Voice of Business Newsletter

May 2010

Photo by David Szabo Photography

IN THIS ISSUE

May Survey

Manager's Report

Economic Development Report

Membership Services

Literacy Now

BC Chamber of Commerce

Monday Morning Memo

Monthly Survey Question

The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce wants to know what you think!

Click on the question mark to view this month's survey question regarding the Chamber's Fee for Service Contracts with City of Penticton.

Thanks to all those who responded to last month's survey question.

Here are the stats from last month's survey:

As a Chamber Member, does the "Members Support Members" discount program encourage you to shop local?

Yes 50%

No 50%

Manager's Report by Lorraine Renyard

Festival and Event Cooperative Marketing Assistance Project
The Festival and Event Cooperative Marketing Assistance Project is funded by the Penticton & Wine Country Tourism Advisory Council and administered by the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce.

The purpose of the funding is to provide newly proposed and existing established annual Penticton & Wine Country festivals and events with a cash injection to assist with event marketing and promotion in the key markets identified in the Penticton & Wine Country destination marketing plan, resulting in increased demand for Penticton as a tourist destination and an increase in the number of overnight stays in Penticton. This funding is not to be viewed as ongoing funding.

Each application is reviewed on an individual basis by the Penticton & Wine Country Tourism Advisory Council (PWCTAC), and those that best meet the established criteria are allocated a portion of the overall budget at the discretion of the PWCTAC.

Successful applicants for 2010 cooperative marketing funding include Go Rowing & Paddling Association of Canada, Naramata Bench Wineries Association, Pentastic Jazz Festival, World Jr. A Challenge and another event to be announced at a later date.

Although the initial deadline for application has passed, pending applications are presented for review at PWCTAC general meetings. For more information please call (250) 492-4103.

Tourism Advisory Council AGM

The Penticton & Wine Country Tourism Advisory Council Annual General Meeting was held on April 28th.

Elected to the TAC for two-year terms are Cynthia Enns of Laughing Stock Vineyards, Jonathan Dow of the Sandman Hotel, Linda Newton of Serenata Guesthouse Retreat, and Peter Diakonow of the Waterfront Inn.

Adolf Steffen of Loco Landing Adventure Park was elected for a one-year term.

They join Barry Burgart of the Penticton Golf & Country Club, Colin Buckingham of Earl's Restaurants and Penticton Hospitality Association chair Barb Schneiderat.

At the next meeting, Andrew Jakubeit was elected Chair and Barb Schneiderat was elected Vice Chair.

Congratulations to everyone!

Economic Development Report by David Arsenault

The economic forecast for the spring of 2010 continues to show positive signs of business renewal in Canada and on May 10 the Conference Board of Canada reported that British Columbia's economy is expected to expand by 3.8% in 2010 and the provinces GDP growth will moderate to 2.8% in 2011. The impetus of this current growth has been fuelled by a one-time Olympics boost and recovery in the forestry, manufacturing and construction sectors.

As we all know, the 2010 Vancouver Olympics has driven the current growth in our economy but we are also seeing some movement in the local housing market as well. According to Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation housing starts in BC will trend higher during the next three years from the below-average levels of this year and next. Builders will increase housing starts beginning in 2010 in response to growing housing demand generated by a stronger economy and increasing employment. This is good news for our local development community.

On May 12, the Penticton Rotary Club recognized the Penticton Industrial Development Association (PIDA) for its contribution to the local economy. The Penticton Industrial sector contributes over 20% in tax revenue to the community and employs over 2500 individuals in high paying jobs in our industrial park. Moreover, these businesses provide a myriad of innovation products to consumers that reach a global audience. Congratulations PIDA and the Penticton Rotary Club.

On May 20, the Windward Software Dragons Den wrapped up with The Henna Hut winning the top prize and the marketing award. This program has been well received by the business community and showed us that local youth have what it takes to develop business ideas for our local economy. The ideas generated by local youth were PSI industries - innovative paint ball equipment, Burnt Bindings -front loading binding for snowboards, the Henna Hut- a beach side temporary tattoo business, Old but New - an eco-friendly t-shirt company and Funderwear - a personalized lingerie company. This new high school business development program is in its infancy and next year should be bigger and better. Congratulations students and judges for a job well done.

