business
YOUR
SUMMER 2017 ISSUE
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NEWMARKET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Amp Up Your
Recruitment Strategies
Gamify
Your Sales Culture
ROB CLARK from RC DESIGN on Success, Stress & Being a Boss
YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017
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EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Seneca’s Employment Consultants are available to assist you in finding employment and training opportunities – at no cost • Job Search Assistance and Workshops • Career Planning • Job Development Services • Second Career Program • Self-Employment Information • Apprenticeship Links and Resources
EMPLOYER SERVICES Seneca supports employers with hiring; connecting employers with qualified individuals who are eager and ready for work, accessing hiring incentives, support with job postings and hiring events - at no cost. • Job Posting Board and Website • Job Matching, Screening and Interview Support • Hiring Incentives • Organizing, Promoting and Hosting Job Fairs • Essential Skills Tools and Resources • Canada Ontario Job Grant www.workforceready.ca
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES / NEWMARKET 16655 Yonge Street, Unit 3 NEWMARKET, ON, L3X1V6 905-898-6199 2
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business
YOUR
CONTENTS In This Issue 4
5 Events 6
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Debra’s Desk
Behind the Scenes
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on the
COVER
7 Learn News, Knowledge & Insights Chamber Happenings Password Protection & more 11 Connect Bridging Business & Community Rob Clark Profile Member News Commuting Combinations Event Pics & more 17 Thrive Tips, Trends & Intel Recruitment Strategies Q & A: Employment Contracts Gamify Your Sales Culture Economic Development 22 Members
Newmarket Chamber of Commerce Staff President & CEO: Debra Scott Business Development Manager: Tracy Walter Manager of Government Relations and Policy: Abdus Samad Office Manager: Lori Clayton Event Manager: Rosanne Antunes Member Services: Lauren Davie Program Coordinator: Tyler Nakeff Auditor: BDO Canada LLP Editor: Leslee Mason
Smart Commute Central York Staff Program Manager: Pat Lusink Program Services Coordinator: Jennifer Brien Program Services Coordinator: Andrea Stephenson
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470 Davis Drive (The Old Railway Station) Newmarket, ON L3Y 2P3 T: 905.898.5900 F: 905.853.7271 W: newmarketchamber.ca E: info@newmarketchamber.ca
Board of Directors Chair Dave Peters FFM Capital Inc.
1st Vice Chair Joshua Campbell Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Centre
Sue Bowe Wildfire Wisdom
Kyle Burgis LL.B. Minken Employment Lawyers
Magazine layout and design provided by Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Secretary/Treasurer Pierre Bonhomme Chaggares & Bonhomme Chartered Professional Accountants
Ron Pickett RDM Management Group
Sabine Schleese Schleese Saddlery Service Ltd.
Bri-Ann Stuart Oxford Properties Group/ Upper Canada Mall
Leslie Yeates Your Business is published quarterly by the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce. To advertise: advertising@newmarketchamber.ca
Collins Barrow Durham Consultants Inc. YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017
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FROM DEBRA'S DESK
DEVELOPING DEVELOPMENT Is it time to reframe our thinking? I’ve called Newmarket home for the past 34 years and it didn’t take long to fall in love with its many charms. It’s changed a lot over the years, of course. But who doesn’t enjoy Riverwalk Commons, or appreciate the convenience of the many stores and services you can find here? Overall, it’s a great place to live and work. Given that, it’s natural to think that more growth will signal the end of our beautiful town. For some, any talk of development calls to mind Joni Mitchell’s lyrics about paving paradise. But like it or not, development is essential for economic growth and prosperity in any municipality, and Newmarket is no exception. Let me be clear here. If the status quo isn’t the answer, then an “any and all” approach isn’t either. Instead, we need to focus on thoughtful development, the kind that enhances and draws on Newmarket’s many strengths while adding to its
existing offerings. How we get there is, of course, the sticking point. Thankfully, there are many examples to draw on where commercial or mixed-use development has enriched and revitalized neighbourhoods, towns and cities. For example: The Distillery District: Transformed from a derelict collection of Victorian industrial buildings, Toronto’s Historic Distillery District has been a hot spot for arts, culture and entertainment since opening in 2003. Slover Library: Located in Norfolk, Va., the Slover Library blends two historic structures (one built in the 1800s and the other, the 1900s) with a modern seven-storey glass-walled addition. Along with 160,000plus books and an interactive historical collection, the library is home to community spaces, a digital media lab and even a 52-seat restaurant with additional outdoor seating. Muskoka Wharf: The area of Muskoka Wharf has transformed previously industrial
land in Gravenhurst. Along with being a popular spot for events such as the farmers’ market, the area packs plenty in its 89acre footprint, including condo hotels, restaurants, museums, parks and more. When we at the Newmarket Chamber talk about development, we mean projects necessary for economic growth. Development sends a loud message that says Newmarket is “open for business.” It attracts businesses to the area, creates new jobs, and provides greater opportunities for the town, its businesses and the community. With a respectful approach—one that keeps an eye on both our past and future—it’s not something to fear but to embrace.
