February 2009 - The Wellington Advertiser

MINDING OUR
BUSINESS
CENTRE WELLINGTON
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2
Bed &
Breakfast
February
2009
PUBLISHED IN COOPERATION WITH THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER
MILE STONES
WOW – Centre Wellington receives - $98,500
Fergus Elora Tourism and Community Partners
(Grand River Agriculture Society, Fergus and Elora
Bed & Breakfast Association, Sensational Elora,
Wellington Buy Local - Buy Fresh, Wellington
County Museum and the Elora Farmers Market),
applied for and received a Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs grant in the
amount of $98,500. The grant is an initiative to
boost grassroots marketing effort to encourage
residents and businesses to buy locally grown food.
New Business in Fergus
Edge Realty Solutions official
Grand Opening took place Friday
January 23. They are located at
135 St David St. S. Fergus.
New Business in Elora
Paul Kelly, Marketing /Promotions
Consultant, recently opened
blu:print marketing solutions.
Paul may be reached at
519.766.5922. Congratulations!!!
And the winner is ...
The winner of the 2008
Christmas BIA draw was
Mr. Jim Carter of Fergus.
He
completed
the
winning ballot at Fraberts
Fresh Foods. The lucky
ballot was drawn by
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj.
Fergus Scottish Festival Board 2009
Back Row:
Warren Trask, Lynn Boland Richardson - President, Deb Dalziel, Craig
MacGregor, Steve Clark, Paul Rogers - Vice President, Don Noels - Treasurer
Seated: Val Bradley - Office Administrator, Bill Rowe - Past President,
Helen Noels
Absent: John K Campbell
MINDING OUR
BUSINESS
is mailed to all registered businesses in Centre Wellington.
Not registered as a business with Canada Post? Misplaced your copy?
Pick up a copy of Minding Our Business at:
Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce, The Wellington Advertiser, Fergus BIA, Elora BIA,
Wellington-Waterloo Futures Development Corporation
PAGE 2 | February 09
about
THIS
ISSUE
MINDING OUR
BUSINESS
Minding Our Business is a business magazine
focusing on items of interest to commercial,
retail, industrial and service businesses in
Centre Wellington.
2
Openings | Awards | Moves
COVER
4
Centre Wellington may
not boast of chain
hotels, but what we
do offer is a warm
and inviting array of
Bed & Breakfast
locations.
Photo of
Garrett Klassen of
3 Bears
Bed and Breakfast
by Helen Michel
MILESTONES
FERGUS BIA
A Year in Review - 2008
5
ELORA BIA
Unsatisfactory Encounters
with Useless Receptionists
6
BDC
How to Tap Into High-End
Research without Breaking
the Bank
8
BED & BREAKFAST
David Meyer
general policy
Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of
typographical error, that portion of the advertising space
occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable
allowance for the signatures, will not be charged for, but the
balance of the advertisements will be paid for at the
applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error
advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or
services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell,
and may be withdrawn at any time. Persons wishing
information regarding circulation, rates and additional service
are invited to contact our office for further details. The
publisher accepts responsibility for claims and honors
agreements made by himself or by regular staff on his behalf.
No responsibility is accepted for actions by person(s) not in
the employ of the paper, or otherwise over whom the
Publisher has no control. All Advertising accepted is done so in
good faith. The Publisher maintains the right to approve or
reject advertising and articles submitted for publication.
THE CHAMBER PAGES
10
11
11
13
TRACY GROUP
BENEFITS:
blu:print MARKETING
Marketing: Is it for me?
Or my competitors?
MINDING OUR
BUSINESS
Chamber Calendar
Meet the Members:
ICS
Intelligent Computer Systems
How is Disability Defined?
contact
Box 252, Fergus, Ontario
N1M 2W8
519-843-5410 telephone
519-843-7607 facsimile
On the Web:
Would You Like Something
for Free?
Advertorial
14
EDC
Savouring Our Community
15
CONTACT LISTING &
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
February 09 | PAGE 3
by Julia Tyndale-Biscoe
A YEAR IN REVIEW - 2008
What has your BIA been up to this
past year? Here are a few highlights.
JANUARY
• $ 500 BIA Christmas Draw with Mayor
Ross-Zuj, Christmas Tree Lights
Contest (1200 bulbs)
• BIA initiation of Community
Improvement Plan (C.I.P.) which has
been adopted by Township of Centre
Wellington as a TCW Committee
• Board members attended the Fergus
Scottish Festival’s Robbie Burns
Evening at The Legion
FEBRUARY
• Valentine’s draw (dinner at The Goofie
Newfie)
MARCH
• Julia represented BIA Businesses at
E-Biz Forum at Pike Lake Golf Course.
