October 24, 2008

Small Business Week Spotlight:

From Stall to Small

Small business week is here once again, an occasion marked across the country to pay tribute to small business and entrepreneurial spirit that is growing by leaps and bounds. It’s worth noting that going into business doesn’t have to be a Dragon’s Den. Like the “Dragons” on the popular CBC TV program, farmers’ markets can provide a useful reality check for aspiring entrepreneurs. As everyone in business knows, the reality is that results of an idea are only as good as its execution – but getting results shouldn’t have to be an execution at the same time. DaVinci said, “The supreme misfortune is when theory outstrips performance.” While local produce is surely the star attraction, it is not only farmers with produce stalls at farmers’ markets, but wine makers, artisans, horticulturalists, craftspeople and other vendors with initiative to find out how well their products might sell – literally, conducting market research. At the Windsor market, you can find up to 40 vendors from throughout the area, such as Saint Famille Wines (http://www.st-famille.com), Jamie Cornetta’s Oak Manor Organic Farm, Summerville caterer Doris Hagman (http://www.avonemporium.com), Tracey Martin’s Liles from the Valley (http://www.liliesfromthevalley.com). And while the market season draws to a close at the end of this month, it is important to note that these vendors maintain their small businesses in West Hants all year round. The West Hants Chamber of Commerce would like to thank participants and organizers of our local farmer’s market – Ada Sharp, Debie Bowes, Karen Lamontagne, Jamie Cornetta and countless others who help to offer our smaller businesses and farmers a place to springboard their small businesses. We also look forward to seeing some fresh faces next spring.

West Hants and Area News

West Hants Chamber also extends congratulations to Scott Brison, who was re-elected as the MP for Kings Hants for the fifth consecutive time in the October 14th federal election; and to the all the municipal candidates who were elected or acclaimed in Windsor, Hantsport and West Hants on October 18th.


Miller Tire - Top Ten in Employer Idol

Staff at Miller Tire are just rolling in it – employee satisfaction, that is! The company has been named one of Nova Scotia’s top ten employers for 2009 and one of 100 across Canada. This special recognition comes just as employees celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary this month. With three locations in New Brunswick, one in PEI and four in Nova Scotia, Miller Tire is truly a Maritime, family-owned and operated company. What began in a small garage on Windsor Street in Halifax by a grandfather and father team, Roy and Brian Miller, the company has grown with the help of other family members which now includes a third-generation in Corey Miller as its CEO. And since the mid-1980’s, the company’s only Nova Scotia location outside of the HRM is - as luck would have it - in Windsor. “Our Windsor service centre is key to our company in Nova Scotia,” says Corey Miller. “Windsor is the hub to service the Annapolis Valley corridor with a lot of variety, from servicing regular cars, to farming, construction and other heavy vehicles, not just replacing tires but offering full mechanical services.” Satisfying the wide variety of customers is always a key focus, says Miler, yet the applause Miller Tire is receiving is in appreciation for its employees: the company’s staff retention rates, community involvement as well as training and education assistance Miller Tire makes available for their employees.

“We try to keep our staff happy and productive by doing our best to keep them healthy and at the workplace,” says Miller. ‘We’re very fortunate to have some great people in Windsor doing some great things.” Chris Sullivan has been at the helm of the company’s Windsor location for the past five years and praises that the commitment the company makes toward its staff is just as important as customer service. “As a result, we are fortunate to have a great track record with staff loyalty and retention in an industry that normally has a very high turnover,” said Sullivan. “It makes our customer service better.” Sullivan doesn’t tread lightly when he says how supportive ‘head office’ is by offering regular training programs and following through with ideas from staff. “We do more than put rubber circles on vehicles. We’re a full-service centre and there is a lot to this business that is technical which requires keeping up with the technology so our customers get the best performance,” he said. “Management at Miller Tire see to it their staff performs well too. We’re treated as well as our customers, and we do have the most highly-trained staff in the Maritimes for our industry.”