Debra Scott President and CEO
A b i g t h a n k y o u t o o u r C o r p o r at e a n d C o m m u n i t y Pa r t n e r s 2017 CORPORATE PARTNERS
2017 COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Newmarket
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS For a list of all events, information and registration, visit newmarketchamber.ca/events
2017 Annual Members BBQ & Picnic Wednesday, June 28th from 12-2pm Held at Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place (next to Chamber office) 474 Davis Drive, Newmarket. Come on down and join us for our Annual Members BBQ & Picnic. This is a special year–the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce is turning 160 Years Old!
JUNE JUNE 6 Breakfast Networking 7:00–9:00 am | St.Andrew’s Valley Golf Course JUNE 13 Colossal York Region Chamber Connection 5:30-7:30 pm | The Manor, Event Venue JUNE 15 LEARN Seminar Series: Effective Steps to Manage Your Sales Funnel 9:00-11:00 am | NewMakeIt JUNE 27 Social Media Clinic: Social Listening to Help Your Brand 8:00-9:30 am | Newmarket Chamber of Commerce JUNE 28 Chamber Members’ Annual BBQ & Picnic 12:00-2:00 pm | Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place
AUGUST AUGUST 8 Breakfast Networking 7:00–9:00 am | Pickering College
SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 12 Breakfast Networking 7:00–9:00 am | Silver Lakes Golf & Conference Centre SEPTEMBER 14 LEARN Seminar: Target Acquired – Converting the Sale 9:00–11:00 am | NewMakeIt SEPTEMBER 18-24 Smart Commute Week smartcommutecy.ca SEPTEMBER 27 Tech Triage at the Chamber: Business Start-up Tech Needs and Steps 12:30–2:00 pm | Newmarket Chamber of Commerce
OCTOBER OCTOBER 19 Business Excellence Awards 5:30–9:30 pm | The Manor, Event Venue OCTOBER 25 Tech Triage at the Chamber: Problems Printing? Check Your Reservations 12:30–2:00 pm | Newmarket Chamber of Commerce OCTOBER 26 LEARN Seminar: Sales & Marketing Tips for the Digital World 9:00–11:00 am | Aurora Public Library
ONGOING JUNE 29, JULY 27, AUGUST 31 Member Orientations GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINES, 15TH OF EVERY MONTH Awesome Foundation Newmarket EVERY FRIDAY Entrepreneurs In Motion Networking Group THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH Small Business PeerGroup
FEATURED EVENTS OCTOBER 19 November 21 Business Excellence Awards Join us October 19th for the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards when we recognize businesses whose achievements or community involvement have made significant contributions to the economic and social well-being of the Town of Newmarket. Early bird pricing of $155 per person for Chamber members, available until September 19th, 2017. Register: newmarketchamber.ca/Business-Awards
Business Thrives Conference Managing your organization can take a lot out of you. Hear from other leaders at the upcoming Business Thrives Conference to gain perspective and valuable tips to help you drive your business forward. Early bird price of $65 per person available for Chamber members until October 31, 2017 Register: newmarketchamber.ca/bizthrives YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017
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BEHIND THE SCENES
Get To Know The Newmarket Chamber
STAFF BOARD SUE BOWE, Board Director Q. What’s your day job and what does it involve? A. As a Leadership Coach (Wildfire Wisdom), I work with people I call ‘evolvers’—they love to grow personally and professionally and they know that they can’t see their own patterns the way a professional can. I help them resolve the issues by addressing the root of the problem in the mental, emotional and energetic elements of the human experience. Q. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the past year? A. My biggest lesson last year was to stop trying to force things and to surrender to the natural universal flow. Things work out a lot better when I relax and trust life. Q. What’s your favourite productivity strategy? A. I spend 20 minutes upfront on every project. I get over the hurdle of starting, get a realistic perspective on what it entails, and my unconscious mind can get to work on it while I shift to other tasks.
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ABDUS SAMAD, Manager of Government Relations and Policy Q. What’s your day job and what does it involve? A. I monitor legislative activity at all levels of government and develop the policy framework for the Chamber. It’s interesting as I get to apply the lessons I learned working in Federal Politics to ensure small businesses concerns are represented in the government’s decision-making process. Q. Tell us one thing most people don’t know about you. A. I’m obsessed with small towns that have 16th- and 17th-century architecture. I travelled Europe a fair bit when I was young and walking through narrow streets with cobblestone pathways started my appreciation for the beauty of older architecture. Q. How do you recharge? A. Coffee. I can wax poetically about its greatness but you’ll just think I’m weird. Next question. Q. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the past year? A. Think strategically about your overall objectives. Time invested should have a longer-term return.
VOLUNTEER VICTOR WOODHOUSE, Small Business PeerGroup Q. What’s your day job and what does it involve? A. As a small business insurance specialist (Woodhouse Insurance), I help business owners protect their income in the event of death or disability, and provide them with the best group plans available. Q. What’s one piece of advice you wish you had received early on in your career? A. Not sure if this fits as I did receive this advice: ‘Live your life and career by imagining how people will remember you at your funeral.’ Q. Tell us one thing most people don’t know about you. A. I can hear other languages and repeat them back with the correct accent. Q. How do you recharge? A. Have a clear understanding of what you were created to do. Q. Name one thing on your bucket list. A. To visit many of the small towns in Ontario and Quebec by car.
