C
Business
onnections March 2012
March is “Engineering Month in Orangeville” In recognition of the importance of the engineering sector to the local economy, Councillor Mary Rose proclaimed March as Engineering Month. Councillor Rose was joined by (from left) Triton Engineering Services representative Howard Wray and Burnside representatives Cory Jones and Gord Feniak.
The PST Sector in Orangeville The professional, scientific and technical services (PST) sector in Ontario continues to grow at a rapid rate. Often defined as the ‘knowledge’ sector, these businesses are almost entirely dependent on the expertise and training of their workers. The PST sector includes legal services; accounting services; architectural and engineering services; surveying and mapping services; design services; management, scientific and technical consulting services; advertising and marketing services; computer systems design related services; and scientific research and development services. Typically, workers in this area are highly educated and in Ontario, 81% of PST service workers have a post-secondary degree. As a result, the median annual income in this sector is 20% higher than the average income of all other industries. With continued advancements in technology and the increased use of computer and communication technologies in the workplace, the PST services sector continues to expand. A report completed in 2009 by the Centre for Spatial Economics forecasted this sector to be a growth leader, expanding by 34% and creating 169,000 new jobs in Ontario by 2020. Orangeville is no exception when it comes to growth within the PST sector. In 2006, employment in the PST sector totalled 880 positions in Dufferin County. Currently, with 237 PST businesses operational in Orangeville in 2011, this important sector has grown by almost five per cent in the last five years. The vast majority of these businesses are operating as oneperson ventures or are businesses employing fewer than five staff. Much of the growth in PST services can be attributed to constantly improving technology and the fact that many professional firms put more emphasis on a better work/life balance today. In previous years, the cost and lack of access to IT infrastructure prevented companies from locating outside of large urban environments; however, with the increased availability and speed of reliable communication mechanisms, many business owners have made the choice to relocate to smaller centres. Continued advances in technology combined with an increasingly complex and competitive business environment ensure that the specialized expertise of the PST sector will continue to be in high demand far into the future.
ORANGEVILLEBUSINESS.CA
Volume 3
Issue 2
COMPANY PROFILE
Van Harten Surveying Van Harten Surveying has been providing survey and propertyrelated consulting services across southern Ontario since 1968. With the goal of remaining competitively located in the heart of southwestern Ontario, the firm opened a second office in Orangeville in 2005. Serving a variety of clients, diversification of services and investment in technology and training have contributed to the company’s steady growth. Over the past several years, Van Harten’s has expanded from boundary surveying to include planning and engineering-related services as well. Site plans for major developments, topographic surveys, GIS mapping, and municipal engineering services are all now delivered by Van Harten and have helped to keep the company on the leading edge. “A significant focus for the firm in the last several years has been on advancing technology,” says part-owner Ron Mak. “Because Van Harten has invested heavily in technology and training, we have been able to take on new and bigger projects and diversify our client base to include emerging industries such as wind farms and provide engineering-related jobs and planning services for municipal and provincial governments.” In fact, the company is currently involved in a project that uses new technology to provide low-cost online mapping. “Staying current has helped us to broaden our scope and to provide efficient and cost-effective professional services to the local community,” adds Adrian Maes, Manager of the Orangeville operation. Provision of quality service has helped Van Harten to establish positive business relationships within the community, including the Town of Orangeville. “We have an excellent relationship with Town staff,” says Ron. “They are communicative and accommodating, the approval process is fast and efficient and these things make Orangeville a good place to be. We are happy to act as ambassadors for Orangeville.” Building strong relationships, investing in technology and staff, sponsoring important projects within the local community, and embracing a strong vision for the future are all actions that make Van Harten a great example of success. To learn more about the various projects completed by Van Harten Surveying, visit them at www.vanharten.com.
Connect with Business. Connect with Life.
THINGS TO KNOW
IN THE NEWS
Revised Orangeville Tourism Site is Launched The Town of Orangeville has launched a newly revised tourism website - orangevilletourism.ca. The new design features information on attractions, festivals and events and shopping, dining and accommodation options available throughout the Town. A wealth of information on the many diverse attractions available in Orangeville is now available and there is sure to be something to appeal to everyone. The new site also features an events calendar to promote Orangeville-based special events and activities.
