BC Women Entrepreneurs Start, Grow and Succeed!
In this newsletter, and through the coming months, Women's Enterprise
Centre is proud to feature profiles of women business owners in
B.C. who have succeeded in starting and growing their businesses.
Entrepreneurial success can happen in many capacities, at any stage
of business, and in any stage of life! Below you'll read Dolly Watt's
amazing story of starting a business at age 57, and Amber's success
at the young age of 25. All of the stories have one thing in common:
these inspiring women have worked hard, overcome challenges, and
followed their convictions to find success. Read on!
Dolly Watts
Liliget Feast House First Nations Fine Dining
 Dolly Watts is 70 years young.
She began university at age 49, and at the age 57 she opened her first catering business. The business later developed into a restaurant. Soon the ideal location downtown Vancouver on Davie Street became available and Dolly went for it.
Amber Murphy
Purple Dragon International Karate
Jiu Jitsu Association
 Sensei Amber Murphy has the moves on the mat and a black belt in business.
Amber Murphy has a passion for martial arts. She started her studies at 16, and taught Purple Dragon in a church as a volunteer. She turned her passion into a career
and now has her own academy, a franchise of the Purple Dragon International Karate Jiu Jitsu Association.
Lori Kilman & Heather White
Cupcakes by Heather and Lori
 When
opportunity knocks, Lori Kilman and Heather White answer it with
cupcakes. "We always fantasized about starting up our own company,
we thought it was going to be in fashion. Who would have thought
it was going to be cupcakes?" muses Lori. They were 28 and yearned
to move beyond the dream. When the opportunity presented itself,
they decided to go for it. “We just wanted to start something,
and the cupcakes idea was there at the time.”
Centre Helps Startups Avoid Business Pitfalls;
Business Edge, Vancouver
Jinous Nouri, founder and president of Stick-With-Us Products
Inc. discovered a prototype for an all-natural hair-removal product.
Nouri put together a business plan and contacted the Women's Enterprise
Centre. "They were always so kind to me. They helped me know who
to talk to and what to ask for and they even tried my products."
With the support of the Centre - Nouri sought funding to market
her line of skin care products. Today, her products are marketed
internationally.
"The 2006 federal election will go down as the vote where Canada's
political parties acknowledged the emerging clout of small business."
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says that small
business has had an impact on federal policy and should emerge better
no matter what the election outcome. (Globe and Mail article).
Have you made the transition to the new Business Corporations Act?
If your company was incorporated under the BC Company Act before March 29, 2004, it must be "transitioned" into the new Business Corporations Act of British Columbia prior to March 29, 2006. Failure to do so will result in the Registrar taking action to dissolve your company.
Here they are - predictions for the best business opportunities of 2006
Whether you're looking to start a business of your own or to invest in a small business, this list of business opportunities is a good starting point.
What makes these business opportunities the best? These are the business opportunities with the best potential for profit and growth for the next year.
Small Business BC Event Monday January 30, 2006
Join Small Business BC to celebrate the 3rd Annual Business Plan
Contest Awards Ceremony. This will be an opportunity for you to
meet the winners, learn from local business experts in an Ask the
Experts Discussion and network with other small businesses. Pre-register
today as seating is limited! The first 30 attendees will receive
give-a-way bags valued at and be entered to WIN Door Prizes!
 Do
you need to improve your financial skills?
One of the keys to business success is an ability to interpret
financial statements. In fact, a primary cause of business failure
is poor financial management, including the misinterpretation of
financial statements and inappropriate action taken as a result.
This guide will help you understand basic financial principles
that must be applied to your business on a daily basis. By the time
you complete the course, you will be comfortable with the functions
of cash flow management, credit and collections, cost/profit/volume
relationship, and business ratios.
12 disastrous marketing and communication blunders (pdf file)
It's easy to make a mistake in day-to-day marketing and communications
tasks, but what happens when you make a disastrous mistake that
affects the public profile of your entire company? Read about some
disastrous marketing and communications mistakes and lessons learned
(compiled from Internet).
Top 10 scams to look out for in 2006
Scam artists are always adding new twists and finding victims. They say, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." This list, developed by the Better Business Bureau of Mainland BC, the Competition Bureau of Canada, and the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority of BC, is designed to alert you to the trendiest and most sinister scams.
Need information about a business topic and you don't know where to look?
Browse the Women's Enterprise Centre business resource library for FREE informative articles, links and news. Get tips on starting or growing your business: business plan assessments, market research strategies, cash flow forecasts, and much more!
Women's Enterprise Centre
Business Loans Info Session: Learn About Your Financing
Options
February 16, 2006, anywhere in BC. Toll Free phone-in click
here
Courses from Women's Enterprise Centre are available on demand
throughout the province. Courses are often held in partnership with community organizations such as Women in Business groups, Chambers of Commerce and Community Futures. For information email info@womensenterprise.ca
Small Business BC and eBC Seminars
Small Business BC Seminars - Vancouver
All Year. Waterfront Station 82 - 601 West Cordova, click
here
Business Plan Fast Track
Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006 - 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
601 W. Cordova click here
The Basics of Intellectual Property
Monday, Feb. 6, 2006 - 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm 601 W. Cordova click here
eBusiness BC Lunchbox Seminars - Vancouver
All Year Tuesdays. Waterfront Station 601 W. Cordova,
click
here
How to Get Started eSeries - Website Development
Tuesdays Jan. 24 to Feb. 21, 2006 -12 pm to 1:30 pm
601 W. Cordova click here
Legal tips for your eBusiness - Privacy Law; Online Copyright Protection Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12 pm to 1:30 pm 601 W. Cordova click here
Online Marketing Strategies - How to Get Started
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 12 pm to 1:30 pm 601 W. Cordova click here Community Futures Development Association Small Business Workshops
All year in CFDC Okanagan Silmilkameen click here
Around the Province
Free Online Small Business Workshops
Produced by The Network of Canada Business Service Centres
click here
Women of Whistler Event - WOW
Friday, January 27, 2006, Whistler BC For information, click here
19th Angel Forum - Investor Ready 101 Seminar
Jan. 30, 2006 - 8:15 am to 5:00 pm
515 W. Hastings, Vancouver click here
SOHO - The Ultimate Brainstorming Session
February 1, 2006 Sandman Hotel W. Georgia, Vancouver click here
Revealing Secrets of Success
for Women Entrepreneurs
February 10, 2006. Hilton Hotel, Burnaby. For information click here
SOHO "Show & Tell" Breakfast Roundtable
February 21, 2006 Sandman Hotel, W. Georgia, Vancouver click here
The 19th Annual Angel Forum - Vancouver
Monday, February 27, 2006, Downtown Vancouver click here
Business In Vancouver: Influential Women In Business Awards
2006
Wednesday, March 1, 2006. For more information click
here
Smart Women Finish Rich Seminar - Hosted by Edward Jones
March 9, 2006. Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre, Kelowna click here
2006 BC Aboriginal Women in Leadership Forum
March 10, 2006 Squamish Nation Recreation Centre, Vancouver click here
North Shore Vancouver Business-to-Business Trade Show
Friday March 17, Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre click here
3rd Annual Business Career Expo 2006
Friday March 17, 2006, Vancouver Convention & Exhibition
Centre click
here
3rd Annual Silicon Vineyard Innovation Awards
Thursday, March 30, 2006, Coast Capri Hotel, Kelowna click
here
More Events Online
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