• Keys to Success – BIA Seminar at
Melville United
• 2nd Annual Fashion Extravaganza at
The Fergus Grand Theatre with
entertainment by Vinnie Green. Event
in aid of Women in Crisis
APRIL
• BIA Annual General Meeting and
banquet for Doug Russell (Melville
United Church)
• CWCC Awards of Excellence. BIA
nominated 25% of all awards. Fergus
BIA members won seven!
PAGE 4 | February 09
MAY
• Mother’s Day Draw of $200 BIA
• Downtown Signage approval, BIA/ED
committee (9 new signs pending)
• BIA display at Lions Home Show CW
Sportsplex
• BIA Community Exchange with Paris,
Ontario
• Launch of new BIA website
JUNE
• New banners and hardware erected in
downtown core, including marketplace
• Production and launch of 2008
Business Directory
• First Annual BIA Art Walk 1000+
visitors
• BIA hanging baskets and flower
containers
• HRDC summer student – Amber Ennis
JULY
• Scottish Window Display Competition,
won by "Special Effects", judged by
Mayor Ross-Zuj
AUGUST
• BIA sidewalk sale
• Downtown Scottish street
entertainment
• BIA business hours signs distributed
to all members
SEPTEMBER
• 13th Annual Antique & Classic Car
Show in support of the Community
Pantry
• Living & Working in Downtown Fergus
– A review of homelessness in the
downtown core – Provincial, County
and District Representation
• Parking Sub-Committee formed by
TCW
OCTOBER
• Downtown Scavenger Hunt (Monster
Month)
• BIA represented at Legion Trade Show
(Christmas promo)
NOVEMBER
• Red Hat Ladies from Mount Forest.
Demonstrations organized by the BIA
for ladies to learn to make chocolate
at I love Chocolate and wreath making
at Abby Rose Floral Boutique and lunch
at The Goofie Newfie. Red Hat Ladies
were given BIA packages including five
BIA dollars
• Seasonal window display competition –
winner received 2 theatre tickets to
Square One
• Attendance by board @ CWCC
Christmas dinner
DECEMBER
• 2008 Santa Claus Parade ‘Fergus Past &
Present’ sponsored by BIA & TCW.
BIA float donated by Wayne Wilson of
Guelph
• $500 BIA draw in effect
• Planning of retail seminars in 2009
• $4,200 BIA dollars SOLD and being
redeemed only in the downtown!
UNSATISFACTORY
ENCOUNTERS WITH
USELESS
RECEPTIONISTS
Waking up to a rare, sunny Saturday in
Elora a few weeks ago, my wife and I
decided to leave our little store in the
hands of Destiny and head east to visit the
geological splendours and charming little
villages clustered around the Forks of the
Credit River Provincial Park.
To lend some gravity to what was really
nothing more than a frivolous, midwinter’s road trip, we told ourselves that
this outing would be a great opportunity
to do some wedding-venue shopping for
my older sister, B., who had accepted a
very romantic proposal of marriage from
her boyfriend just before New Year’s Eve.
So we spent some time gazing out over
the Cheltenham Badlands, snuck in to the
unfinished Turbine Room at the Alton Mill
Galleries and Art Studios, and grabbed a
coffee in the historic village of Belfountain
– all the while wondering why we hadn’t
visited this spot sooner.
We also found the perfect place for my
sister’s wedding.
We actually got goosebumpy coming up
the driveway. The grounds were quiet: hey,
this place is really off the beaten-track.
There was a river and a bridge, tall broad
trees and…what did that sign say? A
wedding garden! There’s a spa! I think I
see an indoor pool. Check out that
unbelievable view… Can you imagine this
place in the fall? Look at these delightful
old buildings. Yes! Yes! Yes! This place
would be perfect!
Off we went to reception. “My sister’s
getting married in October and she’s
asked us to keep an eye out for a unique
venue,” I told the two young ladies behind
the front desk.
Elora BIA
“We’d love to take a better look around
the place, if that’s OK,” said my wife.
This was the response:
“No, we’re not allowed to show you
anything. We’re closed for renovations.
You can walk around the dining room if
you want, but we don’t have receptions in
there… We’ll be open again next week,
but you should probably book an
appointment with our Special Events
Manager before you come back.”
Right. Like good Canadians, we left quietly,
thanking them only in our heads for their
lack of warmth and attention, saving our
indignation for the car ride home.
For the sake of the innkeeper, I hope that
our experience that day was just an
unusual hiccup in what is usually a
smoothly functioning customer service
machine.
Yet that single, cold, uninspired response
to our initial enquiry became the
dominant feature of my visit: gone were
the spa, the pool, the views and the tall
broad trees – there was no room left in
my imagination for those things. Practically
the whole afternoon was crowded out of
my head, in fact, as I sat there on the drive
home composing alternate endings for
the encounter that had just taken place. I
even came up with a name for the
collected works: “Witty and Poignant
Responses for Unsatisfactory Encounters
with Useless Receptionists”.
