Feature Articles

Sales Savvy Series for Women Entrepreneurs

#3 - Essential Sales Techniques

No one knows your products or services like you do, and probably no one else can bring the passion and enthusiasm to your business that you can. There – we’ve already identified two of the most important qualities of successful salespeople – passion and enthusiasm!

Sales performance begins with having a great sales leader. You are the leader of your business whether you operate a one-person consulting firm, a retail store with several staff or a manufacturing business employing many people. The following 10 qualities have been identified again and again as essential to successful sales in any business.

Staff Morale in an Economic Downturn

Staff morale can be affected in an economic downturn. Business owners need to understand what influences morale, and how to improve it. This article provides some background and ideas to help you.

In The News

Feature Entrepreneur of the Month

Judy McArthur and Maureen Drew – Artisan Edibles

What began one day as a simple conversation between Judy McArthur and Maureen Drew about a shared passion for food, art and living life to the fullest, quickly developed into a business idea that they didn’t let go stale. In very little time McArthur and Drew made their dream business a reality.

“Judy had a long time history with making preserves and had produced them for retail sales on a small scale,” says Drew. “My career was in marketing and what I really wanted was a product of my own that I could take to market. It was the perfect match!”

Learn About Productivity, Social Media and Networking
from Experienced Business Owners!

Do you ever feel like you’re the only woman in business facing challenges? You aren’t! Attend a Mentor Advisory Forum from your home or office and learn from other women who have already experienced the ups and downs of business ownership.

Send us your questions, concerns, and challenges on the topics below. Then join us by phone from anywhere in the province to get solutions and new ideas from a panel of experienced mentors. To get detailed information on Mentor Advisory Forums and to participate in this exciting, free service, click here.

Upcoming Mentor Advisory Forums

Using Social Media in Your Business
Wed, June 10th – 9 - 10 am
Click here for more information or to register

Networking: How to Make a Connection
Wed, June 24th – 9 - 10 am
Click here for more information or to register

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.

Apply for a BDC Young Entrepreneur Award

Application deadline June 24, 2009

The YEA pay tribute to outstanding Canadian young entrepreneurs who have distinguished themselves by their success in business, their creativity, innovative spirit and community involvement. There is one YEA awarded per province and territory.

YEA winners will benefit from nationwide media visibility, unparalleled opportunities for networking with other entrepreneurs, valuable media relations training and many skills development opportunities.

Successful young Canadian entrepreneurs between the ages of 19 and 35 are invited to apply today. Nominations will be accepted May 11 – June 24, 2009.

To apply visit a BDC office near you to pick up a nomination package or click here.

Return to Top

Bridging the Generation Divide Workshops

Are you an employer who employs 16 - 30 year-olds? Would you like to better understand your young employees’ work habits and ethics and learn how to use them to your advantage?

This 2-workshop series focuses on Generation Y – the youth employees of today’s world of work. Understanding and recognizing the attitudes of this workforce is essential to attracting and retaining young employees. These workshops will provide practical and fundamental information including:

Generation Y – Who are they? A detailed understanding of who they are and why this understanding is critical to a business’ bottom line.

Generation Y – How to Hook ‘Em! Strategies and tactics to attract and recruit Gen Y.

Generation Y – Getting Buy-In! Strategies to develop and retain Generation Y employees and review best practices other employers are using to promote buy-in and loyalty from their Gen Y employees. To register for the 2 part series in Victoria click here.

To find out when the workshop will be offered in your community, contact
Kara Kazimen at Community Futures North Okanagan.

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.

Stimulus Funding for BC: Community Adjustment Fund

Canadian workers, families and businesses in communities that are hardest hit by the global recession will be able to pursue new economic opportunities in their communities thanks to Community Adjustment Fund, a major job creating investment contained in the Harper Government’s Economic Action Plan.

BC will receive $60 million per year for two years to help create new jobs. To find out if your company or community can apply for funding under this program, 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.

Return to Top

Events and Happenings

Using Social Media in Your Business
Wed, June 10th – 9 - 10 am
Click here for more information or to register

Networking: How to Make a Connection
Wed, June 24th – 9 - 10 am
Click here for more information or to register

Enterprising Moms Conference
Okanagan Mission Community Hall, Kelowna
Sat, June 13th – 9 - 10 am
For more information, call Nicole at 250-448-1866
or email at nicolebc1@hotmail.com

Celebrate JA! Awards and Recognition Event
Segal Graduate School of Business, SFU
500 Granville Street, Vancouver
Wed, June 10, 2009 – 5:15 pm
Click here for more information

Around the Province

Women of Distinction Awards
Westin Bayshore Hotel, Vancouver
Wed, June 3 – 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Click here for more information

FWE e-Series Graduation
Birks Vancouver Flagship Store
698 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC
Tues, June 16 – 5:15 pm
Click here for more information

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

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

Pull Ahead for BC
Program for Small Manufacturers
Coast Capri Hotel, Vancouver, BC
Friday, May 29, 8 am - 10 am
Click here for more information