Honourable Ida Chong, Minister of Community Services, visits Women's Enterprise Centre

Round Table Discussion with Peer Mentors

Many self-employed women in British Columbia dream about the opportunity to discuss the barriers they face with someone who will not only listen, but who can also make a difference. That is exactly what members of Women’s Enterprise Centre, Taking the Leap to Entrepreneurship program, had the opportunity to do on July 6th, 2007.

During her visit, the Honourable Ida Chong sat down for a roundtable session with members of the Kelowna Peer Mentoring Group. An open discussion ensued ...

Last Call for One-to-One Mentors!

Success Tips for Women Entrepreneurs

Success Tip #5:
Think Big, Even if your Business isn't.

In BC, only a quarter of women-owned businesses are incorporated.  In the majority of cases, the owners are content to have their business function as a sole-proprietorship because their operation is small.  If you are the only person on staff, that strategy might be considered correct.

Yet, you may be hobbling your growth potential if you think your business is too small to use some of the operating strategies that larger businesses use. Instead of putting limits on your business in that way, look at some of the things larger businesses do for efficiency and consider doing the same.

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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

Six-week Focused Marketing Courses Starting Soon!

These courses are selling out fast so register today!

Click here for more information and to register for the course in Kelowna, starting September 18th. Click here for more information and to register for the course starting in Vancouver on September 19th!

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Obtaining Financing from Women’s Enterprise Centre

Women’s Enterprise Centre is open to giving financial assistance to all types of women owned business. Show us your background, experience, desire and a well thought out business plan and we will consider your loan application.

Question 5: Do I have to have past experience in my particular business in order to get a loan?

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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

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.

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Women's Enterprise Centre Success Story

Karen Murphy's Express Gift Baskets Grows to Meet Demand

Karen Murphy's business vision has come a long way from the days when she made up gift baskets in the laundry room, in the basement of her home.

Now with 10 years of experience in business behind her, and a new building, Murphy has some advice for up and coming entrepreneurs...

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Thank you to everyone who responded and gave us some incredible feedback on our eNewsletter!

Congratulations to Bernie Heise of Nanaimo for a great idea!

Bernie suggested that we have more ideas for starting a business on our newsletter. Because of Bernie's great suggestion, she won two books from Women's Enterprise Centre; Financial Understanding and Financial Managment for Small Business. These books will be delivered in a lovely pink briefcase - a prize worth over $100!

Thanks to Bernie, we will now include a new section in this eNewsletter called "Business Tips from Women's Enterprise Centre Business Advisors". We will provide tips and suggestions every month on starting, growing, purchasing and transitioning into small business.

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Business Tips From Women's Enterprise Centre Business Advisors!

A Foundation Statement

One of the first steps to creating a business is to get your ideas onto paper. Writing ideas down makes them more concreate and doable plus it will allow you to see the bigger picture. Writing these ideas down also allows you to make changes and begin to filter your idea into a viable plan.

A Foundation Statement describes the reason why your business should exist and provides a good starting point - it's the hypothesis you need for further explorations.

Your statement should be fairly short and include the following three points:

1. your business concept
2. the customers you will serve (who and where)
3. the need you'll be filling for them

Here is an example of a good Foundation Statement for a convenience stop:

"Travellers on Highway 19 at Myrtle Lake need a stop location that is easily accessible and offers a variety of items and services for personal and vehicular needs."

Your foundation statement is the starting point for your new business. Using the three points above, write one for your business idea.

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New Agency Serves Up Talent by the Slice.

Reliable Business Outsourcing Delivers.

A distinctive social enterprise operated by Community Futures South Fraser, in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver markets. This agency addresses critical recruitment and retention issues by connecting companies to experienced and seasoned professionals who have chosen to work as independent freelancers.

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.Awards Featuring Women Entrepreneurs

Congratulations to all of the Aurora Award Winners

Recognizing Northeastern BC Women for outstanding achievement in their field.

Women in attendance at the Northern Women's Symposium enjoyed outstanding educational seminars, top notch speakers sharing their wisdom, and numerous networking opportunities. The Symposium concluded with the Aurora Awards Banquet, where thirteen women from our region were recognized for outstanding contributions to their field.

Women's Enterprise Centre was pleased to have sponsored the "New Entrepreneur" award, for this event and we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the 2007 winners:

Agriculture:	Karen Goodings
Oil & Gas:	Shauna Goertzen
Construction:	Angele Heinrichs
Education:	Tanya Helton
Health & Services:	Jane Harper
New Entrepreneur:	Brandi Hegge
Service:	Barb Smith
Tourism:	Helene Weightman
Business Women:	Laurie Stevens
Aboriginal Women:	Linda Ashdown

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

Six Session Focused Marketing Workshop - Vancouver
Sept. 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10. 17 & 24, 11:30am - 1:00pm
390-601 West Cordova, in the Lions Room, Vancouver, BC
Register online, call Lynda to register at 1.800.643.7014 ext:112
or email lynda@womensenterprise.ca

Starting/Growing a Business Information Session
September 18- Phone in Toll Free from anywhere in BC, click here

Creating Your Business Coaching - Session 1
Tuesday, September 18 - Phone in Toll Free from anywhere in BC
To sign up, click here

Six Session Focused Marketing Workshop - Kelowna
September 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16 & 23rd, 11:30am - 1:00pm
Women's Enterprise Centre Boardroom, 201-1726 Dolphin Ave., Kelowna, BC
Register online, call Lynda to register at 1.800.643.7014 ext:112
or email lynda@womensenterprise.ca

Business Loans Info Session: Learn About Your Financing Options
September 27 - Phone in Toll Free from anywhere in BC, click here

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

Vision and Leadership in Business - A Two Day Workshop
September 13th & 14th, 8:30-4:30pm - Van Dusen Gardens, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver. For more information and to register, click here.

Today's Woman Leadership Conference & Awards
Women's Enterprise Centre is participating by offering a workshop called "Ready, Set, Grow!"
September 21st starting at 8am
Prince George Civic Centre, Prince George, BC
www.todayswomanshow.com
For more information contact JoAnne Niwranski at 250.561.7131

2007 BCCE Annual General Meeting and Conference
Thursday, September 27 - Saturday, September 29th
Coast Tsawwaassent, Delta, BC
For more information email qchamber@quesnelbc.com

Just for Moms: Mini Tradeshow
Saturday, September 29, 10am-4pm - Shannon Hall, Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 176th and 60th, Surrey, BC.
For more information contact Roxanne at 1.604.534.9718.

2007 Women of Resource Communities Conference
Women's Enterprise Centre is participating by offering a mentoring workshop
October 17th - October 19th, South Thompson Inn & Conference Centre, Kamloops, BC.
womenofbcresourcecommunities.org

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
Sept. 20: 9:00am to 12:30pm at Rodd Grand Hotel, Yarmouth
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

Set Sail for Growth Dinner, Showcase & Conference
October 3 & 4, 2007, Rosaria Student Centre
Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS
http://www.msvu.ca/cwb/SetSailGrowth.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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