C
Business
onnections January 2015
Community Seminar for Food Entrepreneurs
From the farm to the table, the food and beverage industry affords numerous job opportunities across the Hills of Headwaters region and consumers have increasingly made local and sustainable food a priority. As the industry continues to grow, so too does the need for training and development for food-related business owners. On February 25, the Georgian College Orangeville campus, in partnership with the Town of Orangeville and other community partners, will host a community food seminar titled Food Entrepreneurs: Preserving our Heritage; Creating our Future. The event will be held at Monora Park Pavilion, just north of Orangeville and will provide excellent learning and networking opportunities for present and future food entrepreneurs who may be looking to start or expand their own food businesses. The one-day event will provide local food and beverage entrepreneurs and aspiring artisan food producers with education and training on how to cultivate a successful food business as experts and professionals within the industry share their own knowledge and experiences. Featured components of the day include presentations by two panels of food experts and agri-food business development champions, an exhibition of local food producers who will showcase their products, and special guest speakers. There will be plenty of local Orangeville favourites participating, including showcases by Hockley Valley Brewing Co., The Chocolate Shop, and Leitch’s Honey; a panel discussion with Soulyve’s Phil Dewar; a special keynote address by Woolwich Dairy’s Tony Dutra; and much more. Lunch will also be catered by local chef Adam Ryan with the support of culinary students, and will feature local food products from the Headwaters area. Admission to the day-long event is free but space is limited. Pre-registration is required. To register, visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/food-entrepreneurs-preserving-our-heritagecreating-our-future-tickets-14456378417, call the Orangeville & Area SBEC at 519-941-0440 Ext 2286, or email sbec@orangeville.ca.
Jobs and Prosperity Fund The Government of Ontario is providing $2.5 billion over 10 years to enhance productivity, bolster innovation and grow Ontario's exports under the Jobs and Prosperity Fund. The fund has three distinct streams: • The New Economy Stream: to build R&D capacity, improve private-sector productivity, performance and competitiveness, and support innovative businesses in expanding their market. • The Strategic Partnerships Stream: to help entrepreneurs, companies, research institutions, customers and investors work together to strengthen Ontario firms and our ability to compete globally. • The Food and Beverage Growth Fund: to support food, beverage and bioproduct manufacturing projects that will help create and retain jobs, strengthen supply chains, increase market access, and enhance innovation and productivity. Find out more at www.ontario.ca/business-and-economy/jobs-and-prosperity-fund.
orangevillebusiness.ca
Volume 6
Issue 1
Company Profile
Giddy Yoyo Inc. Chocolate: good for your health; good for Orangeville’s economy Bridgitte Longshore is very passionate about good food and healthy living. Her company, Giddy Yoyo, established in Orangeville in 2009, imports and produces a wide array of tasty health promoting items made from certified organic, fairly traded, and heirloom ingredients. “Our products are made with love,” says Ms. Longshore. And people love Giddy Yoyo Bridgitte Longshore, products. Starting in her homeowner of Giddy Yoyo Inc. based kitchen, Ms. Longshore first experimented with recipes so she could provide her own children with healthy alternatives that tasted great. She soon developed dozens of recipes for raw, vegan and natural chocolates that have strong appeal for the growing market of health-conscious consumers. Offering some of “the highest quality, most nutrient dense food available,” Giddy Yoyo dark chocolate bars became a hit when she launched them at local farmers’ markets. Demand for her raw cacao bars and related products grew, and as sales increased, Ms. Longshore left the farmers’ market circuit and began selling to health food and specialty stores. Today, Giddy Yoyo is sold in more than 400 locations across Canada – an impressive achievement for a five-year-old food manufacturer. As demand grew, Ms. Longshore also outgrew her home-based location and now operates out of a 4000-square-foot facility on Centennial Road in Orangeville’s Business Park. Her staff has grown to 17 employees who work in sales, marketing, and product development. “This year is a transitional year,” says Ms. Longshore. “We are streamlining our back office, production and warehousing systems, and we will expand our secondary market -- a line of all-natural skin care products made from naturally derived elements with no harmful chemicals or additives.” Ms. Longshore is uncompromising when it comes to the quality of Giddy Yoyo’s products and she demands the same standard from her suppliers, insisting on personal transactions with her cacao grower and sourcing some of her other ingredients locally and from within Ontario. A firm believer in quality over quantity, Ms. Longshore made a conscious decision to remain in Orangeville and keep her production and staff local. “Everything is right here in Orangeville or within an hour’s drive. My staff and I can raise our families in a small, embracing and safe community, but I can also quickly travel to meet my business partners wherever they’re located. It is the best of both worlds.” Ms. Longshore’s recipe for success? It’s all on her label: “Raw, heirloom, organic, selectively sourced ingredients free of gluten, nuts, dairy, soy refined sugar and all other nasty funk. Food, not candy, made with love.” Learn more about Giddy Yoyo by visiting www.giddyyoyo.com.
Connect with Business. Connect with Life.
Upcoming Events
In The News
Starting a Small Business • January 28, 6:30 p.m. (Shelburne) and April 28, 9 a.m. (Orangeville) In this session participants will learn about what is involved in starting a small business in Ontario, why a business plan is so important, and what is involved in developing a successful business plan. This workshop will answer many start-up questions and provide participants with the tools needed to begin working on their own “road maps” to success. Cost $20 + HST.