LEARN
News, Knowledge & Insights
BENEFITS GALORE! hamber member? With nearly 900 businesses belonging to the Newmarket Chamber you’re in good company. But membership is about so much more—so why not take advantage of it? Check out some of our offerings below or visit newmarketchamber.ca and click “Thrive” to discover the full gamut. Need an info refresh? No problem! Join us for one of our monthly orientations. Check our website for dates and times. The M2M savings card is just one of the many benefits of Chamber membership. Check out some of the others below.
Small Business PeerGroup The Small Business PeerGroup is a group of non-competing businesses that meet once a month to talk through challenges, opportunities and best practices. Think of it like your very own “advisory board.”
Savings on Office Supplies Outfit your office using Grand & Toy’s Affinity Program which extends preferred pricing to all qualified Chamber members. Get up to 85% off over 7,500 quality office products, including office supplies and technology.
Group Insurance Available to all Chamber members, the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan provides small businesses with comprehensive group benefits, including dental and health insurance.
UPS Shipping With no minimum orders, the UPS Members Benefit Program offers exclusive discounts on small packages shipments, brokerage and freight shipments.
Fuel Discounts Fill up for less; save 3.5 cents per litre with Esso’s Business and Fleet, an exclusive program offered to Chamber members (including employees).
Computer & Accessories Take advantage of big savings through Lenovo Chamber member discounts. Save on laptops, desktops, tablets and more.
ADVOCACY –YOUR VOICE IN ACTION Advocacy has always been a core component of our work at the Chamber, but this year we’ve taken a more active stance on regulations and legislation impacting businesses in Newmarket. Look for regular advocacy updates in your mailbox, on our website and via social media. YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017
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LEARN
password PROTECTION I
f you haven’t already got one, it’s time to seriously consider a password manager. These handy apps are designed to help you generate strong passwords, and protect, organize and store them in one safe and convenient location. There are a bunch out there to choose from such as 1Password, Dashlane and LastPass, and many are free for the basic service. “A password manager allows you to create much more robust and secure passwords with the convenience of remembering them for you,” says IT pro Richard Beers, from Nerds On Site. Along with beefier passwords, you’ll also help to avoid another online danger—using the same one twice. “That’s a big no-no because if one gets hacked, they will try the same one on other sites,” he explains. We asked Beers for his tips on choosing a password manager, the importance of a strong master password and more. Here’s what he had to say. Make Security Your First Priority “Look for a solution that has been tested and beaten on by third parties and fixed and made constantly better (read well-reviewed and given excellent marks for security by reputable sources or at least ones you know and trust),” says Beers. Consider Your Needs Convenience may play a distant second to security, but it’s important too so look for a manager that works across all your devices. “A solution that can work on more than one platform or device adds to your usage and enjoyment,” says Beers, noting that most
good free password manager solutions include these now. Paid versions are an option for any additional features you want or need. Make Your Master Password Strong One of the best parts of a manager is the need to remember just one password. The key? Make it long and complex. “The longer you make it, the harder it is to brute force guess your password, while the complexity makes rainbow tables (pre-computed lists of common hashes or passwords) or dictionary attacks much less useful,” says Beers. “If you’re completely against random gibberish,
then go for something like a few words or a phrase that you can easily remember,” suggests Beers, adding you can change the order of the words to add complexity. For example, turn ‘smokeonthewater’ into ‘22222wateronthasmoke&&&&&’. “This way you have only to remember your phrase and your pattern of add-ons, rather than a complex string of randomness,” he says. Richard Beers is part of the global Nerds on Site team, which offers tech support, service and consultation for computers, VoIP telephony and more. Learn more at nerdsonsite.com.
BUSINESS
• • • •
Financial Statements & Reporting Bookkeeping Services Corporate Tax Returns Financial Planning & Budgeting
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Personal Income Tax Returns Family Tax & Life Event Planning Personal Budgeting Review of Wills & Insurance
INDIVIDUALS
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Quality Personalized Service 8
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YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017
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LEARN
new online law resource AVAILABLE AT LIBRARY LawDepot is a new online resource available at the Newmarket Public Library to those with library cards. The user-friendly tool provides free legal documents and forms developed by lawyers covering several areas of law, including business. Appropriate for all Canadian jurisdictions, documents can be customized by answering a series of questions that populate the forms with the required information. The completed forms can be downloaded and printed. Businessrelated forms include incorporation, HR, and intellectual property. (Keep in mind, LawDepot is not a replacement for the services of a lawyer and doesn’t provide legal advice.) Visit newmarketpl.ca or contact the Adult Services Department at 905-953-5110 ext. 4770 or aref@newmarketpl.ca for more information.
