June 2012 Issue

Volume 2, No. 10 June 2012 FREE

Your business:

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Bryan Bakker’s new business: bizbio.ca Cover story: page 3

Incorporating St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce

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E L G I N

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M O N T H

June, 2012

PUBLISHER’S LETTER Getting business people to volunteer

by Terry Carroll ..............................page 4

BUSINESS/COMMUNITY Working in St. Thomas Elgin Up your on-line voltage

by Deb Mountenay ..........................page 5

Technology Is your business lost on the Internet?

by Peter Atkinson ............................page 6

Managing Money Making investment decisions

by Stephanie Farrow ........................page 7

Sales There’s gold in “old” customers

by Bryan Vine ..................................page 8

Cover Story

HOMESTYLE Decorating Let the sun shine in

by Renée Carpenter ............pages 22 & 23

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT Savour Elgin A fruitful experience

by Kate Burns ................................page 24

Wine & Food Wines for the summer

by Jamie Quai ................................page 25

HEALTHY LIVING Everyday Health Your kids need proper shoes

by Dr. Greg Johnston ....................page 26

Personal Health

BUSINESS BEAT The Front Page Free Enterprise winners ..................page 9

Member News Order your Directory ad ................page 10

Chamber News

The Toonie Challenge

by Shirl Kosky and Erica Arnett ....page 27

LIFESTYLES Self Development

Is that a Dragon at your door? ......page 11

Um, a little thanks would help

by Sharon Lechner ........................page 28

Legal Business

That’s life!

Protect your home investment

by Monty Fordham ......................page 12

War stories from the play pen

by Elizabeth VanHooren ................page 29

Member News Dianne Buckner to speak ..............page 13

Pro Text A fresh look at financial planning

by Patrick Erb ..............................page 14

Time On My Hands Mind your moments

by Duncan Watterworth ................page 30

Positive Exposure Bring Customer Service out of hibernation

by Allan Weatherall ......................page 15

New Members Be seen, be heard, belong ..............page 16 S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

STARTING A NEW BUSINESS Business Plans Show ’em what you have

by Tim Berry ................................page 18

The Start Take seven steps ............................page 19

Get focused Write everything down

by Ronda Stewart ..........................page 20

Ideas abound

The power of video Bryan Bakker’s new business is all about telling other people’s stories

by Dorothy Gebert

When Bryan Bakker started his new business, bizbio.ca, last year, he said his biggest challenge was explaining what he did. “Since video commercials are a new idea, I had to tell people why they should be doing this.”

Bizbio.ca, a media company that produces commercials and shows for television and the Internet, was born out of a previous business Bryan owned that filmed weddings and family memories.

He had an opportunity to film a sales seminar and began to see the potential for businesses to use video to promote themselves. “Not a lot of people were doing it, so I thought it would be a great niche to fill,” he says.

From offering a few options to customers, Bryan expanded his product line to provide more value-added services, including his main interview show, Parallels (which has just been picked up by Rogers TV). He also develops joint projects with clients to produce shows, such as Elgin Update with The Carroll Group and The Great Canadian Couch, Eh? with David Carruthers.

Bryan’s passion for telling stories began when he was growing up in St. Thomas. “I’ve always been very creative,” he says. “I used to write television scripts and movie screenplays, but I also have a great gift for listening to people and am fascinated by their stories.”

He says getting known is one of the hardest challenges to overcome when starting a business. It’s something he’s had to deal with and feels that his services offer businesses a great tool to get noticed.

Is he worried that video will become too mainstream? “My niche is interviewing,” he says, “so until they invent a computer that can draw out the innermost feelings of people, I think I’m safe.”

New business ideas are everywhere ....................................page 21 Cover photo by Philip Bell, Shutter Studios

Carroll Publishing Inc. President Terry Carroll Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Kelly Carroll

Elgin This Month Publisher & Editor Terry Carroll Associate Editor Anita LaRue Section Editor Business Beat – Bob Hammersley

Graphic Design / Production Jim McHarg Sales Representative Greg Minnema Office Manager Laura Bart

Elgin This Month is a monthly magazine focusing on business and lifestyle issues and includes Business Beat, the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce newsletter.

The publication is available for pickup at no charge at news stands and other locations around Elgin County, as well as distribution to businesses and selected households.

Published monthly by Carroll Publishing Inc., 15 St. Catharine Street, St. Thomas, ON N5P 2V7 519-633-1640 www.theweeklynews.ca/etm June, 2012

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Everybody’s too busy to volunteer these days Some suggestions for recruiting and retaining business people About 20 years ago, when I was at a newspaper in Alberta, I knew a business man who was regularly feted and honoured as a community leader. He chaired many committees, and he was a dedicated, inspiring and effective individual. But at one point he cautioned me. “Terry,” he said, “It doesn’t matter how much community work you do . . . if your business doesn’t make it, that’s what people will remember.”

In what I sometimes call Chamber of Commerce circles, I often hear: “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” And: “Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community.” Both sentiments, if a trifle clichéd, happen to be essentially true. While I’m trading in clichés, let me toss out another one: “The only constant is change.”

If we churn all three thoughts together, it forms a synopsis of the biggest challenge faced by volunteer organizations, and by extension, our community. Volunteer recruitment is getting tougher.

What has changed over the last 20 years or so has been the demands on people’s time, or how people use their time, depending how you look at it. This is partly due to the evolution of families and partly to be attributed to technology and 24/7 access.

And yet volunteers are needed.

What is to be done?

Not-for-profit organizations look to business people to fill three distinct roles: A board of directors or governance role, a fundraising role or a ‘roll up your sleeves and get the work done’ role. These require different skill sets, and it’s always wise to find out in which of those roles a

business person thinks he or she would be most comfortable. A comfortable volunteer will stay longer.

It might be a good idea to be honest about the amount of time required. There’s an old trick in

his campaigns. He then holds (almost) all meetings by email, and he assigns every volunteer no more than two calls per week. He’s demonstrating enormous respect for people’s time. Nobody will get to twenty vol-

volunteer recruitment in which the recruiter suggests that the time commitment involves two-hour meetings, twice a month. In reality, some of those meetings go four hours, and attendance at additional committee meetings is the norm. This is more than an “Oops” moment or time for jokes about getting railroaded in the Railway City. It’s a great way to lose a volunteer, while damaging the reputation of the organization. Lying to people – how can that be good?

One fundraising professional of my acquaintance consistently recruits high-profile community people for

unteer calls in a week, but everybody can handle two. And people need to meet face-to-face occasionally. But many business people have had too much experience attending meetings with little or no agenda where participants ramble off topic at will. Always have an agenda. And stick to it.

As for my volunteering business acquaintance in Alberta and his warning? After I left the community, I heard that his business did fail.

While I remember him fondly, and have enormous respect for his community skills, he was correct. His business failure overshadows all the

Highway Commercial

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rest.

Often, when business people tell you they don’t have time, they’re not being artful dodgers. They’re expressing the simple truth.

“

by Terry Carroll

“

A comfortable volunteer will stay longer.

Terry Carroll is the publisher of the St. Thomas /Elgin Weekly News and Elgin This Month.

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June, 2012

BUSINESS / COMMUNITY WORKING IN ST.THOMAS-ELGIN

Social media is here to stay and growing at an increasing rate.

Chances are that you have used one or more of the more popular social media outlets. But, are you using them to your advantage or your detriment? Social media can be a powerful tool when used properly. It is important to always be aware of your online presence.

LinkedIn is the most powerful social media tool that can be used by those looking to network. It allows you to make connections with others through various life endeavours: volunteering, school and work. These connections help you bond with others and build a network. Much like a resume, your LinkedIn profile lists your experience, recommendations from colleagues, skills and expertise.

You can list the opportunities that interest you and search jobs. More and more companies are now allowing you to use your LinkedIn profile to apply.

Not only do you need to pay attention to what you post on the Internet, it is likely that people could be talking about you and your work and you might not even be aware of it. It is important to listen to what is being said about you.

With so many active users online, it is likely that you can network with others in your field locally and across the world. Make sure that what you post is what you would be happy to have an employer see.

Experimenting with social media is the best way to learn. Set some goals for yourself such as tweeting once a day, updating a blog once a week, and so on. Decide on some guidelines that you will follow. Express yourself and show your creative side.

Social media is not without its risks. Being aware of these risks can help ensure you don’t make mistakes.

The power to connect Pay attention to your online presence

“

by Deb Mountenay

“

it is about building relationships

One of the more classic examples is that of an employee in England who called her employer a few choice words. When the employer saw this

– as the employee had her employer as a friend on Facebook – he commented that she was fired and to not bother coming back to work. She

had two weeks left on her six month probation.

You must manage your presence online because employers will “search” you. A local study found that many employers “google” potential employees. The more tech savvy companies look more favourably on candidates who use social media properly. Employers look for good communication skills in almost every employee they have. How you communicate online indicates what employers might expect from you when you work for them.

They don’t call it social networking for nothing! Twitter allows you to follow organizations and see what’s new. You can instantly get job postings and updates. Facebook offers similar functions and can give you an edge if you track certain companies.

Why not see what the business you want to work for is up too. Businesses take suggestions, have customer service and do special offers just through social networking. They also provide updates on their recent activity. All of these are great talking points when interviewing with a prospective employer. Following the companies that interest you on social media will give you a better chance to make a good impression when you are face-to-face in an interview.

It is almost like an online business card. Remember, it is about building relationships and engaging with others. Be open to sharing your content and articles. Host a discussion, share something interesting or pass on a link. Build your own brand online.

Deb Mountenay is chair of the Elgin Workforce Development Committee.

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Safety Inspections Annual Safety Checks Tune-Ups Complete Tire & Service Experts

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M O N T H

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BUSINESS / COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY The way your website looks is important to customers searching for you on the Internet

How does your business come across online?

by Peter Atkinson

Have you ever wondered how your customers find you online? Consumers do research on the Internet before stepping foot into a store, so even if you don’t sell online, you have a great opportunity to win customers.

Of course, it means having an effective online presence.

Directories such as 411.ca or yellowpages.ca are a start but if the information isn’t accurate, it wastes everyone’s time. So it's up to you to add more detailed information, such as hours of operation and specialties that can at-

tract customers. Make sure that wherever your organization appears online, information is detailed and accurate.

And don’t forget to check Foursquare and Yelp, as well as Restaurantica and Urban Spoon if you’re operating a restaurant.

