And are you a young entrepreneur driven by a passion to succeed in your own business? If yes, then we have a very unique event for you.

On March 5th, 2010 Young Entrepreneurs from across the GTA will come together to celebrate entrepreneurship and the young minds that are collectively changing the way businesses are built and run today. It is the inaugural Notable Entrepreneurship Event for the popular movie The YES Movie (YES – Young Entrepreneur Society) and an evening celebrating young Canadian business leaders.

For the trailer check out: www.theyesmovie.com

For more details of the event, to register and for the VIP after party click here.

Also note this is a Notable event. Notable you ask? Yes! NotableTV is hosting this event. So you will definitely get the red carpet treatment. It is something you just can’t miss.
See you there!

Looking to start a new business in 2010 or looking to grow your business. Here are some of the opportunities:

1. Green business – geothermal heating, solar heating, retrofitting homes, green construction and more

2. Healthy convenient food that tastes good and is good for you

3. Products and services for seniors

4. Fitness programs, personal trainers and special fitness programs for seniors

5. Service related businesses – motor vehicle repairs, home renovation, plumbing and electrical repair and maintenance

6. Exporting products and services to Europe, Russia, India and China

7. Mobile apps for smart phones that make our life easier

8. Free or nearly free online services

9. Alternative fuels that are good better for the environment

10. Health care that is private, convenient and affordable

11. Natural health products & services, massage therapists, spas and diet products

12. Social media consulting and training for small business

13. Collection agencies that offer services to small and medium business

14. Buying, repairing and renting out property in certain parts of the USA

15. Niche manufacturing of premium products 16. Unique travel experiences and packages for boomers

17. Selling to the government – bid on local, provincial and national government projects

18. Pet business – selling products and services for pets

19. Outsourcing – large companies outsourcing services to small business. Small businesses outsourcing services to virtual employees

20. Boomers - any products or services that make boomers look younger and healthier

I have trained entrepreneurs for the last 13 years. One of my biggest frustrations is: even though we teach and encourage small business owners to develop a business plan they often don’t do it. So I have come up with a simple solution, don’t ask them to develop a business plan just ask them to answer these questions at the beginning of the year and ensure they review them every 90 days

Goals

• My personal goals for the year
• Our business goals for the year

Marketing

• Why should people buy our stuff?
• Who are our current customers?
• Which customers would we like more of?
• What marketing tools are we going to use to get these customers?
• Marketing to do list

Cash Flow

• 12 month cash flow forecast
• Cash flow improvement targets
• Receivable days
• Payable days
• Inventory turnover goals

Income and Expenses

• Our sales, cost of sales and expense forecast
• Our gross and net profit targets
• Our monthly and annual break-even point

Free seminar recording on: ” How to Use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube to Build a Successful Business”. Sit back,  relax,  click here and learn

Personal concierge service can handle anything

By Small Business Expert Roger Pierce, www.BizLaunch.com

There just aren’t enough hours in the day. Wouldn’t it be nice to get some help at home or work to complete your task list? “We enable our clients to spend more time on the more important things in their lives,” comments entrepreneur Rosie Young.

Young owns Rosie Young Concierge (www.rosieyoungconcierge.com,) a unique concierge service catering to busy families and individuals.

For clients requesting personal concierge assistance, Young will handle tasks such as grocery shopping, event planning, gift giving, pet management and automotive maintenance. If you’re going away on vacation and worried about your home, she’ll stop by to water your plants, pick up your mail and check on things.

Her executive concierge services include schedule management, office organizing, meeting and planning, supplier research and interviewing, business travel planning, and running business errands.

“Our executive service is geared towards busy professionals and small business owners who need a helping hand without the burden of hiring additional staff,” explains Young.

Young believes people crave a dependable, reliable person to help them manage their lives. “Imagine having someone you could trust 100 percent and call on an as-needed basis,” she says. “My clients have enough things to worry about, so we make sure the job will be done in a timely fashion and done right.”