Sullivan also attributes the company’s contributions to the local community is an important part of their success, flying company banners and floating company …pumpkins? Sullivan has competed in the Pumpkin Regatta for the past four years now, and finished the race this year for the first time. “I couldn’t move my legs for twenty minutes, but I finished 27th out of 58 entries, so I am happy with that.” He says that visibility in the community is only a small part of what their company benefits from volunteering. “Regardless of the event, our staff work like a team to prepare for it and have fun,” Sullivan said. ”It’s an achievement we can all be proud of. Only one of us can be in the pumpkin, but we picked it out at Dill’s together and everyone had a hand in painting it,” he said. The company also contributes to the Hants Community Hospital Foundation each year, drives a slick vehicle in the Sam Slick and the Children’s Wish Parade, giving away soccer balls to encourage kids to get active. Other charities the company adopts throughout the Maritimes include children’s soccer programs, local Military Family Resource Centres, and driving towards a cure for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. For every car serviced, the company offers a donation to the Foundation and in the past year raised $6800.00. “Our causes usually have a family-focus that is unintentional, but naturally fit with the values of our business,” said Sullivan. “Our staff is a family, too.”

The company had to be put through its paces for this achievement, too. For the past nine years, Mediacorp organizes a top 100 employers’ competition throughout Canada, from which the province’s top ten is derived. Mediacorp, the country’s largest publisher of employment guides and job-hunting periodicals, examines the recruitment histories of over 75,000 employers across the country that it tracks for its job site, Eluta.ca. From this initial group, the company invited 10,000 of the fastest-growing employers plus 6,000 other companies and organizations in industries their editors wanted to examine more closely. Employers were then asked to complete an extensive application process that included a detailed review of their operations and human resource practices. Miller Tire shares its top ten spot with nine other Nova Scotian employers: Guysborough-Antigonish Strait Health Authority, Admiral Insurance Services, O’Regan’s Automotive Group, Bell Aliant, Colchester East Hants Health Authority, Jacques Whitford Ltd., Keane Canada, Trihedral Engineering Ltd and the Worker’s Compensation Board of NS. [Source: Avondale Media]

Moe’s Music Moving

Effective October 27th, Moe’s Place Music Sales is moving to the former location of Minas Realties Ltd, underneath Curves and next to the Rose Arbour Café. http://www.moesplace.ca


Assistance Requested

Mark DesJardine, an Honours Business student at Acadia University and employee at the Wolfville ACSBE office, is requesting our assistance. He is in the process of completing his last major requirement before he can graduate. He is conducting an online survey called Technology Acceptance in the Workplace. He is asking for approximately five minutes of your time to complete this survey. Click here for the link...


New Minas Openings

The following developments for New Minas are anticipated in the near future:

• Winners store to be built on the property adjacent to the new Home Depot store

• new Lawton's drugstore combined with a new doctor's clinic in the same area as the new Winners store

• Montana's Steakhouse again to be located on the same property adjacent to the Home Depot facing Commercial street

• Ashley's furniture store to be located on Commercial street across from the Kent Building supply store

• Happy Harry's building supply store to be located in the old Advertiser location on Commercial street next to McDonald's

Rural skilled worker shortage

Nova Scotia employers are facing a looming shortage of skilled workers - especially in rural areas. Labour Minister Mark Parent says there will be big challenges filling the close to 45,000 jobs that will become available over the next five years. Parent has undertaken a province-wide tour to focus on workforce issues and the development of strategies to address the problem. Plans include linking unemployed older workers to job opportunities and educating young people about jobs in smaller communities. A recent Conference Board survey reported that most Canadian employers are not targeting mature workers with specific policies and programs. [The Canadian Press]


Bay of Fundy Energy

Nova Scotia is preparing for an energy project in Bay of Fundy which could produce 100 MW of electricity, about 10% of the province's peak load, according to the Globe and Mail. The $50-million pilot project, set to begin by next fall or the spring of 2010, will drop three experimental turbines into the deep waters of the bay and will operate like underwater windmills. The provincial government has chosen three companies to take part in the Fundy Institute of Tidal Energy. The project will test three turbines for at least two years and feed about four MW to the province's electrical grid for immediate use. The test site will be in the Minas Passage, at west of Black Rock. [The Globe and Mail]


Who is hiring?

Windsor and area
 

Kentville and area


Regional and National Headlines

Gas Regulation running on empty?