Getting the design right is critical; studies have shown that bad website design reflects badly on an organization. Things like colour might be subjective, but too many sites ignore basic design principles. Before you start, do a search for “good web design.” Look at recommended sites and notice how space is used to prioritize key messages. You can then work with your website designer or experiment with templates on free website builders like Wix and Weebly. You can also rough out your design, called wire framing, using free tools like InVision or Mockingbird.

There are rules about content too.

Website visitors scan text, so having heavy, dense text on the homepage is a non-starter. Write effective headlines and tight copy from your audience's perspective and leave lots of white space on the page. And a pet peeve of mine: long rows of text sprawling across the page. There’s a really good reason why good websites, like newspapers, display text in columns. Keep text to 45-60 characters wide.

Once you’ve come this far, you can’t ignore performance. Users expect webpages to load in under three seconds. You can test your site for free at Gomez.com’s Instant Test Centre to make sure your site is hitting that mark. If it’s not, you’ll be shown ways to make improvements.

Users expect webpages to load in under three seconds. You can test your site for free at Gomez.com's Instant Test Centre to make sure your site is hitting that mark. If it's not, you'll be shown where to make improvements.

Bonus: you can also see how your site will look on mobile devices (although ideally, you'll have a dedicated mobile

site; try modiste galore or onbile).

You also need to know if anyone is visiting your site. Google Analytics is arguably the best free tool out there for understanding who is coming to your website and what they’re doing when they get there. You can get incredibly detailed data, but even the basics will help you understand if your website is accomplishing the goals you set for it.

And speaking of goals, that’s always the place to start; know what you want your website to do before you start building it. A simple online presence will lead you down a very different – and less expensive – path than a more developed site.

Whichever path you choose, you’ll want people to find your site. The cheapest, most effective way is through Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Search engines like Google use complex algorithms to rank websites in their search results. SEO is part science, part art, but there are some simple steps that any website will benefit from. At its most basic, SEO means building your site, including even the words you use in your copy, in a way that builds your credibility with search engines. Learn the basics at SearchEngineGuide.com.

Finally, sign up for Pingdom’s free monitoring service. It will visit your site every five minutes and send you an email alert if the site is down.

Like anything else in business, your success online depends not just on what you do, but how well you do it.

Peter Atkinson is E-Services Consultant at the St. Thomas Public Library.

JOE PRESTON, M.P.

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6

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June, 2012

BUSINESS / COMMUNITY MANAGING MONEY

What does a portfolio manager do anyway?

Two leaders in the field discuss the process they use to make investment decisions

by Stephanie Farrow

At a high level, most people know that investment funds, whether they be mutual or segregated funds, are managed by a team of individuals who make decisions about which stocks and bonds to buy and sell within their fund. Their job is to use their training and expertise to earn a competitive return on the investment fund they manage. This return is passed on to the individuals who have invested in the fund. In essence, when you buy an investment fund, you put your faith in the decisions of the lead portfolio manager and their team. But do you really know what goes into their decisions to buy, sell and hold various securities?

A few weeks ago, I had the rare opportunity to learn from two leading portfolio managers who had flown in from Boston. I was one of 18 financial advisors around the boardroom table in London that day to listen and learn from Dan Janis III and Walter McCormick CFA, MBA, both with an incredible amount of experience as senior managing directors and senior

portfolio managers with several leading companies such as Manulife Asset Management, Wells Capital Management, Keystone Investments, Bank Boston and Morgan Stanley.

Dan Janis, spoke on how he carefully handpicks successful senior analysts for his staff. Because Dan and his team deal with global markets, they need an effective internal network of resources and a high end external network of global resources in multiple countries to get all the information they need to make decisions in real time. For he and his staff, their week starts at 12pm on Sunday and ends at 6pm on Friday.

They need to be on their toes while all global markets are open and in play.

Walter McCormick, who has been successfully managing equity portfolios for 41 years, walked us through a thorough seven-step process that he and his team use when deciding which securities to buy, sell or hold for the funds they manage.

1. Conduct an analysis to validate the competitive advantage of the company by comparing their position and those of their competitors using a 5-10 year projection.

2. Measure the company growth drivers and project their sustainability looking outward 10+ years.

3. Review the company’s competitive dynamics to determine if the business product or service itself is a good one to invest in. Look for businesses that perform in all business cycles (non-cyclical) and ensure they are

not a business competing primarily on price.

4. Conduct a traditional financial analysis reviewing the multiple traditional financial ratios used to measure the value of a company to ensure they meet specific criteria.

5. Analyse the Return on Investment Capital specific to the company’s management. This is an annual review of all companies to ensure that the metrics management are rated on are consistent with metrics needed for fund growth.

6. Complete four variations of cash flow analysis to determine the true intrinsic value of the company. Essentially, this measure will help determine if the current price is good.

Analyse the best and worst case scenarios looking ultimately for a 2:1 upside/downside ratio.

7. Each of these reviews must be completed on an ongoing basis, repeated through the whole business cycle and measured relative to their intrinsic value. The seven-step process

is designed to essentially buy low and sell high.

It was a pleasure to hear Dan and Walter share their expertise and processes in such an intimate group setting. Although each fund manager is different, this kind of summary is helpful to understand the general criteria by which securities are selected for investment funds. Their expertise in world markets, securities and corporate financial analysis is astounding.

Needless to say, I left the room feeling like my money was in good hands.

Stephanie Farrow, B.A., CFP, is a Certified Financial Planner and co-owner of Farrow Financial Services Inc. in Belmont.

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Two Time Tested Tactics to Improve Your Bottom Line July 11 – What is Holding Your Business Back?

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June, 2012

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T H I S

Bryan Vine 519-207-4865

Gordon Hall 519-854-6274

b.vine@thegrowthcoach.com g.hall@thegrowthcoach.com

M O N T H

7

BUSINESS / COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

Keep what you have, grow what you got Stable revenue streams come from long-term relationships and repeat business with your current customers

Don’t underestimate the need to satisfy and retain customers. Most businesses put too much money, time and effort into chasing new customers and prospects and far too little resources trying to keep their current ones.

However, we all know that you can’t fill up a bucket if you don’t plug the current leaks. Real profits and stable revenue streams come from long-term relationships and repeat business with your current loyal, profitable customers. Some experts declare that 80 percent of a company’s future growth comes from existing clients, if served and cultivated properly. As such, customer satisfaction and retention should be your number one marketing priority.

Again, the purpose of a business is to attract and retain customers. You can’t grow and remain in business without keeping the customers you currently have. First, you must measure your current attrition rate (loss of customers) and set a goal for dramatically reducing this rate. For example, let’s say, on average, that you lose 20 percent of your customers every year.

A realistic goal would be to reduce this attrition rate to 10 percent per year. Bottom line, it is easier and nearly eight times cheaper to serve and retain current clients and customers than to pursue new ones.

Once you have plugged the holes in your attrition bucket, you want to serve better and get closer to these profitable and worthy customers. You want to better understand their needs and then fulfill as many of these needs

“

as possible with additional products and services. Continually communicate with your customers. Give them value. Give them solutions. Focus on them and their needs, not on your products and services.

Communicate with them in person, in letters, in emails, via your website, brief newsletters, etc. Don’t worry; you can’t over-communicate with your customers. Like employees, keep them informed, involved, and inspired to continue doing business with you. Also, repeatedly ask your customers the following questions: • How are we doing?

• What other needs do you have?

• How could we improve our value to you?

Your objective is to provide them

“

by Bryan Vine

“continually communicate with your customers”

with more value more frequently and as a result, you will benefit with more profits. Never sell a customer only once. Real profits come from repeat business. As such, set goals to increase the frequency and size of repeat business. You want ongoing relationships and ongoing sales.

Bryan Vine is co-owner of The Growth Coach in St. Thomas.

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8

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June, 2012

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• JUNE 2012 • May Business After 5 event

Yvonne Steer, Sales Representative at Coldwell Banker at Success Realty Brokerage, is all smiles as Chamber Member Services Representative Wes Bailey congratulates her for being a draw prize winner at the Business After Five event hosted by St. Thomas Public Library May 15.

Business Beat Table of Contents Get in on the new Directory ..................page 10 Help on The Big Decision ..................page 11 You’re entitled to protection ................page 12 Free Enterprise success ....................page 13 Save and invest ........page 14 No customers, no business ..............page 15 New members ..........page 16

th

36 And the winners Are . . .

The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce proudly invites our Members and our community to join with us in celebrating the recipients of the 2012 Free Enterprise Awards. Presentations will be made at the 36th Free Enterprise Dinner on Wednesday June 20.

Since introduction in the 1970s, these awards have become the “Oscars” of local enterprise and community success. The winners must be more than successes in commerce. They must also be proven to be community

Free Enterprise Master Award Free Enterprise Awards of Merit Terry and Nancy Carroll and Carroll Publishing are being recognized for years of community support and service, and their most recent trailblazing success in giving the St. Thomas/Elgin area a weekly newspaper and a monthly magazine. Their investment in 2005 to establish what has become The Weekly News, and the expansion to add Elgin This Month Magazine, has added reliable and valuable information resources to our region.

Business After 5

Thursday June 14 Progress Building Western Fair District, London 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

A special, regional version of our monthly Business After 5 hosted by the Chambers of Commerce in St. Thomas, London, Strathroy, Ingersoll and Tillsonburg.

200+ exhibitors!

builders and supporters who contribute in an all-encompassing way to the social, cultural and economic health of our region.

Four Free Enterprise Awards will be given this year: 3 Free Enterprise Awards of Merit for recent or short-term accomplishments, and 1 Free Enterprise Master Award in recognition of long-term success and community support. The recipients in the Master category are also recognized for repeated success.

Ontario Plants Propagation, the busy Southwold Township business established in 1999 by the Vanderkooy family, is on a mission to become eastern North America’s premier supplier of tomato, cucumber and pepper plants.

Since turning on the transmitter one year ago, St. Thomas’s 94.1 FM radio station has exceeded business goals and added a vital information link to our community resources. More community services and new jobs will be added by myFM this year.

Of the nine call centres in the worldwide Starwood Hotels and Resorts chain, the St. Thomas operation is the biggest and best by several measures. Now employing over 600 people, the St. Thomas Customer Care Centre handles over 3 million incoming calls each year.

Terry and Nancy Carroll

For additional details and ticket information for the 36th Free Enterprise Awards Dinner, see page 12 of this issue.

Participate in Our Series on Small Business July – Financing a Small Business August – Running a Successful Small Business To take advantage of excellent advertising opportunities give me a call at 519-633-1640 (ext. 22) Greg Minnema, Advertising Sales

or email me at gregthismonth@theweeklynews.ca July Edition Advertising Deadline is June 11th

Food & beverage service on-site June, 2012

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9

BUSINESS BEAT

MEMBER NEWS Events and News of Interest to our Members

Welcome Julie!