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sayonara “Sincerely” Want a response on an email? End with some sort of “thanks”. That’s the takeaway from a recent study from Boomerang, maker of email productivity software. The study examined the closings of more than 350,000 email threads and found that variations of thanks were the most likely to prompt responses (62% versus 46% for emails without a thankful sign-off). What about ending with “best”? You guessed it. Turns out “best” is worst among the most popular email closings.
CONNECT Bridging Business & Community
SUCCESs
BY DESIGN A conversation with Rob Clark of RC Design
T
ucked away at the bottom of a storefront window at 241 Main Street there’s a small heritage sign that reads across three lines “Dr. Thomas B. Bentley, Physician, 1878”. It’s easy to miss, but over the years it’s caused more than a few area residents to drop in seeking the good doctor’s services. What they find instead are the sleek office digs of RC Design complete with bare brick walls and a cool vibe that typically denotes a more urban setting. Despite that, after more than 10 years in the building, the company is right at home. A multidisciplinary marketing agency, RC Design is led by owner Rob Clark who launched the company from his parent’s basement 15 years ago. The change in physical address is, of course, just one marker of success; there are now 11 employees on the payroll and it’s become a go-to agency for both clients south of 7 and those more locally based. We recently had the chance to chat with Clark to find out, among other things, his thoughts on success and where you’ll find him five years from now. Here’s part of that conversation. A Company is Born When I was in school I had a partnership with a friend in a driveway sealing company. To some degree I’ve always
Rob Clark is the owner of RC Design, a multidisciplinary marketing agency in Newmarket. For more company info and to see samples of past work, visit them at rcdesign.com
been self-employed. When I ended up getting into the work world and working at agencies, I felt a little ostracized. I wasn’t quite the right cultural fit. And I didn’t make a lot of money. I think my first job paid maybe $19-20,000 a year and I was commuting from Newmarket to downtown Toronto every day. I think I made more money working from my basement on evenings and weekends than I did working
for the agency downtown. I went to my parents and said ‘Hey listen, I’m living in your basement, give me six months and if it doesn’t work I’m out. In six months, I bought my first home. I just sort of fell into it. It never felt like a decision. The Evolution of a Business We’ve had conservative growth and we have a very diverse portfolio of YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017 11
CONNECT Bridging Business & Community clients which has been a saving grace through some of the really challenging economic times. In 2008, probably 50% of our business was in the alternative investment world and that disappeared overnight. Joining the chamber and being really active in that was crucial in helping us focus locally. While the types of projects and scope weren’t quite the same, it enabled us to fill in some of the gaps quickly. Heading to Toronto to solicit and pitch projects—it’s a half day. When focusing locally you’re able to have a lot more conversations and network more easily. Changing Vision Now that I have a growing family, and a strong team with some successes under our belts, my vision for the business is quite different. I don’t want to be working 60-70 hours a week. I want it to be something where I’m not as involved in the day-to-day operations so that I can spend time looking at the business from a strategic perspective and also enjoy life a little more too.
Stress and Success I don’t really see myself as being a successful entrepreneur. I guess it depends how you measure success. You’re in it, you’re not really looking at it. Being a small business owner there’s always capital challenges. You’re working on complex projects, you’ve got a growing payroll and small lines of credit to cover in leaner months. It’s always ‘go, go, go’ and you’re juggling a little bit of everything. There’s so many things that you never have to think about as an employee– even if you’re the president of a large corporation these specific stresses don’t exist for you. Unfortunately, this can take your focus off of strategy and success. Biggest Business Challenges It’s that balance between having the right amount of staff with the right amount of work. Managing cash flow. Recruiting really good people. Newmarket isn’t really the sexy agency urban setting like the west end of Toronto. With that said, there’s more and more people who are looking to
WE WANT TO SEE YOU SUCCEED, TRUST US WITH YOUR BOOKKEEPING NEEDS. Chaggares & Bonhomme is a full service accounting firm that offers a full range of consulting and professional services to individuals and small to medium sized businesses. Our staff is knowledgeable and experienced in various accounting systems. Our bookkeeping specialists can take care of all your record keeping and payroll needs. We can provide temporary or ongoing C.A. supervised bookkeeping services either on-site or at our location.
live, work and play in close proximity to their home and families. The Best Parts People. The people I work with. Our clients. My background is fine arts and design and I’m really passionate about building great creative. I’m certainly able to manage and identify good creative and help with art direction, but to execute—it’s been a long time since I’ve been hands-on. I still dabble here and there when we’re in a real pinch but we have designers who are far more talented than I’ve ever been! Five Years from Now Fortunately for us, the building we are in has capacity for some growth. With tenants on the second floor and an unused, 1800-square-foot basement, we have the real estate to accommodate an expanding roster. Realistically, I see a 25-35% growth in revenue and team to support our projections for the next five years. Anything more than that and I will be looking for some help with the growth!