“I tell them, ‘give me your list and consider it done.’”

While there are other personal concierge services in the marketplace, Young differentiates her business by offering a one-stop shop. “Whatever it is, I will take care if it,” she claims. “Organizing a summer dinner party, de-cluttering households, selling unwanted things, picking up the kids from school…we do it all.”

Since launching four years ago, Young says she’s learned to wear many hats. “Most business owners must multi-task marketing, management and finance responsibilities, but in my business I must do all of those things plus deliver a very diverse range of client services,” she comments.

“Every day is different. I love problem solving and am very organized and creative, so the chance to apply those skills in my business excites me.”

Company Name
The Refinery

Email and Twitter
shop@therefinery.ca
@THE_REFINERY

Years in Business
2 years

What does The Refinery Do?
THE REFINERY is a creative image consulting company that sets out to help real women find clothing and accessories that enhance their personal style and are practical in their daily life. Whether you choose to tour the city, experience a one-on-one service, or enjoy a party with your friends, you will always be welcomed with a warm smile. THE REFINERY strives to create the relatable environment needed to discuss something as personal as your style. Learn the specific skills you need to refine your personal style so you feel confident, elegant, and chic everyday!

The common theme amongst the women in THE REFINERY target market is that they are going through some sort of change – whether that be graduating from school, a new mom, retiring, getting a promotion at work, etc. – and they are ready to invest in themselves!

What makes The Refinery different?
I’ve differentiated myself by offering unique services like “Shop Your Closet” and “Toronto Boutique Shopping Tours”. Many image consultants are focused on capturing the corporate market. I prefer to host parties, take a group of women shopping, and do one-on-one work.

Wendy Woods leading Style Seminar for Designers

What’s the Best Part About Being an Entrepreneur?
You get to make changes to your business whenever your heart desires. I love the creativity you can have owning your own business. A happy, confident client is my favourite part on the client side. The client transformations can be very rewarding!

What’s the worst part of being and entrepreneur?
I am the definition of an extrovert, so working on my own all the time can get lonely. I’ve had to purposefully create a network of “colleagues” around me so that I have people to bounce ideas off and just chat to about my day.

There are a lot of highs and lows owning your own business, and they can be tough to manage at times. It’s easy to wrap your life’s worth into how your business is doing. One day you book a lot of client appointments and you’re on cloud nine. The next day you have a trade show that you invested a lot of money in, and didn’t live up to expectations, so you get down on yourself.

How did You Raise the StartUp Cash?
I was fortunate to get a bank loan before I left my full-time job at IBM. I also feel very fortunate to have a supportive family who helps out when they’re needed!

What are some of the lessons you learned as an Entrepreneur?
One of the lessons I’ve learned recently is that you have to allow yourself to make mistakes, and take whatever lesson comes from it. I now think of these lessons as an educational investment!

Got any advice for other aspiring entrepreneurs?
People can give you all the advice in the world, but you won’t understand until you’re living it. Listen to what everyone says and use those trinkets of advice in the future when you need them.

Take risks, and go with your gut. Your gut is always right!

What are your future goals?
My main goal is to get the word out that the right image consultant/stylist/style coach is out there to help you. We want to help people decipher the style world and find items that work specifically for them. No matter your budget, we can help you!

Name
Tony Cerminara & Frank Mangione

Company name
Pusateri Fruit Market

497 Church St., Toronto

info@pusateri.ca
http://www.pusateri.ca

What does your business do?
Pusateri Fruit Market is a fresh produce market and specialty grocer in the heart of the Church-Wellesley village. We carry top quality produce selected daily from the Ontario Food Terminal, and combine this with a wide array of specialty grocery items from the finest brands.

What makes your business different? What is that you do that makes your business unique?
The culture that envelopes our business make us unique. We are lucky enough to be a proud member of the Church-Wellesley village and embrace the idea of open minds and cultural acceptance. We love our clientèle, and they truly help shape who we are.