Julie Forrester has joined the Chamber staff for the summer as our Office Assistant and will be working with us until the end of August. Julie is a student at the University of Western Ontario enrolled in business studies. An Honours grad from Central Elgin Collegiate, she is also an award-winning figure skater and was a member of the 2010 Canadian National Synchronized Skating team. Julie’s work with Chamber this summer will see her involved in a wide range of internal and external events and projects including extensive work with our Member and Community Services databases.

ROE’s are on-line

Are you still filing paper Record of Employment forms?

When an employee ends their work with you, you need to file a Record of Employment form, but now you can complete the process via “ROE Web”. This on-line service allows you to create, submit, retrieve and amend 53-week ROEs on the Internet.

By doing ROE Web you can increase your productivity; provide flexibility; reduce paper burden and administration, storage and postage costs; and improve the quality and accuracy of ROEs filed.

To access ROE Web go to this web site: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/roeweb For further information or support, call 1-800-367-5693 or visit a Service Canada Centre.

2012 – 2013 Directory work starts Chamber Member Services Representative Wes Bailey, left, is shown meeting with the AE Media crew in preparation for the production of our 2012 – 2013 Membership Directory and Buyers Guide. Shown here with Wes, l to r: Lisa Collard, Michelle Barrett, Anna Chirico Roes and Betty Hahn, holding a copy of our current directory. AE Media is the Chamber’s production partner on the Directory again this year, and will be handling all aspects of the production in cooperation with Chamber staff. Advertising spots in this publication are soughtafter knowing the directory reaches over 2,000 desks and 650 businesses in St. Thomas and Central Elgin/Southwold alone. All businesses and organizations that are registered with the Chamber are in-

Published by Carroll Publishing Inc. and delivered to businesses in St. Thomas and Elgin County For complete information on the St.Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce, reach us at: 115-300 South Edgeware Rd., St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 4L1 Telephone: 519-631-1981 Fax: 519-631-0466 E-Mail: mail@stthomaschamber.on.ca Website: www.stthomaschamber.on.ca President & CEO Accounting Coordinator

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Susan Munday

Member Services

Wes Bailey

Member Services

Linda Crawford

Office Assistant

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Bob Hammersley

M O N T H

Julie Forrester

cluded in the directory. Now is the time to confirm all listing information by contacting the Chamber with any personnel updates or changes.

We build business networks in Elgin and we are the best local source of business and community information. Making your contact information, along with your advertisement available to our Member businesses and our community is one of the Chamber’s priorities.

2012 Board of Directors Chair: Jason White Steelway Building Systems 1st. Vice-Chair: Paul Smith P.J. Smith & Associates 2nd. Vice-Chair: Laura Woermke St. Thomas Elgin Art Centre Treasurer: Mark Lassam, CA Kee, Perry & Lassam Chartered Accountants Past Chair: Linda Sawyer BMO Bank of Montreal Director: Beth Burns K & K Locksmiths Director: Renee Carpenter Jennings Furniture Director: Pete Charlton Charlton’s Quality Meats Director: Monty Fordham Monty Fordham Law Office Director: Jeff Kohler Presstran Industries Director: Debra Mountenay Workforce Planning & Development Board Director: John Regan Elgin Business Resource Centre Director: Darren Reith Reith and Associates Insurance & Financial Director: Allan Weatherall St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation Director: Rob Mise myFM 94.1

June, 2012

BUSINESS BEAT

CHAMBER NEWS Events and News of Interest to our Members

A Dragon at your door?

CBC Television has let us know of a new opportunity that could be ideal for local business.

Until June 8, producers of a show called The Big Decision (www.cbc.ca/thebigdecision) are welcoming applications from companies that are in need of a financial investment – and that are also looking to receive business advice from one of Canada's top investors.

How does the show work? A Dragon from CBC's Dragons' Den will visit each community and put their expertise to work. If the Dragons think they can help turn things around at the company, they’ll be willing to invest their own money – and change the fortunes of good companies that have fallen on hard times.

CBC has just completed the first season of The Big Decision and reports they have seen how the show can have a huge impact on a community, as the results reinvigorate industries and help keep key businesses running.

Visit the website shown above for full information on eligibility and the types of businesses the producers are looking for. As well, past episodes of the show are available on for viewing as examples.

The deadline of June 8 is fast approaching but CBC staff report they will review applications on a daily basis until that date.

Nine & Dine

Our experiment to blend a short golf round with networking and food service proved very popular last fall so we're launching a full “Nine & Dine” season this year with visits to all four of the local courses registered as Members with us.

Here’s how it works. Member businesses are invited to purchase one or more registrations in our series of four golf events. It is not necessary that the same player participate in each event, and businesses may purchase more than one registration, but please note that the foursomes they play in will change each time to maximize the networking and connecting aspect. Registration is $200 per person and includes the four days listed for 9-hole rounds plus dinner. Payment for the season is required in advance at the time of booking. Each event runs 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. In October, we will also host a wrap-up banquet for all players Thursday June 21 – The Bluffs of Port Stanley Thursday August 2 – St. Thomas Golf & Country Club Thursday August 30 – Pleasant Valley Golf & Country Club Thursday September 27 – Kettle Creek Golf & Country Club Dinner at each event follows golf. We won’t be featuring ‘heavy” meals but, instead, a lighter and varied selection of fresh hot and cold entrees. Beverages are not included.

Call the Chamber office now to be part of our 2012 Nine & Dine series.

Call 519-631-1981 or email events@stthomaschamber.on.ca vehicle to share news business can use. It’s a way to get plenty of advance notice about community events and activities that impact the business community. Second, it’s a vehicle for the Chamber and our Members to promote events, activities or services.

It’s completely free of charge and transmitted every Tuesday morning.

Green Mail

Lobbying on your behalf The St. Thomas & District Chamber is pleased to report success in having our proposal for change to the EHT (Employer Health Tax) adopted and approved by delegates at the Ontario Chamber’s 100th Annual General Meeting and Convention on May 5.

Our submission to the Convention delegates asked the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to lobby the Government of Ontario for a change in the exemption floor for businesses required to pay the Employer Health Tax. When the current legislation was adopted over 12 years ago, the Ontario Government exempted small businesses (those with annual payroll of $400,000 or less) from paying the tax. The exemption floor has not changed while wages have, resulting in more and more businesses being subjected to the tax burden each year.

Our proposal requests an adjustment of the exemption floor, raising it to $500,000. That amount is approximately equal to applying an annual rate of inflation of 1.5 – 2% to the floor. If accepted at Queen’s Park, our proposal would have a cash impact on 7,325 small businesses across Ontario.

A key result of the Convention for all Chamber Members was in presentation of new document outlining a 5-point plan to fast-track the Ontario economy back to health. The 28-page document is the result of extensive research and collaboration by the Ontario Chamber, Leger Marketing and the Mowat School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Toronto. It can be viewed or downloaded now at our website: www.stthomaschamber.on.ca

Are you getting yours? In addition to our website and monthly publication of our Business Beat news within Elgin This Month magazine, the Chamber issues a weekly email broadcast called Green Mail. It serves two goals. First, as a weekly

Don’t miss your chance to see

Dianne Buckner Host of CBC-TV’s The Dragons’ Den

Keynote Speaker at this year’s

In person at

St. Anne’s Centre, St. Thomas

Start Spring off right, let us treat you to lunch and a tour through our beautiful residence!

Monthly specials, choice of services and suites sizes.

Wednesday June 20 Doors Open: 5:30pm Dinner: 6:45pm Chamber Free Enterprise Awards and Guest Speaker to follow

“The Next Best Place to Home”.

The Next Best Place To Home!

Tickets: $95, available to Chamber members and guests until June 10.

After that, tickets go on sale to the general public.

45 Metcalfe Metcal calfe Street, St. Thom Thomas homass 5519.631.93933 Fax: x: 519.631.2563 5 www.diversicare.ca June, 2012

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BUSINESS BEAT

LEGAL BUSINESS Legal News and Issues for Business

The role of title insurance in your home purchase

by Monty Fordham

In the purchase of a home, one of the questions routinely asked of the real estate lawyer by his/her client is whether to purchase title insurance as part of the transaction. In order to intelligently answer this question in the context of any particular real estate purchase, it is necessary to first understand what title insurance is, and, perhaps more importantly, what it is not.

Traditionally, in Ontario, the lawyer’s role in the purchase of real estate, whether it be residential or commercial, was critical. He/she conducted a number of “searches” including a full historic investigation of the chain of title of the property in an effort to determine the quality of the “title” which the purchaser would obtain upon the closing of the transaction. Other searches included

municipal tax status, land use zoning, municipal property standards and building standards and utilities.

Based on the information obtained the lawyer would form an “opinion” of the title which the purchaser would receive. This opinion, and any exceptions placed on the opinion, in turn, produced a qualified “guaran-

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tee” of title.

With the increasing popularity of title insurance, the role of the lawyer has changed somewhat, but is just as critical. The title insurer, rather than a guarantee, provides an indemnity to the purchaser. To illustrate the difference, imagine someone offers to give you a dog. The dog is said to be a two year old pure bred Jack Russell.

If I guarantee the foregoing, you are entitled to just that. If, however, you later find out that the dog is a twelve year old pit bull, enforcing the guarantee might prove difficult, and certainly would involve replacing then dog. An indemnity, however, would provide you with compensation for the difference between what you received and what you thought you were receiving. No dog, just dollars.

As I have often said to my clients, your home purchase is likely to be the most expensive purchase you will ever make. Your enjoyment of your home reflects your enjoyment of life in general. It is important, therefore, that there be few, if any surprises down the road. It would seem prudent to conduct any and all investigations of the property and, in turn, to obtain any indemnities which are available.

Title insurance is often discussed in the context of the presence or absence of a recent survey. Indeed, lenders accept title insurance in lieu of a survey as art of the mortgage transaction. However, title insurance is not the same as a survey. To illustrate, suppose you have placed an offer to purchase with respect to a property and have, based on your careful inspection of the apparent boundaries, assumed it comprises a full acre. Should you later, after clos-

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ing, discover that the property is less than an acre, provided the legal description is correct, title insurance probably will not help. The title insurer’s indemnity only applies to the property you have actually bought.

The foregoing problem can be addressed by obtaining a current survey of the property. This document describes the boundaries and extent of the property. Your lawyer will examine the survey, and should he/she have questions address them to the Ontario Land Surveyor, who will provide a narrative explanation if needed.

