IDEAS Newsletter V O L U M E
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: GTA West / Toronto PD Day Event
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Upcoming Events
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NCR Chapter 3 Update Toronto AGM
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Toronto Chapter Elections
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Are you at Risk?
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What exactly 6 is soapstone?
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Message From The Chair Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you haven’t noticed summer is over and fall is here. Hopefully, Mother Nature is giving your neck of the woods a great Indian summer in lieu of not having a stellar real summer. I hope everyone has been busy these last few months, with your time being evenly balanced between work and family of course, because with the cooler weather comes the “We need a renovation and we need it done by Christmas!!” crowd! I trust everyone has had the opportunity to check out the CDECA website. You may have noticed a few changes and there are some big ones (a whole new one) coming… so stayed tuned and keep checking back. With the website in mind, please take some time and update or for some, establish yourself and your business profile, with pictures if you have them. However, keep in mind that with the uploading to the new website, you will need to re-enter your info again. I know that this seems like a pain but on the upside you can get your thoughts totally together, get your profile exactly the way you want it and save the info to reinstall when the new site is up and running. Having your profile online is an amazing way to promote your business and it’s a free benefit
with your Accredited membership. I have personally found that the public does check out the site and looks for professionals in their area. Also keep in mind this
Wanda Vuignier Chair, CDECA is for Affiliates as well!! If you are unsure as to how to begin then call or e-mail Seamus at head office and he will happily guide you through the process. We are well on our way to bringing you some great webinars…so keep your eyes open for that announcement too! As someone who loves to continually learn in a business that is forever changing, this is right up my alley. By now, you should have received an e-mail regarding CDECA’s Volunteer of the Year Award. This will be presented to that special individual at the AGM next year. What a fabulous idea to give credit to those that offer their time in making our organization so fantastic! On a personal note, I learned a valuable lesson this summer. It was really slow, almost with no
heartbeat at all. I know this goes against the unspoken rule of always answering the question of “How’s business? With a, “Me, oh I am so busy. I hardly have time to breath” answer and I was feeling really defeated until a colleague, to whom I was sharing my tales of woe with, started reminding me of all the things I had accomplished. I had finally taken the time to organize my office, created a filing system and systemized my operations and finally had the time to learn my accounting program (no small feat on its own)! I had been so busy (really) before that, that these important details of running a business, which are the bane of my existence, and no I never exaggerate, were never really taken care of and always had me scrambling for each client to get the paperwork done and sorted out. So, what did I learn? Simple: having down time is not a bad thing. It gives you the opportunity to recharge your creativity, think, plan, relax and enjoy time with loved ones. Now, when the clients come banging at my door (a girl can dream) I have all my systems ready. Well, almost. I mean it was only one summer! There is still updating my contract, updating my resource material, updating my rolodex, meeting with new vendors…..
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REGISTRATION OPEN FOR
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The 2014 GTA West / Toronto PD Day Event Deadline to get your tickets is October 31st THIS IS A “CAN’T MISS” EVENT SO REGISTER TODAY!
Meet us at Lambton Golf and Country Club
In an industry that is ever evolving, it is vital for interior decorators to not only stay on top of the latest design trends and industry news, but to also learn new technologies, master new design techniques, conquer internet marketing, and expand our knowledge in all areas of running a business. The annual PD Day is your chance to do all of that plus mix and mingle with
your amazing peers - during a jam-packed day of learning.
raphy, as well as a special presentation from Houzz about how to Reach New Clients & Engage a Global Community using their technology.
The event will be held at the Lambton Golf & Country Club in Etobicoke on Thursday, November 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The agenda includes a panel discussion on Winning Awards & How to Get Published, presentations from industry leaders on Marketing Your Brand and Lessons in Interior Photog-
Registration for the event closes on October 31 so get your ticket today! The cost is $85 and includes a continental breakfast and buffet lunch. Plus, thanks to several generous sponsors, there will also be a few wonderful prizes available to win.