Tax Planning for Small Business • February 11, 6:30 p.m. and February 18, 9 a.m. Gerry Hogenhout of Hogenhout and Associates will lead this popular, interactive session and provide valuable tips and essential rules for operating a small business and minimizing or deferring income taxes payable. The same session will be offered at two different times. Cost $10 + HST.
Food Entrepreneur Seminar • February 25, 9:30 a.m. Hosted by community partners including Georgian College and the Orangeville & Area SBEC, this seminar is targeted to food entrepreneurs. Featuring expert speakers and panelists in the fields of food production, commercialization, and marketing, this event will help entrepreneurs learn how to cultivate successful food businesses. The event includes a showcase of local producers and their products and includes lunch. Free.
Introduction to Social Media for Business • March 12, 6:30 p.m. Communications expert Bethany Lee will provide participants with the knowledge and skills they need to start using social media to effectively promote their businesses. Participants will receive an overview of various social media options and their advantages as well as content and brand development tips for their enterprises. Cost $25 + HST.
Canada-Ontario Job Grant Small, medium and large employers across Ontario can now apply for the Canada-Ontario Job Grant to invest in skills training for new and existing employees. Businesses with a plan to deliver short-term training to existing and new employees are eligible to receive direct financial support toward such training. The program provides up to $10,000 in government support per person for training costs. Employers with a particular skills demand are encouraged to submit applications for the Job Grant. The Canada-Ontario Job Fund Agreement is a key source of funding for new initiatives to help Ontario’s employers develop their workforce through employer-led training. For more information about the Canada-Ontario Job Grant, visit www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/ eopg/cojg/index.html.
Things To Know
Risk Management for Small Business • April 16, 9 a.m.
Arts, Culture and Tourism E-Newsletter
Charles McCabe, local Business Development and Risk Management Consultant, and Dave Proctor, Utility Financial Concepts Inc., will discuss the importance of risk management to the long term viability and profitability of the business. This session will help entrepreneurs learn how to identify areas of risk within their own businesses and examine ways to address areas of risk. Cost $10 + HST.
As one of Orangeville's Cultural Plan initiatives, the Town of Orangeville’s Economic Development office recently developed an Arts, Culture and Tourism e-newsletter to better serve local businesses, residents and organizations. This monthly newsletter functions as a snapshot of upcoming festivals, events, and activities happening in Orangeville. If you’d like to receive the newsletter, know of an upcoming event and/or activity, or have arts and culture related information you would like to share with the community, please feel free to submit details to Cassandra Engineer, Business, Tourism and Culture Co-ordinator for the Town of Orangeville at cengineer@orangeville.ca. To have your event featured in an upcoming newsletter, please submit your information by the last Friday of each month. Be sure to include the event name, location, contact information, brief description, and photo if possible.
Buying a Business/Franchise • May 13, 9 a.m. Gerry Hogenhout of Hogenhout and Associates will explain the process involved in purchasing an existing business or franchise. He will discuss the pros and cons of buying a business as opposed to starting a new one, explain how to recognize a viable business, and outline strategies to put in place to ensure a successful transition. Participants will learn how to avoid disappointment and increase their chances of success. Cost $10 + HST. Register online for these events at www.orangevillebusiness.ca.
Real Estate Featured Listing
The past fall was a busy one with the Economic Development/SBEC office involved in numerous events. The annual Economic Outlook Breakfast featured TD Bank’s Derek Burleton as the keynote speaker to an audience of approximately 100 local business guests. The annual Bridges to Better Business event focused on the business of the arts and featured a well-received keynote address by Janice Price, CEO of Luminato. Staff also participated in the fall Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) seminar in Toronto to showcase the local community.
2015 Summer Company Program
229 Broadway, Orangeville Fabulous opportunity to buy or lease commercial building in downtown Orangeville. Approximately 18,200-square-foot building with 225-foot exposure on Broadway. Many allowable uses and located in the Central Business District with gated parking available. Asking sale price is $3,600,000. Alternatively, approximately 6500 square feet of prestige office space will be available for lease as of January 1, 2015. Asking lease rate is $20/sq ft and $15/sq ft dependent on location within the building (plus TMI). Space may be demised to specific tenant needs. Please contact Mike Mullin, Sales Representative, Royal LePage RCR Realty, Bus. 519-941-5151.
orangevillebusiness.ca
Fall Events
Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Summer Company program. The Orangeville & Area SBEC will partner with the Province of Ontario to provide this great opportunity to local youth. Students aged 15 to 29 who are returning to school in the fall may qualify to start and run their own summer businesses while receiving mentoring, training and awards of up to $3000. Visit www.ontario.ca/summercompany to get started or call the SBEC at 519-941-0440 Ext 2270.
87 Broadway, Orangeville, Ontario L9W 1K1 Phone: 519-941-0440 Toll Free: 1-866-941-0440 E-mail: info@orangevillebusiness.ca Twitter: @OrangevilleED You Tube: Orangeville Business Facebook: Orangeville Economic Development & Tourism