Tuesday E-mail - October 19, 2010

What Is The Chamber Doing For You?


Upcoming Business After Hours

November 17th - Hidden Bay Leadership Camp
We are currently booking business after hours dates for 2011. If your business is interested in hosting a after hours event please contact Kathy at the Chamber office, kathy@parrysoundchamber.ca or (705) 746-4213.


Information Updates

Chamber staff are currently making calls to update our members business information. This information will be used for the upcoming printing of our business directory as well as to put customers through to your doors be it through our online business directory, telephone, e-mail or drop in requests for information. The more we know about your business the better we can promote you, if you are now offering new services or have made changes to your business please be sure to keep us informed.


Chamber Happenings:

Business After Hours & Salute to Small Business

Thank you to the October hosts RBC, the Stockey Centre and the Business Centre for putting on a great event with guest speakers Rhonda Scarf on Charisma, Credibility and Confidence; the 1-2-3 Plan for Success! Followed by Dawn Desjardins, Royal Bank of Canada Senior Economist, on the outlook for the 2011 Economy.

A reminder to all members to take advantage of these free events as they are a excellent networking and learning opportunity.


Dragons Den

The Chamber was happy to be a partner this fantastic event, Congratulations to the Regional Economic Development Advisory Committee (REDAC) on hosting a successful Dragons Den from which one local business received financial support to get their new product out on the market.


Upcoming Business Workshops & Seminars:


Contact North and PARO workshops

Contact North and PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise have teamed up to offer workshops every Wednesday in October. The sessions are available free of charge and open to all Parry Sound and area residents (both men and women) though Contact North distance education delivery system. The Contact North Center is located at 60 James Street, suite 201. Please register by e-mailing : buildingbridges@paro.ca.

Action Planning
October 20, 2010 - 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
with Christine Sikerbol, PARO Centre

Sales Strategies for Small Business
October 20, 2010 - 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
with Lisa Vescio, PARO Centre

Industry and Target Market Research
October 27, 2010 - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
with Jesse Roberts, Thunder Bay Public Library & Christine Sikerbol, PARO Centre
Industry Research
•Where to find information to conduct Industry Research
• Online research
• Gathering Canadian business information through trade publications & news media
• InfoTrac Small Business E Collection
Target Market Research
• 3 C’s of market research
• Market trends and market share
• Formulating a survey for target market research

It’s No Accident!
WSIB – Small Business Basics
October 27, 2010 - 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
with Randi Monteith, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario.
Ready to Hire? Need a Plan? How to get started and the resources available to you.


What’s Happening in our Community?

10 digit telephone dialing begins January 15th

Beginning January 15, 2011, our region will be required to dial 10 digits – the 705 area code followed by the seven-digit phone number– for all local calls. The introduction of 10-digit dialing in the area will pave the way for the addition of a new area code, 249, in March 2011, as the 705 area code reaches capacity.

Businesses and consumers need to begin preparations for 10-digit dialing as early as possible. For a checklist of the information your business should be updating visit
http://www.region450.com/content/documents/Checklist_Business_EN.pdf