C
Business
onnections March 2016
Issue 2
Company Profile
Women in Business On March 8, 2016, the world celebrated the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women during International Women’s Day. Throughout recent history, women have been taking increasingly important roles in the area of business development and leadership, specifically with respect to entrepreneurship. According to Industry Canada, women hold majority ownership of approximately 16% of small businesses in Canada and while women remain under-represented as a proportion of small business owners, female entrepreneurship has been growing more rapidly in recent years. In a country where more women are completing postsecondary education and are supported by and well connected to the business world, increasing opportunity exists for females to help impact the economy. Studies completed by the Bank of Montreal and the Royal Bank of Canada indicate, respectively, that female-owned businesses employ over 1.5 million Canadians, and that by 2011, female-owned small and medium sized businesses had contributed $148 billion in economic activity. In a 2012 BMO Women’s Day study, 71% of Canadian women indicated that they would like to start their own businesses and 83% of them said having access to role models or mentors would be important to their success. In an effort to help create successful entrepreneurs, the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) offers free consultations and mentoring sessions to all new and existing entrepreneurs throughout our region. To find out more, contact the SBEC at sbec@orangeville.ca.
Dufferin Human Resources Group (HR) is looking for new members If you are working in a human resources capacity in Dufferin County and surrounding areas, the Dufferin HR Group offers great networking and learning opportunities. The group’s mission is to promote an active forum for informed and open communication between HR representatives of member firms within an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality. It meets quarterly to exchange ideas, communicate information on matters of general interest, professional development and forthcoming events, and to monitor human resource-oriented municipal, provincial, and federal laws. There is no cost to become a member. Interested HR representatives are encouraged to contact Kelly Hutchinson at kellyh@dshandling.com or 519-941-4858 Ext. 101.
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Volume 7
Celebrating Independent Retailers – Kitchen To The Table Almost 20 years ago, Sigrid Wolm left the corporate world with the goal of starting her own business. After years of hard work, long hours and perseverance, she decided to fulfill a life-long dream and put those attributes to work for herself. Building on her entrepreneurial spirit, love for cooking, and all things kitchen related, Ms. Wolm enrolled in a series of businessoriented programs, found the best possible business advisors she could, and began to develop a business plan that would help her to realize her dream of opening a retail culinary supply store. Kitchen To The Table opened on Broadway in May 1998, and after 17 years of successful operation, the business recently expanded to its new home at 163 First Street in Orangeville where it continues to flourish today. While the inventory has changed over the past 18 years, the commitment to sourcing unique products that appeal to a diverse customer base never has. What are the tricks to remaining successful in a highly competitive retail environment? According to Ms. Wolm, it’s all about delivering outstanding customer service, commitment to quality, and a great location. “We have something for everyone. From beginner cooks to savvy culinary experts, from young moms to seniors, our customers can always find a unique gadget, the perfect gift, or a quality piece for their collection,” she says. The store’s new location boasts a fully accessible retail space with ample parking and expanded product lines. These features, along with a new test kitchen that allows customers to learn how to use new appliances provide a level of service that her customers appreciate. Orangeville’s convenient location on the edge of the GTA along with its inventory of diverse business options have also contributed to the longevity of Kitchen To The Table. Centrally located, Orangeville is the primary shopping centre for customers from a wide geographic area. Says Ms. Wolm, “The store’s location serves the local region and is also a natural midway point on the commute from the Toronto area to cottage country, and this expands our customer base tremendously.” Working with complementary businesses to enhance the customer experience through cooking demonstrations and her ongoing promotion of the Orangeville Farmers’ Market have helped to position the business as a leader in culinary trends and helped strengthen the overall business climate locally. Kitchen To The Table is an outstanding example of independent retailing success. Key ingredients? A goal-oriented entrepreneur with passion, perseverance, and smarts who stays focused on her customers and unique quality products. You can learn more about Sigrid Wolm and her business at kitchentothetable.com.
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Upcoming Events
In The News
Excellent Customer Service • April 7, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. In this interactive session led by Cathy Perennec McLean, participants will develop strategies and techniques to attract and retain loyal customers. This workshop will help you and your employees learn how to enhance communication skills, create a loyal customer base, and build new service philosophies that increase organizational profits. Cost $23.
Write an Effective Business Plan • April 13, 9 a.m. to Noon In this interactive and hands-on workshop, participants will learn the essential elements of a business plan and take practical steps to create their own business planning documents. As participants work on their individual plans, they will learn how to describe the company’s vision, mission, goals and activities, begin the market analysis and promotional plan, formulate the pricing strategy, calculate financial outlays and revenues, and work on the financial forecasts. Cost $23.