Upcoming CDECA Events
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CDECA Volunteer of the Year Award (Deadline December 31st)
NEWSLETTER
New mobilefriendly CDECA.com website
2015 Design and Decorating Competition (Opening Soon!)
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Chapter Update from the National Capital Region (NCR) Another successful Home Show in the Capital thanks to our own Kim Koa ‘s tireless organization for the 7th year! Our 2014 Home and Design Show saw 16 volunteers altogether, including 3 Algonquin students, 11 current Members and 2 retirees. There was a steady flow of visitors to our beautifully decorated booth and we were very successful in promoting CDECA as well as the idea of using a Professional Decorator/Designer. Our dedicated volunteers were able to make lasting
On October 9, Urban Quarry, Cambria and Interstone hosted a very informative half day Professional Development seminar beginning at Urban Quarry to learn about the newest Cambria innovations. The tour continued through the fabrication shop to visit the computerized stone-cutting equipment and gain a better understanding of the complete process, which was very helpful in determining the correct product for an application. The 15 attendees including 6 non-members were treated to a luncheon served at the beautiful Interstone showroom, and we thank them for their generous hospitality. This fall the Chapter has begun a series of Round Table discussion opportunities to allow members
impressions and generate many leads. Questions were posed concerning large renovation projects, bathrooms, basements, colour selection, drapery, and general decorating dilemmas. We also had possible new Affiliate interest with whom we will follow up shortly. A big thank you once again to Beth Charbonneau and Our Homes Ottawa Magazine for their ongoing support. It was terrific having magazines to hand out, and as men-
to share ideas and brainstorm problem areas in many aspects of our businesses. We are also looking forward to our next showroom event in November hosted by our newest affiliate member, Boone Plumbing/Mondeau. In addition,
Kim at the Our 2014 Home and Design Show
tioned by one of our volunteers, always a perfect conversation starter.
Many thanks to our
planning is underway for our annual meeting and Christmas dinner event.
volunteers for their generous offer of time & support to this worthy activity!
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SAVE THIS IMPORTANT DATE:
Toronto Chapter Event & Annual General Meeting The Toronto Chapter is pleased to announce that the chapter’s next informative event will take place on Tuesday, December 2. ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE TORONTO
This luncheon event is a wonderful way to network with your fellow decorators, meet new members and hear from a valued
CDECA Affiliate company. The event will begin with a presentation from Willis, North-American distributor of world-class building materials such as Dupont Corian solid surface and Zodiaq quartz countertops, Arpa high pressure laminate, and Artisan and Insinkerator products.
Following this will be the proceedings for the chapter’s Annual General Meeting, including the election of new board members. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information coming very soon!
CHAPTER AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE MORE INVOLVED WITH CDECA?
Toronto Chapter Elections You will be working alongside fellow decorators who share your passion for the industry and believe strongly in the vision and values of the Associa-
ELECTIONS FOR TORONTO CHAPTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO TAKE PLACE AT THE CHAPTER’S AGM ON DECEMBER 2nd Volunteering your time can be a rewarding experience, especially when that time is spent helping an organization like CDECA. As a member of the executive committee of the Toronto Chapter you could be involved with many aspects of chapter business, such as drafting chapter communications and leading local marketing initiatives;
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NEWSLETTER
working with the colleges to reach out to decorating students, helping develop campaigns to boost chapter membership; working with our Affiliates to create professional development programming; or assisting with the coordination and execution of our many chapter and national events.
tion. More information will be coming soon regarding which positions are open and the application process. In the meantime, please give volunteering serious consideration. We’d love to have you on the team!