We begin to see that the purchase of a home is a complex process, involving many investigations. The purchaser should, in my view, seek to protect his/her investment as much as possible. And this brings me to my final point about title insurance. The increasing incidence of real estate fraud, including the actual theft of the owner’s property has created a special need for title insurance, especially after the closing of the transaction.

In fact, some title insurers have taken the issue one step farther: recently, some insurers have offered a product which indemnifies against actual identity theft, and the “nonreal estate” losses one might encounter as a result.

I bet five years ago you didn’t think you would ever need to insure your identity. It now seems you do.

Lawyer Monty Fordham prepares this monthly column for the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce and our Members. Monty is also a volunteer serving on the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Questions, comments and suggestions for future columns are welcomed by Monty at his Law Office, 4 Elgin Street, St. Thomas. Telephone 519-633-4000, FAX 519-633-1371 or e-mail: montyfordham@4elgin.ca

June, 2012

BUSINESS BEAT

MEMBER NEWS Events and News of Interest to our Members

Our 36th celebration of entrepreneurial success Our keynote address

Over 35 previous events, the Chamber’s Free Enterprise Dinner and Awards Program has attracted numerous distinguished guests as keynote speakers.

An impressive list of Presidents, Prime Ministers and Premiers – all some of the most notable and influential names in and on the Canadian business scene – have favoured us by attending. Among them: Prime Minister Jean Chretien, John Kenneth Galbraith, Premier Dalton McGuinty and CBC Chief Correspondent Peter Mansbridge. This year, the host of CBC’s popular Dragon’s Den TV show, Dianne Buckner, will be with us on Wednesday June 20.

The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce Free Enterprise Awards Program is an annual celebration designed to honour the successes, the entrepreneurship and the spirit of businesses, organizations and individuals that truly distinguish themselves from opportunities within our area.

On Wednesday June 20, 2012, our 36th Free Enterprise Awards Dinner will be held at St. Anne’s Centre. We encourage the community to join us in recognizing the accomplishments of this year’s winners plus those of the incredibly talented businesses and individuals named in previous years.

It’s the biggest event in the Chamber’s annual calendar. Tickets are $95 per person and include dinner, wine service, and first-class, sit-down meal service.

All seats are reserved and sold in advance only through the Chamber office.

Orders may be placed now by telephone, fax, email, via our website or inperson at our office. VISA, MasterCard and AMEX are accepted for payment and Members may charge tickets to their Chamber account.

The event opens with a Reception/Mixer at 5:30 p.m. Dinner service begins at 6:45 and is followed by our keynote speaker and presentation of the Free Enterprise Awards. The evening customarily concludes around 9:45 p.m.

Our Awards & Recognition Team The annual process of reviewing and analyzing nominations for the Free Enterprise Program is led by the Immediate Past Chair of our Board of Directors. The 2012 Committee has been chaired by Linda Sawyer of BMO/Bank of Montreal. The Chamber accepts nomination submissions year ’round and, once per year, Awards & Recognition Committee members complete a detailed review of nominations and declare the winners.

Once again this year, the committee received an excellent and large slate of worthy nominations for consideration. The difficult decisions have been made and the committee’s work for the 2012 awards is now complete. For details on our 2012 Award winners, please see page 9 of this issue.

Dianne Buckner’s presentation to our audience will be dedicated to building better business. It’s titled “Dianne’s Top 10 Business Tips” and includes a multimedia showcase of examples and scenarios about the best and worst from her work with the Dragon’s Den program and from her previous 10-year term hosting another highly-rated CBC TV business show called Venture.

Beyond welcoming an impressive speaker to our community, the Free Enterprise Program affords us an equally important opportunity to recognize and celebrate local success through presentation of the Free Enterprise Awards.

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Canada Southern Railway Station

519-207-8669

750 Talbot Street, Suite 211 St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 1E2 t 519-633-8838 • f 519-633-9361

3-9 Princess Ave., St.Thomas, ON N5R 3V3 Powered by

June, 2012

The Mortgage Group™

Tony Milles, AMP Mortgage Agent

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BUSINESS BEAT

PRO TEXT Business Management News & Issues

A fresh new look

by Patrick Erb

It is increasingly important to save and invest for the future. With interest rates on savings accounts, GICs and government bonds below the stated inflation rate, and adding the reality that our personal “cost of living” is rising faster than income, it is critical that you plan today for the future.

This is the ideal time of year to take a fresh look at your financial retirement and estate plan from a strategic perspective. Has your investment portfolio been created to build, sustain, and transfer wealth according to your needs? Are you paying more taxes than necessary? Are the strategies in place to maximize your retirement income? Do you have adequate insurance protection?

An expert analysis of your personal and business position can provide a second set of eyes sometimes necessary to ensure needs are met and nothing is overlooked. This ensures all scenarios are considered and consideration is given to the impact of implementing various products and

strategies. It may be necessary, or timely, for your investment cycle to include the opinions of specialist tax lawyers and tax accountants who can help with the strategies identified for you.

Consider the following: 1. Review your insurance policies: car, home, life and health insurance policies to ensure they are sufficient for the stage you are in your life and that your coverage meets your future needs.

2. Review your financial investments: reviewing your investments to identify those that are underperforming. Understand your investments, get answers to your questions and clearly have fees explained that may be associated with these investments.

3. Review your retirement needs: it is important to understand how at level you wish to live at retirement and understand what will have to be saved to ensure the necessary annual income assuming today’s low interest rates and increasing taxation rates.

4. Review your budget: ensure that your financial investments are within

Help your Employees to be the Best They Can Be! Personality Dimensions® is a human relations tool based on leading-edge research in human motivation and behaviour. It helps to explain what motivates behaviour in people with different personalities or temperaments.

Join our FREE workshop to discover how you can get the most out of your employees.

This workshop is open to all owners, managers, supervisors, human resource personel, etc. of businesses in Elgin County.

Call Jan or Libby at 519-631-5470 for more information.

Space is limited. Refreshments provided.

Employment Services Elgin 400 Talbot St., St. Thomas P: 519.631.5470 Mon-Thurs 8:30am-6pm • Fri 8:30am-4pm

you budget. It does not make sense to commit to an investment/saving strategy for tomorrow that puts you into debt today.

5. Create a will/power of attorney: if you pass away without a will, your family may spend more time and money settling your affairs. This brings on challenges during a difficult time. An investment professional committed to aiding in your future ought to be able to assist you in finding a legal professional to complete your will and powers of attorney.

Fresh thinking Success in these challenging times requires a fresh new look, a desire to challenge previous ways and a determination to seek new competitive advantages. With apologies for the obvious bias, I want to illustrate my point by sharing news of a new approach being taken by the firm I work for. It’s the result of an ongoing customer service approach we use to ensure we can be on the leading edge of all that we do. We’re offering what’s called “the Reith Advantage Service”. It’s a flexible, supportive and a pro-active approach towards your future and designed to

harmonize with our Mission Statement: “to provide independent personalized advice, advocacy and choice with integrity and dedication to those who value the well-being and dignity of their family and success of their business.”

No matter what insurance or financial services firm you are now doing business with, I encourage you to have a look at your situation, along with the service you have been getting to ensure the best results. If you might be interested in a second opinion, after a review with your current investment advisor, our team would be pleased to assist with providing a fresh look with insights into creating and maintaining an effective portfolio created to enhance your future.

This column appears monthly in Business Beat. This month’s writer is Patrick Erb, Controller at Reith & Associates Insurance and Financial Services, 462 Talbot Street, St. Thomas. Patrick welcomes your questions or comments on this column at 519-631-3862 or via email: info@reithandassociates.com

Aylmer Community Services West Elgin Support Services 25 Centre Street, Aylmer P: 519.765.2082 Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm Tues 9am-6pm

160 Main Street West Lorne P: 519.768.0020 Mon-Fri 9am-5 pm

www.jobselgin.ca

This Employment Ontario program is funded by the Ontario Government

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June, 2012

BUSINESS BEAT

POSITIVE EXPOSURE Doing Public Relations Right

Customer Service – a thing of the past or just in hibernation?

by Allan Weatherall

A number of years ago at the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation, we started a ‘Guardian Angel’ program. It is a simple concept. People make a donation to help their hospital but at the same time recognize someone who went above and beyond what is thought to be normal duties. Nurses, doctors, housekeepers, other volunteers are among those who have been given this unique recognition. These ‘Guardian Angels’ are folks who did something that caught the attention of a patient or family member who then thought it was very appropriate to give them a special tribute with a donation in their honour. Isn’t it wonderful when things like this happen!

In a somewhat similar way, I was recently in an area store (where I had never been before) and I was amazed at the customer service. The staff couldn’t have been more friendly and said hello and took the time to be very helpful. It was so noticeable to me when compared to most places - I made a point of saying so to them.

What is so unique about these two scenarios? Customer service!

How many of us remember bad customer service? Of course we all do and, as a result, we quite possibly don’t go to that business anymore.

However, generally you if you could augment sales by a great deal without increasing your marketing budget would you be interested? Of course you would! What business owner wouldn't be?

If you want to retain your customers, and encourage them to refer more customers to you, you'll need to give them a reason to do so. And excellent customer service is a pretty good reason.

Keep in mind that having a good product is a must for proper customer service. If your product is not good, no one will buy it no matter how well you treat them. On the other hand,

excellent customer service can strengthen your product and make it great. Providing first-class customer service is also one of the best ways to differentiate yourself from your competitors, which can definitely give your product that extra kick.

Communicate With Your Customers How do you know what your customers want? Well, the easiest way to find out is to ask them! It's amazing how often businesses will change a product or launch a new service only to find out that their customers hate the new offering. Check with your customers periodically to find out how they feel about your product, and ask if they have any suggestions to make it even better.

Talking to the customers regularly will also identify problems before they become critical. If a customer is not particularly happy with your company for some reason, you'll have a chance to make it right before they simply move on to one of your competitors.

Gracefully Resolve Problems When you do find out about a problem . . .

Apologize to the customer.

It doesn't matter if it was your fault or not, apologize anyway. A simple “I'm sorry for the inconvenience” helps to smooth down any situation.

Fix it or explain why you can't.

Don't just let the customer languish

in Service Limbo. You need to either resolve the problem in a timely manner or get back to the customer ASAP and explain why you can't change the situation.

Follow up to confirm resolution.

Contact the customer a few days later and make sure the problem really is resolved. This is also a great chance to touch base and make sure there aren't any other issues still outstanding.

Customer complaints are a golden opportunity. Don't dread them! Fixing a problem in a helpful and pleasant way actually endears a customer to you more than if nothing had occurred.

Reward Your Customers Businesses often launch promotions to capture new customers, but they rarely think to reward existing ones.

