C
Business
onnections October 2011
October is “Small Business Month in Orangeville” Councillor Gail Campbell proclaimed October as “Small Business Month in the Town of Orangeville” in recognition of the impact that small business has on our economy. Responsible for a significant amount of private sector employment across the province, she thanks all of the local business members for helping to ensure that our community remains competitive and strong. A number of business-related workshops and events are scheduled to help celebrate the determination, commitment and contributions made by all of the businesses in our community and the details can all be found here. Local entrepreneur and EDC Vice-Chair Bob Long (left), Councillor Gail Campbell, Manager of Economic Development Nancy Huether and SBEC Coordinator Ruth Phillips celebrate Small Business Month in Orangeville.
Terry Straker to Share Affordable Marketing Secrets Successful entrepreneur, author and marketing specialist Terry Straker will be the keynote speaker at the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre’s ninth annual Bridges to Better Business conference on Wednesday, November 9. This year’s event will focus on affordable, creative and practical marketing ideas that help to ensure business success. Each day, consumers are bombarded with hundreds of marketing messages which leave them tuned out and turned off, so implementing specific and targeted marketing ideas is crucial to the success of any business. Mr. Straker will discuss what it takes to capture consumer attention and turn skeptics into lifelong customers. He’ll share the tips, tricks and techniques required to sell your products and services and provide step-by-step instructions on how to make the most of your marketing budget. The half-day conference will also feature an opportunity to network and share information during lunch and then participate in an interactive, large group marketing session where Mr. Straker will provide guidance, advice and solutions to help improve your bottom line. Participants are encouraged to bring their marketing materials, challenges and questions. The Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre has teamed up with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to deliver this low-cost event in order to recognize and celebrate the success of entrepreneurs in our community and to provide information and advice that can help them succeed. Pre-registration for the Bridges to Better Business event is required. The $25 fee includes the affordable marketing seminar, refreshments and lunch, the interactive group session, and networking opportunities. What’s more, the first 50 people to register will receive a free copy of Mr. Straker’s new book - Unzipped Marketing ($25 value). For more information on this event and to register, visit www.orangevillebusiness.ca/events, call the Orangeville & Area SBEC office at 519-941-0440 Ext 2286, or email sbec@orangeville.ca.
ORANGEVILLEBUSINESS.CA
Volume 2
Issue 4
COMPANY PROFILE
Steve Burnett (far left) with S. Burnett & Associates staff
S. Burnett & Associates - A Small Business Success Story Local entrepreneur Steve Burnett has a great deal to be proud of. As the owner of a growing firm, S. Burnett & Associates Limited, Steve and his staff provide a variety of engineering and management services, including community planning, building services, water supply, treatment and distribution, sewage treatment, collection and disposal, land development, environmental services, and watershed management. Like many new businesses, S. Burnett & Associates began as a home-based venture in June 2009 and within one year, had expanded to professional office space in Orangeville. Today, the busy firm employs 14 individuals, including 10 professional engineering staff, and shows no signs of slowing down. S. Burnett & Associates Limited provides an excellent example of small business success in the local community. The firm has worked to develop a team of talented and experienced project managers with a mandate to complete projects on time and on budget. The key to success for this growing firm, says Steve, has been the ability to incorporate a client-first focus while combining technical expertise and customer service to obtain ultimate solutions for the customer. As a firm that provides services to municipal, First Nation, private and development clients, the business has quickly earned a reputation for delivering quality civil engineering and consulting services. The decision to expand his operation in Orangeville was an easy one for Steve. “In addition to the central location and close proximity to Toronto Pearson International Airport, the community’s work and life amenities were attractive. Orangeville provides a great environment in which to live and raise a family and to develop the working relationships that are important to our business.” The “out of the box” thinking that enables S. Burnett & Associates Limited to provide innovative and unique solutions along with the firm’s customer-focused approach to business represent important qualities for success for any small business owner. To learn more about S. Burnett & Associates, visit the company’s website at www.sbaengineering.com.
Connect with Business. Connect with Life.
UPCOMING EVENTS
IN THE NEWS
Introduction to HST • October 5, 9 a.m. A representative from Canada Revenue Agency will present information on the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) for small and medium-sized businesses and will clarify your responsibilities for collecting and remitting the tax, explain tax credits and overpayments and answer any questions you may have. Free.
Social Media Boot Camp, Part 1 • October 19, 9 a.m. This workshop will help you to harness the power of social media and learn how to develop content that is engaging and sincere. The workshop will provide an introduction to popular social media tools, provide information on creating a winning social media strategy, tips and techniques for implementing a social media presence and much, much more. Cost - $15.
Economic Outlook Breakfast • October 20, 7:45 a.m. Featuring a keynote address by Derek Burleton, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist for TD Bank Group, this event will provide an opportunity to network with local businesses while getting the latest updates on the economy. Cost - $15.
