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Women's Enterprise Centre Celebrates Small Business Week

A small event that started in 1979 is now a month long, nation-wide celebration of entrepreneurship!

This year's Small Business Week theme is "A world without boundaries, open to new markets". The Small Business Week theme recognizes the efforts and contributions made by Canadian entrepreneurs to the national economy, and acknowledges the importance of financial and consulting support for innovative and promising ideas.

We are pleased to pass on a message from BC Minister of Small Business and Revenue, Rick Thorpe ...

Business Tips From Women's Enterprise Centre

As strange as it sounds, one of the best things you can do before you start your business, is to come up with an exit strategy.

That strategy is as much a part of your vision as your goals and priorities are. Developing an exit strategy gives you clarity about how long you want to be in business and how the business needs to grow and develop in order for you to leave it with a sense of accomplishment and completion.

Your exit strategy can create tools for you in your business. When you weigh different approaches, courses of action, or expenditures, it's very useful to know where, ultimately, you want your business to end up.

Consider these options:

• Selling
• Allowing family members to take over or consider an employee buy-out
• Acquisition or merger - considering a larger company to acquire your share of the market, products or expertise
• Issuing shares by going public to raise money by selling some of your business without entirely giving up control
• Going out of business can be the easiest solution but is rarely the preferred option and can sometimes happen by default because you did not create an exit strategy

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What will YOU DO when it's time to LEAVE your BUSINESS?

Business Ownership Transition workshops coming to Victoria, Burnaby and Kelowna...

Three quarters of business owners plan to retire over the next ten years and more than half of them don't have a succession plan.

Women's Enterprise Centre and BDC have joined forces to offer a half day program for entrepreneurs (men and women) who are thinking about, or preparing to transition their business to another owner.

Click here for more information and to register for the course in Victoria, October 16th. Click here for more information and to register for the course in Burnaby, October 17th. Click here for more information and to register for the course in Kelowna, November 14th

Seats are selling out fast so register today!

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Success Tips for Women Entrepreneurs

Success Tip #6:
Zeroing in on Growth Strategies that Fit Your Business

The trick to growing your business is finding the right strategies for your business circumstances and applying them properly.

• How did you identify a niche for your business, and what is that niche?
• What makes your customers choose your business over the competition?
• What was your strategy for your business when you first began? (meaning how do you want to do business, how will you get sales, how will you get ahead of the competition…)
• What is your current strategy, how has it changed from the beginning?
• How has your business grown and changed over the years?
• What are your plans for the future of your business?

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Previous Tips:

• February 2007 Success Tip #1 - Motivation and a Game Plan
• March 2007 Success Tip #2 - Building a support team is critical for women starting a business.
• May 2007 Success Tip #3 - Change from Do-er to Strategist
  and watch your business grow.
• June 2007 Success Tip #4 - Finding the heart of your business
• September 2007 Success Tip #5 - Think Big, Even if your Business isn't.

Obtaining Financing from Women’s Enterprise Centre

In recent issues we’ve touched on the location of Women’s Enterprise Centre’s offices, agricultural business, non-traditional businesses for women, level of experience in business and what types of loans are available. As long as your business is located somewhere in British Columbia, and you have a solid business plan, Women’s Enterprise Centre will be there for you. Our lending program is available to provide term loans for women to succeed in business. As a non-profit lender, our success is truly your success.

Question 6: What if I want to expand an existing business?

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Previous Questions:

• February 2007 Question #1 - How can I get a loan if there isn't a Women's Enterprise office in the city that I live in? Answer
• March 2007 Question #2 - Does it matter what industry my business is in? Answer
• May 2007 Question #3 - My business is in agriculture, does it qualify? Answer
• June 2007 Question #4 - I know you lend to existing businesses, can I get a loan to start or buy a business? Answer
• July 2007 Question #5 - Do I have to have past experience in my particular business in order to get a loan? Answer

Women's Enterprise Centre Success Story

Margaret Alala, Maridadi Craftz - bringing little pieces of Africa to the Lower Mainland!

If you happen upon Maridadi Craftz selling at an event, you may simply see an array of unusual paintings, jewellery and crafts from Africa.

Margaret Alala’s dream is to help people with talent get a chance for a better life by creating an opportunity that allows them to do what they love, to grow their own business.

But the vision behind Margaret's business is the real story...

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Small Business BC's 5th Annual Business Plan Contest!

Start-up and Growth in Business.

Small Business BC is honoring successful small businesses by hosting its 5th Annual Business Plan Contest.

New this year, the Contest will have two categories for start-up and growth businesses.  A judging panel will review all submissions that meet the eligibility requirements and select the top three business plans in each of the two categories. December 17th, at 12pm (sharp) is the deadline for all submissions.