Why did you decide to start your own business?
In 2003, Frank Mangione a long time employee and son-in law of original owner Joe Pusateri became a Partner in the business. In November of 2007, after 41 years in the business, Joe Pusateri retired. At that time Frank Mangione brought on Tony Cerminara to be a partner in the business.

What’s the best part of being an entrepreneur?
First-hand interaction with our customers.

What’s the worst part of being and entrepreneur?
The long hours certainly take their toll, but loving what you do makes it easier.

How long have you been in business?
Since June 1966

Identify and discuss a few lessons you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?
We used to think our previous jobs were ‘hard work’, but nothing compares to the time and dedication running your own business requires.

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?
You must play to your strengths. Orient your career to your passions, and do what you love.

What are your goals and plans for the future?
Continuing to offer great customer service, and continuing to keep the store looking it’s best for our customers through steady renovations.

Connect with us on Twitter:
@PusateriFruit

Find a BizLaunch Seminar near you at http://bizlaunch.ca

Company name
FIT from HOME INC

ivan@fitfromhome.ca
http://www.fitfromhome.ca/

What does your business do?
FIT from HOME INC. is a Canadian based company dedicated to helping people achieve their fitness goals by delivering fitness right to their doorstep. No gym memberships, no travelling, no waiting for equipments. We bring expertise, motivation, and results right to our clients, at the convenience and comfort of their own homes/workplace. We teach our clients how to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle by providing a personalized fitness program and nutrition counseling. Every workout with us is fun, safe and effective, we bring all necessary equipments, so all they have to do is wait for the doorbell to ring.

Our target market is everyone age 14 and up. But most our clientele will be mainly the baby boomers because they are the ones most vulnerable to health problems at their age and have the resources to enjoy our services. Our goal is to help all our clients reach their fitness goals, whether they are weight loss, muscle gain, sport specific, post-rehab, whatever it is, we can help them get there.

What makes your business different? What is that you do that makes your business unique?
What makes us unique is that we are passionate trainers who enjoy helping people succeed and not just in thsi business for money, and the prices we charge is very affordable compare to our competitors. We’re not looking to make quick money, our prices are cheaper because we offer our services in packages (monthly memberships). We work with our clients for longer duration so we can first help them lose the weight, then maintain that weight, and incorporate that into living a healthier and more active lifestyle in the long run. We don’t sell sessions, we sell RESULTS!

Why did you decide to start your own business?
I first got the idea last October when I was working at the gym and picked up a magazine (FITNESS BUSINESS CANADA) someone had left behind. Inside was an article about a Vancouver university graduate who had started his own in-home personal training company and gained huge success with it and in 2 years he began franchising. I was very insipired of what he did with his passion and turned it into something very successful, he was able to reach out to so many people that needed the help and was able to change their lives not just by himself but with other trainers as well. That’s when I began my own planning and decided to pursue a similar business here in Ontario. I did reserach on the market need for trainers, why people stop going to the gym, demographics in GTA, what’s thriving in the dustry in the US, etc)

What’s the best part of being an entrepreneur?
The best part is knowing that you’re doing something you have a passion for, something you truly care about, something that can provide for you and family. Every day at work doesn’t feel like work because you enjoy it and everyday is a learning experience. To most money may be the upside of it, and if one can make good money doing what he loves to do, then that’s just bonus. What is the most important thing to me is knowing I love what i do, i love helping people and now I’ve found a way to help as many as I can.

What’s the worst part of being and entrepreneur?
The worst part is thinking about your work when you’re sleeping, in the shower, eating, and when you’re with your girlfriend. It is hard to balance personal life and work when it is something you love doing and can’t stop. The eyebags and lack of sleep will catch up to you also.

How long have you been in business?
I’ve been personal training for 2 years but in terms of FIT from HOME INC – it started May 11,2009.

How did you raise the start-up cash?
Personal savings and Summer Company grant.

