Think Global … Pontiac Chamber of Commerce Buy Local Agricultural Information Volume 6 Issue 11 February 2014 Agricultural Information Chamber Events Session Agricultural Information Session Wednesday, February 12th Wednesday, February 12th 11:30 am – 1:30 pm 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Hotel Ladysmith, 2144 Route 303, Hotel Ladysmith, 2144 Route 303, Ladysmith Ladysmith Price: $20 members, $25 non- A business lunch geared towards members Pontiac’s agriculture community RSVP by February 7th and the financial options available to them! v Presenters General Meeting MAPAQ Thursday, February 27th Available to answer your Meal ($25) – 6:30 pm questions about program eligibility Meeting – 7:00 pm requirements BATEAU ROYAL, Portage du Fort RSVP by February 24th Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Offering business and financial services to Canadian agriculture producers Price: $20 members, $25 non- FADQ : La Financière agricole du members Québec Lasagne, ham & potato casserole, Jean-Bernard Lebelon, Caesar salad, dinner roll, dessert, agroéconomiste, Agricultural tea and coffee Finance Advisor RSVP by February 7th SADC Pontiac – Your business Contact Ginger Finan, Business centre Development Coordinator Supporting business development. [email protected] Our services help stimulate local job creation, business innovation 819-647-2312 and economic growth. CLD Sponsored by: Economic development of the Pontiac (help, support and vision) CLE Campbell’s Bay Louise Grenier, Business Service Consultant An explanation of Emploi Quebec’s programs and financial assistance measures BMO Bank of Montreal Laura Naismith, Commercial Account Manager www.pontiacchamberofcommerce.ca [email protected] “Financing the future of [email protected] agriculture” 819-647-2312 or 1-855-647-2312 www.pontiacchamberofcommerce.ca Small Business Checkup This article will be presented over four strengths and weaknesses as Use this simple survey to gather newsletters. compared to your competition, valuable feedback from your Marketing is to do a competitive analysis. clients: Create a chart listing strengths, Promoting your business is What was the best part about weaknesses, pricing, customer your experience with us today? essential for ongoing success. service approach, reputation, No matter how strong a core years in business, location, etc. Glowing reports of good client group you’ve built, don’t and fill in the blanks for your service, timely action and good rely solely on them for continued own company and every other value are wonderful to receive business. Repeat customers have one offering similar products and confirm why you are in utmost value, but there may or services. It may take some business. Testimonials of good come a day when a key customer time, but eventually you’ll see experiences can be used in goes elsewhere. Be prepared by where your strengths lie, what your marketing materials (only cultivating new contracts and sales others do better and resulting add customers’ names with through effective marketing. opportunities for change and their permission.) • Does your marketing strategy growth in your own operation. What could we do differently? reflect current methods of Read what customers say This is a great way to find out attracting business? online about your and other what customers want, what A written marketing strategy firms. Another useful tool is a they don’t like and what will will help you keep on target S.W.O.T. analysis. Remember, make them happy and keep to promote your business and knowing another company’s coming back. Look at this as an in turn, increase sales. Review weakness can spell opportunity objective exercise and keep an your current document and for your organization. Use the open mind. identify marketing efforts that template on the previous page Why did you choose to deal with provide the biggest return to get started. our company? for your dollar. Referrals are • Are you reaching the right Answers will range from: your considered a minimal cost customers and meeting their convenient location, because and a high return benefit of needs? they’ve always dealt with word of mouth marketing. Successful businesses satisfy you, you have the best prices, They are based on establishing a need. Make sure you are they were driving by, I got and maintaining an excellent keeping up with client needs fed up with my last supplier, reputation. Some methods, by being aware of new services etc. Regardless, each answer such as traditional print and products they may find gives you information to study, advertisements may be losing attractive. Ask for feedback especially when you begin to their appeal to more tech- every time you make a sale, see a pattern. Then emphasize oriented potential clients who and gather testimonials. Try those