The Halifax Chamber of Commerce is calling on the provincial government to bring an end to gas regulation when the house resumes later this month. Gas regulation in Nova Scotia has been in effect since July 1, 2007. Officials with the Halifax Chamber believe that promises of stable gasoline prices and increased opportunities for independent gasoline retailers to make a profit, especially in the rural areas, haven’t materialized. “The government knew that gas regulation wouldn’t work and now that it has failed, it’s time to put an end to it,” says Valerie Payn, chamber president. “The benefit of minimal price stability isn’t worth the pain of paying more at the pumps.” The chamber is urging MLAs to bring this issue forward as soon as the house resumes. “We can’t afford to wait until a study is done,” says Payn. “The experiment didn’t work, so let’s put an end to it now. Free market forces—not the government—ultimately determine the price of gasoline.” Payne went on to state that economists know regulation cannot greatly influence gasoline prices. Gasoline is a commodity, whose price is greatly influenced by worldwide events. In September, Nova Scotians experienced this when hurricane Ike caused the price at the pump to skyrocket to over $1.44 a litre. [NS Business Journal]
 

Premier Meets with CFIB

Co-operation between government and the business community is a must if the Nova Scotia economy is to withstand a worldwide economic slowdown, Premier Rodney MacDonald told a group of CFIB members this week. The premier made the remarks at a breakfast meeting with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business held as part of Small Business Week. "Business is the backbone of many Nova Scotia communities," said Premier MacDonald. "I am proud of the business people who are committed to our province, and committed to maintaining a strong economy. Now, it's more important than ever that government and business work together to ensure our current situation isn't threatened." The premier reiterated his commitment to a balanced budget. He said because of the province's solid fiscal plan, Nova Scotia is better positioned than some parts of the country to deal with a slowing economy. "We believe a balanced budget is the right thing to do," said Leanne Hachey, the Federation vice-president for Atlantic Canada. "This is a critical time in Nova Scotia, and we have a number of issues that need to be addressed, but it has to start with the province having a solid fiscal plan and putting the economy at the top of the agenda." Among issues raised by federation representatives were the overall tax burden, the shortage of qualified labour, wage pressures, power rates, and fuel prices. I will work with businesses, through our tax review that is now underway, or through more consultation, to ensure these businesses are able to continue to grow and create more jobs for the people of our province," said Premier MacDonald. The Premier also made remarks recently pertaining to the benefits of increased trade with Europe. The NS Legislature begins its fall session on October 30th. [Premier’s Office Press Release]


Atlantic agriculture ministers met

Atlantic agriculture ministers finished two days of meetings this week to further explore opportunities for regional co-operation. Nova Scotia Agriculture Minister Brooke Taylor hosted Ronald Ouelette from New Brunswick, Neil LeClair from Prince Edward Island, and Kathy Dunderdale from Newfoundland and Labrador. The ministers met with presidents of the Atlantic Federations of Agriculture and chairs of the Maritime cattle producers and the Maritime pork producers, as well as other industry leaders. "This meeting provided a forum for our regional agriculture stakeholders to meet for the first time, face-to-face, with the four ministers all together," said Brooke Taylor, Agriculture Minister for Nova Scotia. "We need to work collaboratively with the Atlantic agriculture industry to ensure its future growth and sustainability."


Personal Health Info Consultation

The public and stakeholder consultation ends on November 1st for the Department of Health’s discussion paper on Personal Health Information Legislation for Nova Scotia. The proposed legislation will set out rules fro collection, use, disclosure and retention of personal health information.
Nova Scotians are encouraged to review the discussion paper and provide feedback via the project website at www.gov.ns.caa/health/phia. Hard copies of the document are available by contacting the Legislation Project Office at phia@gov.ns.ca or by calling the Department of Health at 424-7058 or toll-free 1-800-387-6665.


Heating assistance now available

Low and modest-income Nova Scotians may now apply for assistance under the province's Heating Assistance Rebate Program. The application-based program was developed to help offset the high cost of home heating this winter. Individuals who earn $27,000 or less, or families with a combined income of $42,000 or less, that purchase home heating fuels can apply. Eligible Nova Scotians may receive up to a $450 rebate if heating with oil, propane, or natural gas, or up to a $150 rebate if heating with electricity, wood, coal, or wood pellets.

Applications are available at Access Nova Scotia centres, from MLAs, Department of Community Services' offices, community groups and Feed Nova Scotia, on the government website at www.HeatSmart.ca, or by calling 1-800-670-4357. It may take up to eight weeks for completed applications to be processed and eligible Nova Scotians to receive heating assistance cheques.