Tim Horton
were to treat my mother, or the best man,
or the priest, or (God help them) my
younger sister and her husband, with the
same level of enthusiastic service that we
had recently received. These were NOT
the kind of people you’d want to have on
hand for grand, emotional occasions.
Needless-to-say, we won’t be mentioning
this place to my sister and her fiancé. As
a result, this place will not have the
opportunity to play host to scores of
their well-travelled and well-to-do family
members and friends.These well-travelled,
wealthy people will likely never hear
about – let alone experience for
themselves – the indoor pool, the spa, the
charming old buildings, etc., etc. And
worst of all, in my opinion, the other
shops and attractions in the immediate
area will probably never benefit from the
patronage of any of these same welltravelled, wealthy people.
And all because of one poorly-handled
conversation on a quiet Saturday in
January.
Even my wife, who is usually less inclined
to take things as personally as she really
should, also seemed affected: later that
night she wondered aloud what might
happen if, on the day of my sister’s
wedding, either of these receptionists
February 09 | PAGE 5
BDC
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
BANK OF CANADA
HOW TO TAP INTO
HIGH-END
RESEARCH WITHOUT
BREAKING THE BANK
Imagine paying only 17 cents on the
dollar to develop a new product or
service. If that doesn’t get your attention,
how about a half-price deal on highly
skilled graduate students?
BDC
(Business Development
Bank of Canada)
519.571.6680
Don Cubbidge
[email protected]
Never before have small companies
been offered such enticing incentives to
get involved in research and
development (R&D). National and
provincial programs abound to make it
easier for small- and mid-sized
businesses – the lifeblood of Canada’s
economy – to do what they do better
by tapping into the top-notch
researchers and state-of-the art
equipment found in our universities.
For companies, the payoffs are tangible:
increased market share, greater
efficiencies, reduced costs and higher
profits. For Canada, investing in
innovation is critical to narrowing the
country’s productivity gap with many of
its largest trading partners, particularly
the United States.
Private sector investments in research in
Canada pale in comparison to other
countries: 54% of overall R&D spent,
compared to between 65-70% in the
U.S. and Europe. The problem is
particularly acute among small
the Food Bank
in delivering
our service.
we require donations year round!
170 St. Andrew St. E. Fergus | N1M 2W8
PAGE 6 | February 09
companies which have yet to fully
embrace innovation.
That innovation doesn’t have to be
something as ambitious as developing a
new therapeutic drug. It’s about
responding to change in a creative way
that increases your company’s value in
the marketplace, explains Jacques
Simoneau, Executive Vice-President of
Investments
at
the
Business
Development Bank of Canada (BDC).
“Standing still in business is not
something you can sustain for very long
anymore,” says Simoneau. “If you don’t
improve, you’ll soon find yourself with
an old fashioned product, run by an old
fashioned company that is being
overtaken in the market by its
competitors.”
WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE
Canada’s single largest R&D incentive is
the Scientific Research and Experimental
Development (SR&ED) Tax Credit
program. Canadian companies can earn
an investment tax credit of 35% of
qualifying expenditures, including salaries,
capital, consulting fees and materials. For
most companies, these credits take the
form of a cash refund.
Thank you for your tremendous support
In recognition of their generous support the Centre Wellington Food
Bank would like to thank all of the volunteers in our community who
worked in Christmas food drives, fundraising events, and at the
Sportsplex for our Christmas Hamper Program. A heartfelt thank you
to everyone who donated food, presents and financial resources.
Our caring community made Christmas special for volunteers,
families and children in Centre Wellington.
| 519-787-1401 email: [email protected] |
www.cwfoodbank.org
Another popular program is the National
Research Council’s Industrial Research
Assistance Program, which provides
advice, technological expertise and
research funding through a network of
260 professionals working in 100
communities across the country.
Internships are a particularly attractive
option for smaller companies. In April
2008, the federal government established
ACCELERATE Canada, which is placing
1200 graduate and post-graduate
students with Canadian companies to
solve real-world problems. Each research
project is designed by a university
professor and a company and students
typically work on-site for four or eight
months. Companies contribute one half
of the cost of each internship.
Interest in NSERC’s partnership programs
has been rising significantly. From 19982007, it experienced 254% growth in the
number of small businesses participating.
NSERC has also partnered with BDC and
the National Research Council to
transform promising research into actual
products.
“If you’ve got a good research project that
can involve a university, and the industry is
committed in terms of financial, human or
in-kind contributions, then we’ll find a way
to make that work,” adds Walden.
