestones

the following companies are celebrating anniversaries as chamber members. thanks for being part of the Newmarket chamber!

35 YEARS

10 YEARS

Smith, Sykes, leeper & tunstall llp

alIFeKey a taste of the Islands caRdwatch licensing limited countryside Gazebos canada Katherine Joy Interiors First choice overhead doors Imagination Renovations Inc. treasure Mills Inc. wolarmann enterprises ltd. york Simcoe appraisals tuomisto consulting

25 YEARS Braywood Services Inc. McKechnie counselling Services

20 YEARS Bdc

15 YEARS assured Mechanical & electrical Services dolphin pools & BBQ’s e.S. automotive Gum products International Inc. wild Bird unlimited

NAb SoME

5 YEARS Black Forest plumbing Inc. BMo Bank of Montreal carmichael landscape design ltd. changes For you Inc. dreamwinds equine assisted learning centre

Go painting la-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries Mechanic on duty newRoads automotive Group newRoads Mazda newRoads Subaru of newmarket ontario Spca provincial education and animal centre print three Romeo Stanescu – wealth Financial Solutions Inc. Routes connecting communities Inc. Shobbha M. Soobrattee – desjardins Insurance Sun life Financial – Ryan charron advisor the Black-Stratton Group at ScotiaMcleod tom & Jerry’s newmarket

"me" TImE

it’s a hectic season. Why not carve out a little time for yourself at one of our member spas?

carmichael hair design & day spa carmichaelhairandspa.com Head to toe pampering is on the menu at this full service salon and spa. Enjoy a mani and pedi, microblading, customized facials and more. Look for Carmichael’s in the heart of Newmarket on Main St. dawson Manor spa M2M dawsonmanorspa.com $20 off any regularly priced service and/or retail product purchases of $75 or more (excl. rMt).

There’s no shortage of selection at Dawson Manor, where you can enjoy a full day spa experience. Choose from a wide variety of head to toe treatments, including salve treatments for the face, 22 newmarketchamber.ca

extra love for your hands and feet, and more. Best of all? You can book with your besties for group treatments. sanctuary day spas sanctuarydayspas.com Indulge your senses at Sanctuary where you can choose from among an array of luxe experiences, including facials, body and signature treatments, and massage.

There’s also three spa packages designed to relax and restore you. tangles hair salon & spa M2M tanglessalon.ca M2M: get a set of full eyelash extensions and receive your first fill free.

Taking in some holiday festivities? Get prepped at Tangles, located just north of Newmarket in Holland Landing. Get your hair done, your lashes done and your make up done! Plus, enjoy some great spa services in between. timeless harmony salon & spa M2M timelessharmonyspa.ca M2M: 15% discount off all full-priced aesthetic services.

Unwind, rejuvenate and de-stress at Timeless Harmony. Choose à la carte services such as facials and body treatments or indulge in a package of goodies, created to leave you feeling pampered and relaxed.

NewRoads Automotive Group and Newmarket Chamber of Commerce are thrilled to present

2020 marks the 10th anniversary of NewRoads Girls Night Out. With your support, the event has raised over $100,000 benefitting Women’s Centre of York Region.

In appreciation of this incredible accomplishment, 2020 will see a special edition of the event dedicated to recognizing Women of Excellence.

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE www.newmarketchamber.ca/ women-excellence-awards Earlybird price: $80 before January 1, 2020 Ticket price: $95 All proceeds go to the Women’s Centre of York Region.

AWARDS NIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 10

6:30pm -10pm NewRoads Performing Arts Centre

www.newroads.ca/community

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Call us today for a free, no obligation estimate. We will search the insurance marketplace for you to find comprehensive coverages at competitive rates.

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