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CONNECT
MEMBER NEWS Historic Celebrations How do you celebrate Canada’s 150th? If you’re business leader and entrepreneur Steven Dengler you head to the skies for the first Canadian circumnavigation of the globe by helicopter. The C150 Global Odyssey (C150GO) is the brainchild of Steven and his father, Bob Dengler, both pilots. The pair are teaming up with helicopter ace Rob “Dugal” MacDuff, to fly a Canadian-made Bell 429 Global Ranger helicopter over 37,000 kilometres in just over a month. Guest crew members include Dr. Dave Williams, President and CEO of Southlake Regional Health Centre. A former astronaut, Dr. Williams will join C150GO for its inaugural leg. A registered not-for-profit organization, C150GO was developed to support and raise funds for the Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation and True Patriot Love Foundation, which supports Canadian veterans and their families. The adventure, which kicks off July 1st, can be followed via live updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram under the “C150GO” handle. Learn more at C150go.ca. Upper Canada Mall Redevelopment Upper Canada Mall and Oxford Properties Group have revealed their much-anticipated plans for the redevelopment and expansion of the former Target location. Expected to open sometime in 2018, the space will include a one-level, 64,000-square-foot Sport Chek, 40,000 sq. ft. Food Market concept, two-level feature court space and 35,000 sq. ft. vertical expansion.
Upper Canada Mall
The C150 Go Team. From left: Steven Dengler, Bob Dengler and Rob “Dugal” MacDuff.
Get Your Maltesers Here! In March, Mars Canada celebrated the opening of its newly-expanded Newmarket facility. The $70 million, 60,000 sq. ft. expansion is expected to create up to 30 full-time jobs. The Maltesers produced at the facility will be sold across Canada and the U.S., where the product is being introduced for the first time.
At the Mars Opening: From left: Debra Scott, MPP Chris Ballard, MP Kyle Peterson, Jeremy Daveau (Wrigley Canada), Bruce McMurray (Mars Canada), Councillor Christina Bisanz, Mayor Tony Van Bynen and Regional Councillor and Deputy Mayor John Taylor.
YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017 13
CONNECT
COMMUTING COMBINATIONs hen Corey Ogden learned his department was relocating to a new bike accessible location, the York Region employee took the opportunity to rethink his commute.
His home and new office are both located close to GO Transit stations. After some route planning and discovering he would save on auto insurance if he didn’t drive every day, Corey decided combining cycling and transit was a perfect solution. Eliminating the stress of driving and traffic congestion has resulted in big benefits for Corey. He saves approximately $35 per month on gas and insurance and when you add in maintenance costs associated with wear and tear on his 42-kilometre commute, the savings are significant. “This will extend the life of my truck. I’ve gone from six oil changes a year, down to three,” he says. The health benefits are also substantial. “I’ve noticed an increase in my energy level at work and that extra holiday weight didn’t stick around this year!”
Corey loves the GO. “Relaxing on the train, knowing that I will not be stuck in traffic is a great feeling. I get home at the same time or earlier than if I had driven my car.” Corey cycles approximately 7 km of his commute and admits it’s not always easy. “Winter weather has been the biggest challenge. Some days I’ve had to walk my bike short distances on parts of the trail because of snow and ice.” Despite this, Corey still arrives at work on time every day. “I smile to myself as I hear co-workers complain about traffic and driving conditions.” Want to save money and beat the congestion on roads and at parking lots? Check out your options for getting to GO at gotransit.com/leaveyourcar.
Smart Commute Central York is a program of Metrolinx.
Corey Ogden, Forestry Technician, York Region, takes his folding bike on the train every day.
WHAT’S AWESOME? Awesome Foundation Newmarket is a chapter of the Awesome Foundation, a global initiative that encourages and promotes micro grants to improve the lives of people at a local level. Since being launched by the Newmarket Chamber in 2012, the chapter has helped fill backpacks with school supplies, brought birthday celebrations to kids in shelters, supported mental health initiatives and anti-bullying campaigns and much more. None of it would happen without Awesome Foundation Newmarket’s 10 trustees. Every month, the trustees each donate $100 toward a $1,000 grant created to help a group or individual implement an idea that benefits youth in Newmarket. Talk about awesome.
Applying is easy!
Learn more at newmarketchamber.ca/awesome. Contact Debra Scott at Debra@ newmarketchamber.ca if you’re interested in becoming a trustee.
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Awesome trustees (back row from left): Diane Farmer, Brian Sperry (Floors Direct North), Michael Croxon (NewRoads Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC), George Smith (Smith, Sykes Leeper & Tunstall LLP), Debra Scott (Newmarket Chamber) and Wasim Jarrah (Wasim Jarrah-Keller Williams Realty Centres). Front: Juliet Irish (Doane House Hospice Inc.), David Faingold (Simple Technology Solutions Inc.), and Jackie Playter (Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home). Missing: Sabine Schleese (Schleese Saddlery Service Ltd.).