3. Your People: Can they develop
the technology, can they sell it, and
can they manage the whole
process? “This is critically
important,” says Simoneau. “So-so
technology with a so-so market but
with excellent people can do as
well or even better than having a
great technology or a great market
but with people that can’t run the
business.”
“The first step is for companies to
contact us early so we can guide them to
a specific project or perhaps an industrial
research chair. By the time they get
through working with our staff, the
success rate for funding applications is in
the 80% range. This is a terrific
opportunity for small businesses,” says
Janet Walden, Vice-President of NSERC’s
Research Partnerships Programs.
Bus: (519) 803-0354
Res: (519) 787-1533
email: [email protected]
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Jacques Simoneau, Executive VicePresident, Investments, at BDC, says
companies considering the VC
route are usually start-ups with lots
of great ideas but no revenues. He
points to three criteria that could
sway a potential investor:
2. Your Market: You’ve built it but
will they come? You may not be the
only solution out there. Be satisfied
that the market is there and that it
will buy your product in sufficient
numbers and at the price you want.
Companies can also partner with a
university on a specific project. NSERC
contributes 50% of the cost and the
industry partner puts in 25% in cash and
25% as an in-kind contribution.When the
SR&ED tax credit is factored in,
companies can do research at 17 cents on
the dollar.
FRANK SAVOIE
What does an angel investor or
venture capitalist look for when
deciding whether to invest in a
company’s R&D?
1. Your Technology: Is it the best
approach to solving a problem? A
company may believe in its
technology but it has to be
evaluated against other approaches
that may exist. You need to
convince investors that your
technology makes sense.
Similar programs are available through
Canada’s largest research granting agency,
the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council. NSERC will pay up to
$30,000 a year over two years towards
the salary of a recent doctoral graduate.
Computer “DOC”
HOW TO WIN OVER
A VENTURE CAPITALIST
MINDING OUR
BUSINESS
519.843.5410
Sherry
Clarke
DISPLAY
AD SALES
[email protected]
905 Gartshore St., Fergus
February 09 | PAGE 7
A BED AND BREAKFAST COMMUNITY. SUPPORTING TOURISM, ATTRACTING LOCALS
With few big hotels in Centre Wellington,
some people might be surprised at the
number of visitors to the community who
stay for the night – or longer.
by David Meyer
That’s because there is a large number of
Bed and Breakfast operations, referred to
affectionately as B&Bs. Centre Wellington
has an association for such places, and the
president of the Centre Wellington Bed
and Breakfast Association, Ro Cober, said
it currently consists of 22 to 24 members.
The discrepancy comes about because
two members are new, and are hoping to
open in April, the generally acknowledged
start of the tourist season. She added
there are a few other places in the
community that are not members, but the
association offers the operators a list of
services that can enhance their
businesses.
To become a B&B operation requires
meeting a few rules.The idea behind such
a business is people rent rooms in their
home to others who need lodging for a
night or two, and they also provide their
guests with breakfast. Consequently, to
qualify as a bed and breakfast, the
homeowner must be the operator.
Otherwise, the operation becomes,
by definition, either a hotel, motel,
or perhaps an inn.
Cober said the B&Bs in Centre
Wellington are “pretty busy.”
Since each operation is privately
run, the numbers of guests are
estimates, and Cober said to be
on the safe side, the organization
estimates low. Still, she said, the
best guess is 10,000 overnight
stays at local B&Bs each year, and
with an average of three rooms per
B&B, there are over 100 rooms
available. Most of the rental activity takes
place from April to October, and some
even shut down their operations in the
winter, a decision Cober defends. She said
with little business in the off season,
operators should be able to do other
things.
B&Bs have a strength and a flaw, she said,
noting that it is the same thing on both
sides. They are all different - and that can
PAGE 8 | February 09
be good and bad. “It’s not like a hotel.”
works to bring people to town.
Prices will vary. Some hosts offer a room
and breakfast. Some offer different types
of breakfasts. Others provide additional
services, and Cober said some will even
bring in a masseuse if requested, and
others offer other amenities such as extra
meals, not to mention special packages
for people looking for two or three days
away from the madding crowd.
But, she said, “It could be any festival” and
she has seen people visit because of
events at local museums, and because
there are so many artists in the
community and it is known for that. The
Grand River attracts huge numbers of
people for the scenery, the activities, and
for its fishing. She said in some cases, dad
goes fishing and mom goes shopping, and
the B&Bs and the local merchants are able
to enjoy the best of both worlds. In other
cases, some visitors come for the Grand
River Raceway and the slots facility.
Another reason guests choose a B&B is
privacy. Cober said she has had super
models and movie actors stay at her Log
Cabin Heaven B&B, but she would not
name them. They stay at area B&Bs
because of the privacy, and she knows of
no operator who talks about famous
guests who have visited. Those guests, or
rather, their agents, chose a B&B because
the celebrities did not want their lives
flaunted in tabloids while staying in the
community. They wanted privacy. She
hinted there are more stars than people
might think, because places like Elora and
Guelph attract a lot of movie projects.