strengths in your rely heavily on social media. our short but effective survey marketing efforts. Be open to exploring new ideas on the right to gather valuable to get the word out about your information and incorporate business. the results into your marketing Your most unhappy customers are • Does your brand suit the plan. your greatest source of learning. current environment? • Have you targeted your – Bill Gates You likely created it when you marketing efforts? first started your business. Take the time to identify your Next month: Financial & Legal Does it still accurately reflect ideal client and align your the times and your company marketing approach to attract CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE GROUP or have you evolved into those clients. You cannot be INSURANCE PLAN something different? all things to all people when Information supplied by R. F. MacKillop CFP. • Are you a contender in your running a business and your niche market? marketing dollars are best One way of identifying your spent reaching a specific group. page 2 Pontiac Chamber of Commerce www.pontiacchamberofcommerce.ca General Meeting News, article suggestions and letters to the editor are welcomed and encouraged. Sponsored by Thursday, February 27th Content will be edited to fit the space Meal ($25) – 6:30 pm available. We welcome press releases and Meeting – 7:00 pm news from our local business community. Bateau Royal, Portage du Fort Presenters Chamber Benefits Rémi Bertrand – MRC Director General; Raymond Durocher – Pontiac Warden—Presentation with respect to Vision 20/20 Being a member of the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce means Patrick Hureau, President – Score Financial Services Inc.—Provides the that you are also affiliated with the National Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan, represented and Canadian Chamber of Commerce brokered by Ronald F. MacKillop. (CCC) — www.chamber.ca and the Quebec Chamber of Commerce Jennifer Hagen CAE – Canadian Chamber of Commerce—Ms Hagen will (FCCQ) —www.fccq.ca speak about member benefits and affinity programs with an update on the You and your business can take TD Merchant Services program. advantage of benefits listed on their web sites. Meal Choices – $25 1. Grilled Sausage and mushroom in a pesto sauce serve on Penne. 2. Roasted Vegetable in a savoury tomato sauce served on Capellini 3. Shrimp and Scallop in a white wine cream sauce serve on Fettuccine All with Caesar salad and garlic bread, tea and coffee. Group Insurance Benefits RSVP by February 24th Contact Ginger Finan, Business Development Coordinator— 819-647-2312 Visit the new web site / view the video! [email protected] http://www.chambers.ca All Pontiac businesses welcome! Valentine’s Day Advertising in the Online Business Directory February 14th! All businesses try to find the best, time as your business changes and Buy Local! most cost effective way to advertise you offer new products or services. their products and services to the If you would like information public or other business owners. about the directory, please contact The Pontiac Business Directory is [email protected]. The online one way to do this. The directory Help File is there to step you ranks very high on search through the process. If you have engines when anyone is looking not already claimed your business’ for products and services in the listing, we can step you through Pontiac region. the process. This directory was created to Visit the directory at: be updated by the businesses www.commercepontiac.ca themselves so new information can be added to your listings at any Think Global … Buy Local Support Those Who Support You Small Businesses Make Small Towns Work! Consider this when you’re buying … As business operators, our actions shape our communities. page 3 Pontiac Chamber of Commerce www.pontiacchamberofcommerce.ca Chamber Business Sponsors Welcome to the Chamber! Check the chamber web site for links C’est tout DesjarDINS QUI APPUIE to all Chamber businesses. LES ENTREPRENEURS AGRICOLES Support your local It’s all of DesjarDINS SUPPORTING businesses! AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURS Insurance Equipment Financing Bovin Assurances Serres Lait Co-operatives Houblon Coopératives Cattle Mortgages Dairy Operating Credit Gestion de patrimoine Greenhouses Transfert d’entreprise Hobs Financement d’équipement Hypothèques Wealth Management Crédit d’exploitation Succession Planning If you received this newsletter via regular mail and would like to receive it via email, please let us know a valid email 819 683-2451 desjardins.com Fort Coulonge address. We do not share our lists. Campbell’s Bay Ciment Pontiac Chiropractic Clinic Dr. Isabelle Gagnon, 819-648-2144 Chiropractor www.chiropontiac.ca [email protected] www.campbellsbayciment.ca