Identify and discuss a few lessons you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?
One thing is that you need to find the right people on your team and sometimes you meet individuals who may not be right for you. I had a run-in with a lawyer who I felt treated me unprofessionally because to her, I was too young (22) to know business and to afford her services, she felt like I was wasting her time. It was harsh at the time, but I’ve used that to motivate me to show everyone that I can succeed. Also money plays a huge factor in your own business and how you allocate your funds is very important, you need to make the right decisions when it comes to spending. Always look into areas where you can save money and spend wisely always, I’ve made some bad choices but now I have better control in my finances.

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?
Make sure it is something you have a passion for. And think and plan before every decision. Try writing things down and asking others for their opinions before going through with things. Seek others for help, especially experts and professionals, ask for free suggestions and advices. Look into government programs, there are many help out there, you just need to reach for it. And be positive, even when you hit a bump, just know that the road will get better. Somethings are out of your control, but if you steer into the right direction, you have a lot more control.

What are your goals and plans for the future?
I have short-term and long term-goals.
My short term goal is to have enough clients that I will be hiring other personal trainers by September.
My long term goal is to begin my first franchise one year from today. Further goal is to have a FIT from HOME personal trainer in every neigbourhood in Ontario. Then in Canada. Though my long term goal may not be achievable, it is something I will keep striving for.

My other goal is to also pursue other business opportunities outside of FIT from HOME with the revenue I generate. I’m an entrepreneur afterall, so I’m always intersted in other opportunities if profit is acheievable and the act is moral.

Find a BizLaunch Seminar near you at http://bizlaunch.ca

Name
Justin Kozuch

Company name
Refresh Events

justin@refresh-events.ca
www.refresh-events.ca

What does your business do?
Refresh Events is a Toronto-based community organization initiative dedicated to the promotion and advancement of the interactive industry through affordable, accessible and relevant digital media programming. We provide designers, developers and other interactive types with a launching pad for connecting to others within the interactive community.

We hold gatherings at the Centre for Social Innovation on the 3rd Monday of each month. These events feature 6 Ignite presentations, as well as a guest speaker. Our gatherings are recorded and made available online (audio only for now, video coming soon!). We also serve free refreshments (beer/wine) at our monthly gatherings.

Our audience consists of web designers, web developers, information architects, flash designers/developers, motion graphic artists, managers, and creative directors, as well as entrepreneurs and a handful of superstars from Toronto’s interactive community. In other words, we encourage creative talents of all skill levels, streams of business and disciplines to participate through discussion, collaboration and the sharing of ideas.

What makes your business different? What is that you do that makes your business unique?
Refresh Events is focused on inspiring, educating and sparking dialogue through the organization of free or affordable events, open to all creative talents of all levels and disciplines within the interactive community. We don’t charge for admission to our monthly gatherings and we don’t charge for membership.

Why did you decide to start your own business?
Refresh was borne out of a need to provide the interactive community with a forum to discuss ideas, solve problems and help those in the community break out of their bubble and get to know some of their peers. It was also borne out of a passion for community organization and event design.

What’s the best part of being an entrepreneur?

What’s the worst part of being and entrepreneur?
Nothing. Refresh has been incredibly fun, and I don’t expect that to change – ever!

How long have you been in business?
10 months

How did you raise the start-up cash?
Boot-strapped and self-funded, until Aquent sponsored the cost of refreshments at our monthly gatherings.

Identify and discuss a few lessons you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?

Never back down, never give up. Starting your own business is hard work. Push yourself to your limit, and you will never be unhappy!

Be passionate! People love those that show passion, it’s infectious and it shows you care.

Smile when you answer the phone. The person at the other end can hear it in your voice, and they will always respond positively!

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?
Market research is critical. Find out what others are doing, and how you can make your product/service offering different. Be innovative! Stand out from the pack!

What are your goals and plans for the future?

1. Build the Toronto community and make it sustainable.

2. Provide more tools on our site to build an online community.
3. Curate events in other Canadian cities.

This is only the beginning, we have so many more plans in store!

