C
Business
onnections September 2012
Cory Trepanier to Share Resources for “ArtPreneurs”
The highly successful visual artist and film maker Cory Trepanier has had the opportunity to travel throughout Canada to paint his impressions of the remarkable landscapes he witnesses and he has built a successful, full-time business out of his passion. As the keynote speaker at the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre’s 10th annual Bridges to Better Business event, Mr. Trepanier will share his inspiring story and provide guidance and information on how artists can garner publicity and exposure, increase profitability and acquire sponsorships without sacrificing integrity. This year’s Bridges event – Resources for ArtPreneurs – will be packed with great ideas, tips and techniques to help artists of all disciplines grow and succeed. Increasing profitability, social media marketing and arts-based grants programs will all be addressed from an artist’s perspective. The event will kick off at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 7 with a keynote address by Mr. Trepanier, followed by a lunch and ample opportunities for networking. The afternoon will feature an in-depth Social Media Marketing session delivered by Kim McBrien, a successful textile artist. As a former trainer with Visual Arts Ontario and an entrepreneur who has built a full-time venture by implementing social media strategies, Ms. McBrien will provide tips, techniques and current examples that demonstrate how to promote an arts-based business online and build an affordable social media strategy. The day will wrap up with representatives from the Ontario Arts Council providing an informative presentation on the programs and grants available to artists. In addition to explaining the application process and when and how to apply for funding, Ontario Arts Council representatives will also provide examples of successful grant recipients, provide a “survival guide” for putting a grant application together and will lead an interactive Q & A session designed to increase applicant success. Pre-registration for the Bridges to Better Business event is required by November 1. The $30 fee includes a social media workshop, lunch, keynote address, grant and resources workshop and refreshment breaks. To register, visit www.orangevillebusiness.ca/events, call the Orangeville & Area SBEC at 519-941-0440 Ext. 2286 or email sbec@orangeville.ca.
Small Business Month in Orangeville Councillor Mary Rose proclaimed October 2012 as “Small Business Month in Orangeville.” The proclamation provides recognition of the importance of small business in our local economy and salutes the determination, commitment and contributions made by all businesses in our community. Councillor Mary Rose and members of the EDC for the Town of Orangeville celebrate Small Business Month. Top row, from left: Buddy Pitt, Bob Long, Dave Forbes, Dave Baker, Marsha Grant, Councillor Rose, and staff Nancy Huether and Ruth Phillips. Bottom row, from left: Ken Krakar, Boubacar Bah, Rodney Hough, Ron Munro
ORANGEVILLEBUSINESS.CA
Volume 3
Issue 4
COMPANY PROFILE
Celebrating an 80th Year Anniversary – Orangeville Insurance 2012 marks a most impressive milestone for local business Orangeville Insurance – an incredible 80 years of successful operation in Orangeville. The business, which originally opened on Broadway in 1932, provides commercial, farm, home, and auto insurance. Now located at 11 Mill Street, Orangeville Insurance is owned by a very committed and knowledgeable Marlene Black. Dedicated, passionate and hard-working, Ms. Black joined Orangeville Insurance in a clerical role in 1963 and worked to develop the skills and knowledge required to succeed as a licensed broker. In 2002, she purchased the business with partner Laurie Montgomery and, following Laurie’s death in 2004, became the sole owner of Orangeville Insurance. After 49 years with the business, Ms. Black is well-equipped to provide the recipe for business success. “It’s all about providing exceptional customer service,” says Ms. Black. “Our team of qualified staff truly care about their clients, the business, and each other. The staff represents Orangeville Insurance well and it is their prompt, worry-free service and follow-up that helps us to retain the loyal customers that we work hard to keep.” Orangeville Insurance is all about commitment to the community. Besides contributing to a stable employment base, the entire team helps to support community initiatives. For the past 11 years, the business has provided a free pancake breakfast to approximately 1,300 people as part of the annual opening day of the Orangeville Farmers’ Market. The business also participates in Christmas food drives and other local initiatives that benefit the community. “Orangeville is a wonderful location to build a business. Like our customers, we value long-standing relationships that are built on trust and loyalty – and these values help build a sense of community involvement and have helped our business to grow.” Relationship building, hard work, dedication, and a passion for delivering customer service excellence are all ingredients that have helped Orangeville Insurance create a recipe for business longevity and strength. A heartfelt congratulations is extended to the entire team that makes up this Orangeville-based venture. To learn more about Orangeville Insurance, visit www.orangevilleins.com.
Connect with Business. Connect with Life.