So, occasionally give your customers something of value that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Here is a bit of a motherhood statement, but it works: Customers are not the most important visitors on your premises. They are not dependent upon you. You are dependent upon them. They are not interruptions in your work but the purpose. They are

not outsiders in your business but a key part of it. You are not doing them a favour by serving them, but they are doing you a favour by giving you an opportunity to do so.

“It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages.”

Henry Ford

This article has been prepared for the Chamber and our Members by Allan Weatherall, B.A., CFRE, APR – Executive Director of the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation.

He received accreditation (APR) from the Canadian Public Relations Society in 1993 and a CFRE (certified fundraising executive) in 2000.

He welcomes your comments via email to: aweather@stegh.on.ca or telephone 519-631-2030 extension 2247.

Welcome Shawn Longworth Disbrowe Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac is pleased to welcome SHAWN LONGWORTH to their sales team. Shawn is a local St. Thomas family man with 3 years automotive sales experience.

He is customer oriented with an outgoing personality to make buying a vehicle fun. We are very pleased to have him join our team.

Shawn invites his friends, relatives and past customers to contact him for all their automotive needs.

116 Edward Edward St. St. St. St. Thomas Thomas www.disbrowe.com www.disbrowe.com 519-631-7960 519-631-7960 116 shawnlongworth@disbrowe.com

June, 2012

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St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce

be seen be heard

belong!

The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome the following businesses and individuals as our newest Members. The staff and management of the organizations shown below were accepted as registered Members from April 16 to May 15, 2012.

A+ Display 100 Manor Road St. Thomas, ON N5R 5S3 Phone: 519-777-4434 Email: contact@aplus-display.com Website: www.aplus-display.com Contact: Ms. Aurora Rodriguez, Owner / Operator Buyer’s Guide Categories: Displays; Decorating Supplies & Services; Window Fashions Products & Services: A+ display creates successful window and in-store/point-ofpurchase merchandise displays along with a consistent brand landscape that will meet client needs and intrigue customer curiosity in order to improve and enhance visual marketing strategies and help merchandise sell itself.

Central United Church 135 Wellington Street St. Thomas, ON N5R 2B7 Phone: 519-631-3503 Fax: 519-631-7525 Email: centraluc@bellnet.ca Website: www.centraluc.ca Contact: Pastor Troy Van Ginkel Buyer’s Guide Category: Agencies & Associations; Community Services; Music Instruction Products & Services: Home to the Inn Out of the Cold program, the Central Music Academy and many local organizations such as Al-Anon. Part of the United Church of Canada.

Forest City Castings Inc. 10 Highbury Avenue St. Thomas, ON N5P 4C7 Phone: 519-633-2999 Toll Free: 866-779-7709 Fax: 519-668-3508 Email: cathyb@forestcitycastings.com Website: www.forestcitycastings.com Contacts: Mr. Scott McRae, President; Ms. Cathy Brandow, Accounts Payable; Buyer’s Guide Category: Manufacturers Products & Services: Forest City Castings specializes in Zinc and Aluminum Cast-

ings, In-House Graphite Mould Making and Rapid Prototyping and Precision CNC Machining. Equipped with state of the art CNC Machines and Foundry Equipment Technology, they are equipped to provide rapid prototyping and optimum service in the Graphite Permanent Mould Process.

Green Valley Recycling Corp.

1200 Green Valley Road London, ON N6N 1E3 Phone: 519-681-0606 Fax: 519-681-7210 Email: info@greenvalleyrecycling.ca Website: www.greenvalleyrecycling.ca Contact: Mr. Bill Aarts, Marketing Manager Buyer’s Guide Categories: Construction Equipment & Supplies; Demolition/Construction Waste Removal; Landscape Materials; Recycling; Sand & Gravel; Waste Collection and Equipment Products & Services: Green Valley Recycling works to service the community both by accepting and recycling unwanted goods, renovation & demolition waste and junk. They also sell high quality recycled landscaping products both for home and commercial uses, so come

on in! Conveniently located just south of the 401 between Wellington Road and Highbury Avenue, which allows for quick access to their location from many areas of southwestern Ontario.

Mark Eggleston Construction 358 Wellington Street St. Thomas, ON N5P 2T5 Phone: 519-637-0897 Contact: Mr. Mark Eggleston, Owner / Operator Buyer’s Guide Categories: Building Contractors; Renovations/Additions Products & Services: Mark’s company works under a motto that says “A professional makes it happen!” An independent, professional contractor and builder providing services to all sizes of residential, commercial and industrial projects.

Smart Choice Communications Inc/Household Connexion 101- 4026 Meadowbrook Drive London, ON N6L 1C5 Phone: 519-765-5000 Fax: 519-652-0339 Toll Free: 888-900-0030 Email: michelle@romsoft.net Website: www.smartchoicecommunications.ca Contact: Ms. Michelle Boyce, Marketing Representative Buyer’s Guide Categories: Advertising/Promotion; Magazines; Printing & Publishing; Promotional Products Products & Services: Smart Choice Communications is a one-stop shop for all direct mail advertising, marketing and printing services. The firm works with clients in all parts of Elgin County. webDynamiX 44 Cavanaugh Crescent St. Thomas, ON N5R 5Y6 Phone: 519-870-4875 Email: david@webdynamix.info Website: www.webdynamix.info Contact: Mr. David Reid, Owner Buyer’s Guide Categories: Computer – Sales, Supplies & Services; Web Design Services Products & Services: webDynamiX is a web design and development service specializing in creating custom web sites.

Their designs are uniquely styled and well coded. Simply put, they help you stand out from the crowd! They are committed to creating the best possible package to boost online traffic, sales, control over your site, and most importantly, your confidence. Your web presence is in safe hands. They design, build, promote and support your website.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY Save 3.5¢/litre Chamber members qualify for Esso’s Direct Billing Program; you pay 3.5¢ off the posted retail pump price whenever you fuel up.

You may also get a convenient, detailed monthly invoice and also qualify for Speedpass®. For an application, contact:

Lynhurst ESSO & Variety 16

Wellington Road at St. George St. 519-633-0002

ETXERIOR WASH & INTERIOR CLEANING Both for

26.55

$

+ HST (Car only) (larger vehicles extra) *Note: Vehicles with pet hair / extra dirty additional charge.

160 Burwell Rd., St.Thomas 519-631-5502 E L G I N

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• Expert Auto Repairs • Professional Diagnostics • Warranty Approved Scheduled Maintenance 135 South Edgeware Rd, St Thomas 519-631-7117 www.stthomasautoguys.com June, 2012

St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce

be seen be heard

Mark Lassam, C.A. Partner- Kee, Perry & Lassam 15 Barrie Boulevard St Thomas 519-631-6360 www.kpl-accountants.ca Kee, Perry & Lassam has been a registered Chamber Member for 29 years.

The Chamber brings people together who share our desire to build business and improve our community.

“

I like the Chamber because it’s about people.

Victoria Baird Owner, Elements Hair Skin Nails 330 Talbot Street St Thomas 519-631-6688 www.elementshsn.com

Elements Hair Skin Nails has been a registered Chamber Member for 4 years.

Statistics, trends & market information the Chamber gives us keeps our focus in the right direction as a business and as a community.

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The Chamber is the best resource of business and community information.

Bob Ward Owner, Auto Guys 135 South Edgeware Rd. St Thomas 519-631-7117 www.stthomasautoguys.com

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My Community is My Business

Karen Johnson Owner, Disbrowe Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac Ltd. 116 Edward St. St Thomas 519-631-7960 www.disbrowe.com

Disbrowe has been a registered Chamber Member for 61 years.

Being a Chamber member and interacting with other valued Chamber members has great benefits to my business.

I like the benefits the Chamber offers on group discounts.

Chad Ghattas Manager, Lynhurst Esso 10090 Wellington Road St Thomas 519-633-0002 lynhurstvariety@bellnet.ca

Lynhurst Esso has been a registered Chamber Member for 8 years.

As a self-employed person, the Chamber gives me access to events that let me meet and stay in-touch with hundreds of other small business and professionals here.

I like the Chamber of Commerce events.

Auto Guys (formally Midas) has been a registered Chamber Member for 15 years

Bryan Bakker Owner, BizBio.tv 53 St. Catharine St. St. Thomas 519-851-8614 www.bizbio.ca

“

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It’s the most cost effective way to get your business known

An active chamber that supports local businesses and promotes buying locally is important to building a growing economy that can sustain and create jobs to provide opportunities for people to live, work, play and be charitable in our great community.

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Looking for an affordable way to help your business grow, consider the benefits of joining the chamber. It has it all, networking, educational items plus group health benefits plans and more.

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belong!

BizBio.ca has been a registered Chamber Member for 1 year.

Joining the chamber provides you one of the best opportunities to develop your business. You can take advantage of the great benefits we offer to help you not only grow your business but also to grow your network, increase your exposure, build your customer base and make a direct impact on the business community. You will be entitled to some of the best savings, but in addition to savings programs, monthly newsletter, and special offers, your membership will entitle you to enjoy many more learning and networking opportunities. Call Membership coordinator Linda Crawford at 519-631-1981 to talk about how you can join over 700 community business in growing business and community.

June, 2012

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Starting A New Business B U S I N E S S

Do I need a business plan?

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by Tim Berry

If you are approaching a banker for a loan for a startup business, your loan officer may request a business plan. If you have an existing business and are approaching a bank for capital to expand the business, they often will not require a business plan, but they may look more favorably on your application if you have one.

Some of the reasons for writing a business plan include: • Defining a new business • Supporting a loan application • Raising equity funding • Defining objectives and describe programs to achieve those objectives • Evaluating a new product line, promotion or expansion • Creating a regular business review and course correction process

• Defining agreements between partners • Setting a value on a business for sale or legal purposes What’s in a business plan?

A business plan should prove that your business will generate enough

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revenue to cover your expenses, but a business plan may vary depending on your audience. If you are writing a plan for your colleagues and partners to expand an existing business, then the focus of that plan may be more operational than financial. If you are writing a plan for a bank, the most important aspect to the bank manager will be your financials. Are your assumptions realistic? Will the cash flow be enough that you can make the monthly payments for the loan you have requested? If your business is making $1,000 a month and your payments are $1,200 a month, the bank is likely to turn you away.

If you are writing a plan for a venture capitalist, the most important factor in a decision to invest in a company is the quality of the people.

In real estate, where the three biggest criteria are “location, location and location,” the venture capital axiom is “people, people and people.” Venture

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capitalists will ask, how experienced are the people that are going to run this business? Do they have knowledge of the industry? Have they started successful ventures in the past?