She said agents call, and actors might stay
for set lengths of time. They cannot,
however, stay beyond 28 days because
that would violate the B&B bylaws and
cause a B&B to be a boarding house.
Local people, too, will often take a break
from work, family, and friends and stay
overnight at a B&B. She said couples
sometimes simply need time away from
all the pressures to reconnect with each
other, or just to relax. Romantic getaways
are common, and not always from a
distance. Local people use them, too.
“Bed and Breakfasts are here to enhance
your life. You can come away with an
excellent experience,” she said.
Cober calls April to October the
“shoulder season,” and noted its
existence is one reason B&B operators
are hoping to find activities to attract
visitors in the slower parts of the year.
She said, too, some events are starting to
take hold, like Monster Month in Elora,
which attracts people to the village after
running several years, and she noted
Sensational Elora, new last year, also
As for the arts, she said the area has some
of the best artists in southern Ontario,
and people come from all over the world
to visit such things as the Elora Festival or
the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland
Games, or the Fergus Truck Show.
She said people who stay for more than a
day will be buying at least two meals in the
community, and many B&B owners not
only have local restaurant menus available,
they often visit each eatery so they can
provide even more information about
dining spots in the community. “The Bed
and Breakfast Association is very good at
promoting local businesses,” Cober said.
“In the summer, we get people from all
over the world,” she added. Visitors from
Great Britain, Holland, and Germany
predominate, mainly because many people
living in this area are from those countries,
and they regularly put up family members
and other visitors at local B&Bs. She said
visitors from places like South Africa are
not unusual, and she knows of one
Japanese couple that got married and, as a
gift, they received a three day B&B package
for part of their honeymoon. Others
come from Greece or Hawaii. “If we
polled all the B&Bs we’d have just about
every country represented,” Cober said.
Local people who are hosting weddings
will also regularly arrange for out of town
guests to stay at local B&Bs.
She added that plenty of visitors come
from Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, and
Toronto. “What we really need to do is
draw other people in from around the
province,” Cober said. “The Elora Festival
has been drawing them in for years like
that.”
community. That would mean three-day
visits and two nights at a B&B to give
everyone the best of the business.
There is also a new group of people to
attract, and a new attraction that comes
with it. Cober said agricultural tours are
becoming popular, especially with people
moving to tasting, trying, and buying locally
grown food. “We have lots of growers,
lots of producers, and chefs,” she said.
B&B owners, like the operations
themselves, are all different. Some are in
it full time, and others have professions
ranging from nursing to teaching. In
Centre Wellington, one is a graphic artist.
The association members work with each
other to ensure as many people as
possible can be accommodated. Garrett
Klassen, who operates the 3 Bears B&B,
also
runs
a
web
site,
www.hostoncall.net. It displays
accommodations, has pictures of
rooms, availability, and Klassen
is working on a reservations
system for it. The site, Host
On Call, is designed to make
it easy for visitors to find
accommodations quickly
within their tourism
destination, by displaying
room availability in the
entire community. That
means guests do not have
to hunt through dozens of
individual websites to find
the information they want; it is
all summarized on one page. It
also helps B&B operators who
are booked to find accommodation
for visitors at places that are not full.
Such service bolsters tourism and tourism
spending in the whole community. The
visitors stay in town, rather than going to
a nearby city.
The association over which Cober
presides also has its own website for
bookings and information. It is found at
www.febba.ca.
Photos of 3 Bears Bed & Breakfast
graciously provided by Garrett Klassen
Visit the FEBBA website www.febba.ca
and virtually visit the gallery of Bed &
Breakfast locations our area has to offer.
Cober said all the activity of the B&Bs is
to create an ideal scenario for the hosts
and for promoting tourism in the
February 09 | PAGE 9
the
chamber
OF COMMERCE
ON THE WEB
jango.com. Want to publish your photos
online for all (or a select group of family
and friends) to see? Try Flickr.com or
Google’s Picassa. And of course you
know that you can watch (and publish)
videos
on
YouTube.com
or
Metacafe.com.
Chamber
Calendar
NETWORKING BREAKFASTS
Wednesday, February 25th
between 7:30-9:00 AM
at JJ's Family Dining.
Jamie Couper will be speaking
on home and business security.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
between 7:30-9:00 AM at Elora Mill Inn.
Janet Harrop will speak on the
Agricultural business in Centre Wellington.
Cost is $15 for Members and
$20 for Future Members.
