B6
Thursday, September 11, 2014
BUSINESS
calgaryherald.com
CAPITAL IDEAS CAPITAL QUESTION: How do you make your business grow? Capital Ideas members share their best tips for making progress
UPCOMING: TechShowcase 2014
SEPT
Innovate Calgary’s tech sector event that showcases some of the city’s most innovative, earlystage technology companies When: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Where: Alastair Ross Technology Centre (3553 31st St. NW) Admission: Free. Details at innovatecalgary.com/events/techshowcase
11
Startup Weekend Student Edition
SEPT
12-14
BizConnections Event
SEPT
16 Guylaine Gagnon, owner and certified tea sommelier at Zentboutique (zentboutique.com), says that for her, it’s all about knowing when to ask for help. “Since starting my web-based tea business two years ago, I’ve come across different challenges to generate traffic through the website and build that all-important mailing list. Things started to move forward when I decided to hire a marketing coach and a web specialist to get good advice and help build a good marketing strategy.” “To grow a business, you either have to acquire more customers or increase the business done with existing ones by offering new services. This translates into fully understanding what your customers need. This is not always as easy as it sounds; constant communication with your market, and solving pains or problems your customers have, or will have, is key. Finding innovative solutions for them will ensure your business will be growing.” — Alana Kitchen, founder of Who To Call Inc. — whotocall.ca “Three things have really helped me: First, grow deep. Build a stronger foundation with support and systems. Hiring a team to take care of admin has freed me to focus on what I love — serving my clients. You think you can’t afford it until you realize that not doing so is holding you back. Second, be seen. Make sure you aren’t the best-kept secret. Use simple outreach strategies to consistently create exposure and new opportunities. Third, focus on the few, not the many. Focus on one conversation, one client, and one system at a time. Even in growth mode, remember that business happens through people, and people want to feel valued and get results. Then they become great natural referrals of your work.” — Paula Onysko, founder and success coach at Paula Onysko Coaching & Consulting — paulaonysko.com “To grow my business, I have to be advertising constantly. Approximately 16 to 18 hours a day, I am working at it through social media, telephone, and personal or business contacts. As the work you put in achieves recognition and awareness, advertising must steadily increase too.” — Stacey Allain, owner of lil’BIG Gifts — lilbiggifts.ca “To rapidly build my business, I created strategic alliances … The concept is one plus one equals three. The combination of the alliance team creates a bigger outcome for the client than the businesses could do independently. It’s not a partnership; it’s very different from one. Each party in the alliance works from their strength. I also use this approach to enter into an industry I’m not familiar with, partnering with someone who is already an expert, or an insider, in the industry.” — David Saxby, president of Spark Communications Inc. — sparkcommunications.com “Determine the metrics that will lead to growth. Set targets, such as how many calls you will make each week or month. Track your progress. If your metrics are correct, and you consistently hit your targets, growth will follow.” — Steve Fylypchuk, business broker at Murphy Business Alberta — murphybusinessalberta.ca These answers were collected from Capital Ideas members. For your weekly opportunity to share your business advice the way these members have, join us at capitalideascalgary.com.
“To grow your business, it’s essential to make connections and share your brand with confidence. Business owners are always onstage; whether you’re attending a networking event, school play, or sitting on the airplane next to a stranger, you have the opportunity to share your story. Take the time to pitch your brand until you’re comfortable pitching in 30 seconds, then shoot for a 15-second version … Once you have mastered the pitch, share it with your team so they know how to share your story and grow your business too.” — Monica Kretschmer, founder and CEO of Canadian Business Chicks — canadianbusinesschicks.com “I use social media, lawn signs, brochures, flyers and word-of-mouth to advertise my business, keep top of mind, and spread the word to potential customers. Providing outstanding customer service will keep your current clients coming back, and bringing new clients with them.” — Donna Reid, owner of Ellequin Wellness Centre — ellequin.com
Meet, mingle and network with fellow entrepreneurs and professionals, hosted by The Business Link When: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Where: MNP LLP 13th Floor, MNP training room (640 5th Ave SW) Admission: Free. Details at meetup.com/the-business-link-calgary/events
Are you ready for entrepreneurship?
SEPT Photo supplied by: Guylaine Gagnon
A student-only event hosted by Startup Calgary and the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation When: 4 p.m. Friday to 9 p.m. Sunday Where: University of Calgary, MacEwan Hall Ballroom (2500 University Dr. NW) Admission: $25 to $35. Details at up.co/communities/canada/calgary/ startup-weekend
18
An interactive workshop from Alberta Women Entrepreneurs on the entrepreneurial life When: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Where: The Parlour Room at The Commons (#150, 1900 11th St. SE) Admission $29 to $39. Details at awebusiness.com
Startup Grind from Startup Calgary
SEPT
18
A global startup community designed to educate, inspire and connect entrepreneurs When: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Where: Assembly, 4th Floor (119 14th St. NW) Admission: Free. Details at startupcalgary.ca/calendar
Have an event that Capital Ideas should know about? Contact us at hello@capitalideascalgary.com.
NEXT QUESTION: How did you discover the problem your idea solves? In order to start a successful business, you need to offer a product or service that makes people’s lives easier or solves a pain that they’re dealing with. That’s why this week, we’re curious to hear your story: How did you discover the problem your idea solves?
“The business won’t grow until the owner grows; it’s not inspiring, but it’s the truth. External changes or improvements are temporary in the life cycle of a business, and not something to bank on for growth. The actions, habits, skills, beliefs, values and identity of the business owner will always set the mark high for that business. The business will grow when I grow, and not before; therefore I make my business grow by making sure that I grow.” — Jarrod Stanton, senior coach at Business Edge Coaching — businessedgecoaching.com
Visit capitalideascalgary.com to respond to the question — we’ll publish the best answers, along with your name and the name of your business, in the Calgary Herald.
“Collaborating with others who provide services similar to my own conflictresolution offerings has been successful. These relationships, and the relationships with past and current clients, help spread the word about what I do and how I can assist organizations who are seeking to be proactive with conflict.” — Michelle Phaneuf, conflict manager at REA-Reaching Enduring Agreements — REA-agreements.com
B U S I N E S S OW N E R S H E L P I N G B U S I N E S S OW N E R S
“A very high percentage of my business growth comes from repeat business and customer referrals. I pride myself on great customer service, 100 per cent customer satisfaction, and providing a top-quality product … I have tried the various (and expensive) advertising avenues with little to no success, and find that the less expensive route of social media and word-of-mouth seems to work in growing my customer base.” — Valery Klassen, owner and designer of Sun 7 Designs — sun7designs.com “Network, network, network. My business relies heavily on referrals; the more people I meet, the more people know about what I do and the greater likelihood that they’ll recommend my services. Better yet, they’ll want to be a client!” — Brad Celmainis, founder of Brad Celmainis Consulting — bradcelmainis.com
JOIN US! Get expert advice on your biggest challenges
Share insights with entrepreneurs like you Appear in the Calgary Herald
SIGN UP at
capitalideascalgary.com
Questions? Contact us at hello@capitalideascalgary.com. Follow us on Twitter @capitalideasyyc