What makes a successful business plan?

• Presents a well thought out idea • Contains clear and concise writing • Has a logical structure • Illustrates management’s ability to make the business a success • Shows profitability Bringing it all together . . .

Your business plan is like your calling card; it will get you in the door where you’ll have to convince investors and loan officers that you can put your plan into action. You want your calling card to look impressive, so make sure your business plan is printed out on good quality paper, you have checked the spelling and grammar and that your numbers add up. Anyone who sees errors while reading your plan will wonder whether you are going to make similar errors in running your business.

A great business plan is the best way to show bankers, venture capitalists and other investors that you are worthy of financial support.

Make sure that your plan is clear, focused and realistic. Then show them that you have the tools, talent and team to make it happen.

There are many benefits to joining

At Kee, Perry & Lassam we ensure our clients recieve the service and expertise they need to succeed.

Please make a call to our office your first step on the road to success.

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your business plan is like your calling card

Show bankers, venture capitalists and other investors that you are worthy of financial support

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Starting A New Business P L A N N I N G

Beginning a new venture doesn’t have to be a confusing experience People are always asking for a list of fundamentals, a checklist they can use to start their own businesses.

From your business type to your business model to your physical location, there are so many variables it’s not easy to come up with a list that will work for everybody. The key, regardless of what type of business you’re starting, is to be flexible!

That said, here are seven steps to take before you start your business.

Step 1: Personal evaluation.

Begin by taking stock of yourself and your situation. Why do you want to start a business? Is it money, freedom, creativity, or some other reason? What skills do you have?

What industries do you know about?

Would you want to provide a service or a product? What do you like to do? How much capital do you have to risk? Will it be a full-time or a part-time venture? Your answers to these types of questions will help you narrow your focus.

Step 2: Analyze the industry.

Once you decide on a business that fits your goals and lifestyle, you need to evaluate your idea. Who will buy your product or service? Who would be your competitors? You also need to figure out at this stage how much money you will need to get started.

Step 3: Make it legal.

There are several ways to form your business – it could be a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation. Although incorporating can be expensive, it is well worth the money.

A corporation becomes a separate entity that is legally responsible for the business. If something goes wrong, you cannot be held personally liable.

You also need to get the proper business licenses and permits. Depending upon the business, there may be city, county or provincial regulations as well as permits and licenses to deal with. This is also the time to check into any insurance you may need for the business and to find a good accountant.

Step 4: Draft a business plan.

If you will be seeking outside financing, a business plan is a necesJune, 2012

sity. But even if you are going to finance the venture yourself, a business plan will help you figure out how much money you will need to get started, what needs to get done when and where you are headed.

Step 5: Get financed.

Depending on the size of your venture, you may need to seek financing from an “angel” or from a venture capital firm. Most small businesses begin with private financing from credit cards, personal loans, help from the family, etc. As a rule of thumb, besides your start-up costs, you should also have at least three

months’ worth of your family’s budget in the bank.

Step 6: Set up shop.

Find a location. Negotiate leases.

Buy inventory. Get the phones installed. Have stationery printed. Hire staff. Set your prices. Throw a “Grand Opening” party.

Step 7: Trial and error.

It will take awhile to figure out what works and what does not. Follow your business plan, but be open and creative. Advertise! Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Above all, have a ball! Running your own business is one of the great joys in life!

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Seven steps to starting your own business

begin by taking stock of yourself and your situation

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Starting A New Business S T A Y

Feeling a little overwhelmed by your new venture?

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identify your strengths and areas of improvement

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New habits will help you organize and prioritize Ronda Stewart

You have decided to start your own business! Now, are you focussed or are you torn by the varying thoughts, ideas and directions? Here are some habits and considerations to help you get organized and prioritize your action plan.

First and foremost, buy a new workbook and exercise the habit of writing everything down. This will allow thoughts that are percolating to simmer; new ideas to be considered and original ideas to be acted upon, removed or refreshed. This habit will help you sleep at night.

The second is to develop the habit of asking questions and seeking educated answers (a.k.a. research). This will build confidence in you and in your decision-making. Immerse yourself in research and consider the following: Define your personal life goals and your business goals. Where do these two paths intersect?

Define what success looks like to you. Do you want to start this business to earn more money, to have more control over decisions, to have flexibility in your schedule, or to make an impact or difference in the community you serve?

Determine the skills required to be an entrepreneur and self-assess whether you possess what it takes to be successful in business. Identify your strengths and areas for improvement. Play to your own natural strengths and do not be afraid to ask for help in areas you have yet to learn.

Determine if you have a market.

What does your business offer your clients? Does it address a niche mar-

25 John Street S. Aylmer N5H 2C1 519-773-9265

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Ronda Stewart is the Small Business Enterprise Centre Manager at Elgin Business Resource Centre.

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

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ket or fulfil a specific need? Who will buy your product or service?

Determine who your competitors are. Do you view competition as healthy or threat to your business?

How will you set yourself apart? You may have a unique and one-of-akind business idea but do not overlook the impact a direct or indirect competitor can have on your bottom-line.

Determine the level of financial risk you will be susceptible to should your business fail. Will you be leaving a permanent employment situation and need to replace this income? Do you have all the capital and finances required to start your business? Will you require additional access to capital to start or maintain your business?

Determine the governing rules and regulations in your municipality that will have an impact on your business idea, and do your diligence when identifying the business liability coverage that you will need.

The Canada Business Network has some excellent resources available www.canadabusiness.ca.

Lastly, come on out to Elgin Business Resource Centre for guidance, direction or research in any these areas. Or Google our website, or follow us on Facebook. We are here to help you succeed.

MARK A WALES

“Our Strength Is Beyond Numbers” 450 Sunset Drive St.Thomas N5R 5V1 519-633-0700

F O C U S E D

190 Centre St., St. Thomas 519-637-0700 T H I S

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Good business ideas are all around you A few ways to find the real opportunities to start your own business From businessknowhow.com

Business ideas are lurking in your garage, in your basement, in your kitchen and in your children's room.

You'll find them in magazine ads, at your neighbour's house and at work.

Many business owners have turned their hobbies, interests and skills into satisfying and often lucrative businesses simply by seeing a need in the world around them and finding a way to fill it. You can, too.

Here are some elements of success.

Do what you love to do Businesses don't just happen. They are made.

Whether you plan to profit by twisting balloons into smile-generating shapes or orchestrating the growth of multimillion dollar, multinational companies, your success relies on what you bring to the business. If you love what you do, your passion for the business will drive you to be knowledgeable, creative and persistent.

Turn old standbys into new products Truly new concepts are few and far between. Most new products or new business ideas are simply spin-offs of old ones. Inline skates are one good example. Essentially, they are ice skates on wheels. Or streamlined roller-skates. Other new business ideas are nothing more than new ways of marketing mundane products. Take 1800flowers.com, for example. Florists were around as relatively small, local stores for years – but then Jim McCann, who started with a single retail shop in 1976, acquired the phone number 1-800Flowers and developed a network of florists. The company saw an opportunity to grow through early commercial online services, and then the Internet.

And then, there's the grandmother who couldn't find a product to organize her handbag. So, she went out and created one, and turned the product into a million-dollar business.

Sell your knowledge or skills Do you have a skill others want to acquire? Do you have a knack for exJune, 2012

To read the full version of this story, visit businessknowhow.com

plaining things so others can understand them? If so, don't give your expertise away. Start charging for it!

For instance, if you are a karate expert, you might teach at a karate school or open your own school. If you're a talented artist, you could teach art at home or in a school. For additional revenue, sell books, supplies, or other items your students will need to buy to complete the course.

Sell training seminars Don't limit yourself to training individuals or private groups of people.

Look for ways to polish up your act and cash in on the $50 billion corporate training market.

What kind of training do corporations buy? Everything from sales, management and computer training courses to self-defense courses. whackamole If you can solve business problems (such as how to bring waste water into compliance with environmental regulations) or answer important business questions (outline steps to increase market share in a target market) you can earn substantial hourly fees selling your advice to corporations.

Turn a former employer into a valuable source of new business Just because you leave a company doesn't mean it doesn't need your services. Companies often retain the services of former workers on a freelance or consulting basis. That way they get the benefit of trained perE L G I N

sonnel without having to pay payroll taxes and benefits.

Modify one of your existing products Sometimes all it takes to create a "new" product is a slight change in an existing product.

Harrison-Hoge Industries is a mail order company in Port Jefferson, NY, that sells fishing lures, inflatable boats and other outdoor gear. To expand their line, the company added a wide-brimmed, canvas hat called the Campesino to its catalog. The hat was a big success, and business owners discovered they could adapt the hat to sell in specialized markets just by changing the hat band. As a result, they began to supply the Museum of Natural History and the Guggenheim Museum (both in New York City) with hats, each with its

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own distinctive band.

Skip the start-up headaches: purchase an existing business When you start a business from scratch you have to jump through hoops to find and train employees, build up a customer base and find suppliers. But when you buy an existing business much of this infrastructure will already be in place.

Buy a franchise If you want to start a business but don't want to develop your own products, or methods of doing business, franchising could be your ticket to business ownership. That's because when you buy a franchise, what you get is essentially a buildyour-own-business kit.

For more information on franchising, visit FranchiseKnowHow.com

What Makes Your Money Make Money!

For Small Business and Personal Inquiries, Call Gail Dennis • Job Costing • Cash Flows • Financial Reports • Tax Planning Personal and accurate returns • Fixed Income Returns at reasonable rates

Gail Dennis

Prosperity Coach for Your Business and You

www.accountingwithyou.com • accountingwithyou@live.com 300 South Edgeware Rd., St. Thomas, ON N5P 4L1 519-633-7597 (Ext. 405) M O N T H

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HOMESTYLE DECORATING

KEITH HUNT

CONSTRUCTION LTD.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT ~ COST CONSULTING

It's sunroom season Here are some ideas to let the sun shine in

PROUD BUILDERS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL FARM HOUSE ADDITION

by Renée Carpenter

From the front porch to conservatory rooms, the concept is the same - to enjoy as much natural light and outdoor exposure as possible in an environment that is inviting and relaxing. The same decorating concepts apply regardless of the particular setting or function of this "outside" space. Let’s explore some of the more common sun porch settings.

“Our Reputation is built on providing our customers with quality Craftsmanship, innovative designs and after sales-service that is second to none.”

Keith A. Hunt

519-765-2666

C.E.T., P.Q.S. President

20 Harvey St., Aylmer, ON

www.keithhunt.ca 22

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each-inspired sunrooms do not require an ocean view.