RSVP to [email protected] or
519-843-5140
Award of Excellende
It’s time to nominate an EXCELLENT
business, individual, group or organization if
you want them to be considered for the
honour of being recognized at the Awards
of Excellence! Reminder that Nomination
forms are available at the Chamber office or
on line at www.cwchamber.ca. Nomination
Deadline is Friday, March 6th at 4PM.
Awards of Excellence Gala evening ...
Centre Wellington - Arrghh! It’s a Treasure
takes place on Thursday,
April 23rd at the Community Sportsplex
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Chili Fest
February 13th 2009
For more info contact
Community Resource Group of
North and Centre Wellington
519-843-7000
Bowl for Kids
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009
Woodlawn Bowl
253 Woodlawn West, Guelph
For more information contact
Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Centre Wellington at 519-787-0106 or
[email protected]
PAGE 10 | February 09
NARDO
KUITERT
nardo@
ucwebs.com.
WOULD YOU LIKE SOMETHING
FOR FREE?
The Internet has changed the world as
we know it. It allowed for massive music
file sharing, effectively killing the music
industry. People have lost their jobs as
International outsourcing has become
much more feasible.These are but a few
negative impacts for businesses and their
employees.
But the Internet has also opened up
many inexpensive and especially free
alternatives. It fuelled a whole movement
with free “Open Source” software, for
instance. Search online and you can find
free office software (Open Office,
Google docs), website software
(Kompozer, WordPress) or accounting
software. Just go to sourceforge.net, and
you will find thousands of free software
titles, on all kinds of topics. The
downside of this Wild West of software
creation is that not all software is as easy
to install. But, like at a yard sale, you may
just stumble on that one item that does
exactly what you want it to do.
The web not only inspired a lot of free
software programs. Feel like listening to
your favourite music from your own
online jukebox? Then go to last.fm or
You may be able to use all of the above
for your business, either to make your
company run more effective and
efficient, or to promote it. Other ways
to advertise your business for free is by
using services like kijiji.ca or craigslist.ca
to post your classified to a wide online
audience. You can also promote your
business by putting some thought into
your custom profile on the chamber’s
website, and to register your business in
several other local websites and online
directories. All of this is available at no
cost to you, except maybe a few minutes
of your time.
Ain’t that the bargain of the year?
For more information: contact your
Webmaster, or email Nardo Kuitert at
[email protected].
MEET
THE MEMBERS
ICS
(INTELLIGENT COMPUTER SYSTEMS)
ICS (Intelligent Computer Systems), like
many small businesses, started in a
basement – 10 years ago. Jeremy Woods
was encouraged to start the computer
sales and repair company after family and
friends suggested he should charge for the
computer repairs he did for them.
Convinced he could turn his hobby into a
business
Jeremy
enrolled
in
a
correspondence computer course. The
assignments about all kinds of businessrelated topics, including customer retention,
arrived by mail. This provided him with a
decent foundation, and the rest he learned,
like his dad says, “from the facts of life”.
Jeremy still makes sure he stays on top of
the latest technology trends. He spends
about an hour a week on online training
courses, learning all about MicroSoft
software, Intel processors, CFIB courses
(Canadian Federation of Independent
Business) and more.
ICS consists of two people: owner Jeremy
Woods and employee James St. Clair. Often
they are joined by a co-op student, and
Jeremy incidentally hires part-time help in
the summertime.
The core business is computer service and
repairs. ICS also sells computers, including
inexpensive used models, but finds it hard
to compete with the big box stores. “One
time a local business even paid me to pick
up a laptop at Staples, as it was such a deal”,
he chuckles.
Most of ICS’ customers are businesses, who
rely on Jeremy’s and James’ support and
advice. “Don’t use your IT guy as a safety
blanket”, Jeremy says. Certain projects
require expert advice. By getting unbiased
expertise in early (and listening to it…) you
can prevent problems from happening, and
save money.
One of the trends that Jeremy sees in his
industry is the ability to do things remotely.
the
chamber
OF COMMERCE
Providing support through the use of
desktop sharing software saves both him
and his clients money. It also allows
him to see a problem as it occurs in
a live situation, rather than trying
to reproduce the issue at a
later service visit. Remote
technologies like Voice Over
IP (VOIP) allow his clients
to travel less by setting up
video
conferencing
solutions. “All you need is
a webcam and Skype,
which is free. Even Oprah
uses Skype nowadays,”
Jeremy says.
Jeremy Woods is no stranger
to the Centre Wellington
Chamber of Commerce. He has
been a Chamber member from the
start of his company nearly 10 years
ago, and even served on its Board of
Directors for a while. He is happy to see
that some ideas launched back then have
come to fruition. “The Chamber is doing a
better job at supporting its members now,”
he says. Some of the changes that have been
made may seem small, but have a big impact.
Changing the Business After 5 format into
a Business After Hours sounds like a minor
change, but it allows the hosting
organization more flexibility to set the
hours and tailor the event to showcasing
their business. Ribbon cuttings are another
improvement.