THINGS TO KNOW
IN THE NEWS
Economic Outlook Breakfast Once again this fall, the Town of Orangeville will team up with TD Canada Trust to host the annual Orangeville Economic Outlook Breakfast on Wednesday, October 17. The breakfast is part of a celebration of Small Business Month in Orangeville and will feature a keynote address and economic outlook by Derek Burleton, VicePresident and Deputy Chief Economist for TD Bank Financial Group. The breakfast will be held at Best Western Orangeville, starting at 7:45 a.m. Register at www.orangevillebusiness.ca/events or by calling 519-941-0440 Ext. 2286 by October 11.
GDACC Home & Lifestyle Show This year’s Chamber of Commerce Home and Lifestyle Show will take place on Friday, September 28 (5 to 9 p.m.), Saturday, September 29 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday, September 30 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Be sure to visit the Town of Orangeville booth to find out all about the upcoming events and activities in the community.
Canada Consumer Product Safety Act If you manufacture, import, distribute, or sell a consumer product in Canada, as of June 20, 2011, there are new federal requirements under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) which affect you. The Act establishes mandatory record-keeping and reporting requirements for a wide variety of consumer products including children’s toys and equipment, children’s jewellery, textiles, household products, and sporting goods. Health Canada advises that there are several measures that are clearly defined in the Act that will impact businesses across Canada, including obligations for mandatory health and safety incident reporting and record retention requirements. All business owners are encouraged to review the Quick Reference Guide to the CCPA at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/indust/ccpsa_reflcspc/index-eng.php on Health Canada’s website to see how the new federal requirements apply to them. Further information can also be obtained by calling the Regional Product Safety Office at 1-866-662-0666.
Orangeville Industrial Directory The updated Industrial Directory for the Town of Orangeville is now available at www.orangevillebusiness.ca or by visiting the Economic Development/SBEC office to pick up a copy.
Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII) The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) has launched a new $20 million program – the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation – through its Prosperity Initiative. This program will support high-growth, innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in rural and urban communities by offering loans of usually $150,000 to $500,000 to support all aspects of growth challenges facing them. Eligible organizations will include those that employ 50 to 500 employees, or identify that there is a strong likelihood they will reach 50 employees within the term of the loan and organizations which are unable to obtain adequate and reasonable financing from other lending sources. The loans are intended to help finance: • Late stage commercialization; • New product or service development; • New applications or markets; or • Development or implementation of new processes or technologies. The Prosperity Initiative encourages businesses in southern Ontario to undertake projects that will result in a more productive, diversified and competitive economy in the region. Two funding opportunities under the Initiative apply to profit-making businesses: Building a Competitive Advantage will support activities to enhance the competitiveness of an industry/sector cluster, such as: • the adaptation and adoption of new technologies, processes and skills development in an industry/sector; • technology demonstration and piloting; • business opportunity development and expansion; and • facilities improvement or expansion. Regional Diversification will support activities within southern Ontario including: • the creation of new opportunities for economic diversification; • market development and expansion; • business attraction to diversify regional or community economies; and • business expansion supporting greater diversification. The SOFII loan funds will act as a catalyst for increased investment in and support for innovation and will be one element in the emerging climate of support for these high-growth companies in Southern Ontario. Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis. For more information on eligibility and application requirements, visit www.sofii.ca.
UPCOMING EVENTS Economic Outlook Breakfast • October 17, 7:45 a.m. The Town of Orangeville will team up with TD Canada Trust to deliver a networking breakfast which will feature a keynote address with the latest economic updates by Derek Burleton, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist for TD Bank Financial Group. Cost - $15 + HST.
Social Media - Content Strategies • October 25, 9 a.m. Back by popular demand, Search Engine People representative Jeff Quipp will deliver this new workshop designed to teach participants how to plan for and develop content for their social media outreach, incorporate best practices for the use of various social media tools and utilize guidelines for implementing the social media strategy. Cost - $15 + HST.
REAL ESTATE FEATURED LISTING
Bridges to Better Business: Resources for ArtPreneurs • November 7, 9:30 a.m.
Northwest Corner C Line and Centennial Road More than six acres of shovel-ready industrial land available for sale. The land is close to the Orangeville bypass and can gain access to a rail spur of the Orangeville-Brampton 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 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.
ORANGEVILLEBUSINESS.CA
This year’s Bridges to Better Business event will focus on the business-related needs of artists and is packed with great ideas, tips and techniques to help artists of all disciplines to grow and succeed. The day will feature a keynote address by highly successful and well-known visual artist Cory Trepanier, a Social Media Marketing for Artists session by textile artist and business owner Kim McBrien, and a presentation on programs and grants by representatives of the Ontario Arts Council. Cost - $30 + HST (includes lunch).
Social Media Management • November 13, 9 a.m. Search Engine People representative Jeff Quipp will return to provide information on managing the social media strategy in business. This workshop will focus on engagement methods - defining who is important and how to engage them, utilizing cross-platform updating and expanding outreach through contests, promotions and other engagement tactics. Cost - $15 + HST.
Starting a Small Business • November 27, 9 a.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.
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