| Breakfast Networking Event |
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HR Resources for Businesses
Networking Breakfast Part II
Thursday September 17 7:30am - 8:30am Registration & Networking 8:30am - 9:30am Table Topics Discussion Dave & Buster's Registration info ... |
Chamber Happenings
Don't forget to visit the Events Page on our website to check out all upcoming events at the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce! | |
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| The Chronicle Online |
September 2009 |
Dear Members,
SERVICE: Another of those simple words.
I was reminded recently by a client that his impression of Service and mine were different. He won the discussion.
In a static economy where enterprises are disappearing ("rationalizing") in some Canadian jurisdictions, it is important to remember what consumers value.
For some, it is mainly about money. For others, quality is the deciding factor. There are other variables of course: timing, volume, fashion, reductions in cost, new technology. The list is endless. I will add employee interaction with prospective clients.
Let us presume that your client has selected your firm because of superior product, a good price point, availability, etc. They are ready to complete the deal, and, oops, your employee says something like: "I'm on break" or, "the computer says they are on back order" or, "we will call you back". And then does not. Or, "sorry, that's the price". This list is also endless. And fatal.
Result? Your customer starts the process somewhere else. Your sales decline. Arrogance and complacency cause the decline and failure of many businesses. Proof? Ask the Big 3. Sorry, I mean the Big 2.
Back to my client ... he wanted something very simple. A solution to his problem. Nothing special, just an affirmation that his concern at that moment was also mine. He wanted Service!
So what does a company do to ensure that their clients receive service? Well first, recognize that there is a problem. Management needs to be involved to affect change. Employees need to know who is paying the freight (customers), and should be empowered to do that little extra. Service is about company culture. It needs to be nurtured and reinforced. Most importantly, we must remember that Service has many forms, and your clients determine what that will be. It is a moving target.
Fortunately, my client is a reasonable person, and recognized that our value system and his are the same. I got lucky.
Service is all most of us have to offer. It takes practice. However, the result is what makes us all successful. Use it wisely.
Sincerely,
Gerald K Searles
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
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| Welcome New Members ! |
Amazon Accounting Inc. Accounting & Bookkeeping Services Ms. Fotoula Charalampopoulos 6 Amparo Drive Woodbridge, ON L4H 2L3 (416) 837-0113 Anytime Fitness Maple Fitness Centre Ms. Rose Caparotta 2535 Major Mackenzie Maple, ON L6A 1C6 (905) 417-2442 BMO Nesbitt Burns Financial/Investment Advisor Mr. Richard S. Smith 1 First Canadian Place, 48th Floor Toronto, ON M5X 1A3 (416) 359-7101 Copenhagen Trade Center Retail Sale of Leather & Fur Products Ms. Olga Braslawski 112 Sandwood Drive Thornhill, ON L4K 3E7 (905) 760-5666 Covers Couture Full Event Decor Provider Mr. John Scalzo 8099 Weston Road, Unit #16 Woodbridge, ON L4L 1A6 (905) 856-6004 Investors Group Financial Services Mr. Naresh Kumar 6 Ronrose Drive, Suite # 300 Concord, ON L4K 4R3 (905) 760-1771 Key 2 Communications Inc. Commercial Telecommunications Mr. Mike Bowler 27 Roytec Road, Unit # 7C Vaughan, ON L4L 8E3 (905) 850-7060 La Vie Furniture Vaughan Inc. Furniture Retail Mr. Zheng Peng 2951 Highway 7 West, Unit # 6 & 7 Concord, ON L4K 1W3 (905) 565-9191 MKD International Inc. Private Investigations Mr. James Downs 7635A Keele Street, Unit # A Concord, ON L4K 1Y4 (905) 761-1558 Studio Sposa Wedding Gowns Ms. Mary D'Aversa 10449 Islington Avenue Kleinburg, ON L0J 1C0 (905) 893-8100 Team FX Logo'd Apparel & Team Uniforms Mr. Domenic Cosentino 6175 Highway 7, Unit # 10 Woodbridge, ON L4H 0P6 (905) 850-8326 Unisearch Associates Inc. Environmental Instruments/Services Mr. Gervase Mackay 96 Bradwick Dr. Concord, ON L4K 1K8 (905) 669-3547
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HR Resources for Businesses
Networking Breakfast Part II
Effectively integrated HR processes provide significant economic benefit to your business. Attend this breakfast and learn how ! Featuring seven topics to choose from on today's most pressing issues!