Not just hot air

Nova Scotia’s Department of Energy is helping individuals and small organizations determine whether wind power is a good option for them. An online wind atlas is part of the department's website upgrade and is making wind data easier to understand. The maps show wind speeds, colour-coded based on velocity, at three different heights — 30, 50 and 80 metres above ground. Users can zoom in as close as 200 metres to a specific location. The project is supported by a $78,000 grant from the province.[www.gov.ns.ca]


Business Calendar of Events

When you schedule your business events, please also email them to info@whcc.ca

Don’t forget to check out the federal and municipal election events under West Hants news!
Province-wide events: http://www.canadabusiness.ca/ns/calendar.cfm

Thursday, October 23rd – Minister’s Business Breakfast
Breakfast with Minister Mark Parent to commemorate Waste Reduction Week. 7:30 am, Halifax Marriot Harbourfront Hotel. Emcee: Costas Halaverezos 1-800-665-5377 or visit www.clean.ns.ca/wrw Sponsored in part by NS Dept of Environment, RRFB, Waste Management, Wal Mart, Tim Hortons and the Chronicle Herald.

Friday October 24-25th – Wayzgoose
Gaspereau Press in Kentville present its 9th annual gathering with readings and workshops.
http://www.gaspereau.com/wayzgoose.shtml

Saturday October 24 – Open House
The public and Windsor Curling Club members are invited to the official opening of the new clubhouse on Saturday, Oct 25th at 1:00pm. 174 Gray Street, Windsor.

Monday, October 27th - Effective Transportation = A Prosperous Economy
Do we have effective transportation systems in place to support a thriving economy?
8:00 am Breakfast and workshop, Holiday Inn 437 Prince Street, Truro
Cost: $20.00 (HST included) Guest Speaker—Planning Expert Michael Gallis
Major Topics include developing a transportation vision for Nova Scotia, prioritizing transportation development issues, uncovering gateway opportunities, discussing rail opportunities & challenges and addressing community/workplace transportation RSVP to Kim Frizzell, phone 893-0140 or email at contact@corda.ca

Sunday, November 2nd – Stanley Cup in Windsor!
Scotiabank, Windsor Mall 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Monday November 3rd, Business outlook conference
The Atlantic Provinces Economic Council presents its 14th annual Business Outlook Conference on Monday, November 3 from 7:45 am until 12:00 pm at Pier 21. Speakers will provide economic insight to support business planning for 2009. Early bird registration is $245 for members, $330 for non-members, and runs until October 3. Visit www.apec-econ.ca for more information or to register.

Tuesday November 4th – So you want to start a business?
9 am to 4 pm Minas Basin Development Centre, Main Street, Hantsport. Registration is $10 and lunch is included with registration. For further information contact Chantelle Marshall at Hants Regional Development Authority 1-877-284-2687, Email admin@hantscounty.com


Chuckles

With what's been happening on Wall Street lately, and the gyrations that the stock market has been experiencing, here are some re-definitions of terms that everyone should be aware of:

BULL MARKET -- A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.
BEAR MARKET -- A 6 to 18 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife gets no jewellery, and the husband gets no sex.
VALUE INVESTING -- The art of buying low and selling lower.
P/E RATIO -- The percentage of investors wetting their pants as the market keeps crashing.
BROKER -- What my broker has made me.
STANDARD & POOR -- Your life in a nutshell.
STOCK ANALYST -- Idiot who just downgraded your stock.
STOCK SPLIT -- When your ex-wife and her lawyer split your assets equally between themselves.
FINANCIAL PLANNER -- A guy whose phone has been disconnected.
MARKET CORRECTION -- The day after you buy stocks.
CASH FLOW-- The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.
YAHOO -- What you yell after selling it to some poor sucker for $240 per share.
WINDOWS -- What you jump out of when you're the sucker who bought Yahoo @ $240 per share.
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR -- Past year investor who's now locked up in a nuthouse.
PROFIT -- An archaic word no longer in use.


E-News info:

Our next issue of WHCC E-News will be published on November 4th. Please submit your business news, event or announcement by October 31st. Every two weeks, E-News is distributed to - and read by - over 250 local business contacts throughout the Windsor-West Hants area. If your business has news or events you would like to share with our readers, please call our Newsletter Editor, Heather Desveaux on 790-4009 or email info@whcc.ca