2012 Summer Company Program The Orangeville & Area SBEC will partner with the Province of Ontario again to deliver the 2012 Summer Company Program. The program provides students with the opportunity to start and run their own summer businesses while receiving mentoring, training and awards of up to $3,000. The program is open to students between the ages of 15 and 29 who are returning to school in the fall. The 2012 program is now open for applications. Visit www.ontario.ca/summercompany to get started or call the Orangeville & Area SBEC at 519-941-0440 Ext. 2258 for more information.
Market on Broadway Opening Soon Located on Second Street just behind Town Hall, Orangeville’s farmers’ market - Market on Broadway - will open for the season on Saturday, May 5. Opening Day will feature a free pancake breakfast along with fresh produce, locally raised meats, flowers, home baked goods, crafts and more. Open rain or shine from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until October 20, the Market provides an excellent opportunity to connect with your community and support our local farmers.
Internet Videos are a Great Promotional Tool Melissa Schenk from MS2 Productions provided a fast-paced and informative presentation to eager “Social Media Bootcamp” participants at the Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre on February 22. Ms. Schenk spoke to the importance of using video in social media and noted that Forrester Research had conducted a study which found that videos are at least 50 times more likely to get a better search engine ranking than traditional text. She also stressed the fact that one needn’t be a professional videographer to post videos online; all that is needed is a camera, good lighting and great content. The most popular videos on the web are ‘how-to’ videos and business owners with specialized knowledge can easily create something that will capture the audience’s attention. For content, Ms. Schenk suggests that business owners try using video to answer the questions they are asked on a regular basis, to provide tips and tricks that demonstrate the business owner’s expertise or to provide a product demonstration. A good video should be educational as well as entertaining in order to capture the audience’s interest, so it is important to add some personality. According to Ms. Schenk, speaking sincerely and providing detailed information in a concise and professional manner is important; the business owner wants to be recognized as the leading expert on information in his field. Ms. Schenk also pointed out that when creating videos, it is important to keep the branding of the business in the forefront. The first and last five seconds of the video should include a branding message – perhaps an introduction by the owner of the company and its products, a link to the website directly in the video and an invitation for viewers to visit the website for more information. Including the business logo during the opening and closing as well as at key points throughout the video will work as a subtle yet visible reminder of the branding message. Once the video is ready to post online, ensure that it is also posted to all social media accounts, including the business website, blog, Twitter account and Facebook page. Posting the video to multiple locations will increase the number of views and ultimately, rankings in the search algorithm. Ms. Schenk also recommended that owners respond to comments in the first few hours after a video is published as these viewers provide a core audience and building comments early helps to improve search ranking. Video ranking can also be improved by posting content regularly with the more videos available, the better. Internet video is projected to exceed 91% of global consumer IP traffic by 2014, and therefore, is an increasingly important marketing tool. The use of short, well-crafted videos on the Internet provides a growing, popular and cost-efficient way for business owners to promote their ventures, engage their customers and build their businesses.
UPCOMING EVENTS Effective Advertising for Small Business • March 27, 9 a.m. Effective advertising is crucial for small business owners who want to reach their target markets and attract new customers. An important part of the marketing strategy, advertising can have a significant impact on your business success. Topics include planning, designing and monitoring the advertising campaign, creating a demographic profile of your customers, selecting the best advertising mediums, evaluating effectiveness of advertising and measuring return on investment. Cost $10 (+ HST).
REAL ESTATE FEATURED LISTING 21 Stewart Court, Orangeville
Doing Business with the Government • April 10, 9 a.m.
Well maintained, free standing industrially zoned (M1) building on .58 acre for sale. Building is approximately 9,600 sq. ft. with 1,800 sq. ft. of office space, 1 truck level and 2 drive-in doors and 15’10” (18’0” at centre) ceiling height. This clear span facility features air conditioned office space, mezzanine in plant area and ample parking. Owner would consider a vacant sale or a sale/ leaseback. Please contact Melanie King, Broker at Binswanger Hectare Brokerage Inc., Bus. 905-624-4456 Ext. 203 or Cell 416-729-3409.
This seminar is designed to help local business owners learn how to do business with the Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments. Participants will learn how each level of government does its purchasing and how to include these groups as your customers. Free.
Financing Your Small Business • May 8, 9 a.m. This seminar, delivered in partnership with the TD Bank, will help small business owners understand financing from a banking perspective. Learn how bankers determine lending qualifications, how to best present your business case and how to leverage personal equity for start-up loans. Free.
Starting a Small Business • May 16, 6:30 p.m. 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 $10 (+ HST).
Visit www.orangevillebusiness.ca/events to register online for any of these events.
ORANGEVILLEBUSINESS.CA
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