PLUS! Our first 100 registrants will receive a FREE leather agenda, generously supplied by Add Impact!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Dave & Buster's
120 Interchange Way,
Vaughan, Ontario L4K 5C3
Registration: 7:15 - 7:30am
Breakfast & Networking: 7:30 - 8:30am
Roundtable Topic Discussions: 8:30 - 9:30am
Event brought to you in partnership with Add Impact and COSTI Employment Services, Vaughan.
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New Member Orientation - September 14
If you want to learn more about member benefits and how your Chamber can help your business succeed, attend this session! Please RSVP to Filomena at Filomena@vaughanchamber.ca by Friday September 11th. Monday September 14
4:30 - 5:30pm
Vaughan Chamber of Commerce |
NEW! Export Document Certification - ONLINE!
Beginning September 15, 2009, the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce will be offering a completely online document certification service to exporters! Convenient, time-saving and cost-effective, this new service is an exciting addition to our benefit offerings. For more information on how to start using our new online document services today...contact Christina at 905-761-1366, ext. 29 or by email at christina@vaughanchamber.ca. |
Vaughan Chamber 2010 Business Directory
 The Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Business Directory is your opportunity to do business with hundreds of other Vaughan Chamber members! In fact, it's one of your most important reference tools for building your business in the Vaughan area. Make the most of this high-quality marketing opportunity! HURRY! Ad space for 2010 is now being booked until Sept. 30, 2009. Call David McGrew today at 905-761-1366, ext. 31, or email mcgrews@rogers.com today! |
HURRY! The Vaughan Chamber Community Pride Banners Almost SOLD OUT!
There are only a limited number of spots available on the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce "Community Pride Banners". The banners are displayed in the Chamber office year round and appear at all functions and events including: 1. Networking events and seminars 2. New Member Orientation sessions 3. Annual Business Achievement Awards Gala 4. Annual Golf Tournament 5. Annual Festive Luncheon Member's Only Price: $299 (+ gst) This is a limited time offer to get seen by thousands of business people...reserve your spot today and don't miss out! For further information, contact Filomena Ortali at 905-761-1366, ext. 21 or email filomena@vaughanchamber.ca. |
Another Successful Vaughan Chamber Event
 The Vaughan Chamber held a well-attended Breakfast Networking Event on August 27, 2009, hosted by DreamWorld Event Central. Guest speaker Chris Nichilo outlined effective networking techniques, and Vaughan Chamber President & CEO Deborah Bonk Greenwood unveiled the Chamber's newest exclusive member benefits. The presentation garnered rave reviews, with Mary Patrick of Dave & Buster's pointing out that "not only were the speakers enlightening, they were engaging as well." And Bernie van der Voort of Voort Enterprises Inc. noted that "speaker Chris Nichilo was very upbeat and engaged the audience with his tips on good networking." To read more about the event and see pictures, please click here. Thanks to all who helped make this event such a success! |
Committee Corner
The Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Policy Committee (formerly the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Committee) reviews and makes recommendations on policies, infrastructure, and key projects relevant to the majority of Chamber members and other businesses located within the City of Vaughan. Our intention is to keep you informed and up-to-date on our committee efforts. Look for further monthly updates in our future newsletters. To ensure that we are appropriately advocating on your behalf regarding the issues that are the most important to you, we undertook a survey to get your input. If you have not had an opportunity to take the survey yet, please click this link. It will only take three minutes to complete and your input would be invaluable! Look back here in the October newsletter to see the results.
Vaughan Chamber 2009 Policy Committee:
Bottom row, L - R: Michael Manett, Brian Shifman (Chair), Deborah Bonk. Top row, L - R: Jason Racco, Christina Hamalainen, Santina Mariani, Rose Marsella. Missing: Michael Mancini, Lori Robinson, Sara Tripodi
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Exclusive GRAND&TOY Discounts!
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The Conference Board of Canada has prepared a report entitled Big Gains With Small Partners: What MNCs Look For in Their SME Suppliers. This report features insights about best practices for multinational corporations in partnering with small- and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and how to manage supplier relationships for the benefit of both the lead firm and its suppliers. To have a copy of this report emailed directly to you, please contact Lori Suffern, Research Analyst at the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce at 905-761-1366 ext. 24 or email lori@vaughanchamber.ca.
