Upcoming Events

Date	Seminar
February 23/10	Starting your Business "Tax Tips and Planning Opportunities" -Should I incorporate? -What expenses are deductible? -How can I stay compliant with tax legislation and still minimize the tax I pay? Speaker: Janet Foster, CA, CFP - Collins Barrow Time: 9:30 am - 11:30 am Cost: $10.00
March 03/10	Success Through Service (Part 1) This part 1 of 2 sessions provides up to date information about the importance of great customer service in business development, creating loyalty and increasing profits. The interactive environment allows participants to discuss current issues and receive, tips and techniques for dealing with challenges and identifying new opportunities. Part 1: Service in the "Age of the Enpowered Consumer" -Overview of changing consumer behaviour and how it affects business -Creating a sense of service: power of positive attitude, first impressions-lasting impressions -Communication essentials: creating conversations with ease, the Art of active listening Speaker: Jennifer Debruin, Articulation, Marketing and Communication Time: 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Cost: $15/person (including Part 1 and 2) Sponsored: in part by-Valley Heartland CFDC
March 10/10	Success Through Service (Part 2) This part 2 of 2 sessions provides up to date information about the importance of great customer service in business development, creating loyalty and increasing profits. The interactive environment allows participants to discuss current issues and receive, tips and techniques for dealing with challenges and identifying new opportunities. Part 2: Maximizing Efforts-Minimizing Stress -Challenges and Opportunities: teamwork (internal and external), dealing with challenges and finding hidden opportunities, stress and time management -Keep them coming back: the loyalty payoff and going the extra mile attitude Speaker: Jennifer Debruin, Articulation, Marketing and Communication Time: 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Cost: Paid for in 1st session Sponsored: in part by-Valley Heartland CFDC
April 08/10	Transition to Harmonized Sales Tax – Information for Businesses Date: April 8th, 2010 Time: 9:00am -11:00am Cost: Free Speaker: Canada Revenue Agency Description of session to follow.
April 15/10	Business Empowerment-An Integrated Approach to Business -Personal and Business Tools -Business, Contingency and Marketing Plans -Budget and Financial Statements -Cashflow Forecast Speaker: Janice Walter, Town and Country Bookkeeping and Consulting Services Date: April 15, 2010 Time: 9:30 am -12:30 pm Cost: $10.00
April 22/10	Knowledge is Power - Using Intellectual Property to Secure Your Knowledge and Rights in Business Products and services have many aspects to why they are successful for businesses, including for example design, concept, innovation, branding, marketing, manufacturing, web support and reputation. They all take valuable time, money and resources to establish. But unless a business takes steps to protect them anyone can copy them and compete with you. We'll review and discuss how the different forms of intellectual property, including patents, industrial designs, trademarks, copyright, breeders rights, can be employed to not only protect your business but actively prevent others competing effectively against you. They can give you a legal monopoly and should form part of your overall business strategy as weapons in your armoury to beat the competition and reap increased commercial success. We'll also see that in many instances the costs of doing so are low for the leverage they give you. Speaker: Adrian O'Donnell Intellectual Property Department Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP/s.r.l. Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Cost: $10.00
April 29/10	Relationship Marketing Great marketing is based on developing relationships. In a world full of spam, high-pressure sales and an inundation of information, we as customers, are tired of being given ‘the script’. Companies who understand that marketing is about relationships, will find they weather economic ups and downs and ever-changing consumer behaviours much more successfully. They also understand that glossy advertising, technical advances and planning cannot override the needfor relationship building in business based on mutual trust and undstanding. If you want to increase profit margins by maximizing each customer interaction, reducing marketing investments and creating new links to resources such as: finances, information and people power, this dymanic session can help. • Relationship Marketing:overview,economic benefits • Successful Collaboration: guided practical exercise • Building Your Relationship Marketing Plan Date: April 29, 2010 Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm Cost: $10.00 Speaker: Articulation Marketing and Communication
May 13/10	Transition to Harmonized Sales Tax – Information for Businesses Date: May 13, 2010 Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm Cost: Free Speaker: Canada Revenue Agency Description of seminar to follow.
May 20/10	Creative Thinking for Business We do not often hear the words business and creativity in the same sentence. The fact is, some of the most successful business leaders are also the most creative. They are able to see opportunity in challenge (including economic downturns), new and unique ways of using existing or creating new products/services and are visionary with an ability to envision, create and suceed in meeting their goals when others only see obstacles and dead ends. In this workshop discover: • Uses and Benefits of Creativity in Business: Studies, Success Stories • How to Develop and Apply Creativity • Creative Marketing ideas • Practical Exercise Guided by Trainer Date: May 20, 2010 Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm Cost: $10.00 Speaker: Articulation Marketing and Communication

The above listed seminars will all being held at the Regional Centre for Business Development in Smiths Falls. Call Cindy at 613-283-7002 ext. 108 or email cjames@ripnet.com to register and to get more information.