If you want to talk to Jeremy about your
computer needs, you can call him at
519-787-4700 or visit the website at
www.icscomputers.ca.
Most of the benefits that are being offered
through the Chamber are being used by
ICS. From group insurance to savings for
the Visa and MasterCard merchant account
or the Esso gas card. The discounts that
these deals offer do add up quickly. With a
young family he does not go out to many
networking events anymore, though, as he
wants to spend his time off with his
children.
February 09 | PAGE 11
Tracy
GROUP
BENEFITS
Barney Tracy
CFP, FLMI
HOW IS DISABILITY
DEFINED?
If you have ever gone shopping for an
insurance policy to provide income in the
event you become disabled through illness
or injury, did you understand how the
policy defined your inability to work?
Basically, there are three definitions of
disability – “own occupation,” “regular
occupation” and “any occupation.”
If we look first at the “any occupation”
definition, it says you will receive benefits if
you are unable to perform any occupation
for which you are, or could become,
qualified through training, education or
experience. This gives a lot of clout to the
insurance company because they can tell
you they will provide training for you to
enter an occupation other than your
current one, and they could cut you off
benefits if you decline their offer.
The next level is “regular occupation” and
in this scenario, you are considered to be
disabled if you are not able to fulfill the
major duties of your regular occupation
(the job you were doing the day you
became disabled). You must also be under
the care of a physician to the extent
required by your condition, and you cannot
be engaged in another gainful occupation.
Most group insurance policies include this
definition for the first two years. And then
the definition is switched to “any
occupation” (see above).
The third definition (“own occupation”) is
available only to skilled professionals and
would allow them to collect benefits while
engaging in another occupation. An
example might serve to illustrate this. If an
eye surgeon develops a tremor in his hand
through some illness, he will likely not be
performing to many operations – at least
not on MY eyes! He may, however, be able
to continue to practice as a general
practitioner – and collect his insurance
benefit at the same time.
We all want the best coverage available, and
we want to be as much in control of the
claim process as we can. Making sure the
definition of disability suits our needs is a
good step in the right direction. It’s
important to talk to your financial advisor
and make sure your income will continue if
you are not able to go to work.
We will explore additional aspects of
disability protection in future issues of
Minding Our Business.
Barney Tracy is a broker in the fields of
group insurance, disability insurance and life
insurance. He can be reached at
[email protected] or (519) 820
1283.
While you’re looking after business,
who’s looking after you?
Barney Tracy, CFP, FLMI
Ph: (519) 820 1283
e-mail: [email protected]
PAGE 12 | February 09
Marketing: Is it for me? Or my competitors?
What is “marketing” anyway? Do I need it? I have a successful business, I have customers,
I’m making the sales!
“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.”
-George S. Patton
So just what is this marketing thing that people keep talking about? It sounds complicated.
Well, marketing is everything from creating and implementing a successful business or marketing plan
to producing flyers and posters to printing on T-shirts and other promotional items. Basically, anything
and everything that you can use to promote yourself, your store or your product/service. This gives
you more visibility and lets potential customers know that you are out there with just the right thing
for them.
We have just entered a new year, filled with promise and expectations. Unfortunately the
economy is not doing as well as we may have hoped and so we are apt to hold on to our pennies and
perhaps hold off on advertising our business until things are a bit less volatile in the marketplace.
This may sound prudent but just think: if your competitors are advertising and you aren’t... who do
you think people will go to for their product(s)? Or vice versa. It is in times like these that those who
put forth a little bit of effort will reap the rewards in the long run.
Do you, as a business owner or entrepreneur have a marketing plan in place for the new year?
Have you found the right target market for your spring line? Do you have the right product for this
time of year?
Many businesses forget to review their marketing plans (or fail to even have one). As a result ,
they are unprepared for the needs and wants of consumers during these changing times. This results in
a massive loss of profits. Can you afford to let this happen? At the start of a brand new year?
With just a little bit of marketing and planning you could easily come out on top.
“In time for 2009”
Take advantage now of blu:print’s free one hour marketing review offer. Let us help
you to make sure that you start the new year off on the right foot and have your marketing
plan ready for the spring.
For more information contact:
Paul Kelly
[email protected]
T:519-766-5922
F:519-846-8212
February 09 | PAGE 13
economic
DEVELOPMENT
SAVOURING
OUR COMMUNITY
In the last edition of MOB I wrote about
staying positive in these difficult economic
times. Throughout Centre Wellington we
have everything we need to keep our local
economy working if we keep our focus
here - at home - and continue to work
together.