CONNECT
Events There’s always something going on at the Chamber! Check out these highlights from the last several months.
v Economic Luncheon
v Breakfast Roundtable
v From left: Abdus Samad (Newmarket Chamber Manager of Government Relations and Policy), Barb Bartlett and George Puccia at the Economic Luncheon.
v From left: Debra Scott with Ministers Chris Ballard and Liz Sandals with Joshua Campbell, 1st Vice Chair, Newmarket Chamber Board of Directors.
v Women in Business Luncheon
v A snapd photographer was on hand to capture the fun. Nature’s Emporium sponsored the terrific swag bag attendees took home.
v From L to R: Samantha King, Rachel Shields and Sophie Turner.
v From L to R: Sue Bowe and Stella Partipilo (RBC Sponsor).
v Chelsea Dell (Norbram Group Insurance Benefits Inc.) and Peter Jelley (Legacy Plus Home Inspections Inc.).
v Joe Ferreyro (Sun Life Financial) and Bonnie Robinson (Doane House Hospice).
v April Breakfast
v Jeremy Slessor from the York Region Heart and Stroke Foundation spoke at the April Breakfast. Pictured here: Dave Peters, Debra Scott, Jeremy Slessor with Breakfast sponsors Matthew and Michael Waddington from CPG Aerospace.
YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017 15
CONNECT
Events
v Mayor’s Luncheon
v L to R: Dave Peters, Debra Scott, Lena Demarco and Mayor Tony Van Bynen.
v L to R: Doug Lindeblom, Chairman Wayne Emerson, MP Kyle Peterson and Dino Basso.
NEWMARKET HOME & LIFESTYLE SHOW The 21st annual Newmarket Home & Lifestyle Show included more than 180 exhibitors and displays and featured a variety of entertainment, including the Newmarket Music Festival and Bob the Builder Live on Stage.
v Best Overall Exhibitor: Backyard Pool & Spa
v Best New Exhibitor: Summers and Smith Cooling & Heating Ltd.
v Best Exhibitor Spirit: Murray Family Chiropractic
v Best Original Exhibitor: The Piano Studio
don’t miss your chance to be part of the 22nd annual newmarket home & lifestyle show. Booth sales open to Chamber members on June 30th and August 15th for everyone else.
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THRIVE
Tips, Trends & Intel
hire
power Having trouble attracting great employees? It may be time to re-energize your recruitment efforts
For many companies, attracting top talent is an ongoing business challenge. Just ask Shelly D. Cyr. An HR Business Coach and Founder of Synfini Works, Cyr’s clients regularly call upon her to help them sharpen their recruitment skills. We posed five questions about the process to her. Here’s what she had to say. Q. Why do so many employers struggle to attract great talent? In my opinion, there are several internal and external factors impacting an employer’s ability to find their next rock star. It can range from having a lack of resources and time to do proper screening of candidates, making a rush decision to hire and minimize disruption, to delays in finding candidates with specialized expertise. Q. What sort of things should an employer think about at the job posting stage to achieve greater success? I find that most employers will put together a job posting without really thinking through what will make the right person apply. I encourage my clients to think with the end in mind.
It starts with having a detailed job description for the vacancy outlining key duties and responsibilities, and skills and qualifications needed to perform the job. Most employers are good with putting that up on a job board. The savvy employers go a few steps further. These employers get clear about the attributes or the personality of the person who would fit best the role and the company. This step may be easier if they have had a previous incumbent who did the role really well. Once they are clear about these traits, they write the job posting to attract this type of person. They will also consider where this type of person would look for a job. This could mean advertising through non-traditional ways such as word of mouth, using social media, or offering referral bonuses to employees.
Q. Does company presence and community reputation play a role in talent attraction? Absolutely! Online presence is key because serious candidates are going to Google the company first before applying. Websites like glassdoor.com or Indeed.ca have company reviews which could impact if a candidate responds to the job posting. A savvy employer will encourage hires and past employees to share their experiences on these sites to build up the company’s online reputation. If your company actively participates in community events, I recommend sharing regular updates via the company website and social media channels. This is a great way to attract prospective candidates who share similar values or passion.
YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017 17
THRIVE Q. Why do some companies tend to experience more turnover than others? I see this happening in companies where there is a level of complacency in their culture. Complacency is evident when there is lack of dialogue between management and employees about what is causing the turnover. This is where employers may deflect, or turn a blind eye, to the signal of increasing turnover until they start losing key performers or it causes significant disruption to the operation. Another reason for turnovers could be lack of internal resources, screening processes and time to fill the vacancy. In smaller operations, I find the person responsible for hiring is also responsible for other functions in the office. This means they might not always have the
time required to do a thorough job because of other demands. Q. What are some of the key things companies can/should do to ensure employees stay? Ultimately, as an employer, you have control over the types of people you hire, information about the type of employees leaving and type of roles experiencing the most turnover. You also have the ability to get further insights about what needs to change by engaging your existing employees and leveraging resources dedicated to staffing. When it comes to keeping turnover low, the savvy employer does several things differently that others can draw from. For example, in addition to reviewing data and feedback, they also
consider the time commitment required for internal staff involved in recruiting. These employers are also good at: • Admitting their role in setting unclear expectations, making poor hiring decisions, etc. • Expressing their concerns with employees and soliciting feedback • Taking action and showing a willingness to reduce turnover with their commitment to try new things • Exploring internal and external resources required to conduct a thorough job search • Allowing for a suitable period to attract the right type of candidate
Shelly D. Cyr is the Founder of Synfini Works. She is a sought-after HR Business Coach who works with savvy Business Owners and their teams to better manage time, people and operations. Services include coaching, training and consulting services in HR, Recruitment, Sales and Operations. For articles and information visit synfiniworks.com or contact her via shelly@synfinworks.com or 289.926.1191.
