Feature Articles

Sales Savvy Series for Women Entrepreneurs

#5 - Make Outstanding Customer Service the Rule, not the Exception

In a world where people’s choices are limitless, how does a small business, surrounded by fierce competition, stay ahead - by offering outstanding customer service. This means connecting with clients, making them feel special, and going above and beyond their expectations.

The Business of Bartering

Our world of business transactions started with a crafty, creative and simple form of one-on-one bartering to get a fair exchange of services or goods. This process has continued for centuries, moving from goods exchanged to a monetary currency. Bartering, or ‘contra’ as it is often referred to, is still a viable business process between companies and individuals.

Whatever you call it, bartering is common practice amongst business associates. But is it the best way to support one another and do you ever get full value in the process? In reality, it is tempting to exchange business services and it seems like a logical process of a fair trade. It preserves cash flow and is a great way to get the consultants, advertising, essential services, accountants and even lawyers, etc. we need to run our individual businesses.

From the Desk of our Client Services Coordinator

Our client services coordinator, Lynda, speaks to hundreds of women business owners every year.  We will be profiling some of the issues they call about, and some of Lynda's suggestions to them.  This month's topic is:

The Name Game - Selecting a Good Business Name

A great name is the beginning of a great brand. Here are some of the main characteristics of a good name:

1. It’s easy to remember and easy to pronounce.
2. It’s easy to spell and requires no explanation.
3. It describes your business category - including a descriptive component in your name can help customers understand the nature of your business. Avoid including descriptive elements that could quickly become out of date or inaccurate. 

In The News

Feature Entrepreneur of the Month

Mal Paterson – BiltongCanada.com

Six years ago, Mal Paterson and her husband came to Canada from South Africa. In order to settle into their new country they had to develop a business idea quickly as it was a condition of their immigration.

While searching out business possibilities, they discovered that Canada did not have a favourite South African treat, biltong; beef slices marinated in salt, vinegar and spices then hung to air dry.

“Our vision was to supply South Africans throughout Canada with memories of South Africa with our biltong,” says Paterson. “In South Africa, you would never sit down to watch a rugby match without a big bag of it! It’s very much a comfort food.” They thought there would be enough South Africans in Canada wanting their native comfort food to make it a viable business.

Client of the Month

Diane Gardner – Great Events Ltd.

As a marketing director for an advertising agency and a mother of two, Diane Gardner felt she wasn’t giving enough of herself to her family. So she decided to quit her job to become a full-time mom, but she still had the sense that her life was off-kilter. As it turned out, self-employment was the answer to finding the balance she was seeking.

Diane and her husband launched Great Events Ltd. in White Rock just four months ago. So far they’ve managed to sign a contract with HBC and Zellers to set up product demonstration booths to sell housewares in stores across Canada. They currently have eight locations in Vancouver and Winnipeg.

However, getting to where they are now was not so easy. Because Gardner had been a stay-at-home mom for so many years she needed to seek out funding in order to get the business up and running.

Congratulations to Best Restaurant Award Winners

Congratulations to Women’s Enterprise Centre clients who won this year in the 5th annual Okanagan Life Readers' Choice Best Restaurants Awards and the 3rd Annual Okanagan Life Editors' Choice Best Restaurants Awards:

Loan clients Rita Myers & Tasha Warren, owners of The Rotten Grape Wine & Tapas Bar: 13 mentions in the Reader’s Choice Best of the Best for the Central Okanagan, including third place for Best of the Best! Click here for website

Loan client Lisa Cham, owner of The Fixx Café & Pasta Bar: winner of Editor’s Choice Award for Best Cozy Eatery with Big Flavours and first place Reader’s Choice Award for Best Undiscovered Restaurant.

Zu Peters, owner of SpoonStruck Café: winner of Editor’s Choice Award for Best Lunch on the Go. Zu has been a storyteller for Women's Enterprise Centre in workshops and publications. Click here for website

Congratulations to our New Pioneers
Readers Survey Draw Winner!

Thanks to all the recipients of the New Pioneers book who filled in the readers survey on-line! The draw is now closed, and we are pleased to announce the winner of the draw for the $300 spa voucher: Florence Corman of Kelowna, BC. Florence is a 'seniorpreneur' whose hobby of producing copper jewellery turned into a business about two years ago. She started Gf Designs with her husband Gilbert, and their beautiful copper pieces are now sold in various boutiques in the Okanagan such as Silent Noise and Funktional, as well as the Naramata and Kelowna farmers' markets. One of Florence's daughter, also a budding entrepreneur in Burnaby is about to launch her first issue of a Canadian Quilting magazine. Thanks again to everyone who completed the survey, and congratulations to Florence. We hope you enjoy your visit to Beyond Wrapture in Kelowna!

The SavvyMom Entrepreneur of the Year Award

If you are a mom entrepreneur you could win over $15,500 for your business. For more information click here

Nominate Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs

It is vital to Canada's future economic development and prosperity that entrepreneurs, particularly women entrepreneurs be encouraged and cultivated. The purpose of the RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards is to provide national recognition to Canada’s women entrepreneurs, whose successful businesses and achievements contribute so much to the Canadian and global economies as well as to their communities. Nomination deadline June 29, 2009.

For more information about the award click here
To download a nomination form, click here

Video Conference Facilities Available

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 new learning opportunities for business owners.

With more than 40 locations in BC that offer video conference options, you now have access to interesting business training through your local Community Futures, Chamber of Commerce, Front Counter BC, Small Business BC, or Women’s Enterprise Centre. For more information about workshops available now click here

Call to Women Entrepreneurs

Dr. Andrea E. Smith-Hunter, an Associate Professor at Siena College in Loudonville, New York, is currently conducting a global study on women entrepreneurs. The results from the study will be used to write her third book entitled, Women Entrepreneurs in the Global Marketplace, slated for publication in 2010. To participate in the study, please visit the online survey, click here

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Events and Happenings

Women's Enterprise Centre Sponsored & Hosted Events

Video Conferencing Seminars
Kelowna, click here

Bridging the Generational Divide - Tap into Young Talent Workshop, part 1
BDC Victoria, 990 Fort Street, Victoria
Mon, Sept. 28th – 8:45 am - 12 pm
For more information click here

Bridging the Generational Divide - Tap into Young Talent Workshop, part 2
BDC Victoria, 990 Fort Street, Victoria
Wed, Sept. 29th – 8:45 am - 12 pm
For more information click here

Around the Province

Milestones to Success: SME Seminar Series - part 2
SFU Harbour Centre, Room 7000 - 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver
Fri, June 26th – 8:30 am - 5 pm
For more information click here

Chicks Who Click Conference Introduction Session
The Listel Hotel, 1300 Robson Street, Vancouver
Fri & Sat, June 26th & 27th – 2:30 - 4:30 pm
For more information click here

Small Business BC Seminars - Vancouver
All Year - at Waterfront Station, 82-601 West Cordova
For more information click here

Business EBC Seminars - Vancouver
All Year - Tuesdays at Waterfront Station, 82-601 West Cordova
For more information click here