Ontario Arts Council Grant Writing Information Session • April 19, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Janice Lambrakos from the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) will provide general information to arts entrepreneurs about the OAC, its programs, deadlines, and assessment and approval process. She will explain the critical elements of an application that the OAC jury reviews including project description, support material, and budget. Free.
Understanding Your Business Insurance Needs • May 3, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. In this informative and interactive session, Ken Krakar of Protect Your Finances will help business owners to understand the wide variety of insurance options available for small businesses and identify the appropriate coverage for their enterprises. Topics include an introduction to insurance, term vs. permanent insurance, debt protection, business interruption insurance, key person, buy-sell/shareholders agreement, and group benefits. Cost $12.
Resources for ArtPreneurs • May 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This full day event includes two information-packed workshops for entrepreneurs in the arts and culture sector including Marketing Strategies for Creative Industries and Running a Home-based Arts Business. Kim McBrien, trainer, artist and owner of Indigodragonfly will share tried and true strategies for running a successful and profitable creative enterprise. Using her own and other businesses as examples, Kim’s instructive and engaging sessions will help business owners to identify their growth potential through marketing tactics and business efficiencies. This event is being held in partnership with the Province of Ontario as part of the Orangeville & Area Cultural Entrepreneurship Project. Free - includes lunch.
Culture Days Information Session • May 17, 10 a.m. to Noon Find out about the many available resources, tools, and tips that can make your Culture Days activities a success. Meet and network with other Culture Days activity organizers and find out what is being planned in the community.
Advanced Marketing Tools and Software • May 18, 9 a.m. to Noon In this advanced e-Business workshop, Bryan Coles of noBul Media will show business owners how to identify the most effective online tools for achieving and measuring their marketing goals. Participants will learn how to assess software options, make informed purchasing decisions and evaluate return on investment. The workshop will also cover advanced tactics such as customer segmentation, cost per customer acquisition, and more. Cost $30. All prices include HST. For more event details please visit orangevillebusiness.ca/events.
Real Estate - Featured Listing Northwest Corner C Line and Centennial Road More than 5 acres of shovel-ready industrial land available for sale. Located at the northwest corner of Centennial Road and C Line, the land is close to the Orangeville bypass and is zoned M-1 for general industrial uses. The lot size is 2.087 ha (5.156 ac) and can be severed into two or three smaller parcels. The current asking price for the land is $215,000.00 per acre. Interested buyers should contact Ruth Phillips, Manager of Economic Development, Town of Orangeville at 519-941-0440 Ext. 2291 or by email at rphillips@orangeville.ca.
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Orangeville Summer Attraction Survey Based on recommendations outlined in Orangeville’s Municipal Cultural Plan, the Economic Development office is working to establish a Summer Attraction Strategy for Orangeville. The strategy is intended to develop fresh, new programs and summer offerings that will help build Orangeville’s cultural attractions year-round. As a first step, a survey has been developed for local and regional residents of all ages. Once completed, the survey will help to evaluate current cultural offerings and illustrate what other types of activities respondents want to see and participate in over the summer months. With results from the survey, the office will consult with key cultural stakeholders and organizations in an effort to develop a strategy of new and expanded summer program offerings. Tell us what you’d like to see happening in Orangeville. Complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/summerattraction strategy.
Things To Know Business Retention + Expansion Initiative (BR+E) Update Working with business owners within the local manufacturing sector, the Orangeville Economic Development Office and Economic Development Committee (EDC) are currently undertaking a BR+E project. The initiative is well underway and the EDC thanks all of the 37 business owners who took valuable time to complete comprehensive surveys as part of the process. Our next step will be to analyze the results of the surveys, identify common themes and begin to develop an action plan that will help the Town to best support its manufacturing businesses.
Summer Company 2016 Once again, the Orangeville & Area SBEC will partner with the Province of Ontario to provide this great opportunity to local student entrepreneurs. Students aged 15 to 29 who are returning to school in the fall may qualify to start and run their own summer businesses while receiving mentoring, training, and grants of up to $3,000. Visit the Summer Company page on our website to get started or call the SBEC at 519-941-0440 Ext. 2270. Be your own boss this summer – applications are being accepted now.
87 Broadway, Orangeville, Ontario L9W 1K1 Phone: 519-941-0440 Toll Free: 1-866-941-0440 E-mail: info@orangevillebusiness.ca Twitter: @OrangevilleED You Tube: Orangeville Business Facebook: Orangeville Economic Development & Tourism