To find out more about Justin and Refresh Events take a look at www.refresh-events.ca

Find a BizLaunch Seminar near you at http://bizlaunch.ca

]]> http://blog.bizlaunch.ca/2009/05/27/startup-story-justin-kozuch-of-refresh-events/feed/ 1 http://blog.bizlaunch.ca/2009/05/22/startup-story-tanya-may-and-toronto-business-casual/ http://blog.bizlaunch.ca/2009/05/22/startup-story-tanya-may-and-toronto-business-casual/#comments Thu, 21 May 2009 20:32:53 +0000 Daniel Patricio http://blog.bizlaunch.ca/?p=601
Name
Tanya May

Company name
Toronto Business Casual

tanya.may28@yahoo.ca
http://torontobusinesscasual.com

What does your business do?
Toronto Business Casual is an exciting new Toronto-based social club, geared to professionals in their mid to late 20s, 30s and 40s in the Greater Toronto Area. We provide opportunities for busy professionals to get out there and network with others for the purposes of friendship, to develop new relationships, to promote their business, to make new industry contacts, or simply for recreation.

We host regular social and cultural events to encourage relationship building among our members. Due to our partnerships with select sponsors in the Greater Toronto Area, we are able to offer unique events at low cost.

Members participate in a variety of group activities ranging from fine dining, wine tasting, live theatre and art appreciation to tennis lessons, golfing, vintage auto car driving and other diverse outdoor activities. Events are highly interactive, and we encourage members to socialize in a relaxed informal atmosphere.

Our target customers are between the ages of 25-49 years, university educated, with busy career jobs. Most of our clientelle have sought us out because we provide opportunities for them to connect socially with other similar types, due to the exacting demands of their careers.

In only 6 short months, we have over 1000 new members, and have acquired partners and sponsors such as Calvin Klein Euphoria, CK One and Vineyards Estate Wines! We have been extremely successful so far, in a very short period of time!

What makes your business different? What is that you do that makes your business unique?
A few things have made us so successful in a short period of time:

1. Our events are based on group interaction-every event we have consists of either fun short questions, group exercises or group trivia. Great ice-breakers.

2. We have screening measures in place that other social clubs may not have (i.e. age, education, interests, etc).
3. We have found a trend that young, busy educated professionals want to be around other similar types (i.e. they are not interested in going out to the bars to meet new friends or relationships) – so our emphasis is on meeting “like-minded people”.

Why did you decide to start your own business?
After graduate school, my husband and I moved back to Toronto and found many of our friends had moved away or had children.

We looked for other social groups however the attendees were a mixed bag -we had difficulty finding an affordable, legitimate social club with like-minded people. We also have a strong interest in the arts and culture – also very difficult to find!

What’s the best part of being an entrepreneur?
Creativity!
Flexibility!
Meeting new people every day!
Learning to work in a team!
Flexible work schedule!

What’s the worst part of being and entrepreneur?
Nil so far!

How long have you been in business?
6 months

How did you raise the start-up cash?
Saving, saving, saving!

Identify and discuss a few lessons you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?

1. Never give up – nothing comes easily when starting a business. Perserverence is the key.

2. Follow your passions – not what your family or friends thinks “sounds good” or is the “safest” route.
3. Tap into your real skills – if you take a group of people and highlight each person’s talents, you have a truly winning team!

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?
Do your market research. If you want to be successful, you have to offer a product that is innovative and creative. Re-invent the wheel as much as possible!

What are your goals and plans for the future?

1. Expand our website with regards to functionality.

2. Expand into different Canadian cities (a few are in the works already!)
3. Create and develop new partnerships, sponsorships, etc.
4. Define and investigate the needs and skills of our current members.
5. Have members participate in event planning, show-casing their particular skills, etc.

To find out more about Tanya and Toronto Business Casual take a look at http://torontobusinesscasual.com

Find a BizLaunch Seminar near you at http://bizlaunch.ca

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