Chris Ballard MPP Newmarket-Aurora
As a former business owner, I appreciate the dedication and commitment of the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce and small business owners of Newmarket-Aurora.
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THRIVE
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS: Q & A Q. I’m hiring my first full-time employee. What type of information should the employment contract contain?
The content of an employment contract is often determined by the position and duties the potential employee is to perform. For example, a non-competition clause typically forms part of a salesperson’s contract, but wouldn’t usually be part of an employment contract for an administrative assistant. One clause
that is generally part of all types of employment contracts regardless of the position and duties to be performed is a termination clause, which states how much notice an employee is entitled to upon termination of their employment. Such clauses can be difficult to draft, especially given that the law is constantly changing with respect to the requirements needed to validate such clauses. Before handing your new hire an employment contract, it’s a good idea
to get input from an employment lawyer, and have your contracts reviewed periodically by them to ensure you’re staying up-to-date.
Kyle Burgis LL.B. represents employer and employee clients with respect to human rights complaints, wrongful and constructive dismissals, employment standards violations, employment contract disputes, allegations of violence and harassment at the workplace and other workplace-related issues. He also provides legal guidance on the drafting of policies, contracts and other documentation protecting the working relationship. He has been with Minken Employment Lawyers since 2008.
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YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017 19 Ad size: 3.625” x 4.625”h, CLR
THRIVE
the power of PARTNERSHIPS Town of Newmarket Economic Development Update In my last article, I outlined Newmarket’s updated Economic Development Strategy which will act as our roadmap to accelerate growth in our community. Three bold themes were identified to guide Newmarket’s transformation: Collaboration, Innovation and Urbanization. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight these themes in a three-part series, beginning with collaboration. The key to Newmarket’s success—and what has distinguished our community as one of Canada’s best places to live—is a foundation of relationship building and partnerships. Recently, Newmarket held its first Economic Development Congress which was successful in helping to shape future
This strategic approach has led to many successful partnerships. CreateIT Now at Southlake, the Newmarket Smart City Council (formerly Community Collaborative Ecosystem) and NewMakeIT, are all examples of how the Town has partnered with various organizations to enhance technology and innovation in our community. These innovative initiatives have contributed positively to the overall sustainability and quality of life in our town. It is this type of collaborative spirit that is driving our success and creating more opportunities and homegrown jobs than ever before. We have seen an increase of more than 8,000 jobs in Newmarket It is this type of collaborative spirit over the past that is driving our success and 15 years. Just creating more opportunities and recently, 30 new highly skilled homegrown jobs than ever before. jobs (with the potential for economic development plans. The more to come) were created with event brought together more than 60 the expansion of Mars Canada. participants, including local businesses, This longtime Newmarket stakeholders, community organizations business made the decision to and developers, and was key in helping invest an additional $70 million us gain a better understanding of in our community because they our opportunities and obstacles as know what we have always perceived by potential investors. known—that Newmarket is a What we heard is that Newmarket’s strategic place to do business. culture and collaborative nature sets As we move forward, we us apart from other municipalities. will continue to build strong Participants expressed confidence that relationships with various Newmarket’s leaders and members of private and public sector the community are proactive, open partners. This will enable us to new development and willing to to better understand how the embrace change. world is changing and how
Newmarket can remain a leader in cutting-edge innovations like medical technologies and broadband. Our countless partnerships have helped to create our strategic priorities, keep the Town of Newmarket competitive, build job opportunities, and will help ensure a bright and prosperous future for our community.
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Chris Kallio is the Economic Development Officer with the Town of Newmarket. He welcomes questions and comments on this article or overall economic development within Newmarket. He can be reached at 905-953-5131, ext. 2 or ckallio@newmarket.ca. 20 newmarketchamber.ca
THRIVE
GAME
N!
Agnes Lan from Change Connect discusses the value of adding a little “play” to your sales culture.
We have a leaderboard at the Change Connect office to track our non-sales related metrics: the number of businessrelated books read YTD, the number of blogs written YTD, the number of escape rooms conquered YTD. Being the overachiever that I am, I x
1.
GAMIFIED COMPETITION IS ABOUT THE GAME, LESS ABOUT THE PRIZE
BUILD IN A COLLABORATION COMPONENT
powerful tool in sales management because it addresses the three things salespeople are motivated by the most: compensation, recognition and competition. Thinking of trying it with your sales team? Here are some tips to help you get started:
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Salespeople are competitive by nature. Whether it’s a lunch with the President or a trip to Hawaii, the key is to play to the Type A personality. Build in incremental check-in points. Make it an office culture.