The Vaughan Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer Chamber members more value for their membership investment! Our Research Analyst Lori Suffern is working on our newest pilot project: providing valuable business services information to our members and assisting you in your research requirements. Let us do the leg work for you! Please contact Lori at 905-761-1366 ext. 24 or email lori@vaughanchamber.ca.
Finding the Information You NEED to SUCCEED! |
Le Jardin Conference & Event Centre Hosts a Special Tornado Relief Evening
We've always known that Vaughan Chamber of Commerce members take care of our community, and of each other. That's exactly what Le Jardin Conference & Event Centre did for the victims of Vaughan's recent tornado.
Approximately 400 Vaughan residents were treated to a delicious and free meal at Le Jardin on August 26th. For more on this inspiring story, please click here. |
Chamber Samaritans Offer Tornado Help
Last week, the Vaughan Chamber sent out a special notice asking for assistance in identifying any businesses that were in need of help due to the August 20th storm. While we have not received any responses from businesses that require help, we were touched by the number of Vaughan Chamber members who called in to offer their assistance to any who needed it! We would like to thank the following for their kind offers:
* Brentwood Classics Limited
* Fortknoxis Telecommunications
* KPMG
* MIT Consulting
* Westmont Hospitality Group
Your kindness is most appreciated! |
WINNER of the Seneca Distinguished Alumni Award
 Congratulations to Vaughan Chamber of Commerce member Phil Russo, recipient of the "Seneca Distinguished Alumni Award" on May 20, 2009! Phil graduated from Seneca College's Business Administration Program in 1986 with high honours, and he is now the Executive Director of the Guild of Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Accountants. He has been a Chamber member since 2007. Congratulations, Phil! |
Save Money and the Environment with PowerStream
Looking to save a little money for your business? Take advantage of PowerStream's new peaksaver energy conservation program. peaksaver is a province wide voluntary conservation program that helps to reduce electricity demand during the hottest days of the summer when the electricity system is strained. PowerStream business customers are eligible if your air conditioners and water heaters are approximately the same size as those used by residential customers. Contact PowerStream's peaksaver call centre at 1-866-323-0206 or complete the online enrollment form at www.powerstream.ca/peaksaver to book an appointment for a service technician to come to your home to install a peaksaver thermostat. |
Canadian Economy Posts Growth
The Canadian economy grew for the first time in 11 months at the tail end of the second quarter, providing new evidence that the recession is coming to an end. In recent weeks, there have been growing signs that the economy is turning around. Data show retail sales and house prices are improving, and consumer confidence is returning. To read more on this encouraging news, please click here. |
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Enter Smart Commute's Contest and WIN!
Smart Commute North Toronto, Vaughan is offering you the opportunity to win a 2-night getaway for two in Montreal! All you have to do is enter their "Going Green Challenge", and tell them how you would "green Toronto's commute" in 140 words or less!
To read more about the contest and to enter, please click here. |
Canada Weathers Global Recession Better than Most
The Conference Board of Canada reports that Canada is expected to move up in the ranking of international economic performance in 2009 and 2010, partly because other countries have been harder hit by the global recession than Canada has. Canada is expected to move up to 5th spot in 2010, up from our current position at 11th spot. For more on this story, please click here. |
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More Businesses Taking Advantage of BDC Loans
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) experienced a record increase in loans to businesses during the first quarter of 2009-10. This increase is largely due to the Government of Canada's recent investments in the BDC through the Business Credit Availability Program.
Please click here to read more and to find out how your business can benefit from the program. |
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Vaughan Hosts Communities In Bloom National Conference
Vaughan is proud to host the 2009 Communities in Bloom National Conference from September 29 until October 4. Communities in Bloom (CiB) is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program.
For more information on the 2009 Communities in Bloom National Conference, please click here. |
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5th Annual Ontario Tourism Summit
Mark your calendars for the Road Ahead! The 5th Annual Ontario Tourism Summit takes place September 29 to October 1, 2009 at Caesars Windsor. The 2009 conference theme will focus on actionable strategies and tactics to move the industry forward on a path to growth and prosperity.
For more information on the 2009 Summit, please click here. |
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Crime Prevention Trade Show
The York Regional Police are presenting their Crime Prevention Trade Show November 6th and 7th at the York Region Administrative Building, 17250 Yonge Street in Newmarket. Please click here for more details. | |
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Guild of Industrial, Commercial & Institutional Accountants
Are you an experienced accountant?
Lacking an accounting certification?
We are a federally chartered organization dedicated to
providing mature accountants a forum and credibility.
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