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Are You Exposed? You never know what you are going to find when you remove an existing wall or an old floor. The same can be said about uncovering risks assumed by your business. You manage hundreds of details for your clients; however, you are often too busy to think about your own needs. In many cases, we discover decorators and designers are actually exposing themselves to more risk than they realize. Effectively managing your risk is important because you cannot control every outcome. All CDECA business owners should prepare for the unexpected. The Three “I’s” of Risk Management 1. Incorporation: This is the simplest and most cost effective risk management tool available to business owners. Protect your personal assets for only a few hundred dollars. We encourage you to seek legal advice before filing for incorporation. 2. Indemnification: Decorators and designers should work with a lawyer to draft a standard Services Agreement to be utilized with both subcontractors/vendors (i.e., trades people) and clients. An Indemnification clause should be included in all contracts that you enter. The intent of this clause is to hold you harmless from claims arising from the negligent actions of third parties you contract with. 3. Insurance:
Some information on risk from CDECA
There are two forms of liability insurance that all CDECA members should purchase to protect themselves from claims brought against them by third parties: Member Professional Liability (also known as Errors & Omissions or “E&O”): Professionals are liable for their acts, errors or omissions in the rendering or failure to render professional services. E&O protects you when third parties are alleging that they sustained a loss as a result of your negligent professional services or advice. Commercial General Liability (“CGL”):
Insurance Provider LMS PROLINK
CGL protects you when third parties are alleging that they sustained bodily injury or property damage as a result of your negligence. CGL is an important part of your liability insurance package because it responds to claims that are not a result of your professional negligence. Insurance FAQ’s Q. Why should I purchase my commercial insurance package through CDECA instead of my local broker? A. The CDECA package has been customized to include both E&O and CGL insurance for less than the cost of one policy on its own. The complete CDECA package starts at only $650 per year. Outside of the CDECA program a similar package would cost at least $1,200 per year and the coverage is likely not as comprehensive as the CDECA package. Q. Who pays the legal costs if I get named in a lawsuit? A. The CDECA insurer pays the legal costs incurred to defend you in the lawsuit. The deductible is $0 for E&O claims and $1,000 for CGL claims. Q. What happens if I am found to be negligent? A. The insurer will pay the damages you are responsible to pay to the third party claiming against you (up to the limit of insurance purchased). Q. Do I have a higher exposure if I sell products? A. Yes, your exposure is inherently higher because if someone gets hurt or property is damaged as a result of the product then you could be named in a lawsuit. Contact us to learn more about the valuable CDECA Insurance Program exclusively available to members: LMS PROLINK Ltd. CDECA Insurance Program Manager Neil Felder / P. 800-663-6828; ext. 7738 / E. NEILF@LMS.CA / Visit us at WWW.LMS.CA/CDECA
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CDECA is your connection to decorating and design in Canada. We offer our members a wide range of benefits from discounts on insur10 Morrow Avenue Suite 202 Toronto, ON M6R
ance and legal services, networking opportuniPhone: 1-866-878-2155
ties and exposure to consumers through our
E-mail: office@cdeca.com
website.
www.cdeca.com
What exactly is “soapstone”? Soapstone is becoming the “newest” trend in countertops. It is gaining in popularity with architects, interior and kitchen designers alike, as they are drawn to soapstone’s soft feel and matte finish. It is becoming a highly coveted material and is both a much needed and excellent alternative to quartz and granite. When you mention soapstone, the first thing that comes to mind is the carvings of the Canadian Inuits. There are essentially two categories of soapstone; Artistic and Architectural. Artistic soapstone (including most Canadian soapstone) has a very high talc (a soft mineral) content, approximately 80%, making it quite soft and ideal for carving and sculptures. Architectural soapstone on the other hand has a lower talc content, approximately 30%, making for a superb countertop and sink material. It still has the appearance and properties of Artistic Soapstone, but with the strength and durability needed for use in the home. This grade of soapstone typically comes from the United States, Brazil or India.
Soapstone’s talc content makes it smooth and waxy to the touch, also making it very water resistant and chemically inert as well as being absolutely stain resistant. Red wine, lemon juice, acids, oils, vinegars, etc. will not impact the surface. Unlike gran-
ite, there is no chemical sealing required, and so no unwanted toxins on your cooking surface. The only regular maintenance of soapstone that is required is the periodic application of either food grade mineral oil or a wax made from linseed oil and beeswax. While not required to seal the soapstone, these two products can be used to enhance the color and pattern of the soapstone. Another huge benefit to using soapstone is that it is heat resistant, which
allows you to safely put a hot pot directly on the surface with no fear of damage. Soapstone can also be used to make sinks. They can be made to any size or configuration leaving its design limitations to only one’s imagination. The sinks are put together using a blind mortise and tenon joint, fastened with epoxy and guaranteed not to leak for life. The bottoms are sloped on all four sides to the center drain basket. The sinks are also made from the same slab as the countertop to ensure colour matching. The design possibilities with soapstone are endless for both interior and exterior projects. When designing your next project, it might be worth it to consider soapstone. Green Mountain Soapstone currently stocks 9 colors, ranging from grey/ black, green/black, grey, charcoal, black to dark green. The slab sizes are similar to those of granite, but can vary in size, depending on the colour, and are worth the time to check out in person. Our display in The Home & Design Expo Center located at 155 Consumers Rd. Toronto is open 7 days per week.