Bring the tropics home by simply using a soft, relaxing colour palette for a coastal feel; images of that day at the beach can be relived. Soft turquoise is a great sea wall colour to brighten neutral surroundings. Accessorize with starfish and seashells for extra beachy staging. Weathered soft grey wood ties it all together.

A traditional sunroom can be nothing more than wall-to-wall windows in a sunny room to transform its entire purpose with the perfect view. A central large arched window can become the focal point. Combine classic décor with casual comfort, goldencoloured walls, lots of pillows and floral upholstery to create an airy feel.

Conservatory sunrooms allow the ultimate natural light to flood in, bringing outdoor living inside. Amplify it by adding flowing arrangements, light wicker furniture and a soft green to the interior trim and existing walls. Tiled floors are easy to keep with plants and watering issues.

Use Sunbrella fabric in a room that is so heavily sun-drenched to avoid the inevitable fading that will occur.

Not all sunrooms have the option of

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being a south or west facing room. If yours is east facing, welcome to your sunrise room! Even a wall of windows in a nook can become that special place for early morning meditation or yoga. Curl up with your first cup of java as the sun appears on the horizon.

So many wonderful ways to enjoy this type of room – and endless decorating options.

Garden rooms can be an enclosed porch or courtyard that is filled with greenery and plants and potentially surrounded by a similar outdoor environment. This room can be almost any style as the plants take on the

focal point. Chairs tucked into nooks provide escape for a good book and tea.

Cottage-style sunrooms create a charming, vintage feel – or even a shabby chic approach. Staying with the soft pastel colour palette and adding touches of white produce a true cottage feel. Cornflower blue and white plaid screams cottage along with slip-covered furniture. Filtered light from the screened porch pouring over a distressed oak hardwood floor, either painted or natural, spells "welcome."

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ous walls of glass doors and windows, leading out to the pool or garden can also be sunrooms. French doors swinging open onto a similar tiled walkway bring the basement concept to a new level.

Things I love about sun porches...a desk tucked away on a sun porch with my laptop and a view; a porch fireplace to extend the porch season for those frosty fall evenings or early spring mornings; a small bistro table for a tea or coffee with a friend; lots of natural greenery. Dress up a porch with columns to add flair and style.

Be sure to include ceiling fans, rugs, table and floor lamps, porch drapery, odd-matching pieces of furniture - all can add character and charm to your porch experience. Have fun with it. It is meant to be enjoyed!

Renée Carpenter is the owner of Jennings Furniture and Design in St. Thomas.

Escape from the World without leaving the Comforts of Home!

Hours: Monday - Friday 9am-5:30pm Saturday 9am-4pm Sunday Closed

519-633-7888 1244 Talbot Str. St.Thomas

www.countrypoolsandspa.com June, 2012

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D I N I N G & E N T E R TA I N M E N T SAVOUR ELGIN

A fruitful experience Lots to do at Great Lakes Farms just minutes from Port Stanley

by Kate Burns

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Great Lakes Farms is a family fruit and cash crop farm located just minutes from scenic Port Stanley.

MaryAnne and Joe Van de Gevel are the third generation to carry on the tradition of growing high quality Elgin County fruit. The couple grows fresh strawberries available as pick your own in late June and July.

For those that can’t make it out to the farm, you can get fresh Great Lakes Farms in St. Thomas at the Home Hardware parking lot located at 295 Wellington Street.

Sweet black cherries are ready in mid-July, juicy tree-ripened peaches in August, and pears, pumpkins and 12 varieties of crunchy delicious apples are available in the fall. These fruits are available fresh when in season and also in many of the freshbaked treats made in the farm bakery.

Throughout the year, Great Lakes hosts a wide variety of activities, including weddings, group dinners, farm tours and pick-your-own strawberries, pears and pumpkins.

A historic apple barn provides rustic elegance while still offering all of the modern amenities. Completely renovated, the barn boasts a large contemporary kitchen, outdoor patio, outdoor lawn and game space, plus plenty of parking. The main dining hall and dining space can accommodate up to 140 people, making for a picturesque venue amid the orchards for your wedding or large event.

At Great Lakes Farms the fall season is full of excitement! Start your visit with a wagon ride around the farm or a trip through the corn maze.

Afterwards, grab a push-wagon and head into the orchard to pick a bushel of fresh, crisp apples straight from the tree. Feel free to add a couple homegrown pumpkins from the patch. After a hard afternoon of harvesting, you can relax in the cafe and enjoy some delicious, fresh-baked apple treats.

Make sure to take in events like Applefest in September and Pumpkinfest in October. And don’t forget to visit the store and bakery to take home some treats for your friends.

the fall season is full of excitement!

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Great Lakes Farms is a member of Savour Elgin. Savour Elgin is a program with a goal to promote and enhance culinary tourism in Elgin County and St. Thomas. The Savour Elgin trail is a route through Elgin County that visits some of the best restaurants, farms, wineries, and other culinary attractions that focus on food and drink that’s local and unique to Elgin County and St. Thomas. For full trail information visit www.savourelgin.ca.

Kate Burns is the business development coordinator at the County of Elgin.

June, 2012

D I N I N G & E N T E R TA I N M E N T WINE & FOOD

by Jamie Quai

The nice weather we’ve all been enjoying has me thinking about some of my favourite summer patio wines. My go-to choices haven’t deviated much over the last decade or so, but rather than list all of them, I’ve decided to highlight three that seem to offer the best value for money.

My first choice is a white wine grape called Chenin Blanc. This grape is known, like Riesling, as one of the most versatile grapes in the world. It makes everything from incredibly crisp dry white wines, sparkling wines, to semi-dry wines and even ultra-sweet dessert wines. These wines are known for honey, quince, straw and wildflowers. The best examples of Chenin come from the Loire Valley in France, but there are large plantings in South Africa, the USA and Argentina. Chenin Blanc is the main grape in several underrated wine styles from the Loire including Anjou Blanc, Saumur and Vouvray. In South Africa, the grape is known as Steen, and makes a style of wine noticeably less intense aromatically but fuller on the palate. The best Chenins are cropped with low yields and generally command a higher price. They rank near the top of my summer sipping list because they work well with a huge array of food, and they have a refreshing crispness that is perfect on a warm day.

My second choice is the red grape Grenache. It should be familiar to most wine consumers; it is after all, considered the most widely planted grape variety in the world. The wines can be full-bodied powerhouses with notes of strawberries, raspberries, olives, roasted nuts, gingerbread and coffee. The largest plantings, and some of the best examples, are found in Spain. Look for the region Priorat on the label. The grape also produces some amazing wines in France.

Grenache is a large component of the intensely powerful Chateauneuf-duPapes but is also a major grape in wines from the Rhône. Keep your eyes out for labels with Côtes-duRhône-Villages, Gigondas or Vacqueyras; these are dominated by Grenache. There are large plantings in both Australia and the USA, and the quality is getting better with every vintage but the best examples on the market right now do seem to be focused around the Mediterranean. I love this wine style in the summer because it is one of the best barbeque reds around.

My third choice for the best value summer patio wines is one that we just seem to do very well right here in Ontario, Chardonnay. It is one of the June, 2012

taste summer

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Three great wines to try when the weather turns warm

most ubiquitous wines in the world, but nothing is quite as refreshing as an unoaked Chardonnay on a warm day. I try to avoid the oaky Chardonnays in the summer because, stylistically at least, unoaked Chardonnays tend to be crisper and complement a lot of seasonal vegetables, salads and fresh fish. These Chardonnays are generally characterised by tropical fruit, apple and flint aromas and flavours. The highest piece of advice I can give about finding the best unoaked Chardonnay is to stick to cool climate wine regions. Think Ontario, Oregon, Washington State, France and Northern Italy. While warmer climates make tremendous Chardonnays, on a warm summer day, the generally lower alcohol, crisper finish and fresh fruit flavours of a cool climate Chardonnay will simply show better. Cheers!

All You Can Eat AKITA SUSHI DINE IN · TAKE OUT Open Everyday

Mon. – Sat. 11AM – 11PM Sunday 11AM – 10 PM Jamie Quai is head winemaker at Quai du Vin Estate Winery in Elgin County.

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Mon & Wed, All You Can Eat Dinner $16.99

519-637-5888 1063 Talbot St. Unit 85 M O N T H

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H E A LT H Y L I V I N G EVERYDAY HEALTH

What kind of shoes are your children wearing?

by Dr. Greg Johnston B.H.K., B.Ed., D.C

As the warmer weather approaches we all look forward to shedding the winter coats, hats, mittens and yes, the boots as well. Be careful, however; your choice of footwear for you and your children can have serious health consequences. Footwear has been designed to meet our real and perceived needs including protection, support, comfort, sturdiness and style. During the summer months our priorities tend toward comfort and style at the expense of some of the more important needs.

This puts our feet in jeopardy for injury. More importantly, poor choices for our children may condemn them to lifelong foot, lower limb and even back problems.

When a child begins to walk, shoes generally are not necessary. Allowing children to go barefoot indoors helps the foot to grow normally and develop its muscles and strength. As the child grows the need for shoes becomes apparent. Here are some tips when selecting footwear for your child.

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• Check the shoe for a firm heel counter (this means stiff material on either side of the heel). The shoe should have adequate cushioning of the insole and a built-in arch. It should be flexible enough to bend where the foot bends, at the ball of the foot, not in the middle of the shoe.

• Children should be sized while they are fully weight bearing. It is a good idea to go to a children’s specialty shoe store to have your child properly sized and fitted.

• There should be about one half inch of space between the tip of the toes and the end of the shoe. Your child should be able to comfortably wiggle their toes in the shoe.

• Both feet should be measured.

Ensure that the larger one is used for accurate sizing.

• Have your child wear the shoe around the store for several minutes.

Ask your child if they feel any sore spots. Check your child’s feet for any signs of irritation after the shoe has been worn for a few minutes. The shoe should not slip off at the heels.

• For early walkers it is important to have stable but flexible shoes. Be aware of shoes with thick and stiff soles, as they will not be flexible enough.

• Remember that lack of a complaint by a child is not a reliable sign.

The bones of a growing foot are so flexible that they may be damaged without the child being aware.

When it comes to summer footwear the obvious choice by many is sandals. Don’t abandon the above recommendations however.

Many good choices are available.

Again, examine the sandal and try to apply as many of the above recommendations as possible. Here are a few tips.

• Look for sandals that support as much of the foot as possible. Sandals that have medial and lateral (inside

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and outside) support are best.

• Fully adjustable strapping allows for a better fit. Look for sandals that have a front strap, a strap over the instep and an adjustable heel strap as well.