2.
like to be leading by a wide margin. Some folks think gamification is a bit gimmicky. But the likes of Salesforce, UPS, and SAP have found a way to make it engaging while driving competition along the way. When designed properly, gamification is a
3. 4.
The sales landscape has changed. Salespeople are expected to be on the road nurturing leads and closing sales. Make sure that the game is bringing people together rather than further apart.
x
MAKE TEAM IMPROVEMENT A MANDATE When employees see where they rank on the leaderboard for different contests, they’ll get a better sense of their own strengths and weaknesses. Leverage that information and make it a cross-training opportunity.
SPRINTS ARE BETTER THAN LONG RUNNING PROGRAMS Games are the means to an end. Don’t mistake it for driving standing sales metrics. The best programs we’ve designed are sprint programs where we are trying to use the game to shore up a particular part of the sales process, or to correct a particular
PLAYER 1
vs.
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organizational behavior. Think implementing desired best practices rather than hitting quarterly targets.
5.
KNOW YOUR OBJECTIVES What are you trying to achieve? What are the metrics? Goals should be specific so that there is no ambiguity in attaining the goals. Salespeople are a highly competitive bunch, and the ability to tap into that competitive element is very natural. It is a particularly great tool for small businesses, because it is a costeffective way of nurturing your sales culture towards increased results and higher revenues.
PLAYER 2
Agnes Lan is the Director of Business Development at Change Connect Inc. which specializes in helping clients to work more efficiently and effectively in pursuit of their Revenue goals. Change Connect offers customized solutions for small to midsized businesses with a focus on Sales Transformation. Visit changeconnect.ca for more info.
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AWESOME FOUNDATION NEWMARKET Each month we award $1,000 to an �W���ME idea that benefits youth in Newmarket. Learn more at newmarketchamber.ca/awesome YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017 21
MEMBERS
MEMBERSHIP ANNIVERSARIES The following companies have reached milestones as members of the Newmarket Chamber. Thanks for being members!
10 YEARS
Newmarket Public Library
Backyard Pool & Spa Company Ltd., The
RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
ETS.Net Inc.
Best Eclat
Remcor Project Services Inc.
Extreme Pita Goodlife Fitness
Dulux Paints
Cable Master Inc.
Rifal Manufacturing Ltd. – Tricked – Toys Inc.
Crossings Mens Fashion
Royal LePage RCR Realty
GPS Law
ET Group
The Car Wash Co. Inc.
Khaled Al Dajani
InTouch Hearing
White Elm Contracting Ltd.
Kiewit-EllisDon, A partnership (KED)
Jack Astor’s Newmarket
Norman Hill Realty Inc. Brokerage
Laurie Brakeboer – RBC Royal Bank Mortgage Specialist
5 YEARS
Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting
Arborvalley Urban Forestry Co.
Marketingworks Strategies & Solutions
CAM Packaging Systems
TRICAP Properties Inc.
Masumi Landscaping
Carrolindo
T. Simpson Roofing Ltd.
Mulock & Yonge Chiropractic Health & Wellness Centre
Discus Supply Co.
Williams HR Law Professional Corporation
OrthoProActive Consultants Inc. RMS Industrial Contractors
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – The Month Ahead
Hazel Fernandes, owner of The Month Ahead.
Hazel Fernandes for the last 17 of them. Originally from Kenya, where she had a successful newspaper career in advertising, Fernandes and her family moved to Canada in 1989. It was a tough haul as a new immigrant and, in an effort to get back into publishing, Fernandes took the only job she could find—as a telemarketer for The Planet Newspapers which owned The Month Ahead. She steadily worked her way up, eventually taking over the advertising magazine in 2000. Today, more than 65,000 copies are mailed to homes and businesses 11 times a year.
The Month Ahead has been a fixture in homes and businesses in Newmarket, Aurora and surrounding areas for the past 24 years. It’s been owned by
Number of employees: 5 What the company does/services offered: “We basically help to promote local businesses and get
their message out to the people within their communities,” says Fernandes. “The Month Ahead also offers student internships for our Youth Beat column, as we believe in further education with our local high schools.” Company philosophy: “We believe in helping local businesses thrive and connect with their communities through a content-driven publication. We go above and beyond to make their ads the best they can be to drive results,” says Fernandes, adding the company strives to be error-free. “We also support local charities by providing them with free Info Page listings to help their causes.” Something unique about the company: “We haven’t increased our rates in the past five years, even though our printer and Canada Post have raised theirs!”
Stay up-to-date on new members—and M2M discounts—at newmarketchamber.ca.
Looking For A Particular Business? Check out our online directory to view our full list of members, and details about the products and services they offer. 22 newmarketchamber.ca
IS YOUR PRODUCTIVITY STUCK IN TRAFFIC?
We have solutions! Is your parking lot jammed? Do your employees gripe about their commute? Let us help your employees be on-time, productive and healthy. We work with businesses to explore sustainable commuting options by: Creating personalized travel plans Developing telework policies Reducing parking requirements Finding carpool partners Encouraging walking and cycling www.sccy.ca info@sccy.ca 905.898.5900 YOUR BUSINESS | Summer 2017 23
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