Business and the Law: The Essentials • October 26, 6:30 p.m. Featuring speakers from Carters Professional Corporation, this two-part session will focus on two very relevant business topics: the legal duties of directors and officers of business corporations and the protection of personal assets from liability. Free.
Bridges to Better Business: Focus on Marketing • November 9, 9 a.m. With a focus on marketing, successful entrepreneur, author and marketing expert Terry Straker will share free and low-cost marketing ideas that work. Participants will learn about the tips, tricks and techniques required to sell their products and services. Following lunch, Mr. Straker will provide an interactive group marketing session and provide guidance, advice and solutions to help improve your bottom line. Participants are encouraged to bring their marketing materials, challenges and questions. Cost - $25.
Developing a Business Plan • November 23, 9 a.m. One of the most important tools any business has is its business plan. A well-written business plan provides a “plan of action” which outlines your business goals and how you are going to achieve them. Participants will receive a comprehensive overview of the components of a successful business plan and learn more about writing their business plan in this informative seminar. Cost - $10.
Visit www.orangevillebusiness.ca/events to register online for any of these events.
THINGS TO KNOW Economic Outlook Breakfast The Town of Orangeville and TD Canada Trust will partner to host another Orangeville Economic Outlook Breakfast on Thursday, October 20. This popular annual event is part of the Town’s celebration of Small Business Month in Orangeville and will feature a networking breakfast and keynote address by Derek Burleton, VicePresident and Deputy Chief Economist, TD Bank Group. The breakfast will be held at Best Western PLUS Orangeville starting at 7:45 a.m. and is a great way to kick off the business day while getting the latest updates on the economy. To register for this event, visit www.orangevillebusiness.ca or call 519-941-0440 Ext 2286 by October 14.
GDACC Home & Lifestyle Show Coming Up Be sure to visit the Town of Orangeville booth at the upcoming Chamber of Commerce Home & Lifestyle Show to find out all about upcoming events, programs and happenings within Orangeville. The event will be held at the Orangeville Agriculture Fairgrounds and runs Friday, September 30 (5 - 9 p.m.), Saturday, October 1 (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.), and Sunday, October 2 (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.).
Orangeville Industrial Directory Now Available
Businesses Must Meet Accessibility Requirements by Year End Since passing the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, Ontario has begun to create and implement province-wide, mandatory accessibility standards in five key areas of everyday life. These standards are designed to help create inclusion for everyone in Ontario, regardless of their abilities. The Accessibility Standard for Customer Service came into effect in 2008. It requires all organizations in Ontario to make their customer service accessible and to train their staff on how to provide accessible service. Public sector organizations in Ontario are already complying with the standard. By January 1, 2012, private sector and nonprofit organizations will need to meet the same requirements. The Accessibility Standard for Customer Service applies to all businesses that provide goods or services either directly to the public or to other organizations in Ontario and that have one or more employees. This includes consultants, manufacturers and wholesalers as well as other businesses and professional services. What a business owner needs to do in order to comply with the Act depends on the number of employees in the business. However, all business owners are required to train their staff on accessible customer service and regardless of size, all businesses with employees in Ontario must create and put in place an accessibility plan that: • Considers a person’s disability when communicating with them • Allows assistive devices in the workplace, such as wheelchairs, walkers and oxygen tanks • Allows service animals • Welcomes support persons • Lets customers know when accessible services aren’t available • Invites customers to provide feedback Businesses with more than 20 employees have additional requirements that must be complied with. To assist employers to meet the Accessibility Standard for Customer Service, the Ministry of Community and Social Services has created a number of user-friendly tools, including a template for the development of an accessibility plan as well as detailed training resources, tips and tools to help employers understand what they need to do and how to do it. To learn more about what will be required to meet the Accessibility Standard for Customer Service by the January 1, 2012 deadline, employers are encouraged to visit the provincial website www.ontario.ca/accesson and follow the links that apply to them.
REAL ESTATE - FEATURED LISTING Northwest Corner C Line and Centennial Rd. More than six acres of shovel-ready industrial land available for sale. Located at the northwest corner of Centennial Road and C Line, the land is close to the Orangeville bypass and can gain access to a rail spur of the OrangevilleBrampton Railway. The land is zoned M-1 for general industrial uses. The lot size is 2.523 ha (6.234 ac) and can be severed into two or three smaller parcels. The current asking price for the land is $215,000.00 per acre. Interested buyers should contact Nancy Huether, Manager of Economic Development, Town of Orangeville at 519-941-0440 Ext 2270 or by email at edo@orangeville.ca.
An annual update of the Town’s Industrial Directory was completed over the summer and is now available to the public. The directory can be viewed online by visiting www.orangevillebusiness.ca or by visiting the office to pick up a copy.
ORANGEVILLEBUSINESS.CA
87 Broadway, Orangeville, Ontario L9W 1K1 Phone: 519-941-0440 Toll Free: 1-866-941-0440 Fax: 519-941-9033 E-mail: info@orangevillebusiness.ca