• Follow the suggestions for a good supportive insole and built-in arch.

Just because they are sandals doesn’t mean that they can’t have a good arch support built in.

• Look for materials that will breathe easily and dry quickly. Children’s feet perspire more than adults.

• Remember that sandals have less contact points with the foot; therefore, hotspots can more easily develop. Check your child’s feet for signs of friction and blisters regularly.

• It is advisable to have two pairs of sandals so that you can switch from one day to the next to avoid blisters.

• Avoid “flip flops” as well as other non-supportive slip-on shoes.

I am always surprised every summer by the number of footwear-related problems I see in my office.

What is even more surprising is that most people realize that they are wearing improper footwear but still continue. Proper footwear is a key component to your health and to the health of your child. Ensure that they are wearing proper footwear. The consequences for lifelong problems are real. Proper choices now can help prevent painful and possibly debilitating difficulties later in life.

Dr. Greg Johnston is a chiropractor and partner in Family Health Options Treatment and Resources Centre in St. Thomas.

June, 2012

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G PERSONAL HEALTH

by Shirl Kosky and Erica Arnett

Harvesting local food at its peak allows the food to taste great on its own, needing little added salt, sugar or fat to enhance the flavour.

Purchasing from local farms and businesses contributes to local tax revenue, infrastructure, jobs and economic diversification.

Did you know that if 10,000 families purchased $2 per week of locally produced food, it would keep just over a million dollars circulating in our community? An estimated economic multiplier of at least two is associated with such a shift, meaning an additional $2,080,000 in regional economic activity would be generated each year.

Keeping money in our community is important for the health of our local economy. For example, by buying fresh fruit from a local farmer, that farmer can then pay for his daughter’s ballet lessons. This kind of economy is based on connections with people.

On June 16 at the Horton Farmers’ Market in St. Thomas, the Toonie Challenge will be launched. Join the fun. Learn about the value of supporting local food, agriculture and business. Get the children involved in a colouring contest. Take the challenge. Grab a passport and win a prize. Stay tuned for more exciting developments.

Take the Toonie Challenge Buy local, buy fresh and keep the money flowing in this community

Shop At Briwood Farm Market and Support Local Farmers

VISIT OUR COMPLETE

Shirl Kosky and Erica Arnett from Elgin St. Thomas Public Heath are promoting local food through a commitment to a Local Food Charter.

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LIFESTYLES SELF DEVELOPMENT

Why not say thanks Recently, I coached a woman who wanted to make a career change after working at the same place for more than 10 years, not because of lack of compensation but because of lack of appreciation. The woman in question, who lives very far from this area, told me that she had applied for a position in another department and didn’t get the job. When she asked the reason why, she was told it was because she had taken too many sick days over the past year.

I found this very interesting because the woman, who for purposes of this article I shall call “Jane,” worked in a position that required her to process a certain amount of insurance claims each hour. She was constantly looking at her watch to see if she was on target. This constant pressure resulted in Jane taking a number of sick days for stress-related ailments such as headaches and stomach problems.

A month later, Jane applied to another position within the company,

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which she was not interviewed for, and so she felt very hopeless. Jane tells me she really wanted another inhouse position that would allow her greater exposure to people as her position at the time involved little to no contact with people.

The big question that came to my mind was when will employers realize that how much appreciation an em-

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I have only seen the show “Undercover Boss” once but I was so impressed that a top-ranking executive with the Toronto Zoo went undercover to see what challenges his grassroots employees were facing. At the end of the episode, the executive did something to help each employee he had worked with to facilitate the work they were doing. In most cases, it did

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by Sharon Lechner

Showing appreciation to your employees can boost morale

47% of employees don’t feel appreciated on the job

ployee receives determines how productive an employee will be and how long they will remain with the company.

A Canadian survey conducted by an independent research for Office Team showed that approximately 47 percent of employees don't feel appreciated on the job. Studies also show that more people leave their jobs due to lack of appreciation rather than lack of compensation. Showing appreciation doesn’t have to cost employees a lot of money. It may just require saying “Thank You” more often.

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not require a lot of expense or effort.

He also did something to reward each of these employees on a personal level, such as giving the employees and their spouses a dinner for two. At the end of the show, all of the employees had tears in their eyes because they felt appreciated.

I am currently reading the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Gary Chapman and Paul White. This book helps the reader to identify how people wish to be appreciated and applies to all kinds of workplaces, such as medical offices,

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churches, not-for-profits, etc. Why not pick up a copy at your local library?

Last week, someone told me that her employer took the administrative staff of her company out for lunch for Administrative Assistants Week. The person I spoke to truly appreciated her company doing something in recognition of this week and the efforts put forth by the administrative staff in her organization.

It is important to know how to show appreciation to staff and volunteers, especially if you don’t have a big budget for compensation increases.

And remember, don’t forget to say “Thank You.”

Sharon Lechner is a certified master life coach and owner of Reach for the Stars Empowerment in St. Thomas.

June, 2012

LIFESTYLES THAT’S LIFE

War stories from the play pen

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The terrible twos

his ‘scooting’ wasn’t slowing him down

by Elizabeth VanHooren

I don’t know who coined the term “the terrible twos.” It was probably the same man that thought morning sickness only plagued women for a few hours before breakfast, because my two-year-old has been in the throes of “the terrible twos” for the last year and a half.

To be fair he gave me lots of warning that he was going to live his life “his way.” Unlike his brother, he refused to play on his tummy. As a baby, if he wasn’t sitting or lying on his back, he screamed. So he missed all of the natural milestones in a baby’s life. He refused to roll over either from his back to his belly or visa versa. And he never crawled. Rather, he “scooted,” that is, he sat on his bum and pulled himself with his hands across the floor.

There were days when I worried myself to the point of tears that he might never walk, that there was something wrong with his legs or hips. It was my husband that pointed out that his “scooting” wasn’t slowing him down.

From a sitting position he could still manage to open the cereal cupboard and help himself to a handful of Cheerios whenever he felt like a snack. It was cute until the day I found him with a full box poured out onto the floor. He decided that playing in a mountain of Cheerios was way more fun.

A stern “No” would have sufficed to keep his brother away from the cupboards. But my little “Dennis the Menace” continued to visit his favorite cupboards despite repeated scolding. I finally resorted to putting June, 2012

elastic bands on the cupboard handles barring all entry.

He eventually did learn to walk at just past a year old. Of course, his walking and climbing only made me miss his scooting. Ever alert to his older brother, he learned that the step stool in the kitchen extended his reach and opened up his world to new wonders. The phone, the Kleenex box and, oh yes, the remote control were his motivation to finally find his legs.

Today, “No mom,” with a slight shake of the head is his favourite phrase. He throws both arms up over his head and enthusiastically shouts, “Again!” when something particularly delights him. “Again,” he exclaims “Again!” after each splash his foot makes in the water pooling at the base of the garden tap he has figured out how to turn on.

He doesn’t want to play with the plastic shovel that is his size, he wants the one you are using that’s twice his height. He grasps the edge of his sand box with a death grip in defiance if he thinks you are about to take him inside before he is ready. He pushes his dinner away if it isn’t in his favourite brown bowl. One day he likes strawberries; the next day they are tossed on the floor.

He finds the toothpaste and squishes it out into his fingers, marveling at the blue stickiness that only a little boy can appreciate. He finds the baby powder you left momentarily on the counter, leaving a track of ghostly footprints to his room.

But at night, after his bath, when

Elizabeth VanHooren is general manager of the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority.

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I’ve washed the dirt from his face and the stickiness off his hands, I powder the bum he used to scoot around on and I ask him, “Whose boy are you?”

And he answers with a giggle and an angelic smile, “Mom’s boy!”

Yes, my boy, terrible twos and all.

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LIFESTYLES TIME ON MY HANDS

Living mindfully Thoughts on how to live in the present moment

“ . . . to stand on the meeting of two eternities, the past and the future, which is precisely the present moment.” Henry David Thoreau Back in university, I was initiated into the practice of Transcendental Meditation. I went to the ceremony with $35, a piece of fruit and a white handkerchief, and I received my personal mantra. It was the 1960s after all, and the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was guru to the Beatles. After two or three months of meditating, I quit and gave up that path to Nirvana.

Since then, I have lowered my sights a bit. Now, my goal is be in the Present Moment, with at least a little regularity. I would like to “live mind-

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fully,” as the Buddhists say. “Mindfulness helps us to pay attention to what we are doing . . . to live in and appreciate the present moment in all its richness and depth,” writes American born Lama Surya Das, a monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. “Mindfulness helps us smell the roses.”

But for me, focusing my attention on the present for more than a few scant seconds is surprisingly challenging. I can return from walking the dog and have no idea what I walked past, heard or smelled. My mind is continually distracted by my own mental chatter – rehashing yes-

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by Duncan Watterworth

terday, planning tomorrow, replaying battles lost and won. And I can’t be the only one with this affliction, because Buddhists have a word for it: “monkey mind.”

As I understand it, part of Buddhist training is to learn to focus the mind on what is happening here and now and to ease the monkey mind into the background. It is a learnable skill.

Many who have met the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, comment on how he focuses his total attention on whoever he meets, whether head-of-state or head waiter.

We can bring more mindfulness into our daily lives by a conscious effort to regularly return our attention to the present moment. We can stop, take a few breaths and connect with our surroundings. What do we see, hear, feel?

At first, it helps to have a regular reminder to refocus on the present.

One way is to train mynah birds to regularly squawk, “Attention” and “Here and now boys” from the treetops. This creative technique was employed by the inhabitants of a South Seas island in Aldous Huxley’s utopian novel, Island. The islanders had formed a unique society by carefully blending the best elements of eastern and western cultures.

Surya Das has perhaps a better idea for remembering to practise mind-

take a moment to relax and focus

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fulness. He suggests picking activities you already do daily and making them into little rituals of mindfulness practice. An example is “mindful eating” (which is already an ancient spiritual practice in some places).

Whenever you sit down to eat, give your full attention. Take a moment to relax and focus. Savour the first bite a little longer. I have a small mindfulness ritual you might call Driveway Meditation. Whenever I step out of my house and head for the car, I try to remember to pause for a moment, take a breath, focus and connect with my surroundings.

You could do the same whenever you enter a room, meet your spouse at the end of the day or see the sun.

Make up your own reminders and refocus on the moment.

These mindful moments may not add up to Nirvana, but they might point in the right direction. After all, life does not happen in the past or in the future. Life happens only in the present moment. We don’t want to miss it.

Duncan Watterworth is recently a retiree and emptynester in St.Thomas.

June, 2012

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