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Have your say on British Columbia's budget priorities!

Budget 2008 Consultation

2007 marks the eighth year the Finance and Government Services Committee has conducted public consultations in accordance with the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act. These consultations into the province's future budget and fiscal policy are guided by the Budget 2008 Consultation Paper (PDF). Click here for more information.

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.Awards Featuring Women Entrepreneurs

Congratulations to Solutions Staffing and Moose Meadows Farm!

Honoured, September 21st, at Today’s Women Awards Banquet in Prince George was Sandra Shannon of Solutions Staffing and Heloise Dixon-Warren, of Quesnel's Moose Meadows Farm.

Sandra was presented with the Entrepreneur of the Year award by Women’s Enterprise Centre Board Member, Shirley Higgins. Heloise was awarded with the Innovator of the Year award.

.Women's Enterprise Centre .Workshops, Events and Happenings

Business Ownership Transition Workshop in Victoria
Tuesday, October 16th, 7:30am - 11:30am
at the Holiday Inn, 3020 Blanshard Street, Victoria
For more information and to register, click here

Starting/Growing a Business Information Session
October 16 - Phone in Toll Free from anywhere in BC, click here

Creating Your Business Coaching - Session 3
Tuesday, October 16 - Phone in Toll Free from anywhere in BC
Creating Your Business Coaching - Session 4
Tuesday, October 30 - Phone in Toll Free from anywhere in BC
Creating Your Business Coaching - Session 5
Tuesday, November 13 - Phone in Toll Free from anywhere in BC
To sign up to any one of these sessions, click here. You MUST have purchased the CYB guide to participate.

Business Ownership Transition Workshop in Burnaby
Wednesday, October 17th, 9:30am - 12:30pm
at the Executive Hotel, 4201 Lougheed Hwy., Burnaby
For more information and to register, click here

Business Loans Info Session: Learn About Your Financing Options
October 25 - Phone in Toll Free from anywhere in BC, click here

Business Ownership Transition Workshop in Kelowna
Wednesday, November 14th, 7:00am - 11:30am
at the Ramada Inn, 2170 Harvey Ave., Kelowna
For more information and to register, click here

One-day Focused Marketing Workshop
Monday, November 19th at the Sunrise Banquet and Conference Centre located at 5640 188 St. in Langley, BC. 8:30am - 4:30pm
Click here for more information and to register

Small Business BC and eBC Seminars

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

eBusiness BC Lunchbox Seminars - Vancouver
All Year - Tuesdays at Waterfront Station, 82-601 West Cordova, click here

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Around the Province

Aboriginal Women in Business Forum
October 16th at the St. Eugene Mission Resort in Cranbrook BC.
Women's Enterprise Centre will be delivering the 6 Keys to Focused Marketing workshop. For more information call Patti K. Phillips, 1.888.426.0595 or email patti@kabas.org.

2007 Women of Resource Communities Conference: 'Mentoring Women for a Sustainable Future'
Starts Wednesday, October 17 at 4:30pm in Kamloops, BC. For more information and to register, click here.

Launch Party for Enterprising Moms Network
Thursday, October 18th, 7-9pm
Aston Pacific Hotel, 1160 King George Hwy., White Rock, BC
Click here for more information and to register.

24th Annual CCSBE Conference
Thursday, November 1st - Saturday, November 3rd
The Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort, Kelowna, BC
For more information click here.

BC Export Awards Gala Luncheon;
Recognizing BC's top 25 exporters for 2007
Friday, November 23rd, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Vancouver.
bcexportawards.com

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Around the Country

Maximize Your Growth Potential: A Growth Planning Workshop
Oct. 23: 1:00 - 4:30pm, at Hilltop Haven B&B, 265 Lockhart Road, Coldbrook
Nov. 15: 9:00am - 12:30pm, Oak Island Resort, Spa & Convention Centre, Western Shore
Nov. 16: 1:00 - 4:30pm at Holiday Inn Express, 133 Kearney Lake Road, Halifax
http://www.msvu.ca/cwb/RegionalTraining.asp

2007 RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards Gala
Tuesday, November 20th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
Reception 5:30-6:30pm, Dinner & Awards Gala 6:30-10:00pm
For tickets click here, for more information click here, or call Lisa Constanzo at 416-923-1688, or email info@powerpointgroup.com.

Fifth Annual 2007 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100
Wednesday, November 21 in Metro Toronto Convention Centre
South Building, Exhibit Hall F, 222 Bremner Avenue, Toronto, ON
http://www.wxnetwork.com/top100.html

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