Feature Articles

Sales Savvy for Women Entrepreneurs

Be Remarkably Different

While accountants, massage therapists and other service professionals can’t create an exciting service like a new model of car, how you market and deliver your service can be a major competitive advantage. Make sure your target market knows that you will come to their home or office to do their books so that they don’t need to take valuable time away from running their business if that is a service you offer.

Smart Marketing in Changing Times

Well the times they are a-changing! As many businesses know, the customer pool is shrinking and sound businesses must review budgets and fine-tune their marketing costs to survive. So with this challenge, here are a few ideas to refine your marketing approach to maximize effectiveness and minimize costs.

The best source to the market should be your sales and front line staff. If they are on top of the game, they should be able to identify the marketing and advertising which has proven to be the best and most successful method to sell your products or services. Your goal then is to take this information and determine which marketing program has the biggest role in securing sales and allocate your marketing budget toward those programs only.

In The News

Feature entrepreneur of the month

Carlie Smith , Portobello West Market

Carlie Smith was quite young when she started her first business; in fact she was just a little girl at the time. While other entrepreneurial children were setting up roadside lemonade stands, she took her childhood endeavor to the next level by focusing on location, location, location!

Photo credit Colektiv Images
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Survey of BC Women’s Business Networks Results

Women’s Enterprise Centre recognizes the valuable role WBNs play in their community and region. British Columbia’s Women’s Business Networks provide a valuable and vital strong support system for womenbusiness owners. For many business women, their local WBN is the first place they turn to for advice, networking and workshops. As part of the research for the New Pioneers: Stories of 100 BC Women Entrepreneurs book, Women’s Business Networks around the province were contacted and asked to participate in a short survey of their organization. In return, we included the organization and contact information in the New Pioneers book.

For more information about the Women’s Business Networks in BC please visit our resource section, click here.

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Passionate BC Ambassador for Women Entrepreneurs

In the fall of 2008, Women’s Enterprise Centre recognized Maria Arankunda in a publication entitled New Pioneers: Stories of 100 BC Women Entrepreneurs. Since then, Maria has been taking centre stage as a successful woman business owner and passionate ambassador for women entrepreneurs in Rwanda, Uganda and BC.

A role model to women in business and members of the African Canadian community, Maria will be featured in a poster exhibition commemorating the History of Black Immigration to British Columbia. The exhibit is a partnership between Simon Fraser University Gallery and SFU Women’s Studies Department and will be shown at the Teck Gallery (SFU Vancouver campus) from February 18 to May 10, 2009.

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Nominate a Vancouver Woman
for Women of Distinction Award

The Women of Distinction Awards began in 1984 to honour, encourage and recognize women whose outstanding activities and achievements contribute to the health and future of the community. Since then, YWCA Vancouver has honoured over 200 deserving women and workplaces.

Recognized nationally as one of the most prestigious awards for women, the Women of Distinction Awards also honours businesses and organizations that support the diverse needs of their employees. The YWCA is asking our help to recruit nominations from excellent women in the business community. The 2009 Nominations package is available at the YWCA Vancouver website and nominations are due Tuesday, March 17th, 2009, 10 am; Click here for more details.

The categories include:

• Arts, Culture & Design
  
• Business & the Professions
  
• Community Building
  
• Education, Training & Development
  
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
  
• Health & Active Living
  
• Non-Profit & Public Service
  
• Technology, Science & Industry
  
• Young Woman of Distinction

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2009 Junior Achievement Scholarship application deadline

Recognizing our shared values, Junior Achievement of British Columbia (JABC) and Women’s Enterprise Centre have established a partnership to encourage entrepreneurship as a valuable option for young women, and to enhance opportunities for young women to pursue a business education.
Women’s Enterprise Centre is proud to sponsor the Kathy Barnett Memorial Scholarship. Kathy was a role model for all women business owners, and was keenly interested in encouraging young women to consider entrepreneurship as a career option.

Current female participants and recent graduates of JABC’s senior high school business education programs are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The recipient will be chosen on the basis of her participation in JABC programs and other available information which indicates leadership and entrepreneurial skills, her desire to pursue business studies and eventually pursue entrepreneurship as a career option. It is assumed that after high school graduation the recipient will be attending a post–secondary institution to pursue business studies. For more information about this scholarship offering and to download an application, click here.

WEConnect Canada Launch

You are cordially invited to join us for the official launch of WEConnect Canada, a new organization dedicated to creating business opportunities for women-owned businesses and our corporate members. Click here for more details.

What does “working from home” mean to you?

Complete a survey and win!

Momcafe, in collaboration with Nannies on Call and Connect Moms are conducting a survey to find out where parents actually work when they say they work “from home” They also want to know how the little ones not yet in school are cared for during these working hours. The survey only takes 10 minutes to complete, and there are some great prizes! It is geared towards parents who live in Greater Vancouver, who have children under 6, and who work from “home”.

To take the survey click here

Win a $300 Spa Package!

If you’ve received and/or read a copy of the new book, New Pioneers: Stories of 100 BC Business Women, what did you think about it? Did you find it valuable? Were there some inspirational stories? Did you see some role models or read encouraging and motivating stories to help you grow your business? Take a moment and tell us your experience and we’ll enter your name for a chance to win a $300 Spa Package in the community of your choice. Click here for your chance to win!

Events and Happenings

Introducing NEW Video Conference Workshops

Women's Enterprise Centre is proud to present Video Conference Training Opportunities for BC Women Entrepreneurs

We now have the ability to offer more training in more communities around the province. It's easy to use and offers high quality access to new resources. With over 40 video conferencing sites in BC, we can help you access business training in partnership with your local Community Futures, Chamber of Commerce, Front Counter BC and Small Business BC. Click here for more information.

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Women's Enterprise Centre Sponsored & Hosted Events

KWIB presents International Women’s Day Celebration,
Coast Capri Hotel - Kelowna
March 11 at 5pm Click here for more details

Managing in Turbulent Times
Capri Hotel - Kelowna.
March 31, 2009, 8:00 am – 12:00 noon
More details available soon!

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Small Business BC and eBC Seminars

Small Business BC Seminars - Vancouver
All Year - at Waterfront Station, 82-601 West Cordova
Click here for more information.

Business BC Lunchbox Seminars - Vancouver
All Year - Tuesdays at Waterfront Station, 82-601 West Cordova
Click here for more information.

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Around the Province

The Social Media Starter Kit: A Workshop in Online Branding
YWCA - Welch Room 1 & 2, 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver
March 11 at 8pm Click here for more details

Minerva Foundation's "All About Girlfriends" event
Four Seasons Hotel, 791 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
March 12 at 5:30pm Click here for more details

West Coast LEAF 2009 Equality Breakfast
Fairmont Hotel, 900 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
March 13 at 7:30pm Click here for more details

Dare to Thrive! Women in Business Conference
Executive Plaza Hotel, 405 North Road, Coquitlam
March 27 at 5:30pm Click here for more details

Out of Province Events

Alberta Women Entrepreneurs 2009 Conference
Marriott River Cree Resort, Edmonton, Alberta - April 1 to 3
Click here for more details

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