Dave Rushton
There is no greater proof of that than the
news announced on January 16th, 2009 that
Elora & Fergus Tourism, together with key
tourism and agricultural stakeholders, has
been awarded $98,500.00 through the
Ontario Market Investment Fund to create
and promote Centre Wellington as an AgriCulinary destination. From our downtown
cores to our back roads, we are going to
create a strategic marketing plan that will
draw visitors from near and far to
experience the bounty of our region, so
that they get a real taste of who we are and
what we do in Centre Wellington.
This grant is part of the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs $12
million budget over four years announced
in 2008 to promote local food initiatives.
For us, this a tremendous sign of
confidence in a movement that is all about
strong, healthy communities and creating
linkages that connect farmers to
consumers, building the bridges between
our local agriculture and businesses
sectors.
This is an important sign that our future
goals have been recognized as having the
merit to foster and grow programs that
support tourism initiatives while supporting
our local agricultural sector. This is about
building opportunities in a way that benefits
everyone in our community, from the
hospitality and retail groups to the
businesses and consumers, to the farmers
and producers, and above all else, to the
community at large. This is a home-grown
initiative to promote home-grown foods.
We are going to change the way the people
of Centre Wellington see their own
community. All we have to do is work
PAGE 14 | February 09
together to make it happen.
That cooperative spirit was the inspiration
behind the initial application for the OMIF
grant. Elora and Fergus Tourism had
immediate buy-in from key tourism and
agricultural stakeholders, including the
Fergus and Elora Bed & Breakfast
Association, the Grand River Agricultural
Society, Sensational Elora, Wellington Buy
Local-Buy Fresh, the Wellington County
Museum and the Elora Farmer’s Market.
A key ingredient to this program was the
Recipes to Experience booklet, produced
by the Fergus and Elora Bed Breakfast
Association in 2008. Building on this
concept, Elora and Fergus Tourism received
funding for a one-year position to support
this initiative. We have given the plan a
working title of “Centre Wellington AgriCulinary Project 2009” and brought local
freelance writer Kelly Waterhouse on
board. With a background in tourism
marketing and years of experience working
with various media and volunteer groups in
this community, she will spend the next
year producing an inventory of local
agricultural suppliers, producers and
retailers, while considering ways to
network these groups with local businesses
and consumer opportunities. She will
research marketing vehicles and target
venues for promotion, while coordinating
new initiatives and participate in trade
show opportunities within and beyond our
community borders. The end goal is a
comprehensive marketing plan to make
Centre Wellington an agri-culinary
destination, a place where people can savor
the sites and flavors of our community.
For more information on the Centre
Wellington Agri-Culinary Project 2009,
please contact Kelly Waterhouse, Culinary
Tourism Coordinator at 519-846-0971, ext.
250. I hope you will join me in supporting
Kelly in this exciting year.
CONTACT LISTING
Ministry of Labour
www.employeradviser.ca
WCB - 1.800.387.0774
Employment Standards 1.800.531.5551
Waterloo-Wellington M.P.P.
519.787.5247
Ted Arnott
[email protected]
Ontario Government
www.gov.on.ca
Wellington - Halton Hills M.P.
519.843.7344
1-866-878-5556
Michael Chong
[email protected]
Revenue Canada
www.cra-arc.gc.ca
Service Canada
www.servicecanada.gc.ca
Elora BIA
519.846.2563
Esther Farrell [email protected]
Fergus BIA
519-787-1384
[email protected]
WW Community Futures
519.846.9839
Rick Whittaker
[email protected]
The Centre Wellington
Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 519.843.5140
E-mail: [email protected]
Township of Centre Wellington
519.846.9691
www.centrewellington.ca
BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada)
519.571.6680
Don Cubbidge
[email protected]
WCB
1.800.387.0774
www.employeradviser.ca
Centre Wellington Economic Development
519.846.0971
Dave Rushton
[email protected]
Minding Our Business
The Wellington Advertiser
Box 252, Fergus, Ontario N1M 2W8
519-843-5410 telephone
[email protected]
BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY
162 St. Andrew St. E. Fergus, ON M1N 1P8
Total Computing Solutions
Debbie Kurt
Sales Representative
ON-SITE SERVICE • NETWORKING • OFF-SITE BACKUP
WORKSTATIONS • SERVERS • WEBSITE HOSTING
www.icscomputers.ca
Call 787-4700
(519)
820 Gartshore Street, Unit 5, Fergus
519-843-5400
Cell: 519-766-6384
Toll Free: 1-866-343-6825
[email protected]
www.debbiekurt.com
Promote your business or service in the Business Card Directory for just $28/month
February 09 | PAGE 15
Feel the excitement
even before
you get here.
2/*6ORWVDW*UDQG5LYHU5DFHZD\
7445 County Road 21, RR2, Elora, ON
(519) 846-2022
Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Fri. - Sun. 24 hours
Your mini holiday.
OLG.ca
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