Research work is underway in the development of the Penticton Regional Airport strategy to increase routes to the east. The preliminary research will review airport traffic demand and leakage as well a route analysis on profitability and load factors.

The Economic Investment Zone (EIZ) strategy is generating a lot of interest in the business community. Penticton Economic Development Services has been dealing with a number of inquiries regarding development in Penticton.

Watch out for more information on Penticton Economic Services and check out our website www.imaginepenticton.ca for more local business announcements. Stay Tuned!

David Arsenault MBA is Penticton's Economic Development Officer and a former college professor with Okanagan College. If you have good news stories related to business in Penticton contact 250-493-3323 or email darsenault@penticton.org

Membership Services Report by Andrea Davison

On Thursday April 22nd, Bodies on Power hosted a very successful Business After Business. Attendees were able to tour the facility and learn about all the interesting programs offered. Everyone had a great evening. Join us for our next Business After Business on May 27 at U Weight Loss Clinic in the Apple Plaza, 1848 Main Street, from 5-7pm. Take advantage of your networking opportunities and make some new contacts. Hope to see you there!

Our next Business Excellence Seminar Series are:

Under Promise & Over Deliver-Thursday May 27 2010, 9am to 11:30am A two and a half hour workshop that targets business owners and employees to expand on their definition of service and creates a refreshing approach to the important customer service issue that affects your bottom line.

Q & A HST Seminar - Thursday June 3 2010, 9am to 11:30am Confused about how the implementation of the new HST will affect your business? Are you not exactly sure when you are supposed to start collecting the HST? Join us for an information session where we will go over the new rules for the HST including what products and services will be affected as well as when you are supposed to start collecting.

Jarrod Dunham is a Certified Bookkeeper with over thirteen years experience working for both public accounting firms and large global corporations. He brings this breadth of knowledge to help small and medium sized businesses throughout the Okanagan Valley. Cost is free but seating is limited so please register in advance by calling (250) 492-4103.

Social Marketing: The Power of Networks-Tuesday June 8 2010, 9am to 11:30am Have you noticed? More and more companies are asking their consumers to "fan" them on Facebook, or "follow" them on Twitter. Marketing has fundamentally shifted with the advent of social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter. No longer is marketing a one-way conversation, it's a two-way interactive chat between businesses and their customers. Allison Markin of All She Wrote Consulting will teach you some tips and tricks on effective social marketing, demonstrating the most popular social media sites, and will share some case studies showing how companies have used social networks to grow their brand. Familiarity with Facebook and Twitter is recommended!

Under Promise & Over Deliver and Social Marketing seminars are $45 plus GST for members and $65 plus GST for non members. Call the Chamber office to register -space is limited so don't delay! Payment is required when registering.

Literacy Now

Literacy Now South Okanagan Similkameen actively supports members of our communities and helps people find out about literacy activities, services and programs across the region.

Please click on the link below to view "The Buzz on Literacy" monthly newsletter.

May Newsletter

BC Chamber of Commerce

Clean Energy Act to Power BC Growth

Victoria, April 28, 2010 - Chambers of Commerce from across the province today welcomed the Government announcement of the Clean Energy Act. The Act is designed to create jobs, increase electrical self-sufficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and protect both B.C. rate payers and the province's competitive advantage in clean, renewable energy.

"The value of this Act to business communities will be in the balance it strikes," said John Winter, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. "It will balance the need for self-sufficiency and the importance of competitive rates for businesses and consumers against the importance of building an export capacity which will provide jobs for communities across the province."

This Monday Morning Memo from the Wizard Academy

is brought to you by 100.7 Giant FM Radio

Optimism for Beginners

I detest the Positive Thinking cult. Yes, you read that correctly.

But I am supremely optimistic.

I see the Positive Thinking cult as the religion of Hubris; man worshipping himself. "I am my own god. I control my own destiny. There is nothing I can't be, nothing I can't do, nothing I can't accomplish. I am limited only by my own thoughts."

Sorry. I just needed to put that on the table. It's important to me that you know I'm not a you-can-do-it-if-you-think-you-can motivational weasel selling magic beans to unsuspecting children.

"But didn't Jack's beans grow into a beanstalk that reached into the clouds?"

Thank you for helping make my point: IT'S A FAIRY TALE.

Voice of Business Get the Word out