Workshop on Training for Tourism Diversity

Explore the Bruce has Invited You:
(excerpts from an Explore the Bruce News Release)

REGISTER NOW FOR OUR FIRST DIVERSITY TRAINING!

Each year more and more international tourists are visiting Bruce County. Our biggest challenges are: language barriers, cultural differences and communicating safety concerns. Guest Speaker, Michael Zhang will offer professional advice on how to make your business welcoming and safe for our New Canadians.

DMO’s and businesses have gained both a better reputation and a bigger share in the Chinese market through Michael’s help in providing better travel experiences to Chinese tourists. 

When & Where: Please select a workshop that best fits your schedule.

Workshop 1: Monday, May 28^th, 2012- 9am-11am: Tobermory Community Centre

Workshop 2: Tuesday, May 29^th, 2012- 5:30pm-7:30pm: Southampton Town Hall

 *Maximum 50 participants per workshop

Cost: $15 per person (HST Included)

Registration: Pre-registration is required by contacting Lisa Greig at lisa@explorethebruce.com or 1-800-268-3838.

 Please Register by May 23^rd, 2012.
Light refreshments will be offered at the workshop

 

Program Helps Small Businesses Hire an E-Business Intern

The Small Business Internship Program seeks to improve the competitiveness of SMEs (small/medium enterprises) by supporting businesses to actively market on-line and improve their competitiveness with e-business practices and technologies.

Your firm will receive financial support towards the employment of post-secondary students who will work on e-business projects. The Government of Canada will reimburse up to 75% of the eligible wages and related expenses such as statutory employee benefits, to a maximum of $10,000. Your firm is responsible for covering other expenses such as fringe benefits and overhead costs. Support will be available for twelve weeks.

PLEASE NOTE: Funding is limited and based on a first-come first-served basis so apply ASAP

For more information, please follow the link to Industry Canada’s website
 http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/sbip-pspe.nsf/eng/home

or contact the Business Enterprise Centre for general enquiries 519-832-2082

Online Retail versus Brick and Mortar

There are many decisions to make before opening your own retail business. One of them is whether to run an online only store or the traditional brick-and-mortar. Read this BizLaunch blog to review your options.

Online Retail versus Brick and Mortar.

E-Marketing Workshop Series in Owen Sound

The Business Enterprise Centre – Owen Sound & Area is holding an E-Marketing Workshop series on February 7th and 14th, at Stone Tree Golf & Fitness, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. each day. The cost, which is includes HST, is $80 and a full breakfast is included.

The workshop series will interest businesses ready to take their online presence up to the next level. The sessions will focus on your website’s role in your business objectives, the importance of editorial content, and the advantages/disadvantages of social media.

To register, visit the Business Enterprise Centre website.

Bridges to Better Business 2012 – Make Your Business a Destination with Chris Hughes

The Saugeen Shores Business Enterprise Centre is pleased and excited to have Chris Hughes of BC Hughes Inc. as the guest speaker at our Bridges to Better Business event on Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

For speaker photo and bio, event details and registration info, visit our website.

Tickets are only $25 (HST included), so register now!

Inventors Wanted: Unique TV Opportunity Available for Local Inventors

Here at the Saugeen Shores Business Enterprise Centre, we recently received a phone call and follow-up email about the following opportunity for “backyard inventors” in our area. If you or anyone you know fits the description below, you may want to take advantage of this unique opportunity. Feel free to share this info with anyone you think may be interested!

Inventors Wanted: If You’re Ready to Take Your Invention to the Next Level, We Can Help!

Do you have a unique invention? Have you found a genius solution to an everyday problem? If so, inventions guru Doug Hall wants to help.

One of the world’s leading inventors and founder of the innovation incubator Eureka! Ranch, Doug has developed 18 products found in the average North American home. Now he’s hitting the road on a new TV series, searching for inventions that are diamonds in the rough. His aim? To transform each one into the next amazing household product. To learn more about Doug Hall and Eureka! Ranch, visit www.doughall.com and www.eurekaranch.com.

W Network’s “Backyard Inventors” showcases the undiscovered talent, energy and raw passion of Canadian inventors who have yet to unleash their unique ideas on the world.

In each episode, Doug Hall meets with a handful of inventors in their backyards, garages and basement workshops before choosing one inventor to take through his acclaimed Eureka! Ranch process. Selected inventors receive a personal invitation to the Eureka! Ranch satellite office in Toronto, where they will refine, market test and position their creation. Then, Doug will introduce them to an industry leader with the clout to buy or invest in their invention… and change their world forever.

On our show, participants are the sole recipients of any remuneration offered for their invention. The first two inventors filmed for our series received engineering and marketing guidance that led directly to cash offers from CEOs at the end of each episode.

Doug Hall is looking for Canadian candidates with inventions that meet the following criteria:
1) Your invention has a WORKING PROTOTYPE.
2) It is unique, visually interesting, and can be tested by Doug.
3) It does not have a history of significant sales.

Taping of this series begins in late January, 2012. The sooner you submit your idea, the better your chances are of appearing on the show.

To find out more or to apply for the show, please download an application here: www.gorillamediainc.com/inventors_apply_here.pdf
Email it along with a digital image of your invention, your workspace, and yourself to casting@gorillamediainc.com

If you’re an Inventor ready to bring your invention out of the backyard and into the world, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Don’t miss it!

Tourism Spending Up in 3Q 2011 | Gifts and Tablewares

Stats Canada reports that tourism spending in Canada increased 0.8% in realterms in the third quarter of 2011.

Tourism Spending Up in 3Q 2011 | Gifts and Tablewares.

Trends in Social Tourism Marketing

Yfactor’s attached article shows how social media marketing has been used as an effective marketing tool in the tourism industry.

Trends in Social Tourism Marketing

Bridges to Better Business – February 29, 2012

Circle this date on your calendar now! Our Bridges to Better Business event will be held on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at the Southampton Town Hall, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Chris Hughes, of BC Hughes and former Bruce County Tourism Manager, is the keynote speaker. Topic: How to Make Your Business a Destination. Hope you’re able to make it! More details on this exciting business event will follow in the new year.

Dollars & Sense – Information Booklet Now Available for Employers

The Four County Labour Market Planning Board recently published a useful tool for employers in the form of a booklet titled Dollars & Sense – A guide to employer training credits, incentives & supports.

It is available on the FCLMPB website.