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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-11-15, Page 8a -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NovNnber 15, 2000 News Huron Business Self -Help office opens in Seaforth Get a grip before you snap Doc Calm Location http://www.canoe.ca/Health/home.html, J t+% Go to Stress relief advice Current medical news Drug & disease database Everything you need to be healthy. VickiWhite !right) Business C9� conducted a consulation wiTh during the Open House celebr for the newly opened Huron Business Self Help Office two clients regarding starting a business in Huron County rations.: . By Shelley McPhee Hoist • Focus News Magaiine Editor Small business• is the fabric and beauty of Huron County,. says Vicki White, Business Consultant at the Huron Business Self Help Office in Seaforth. With an increase in the number and proportion" of self-employed people in 1-luron County so too has the need for resources and advisory Services. • The Huron Business Self Help Office, an expanded version of the former.Huron Business Resource Centre, celebrated its grand• opening late last. month. Funded by the County of Huron and the Ministry of. -Economic Development and Trade the Huron Business Self Help Office offers • one-to-one consulting, business start- up guides, resources and professional advice. White said, "We're trying to help new businesses and encouraging , existing •businesses to look at the new trends. "Our goals are to gather and simplify information on small business startup, to handle general inquiries and encourage proper business planning and operation." The Business Self Help .Office provides information. and advice on several levels. White said. "Some people may want to be entrepreneurs but they ,don't have a specific. product or business idea. We can help them look at options and work through ideas." Some individuals may have a business idea and a location, but need to develop a business plan and a marketing strategy. Others may own an established business but are looking for new. ideas to rejuvenate their business. . The Huron Business Self Help Office is a division of the Huron Business Centre. which is a one-stop centre 'offering financial and husincss advice. Along with the Self Help Office the Huron Business Development Corporation ' offers , management consulting • and small business loans. "Tlje •biggest barrier to people who want to start a business is the blank page syndrome. Without a good business plan your chances or succeeding are reduced," White noted. • White helps individuals develop husincss plans, mission statements, determine customer base, market strategy, product costing. suppliers, location and operating requirements, financing and other pertinent details. Businesses in retail and service are the most frequent users of the Self Help Office resources, followed by agriculture, manufacturing and new products.. • White said that economic • restructuring in recent years has encouraged many people to pursue self- employment. This trend is occurring at a time when technological advances and increased awareness of the self-employment option have made .starting a small business a credible alternative for many people. Micro -businesses, those _with five or less employees, comprise 88% of business operations in Huron County. In 1991 the percentage of micro - enterprise owners was equivalent to 215E of Huron County's active labour force. When estimates of the number of employees generated by small business are considered, direct employment generated by this sector is greater than. 25%' of Huron's labour force. White added, "Not all people have what it takes to start a small business: Not everyone is an entrepreneur. Do you love your hobby enough to do it six days a week? You might like to make a few widgets and sell them at the fair, but do you want to crank'these things out day after day?" The Self -Help Office. offers an extensive resource library and Internet access. As well workplans, seminars and individual counselling are available. Along with startup business, existing` businesses arc also encouraged to .use the service. "Too "often businesses focus on working hard and they don't make time to move ahead. The most common concern for businesses is market trends and how to stay ahead," White said, adding that it is important to be flexible, to watch and listen to customers, network with other business people and to respond to customer needs. "It all comes down to customer service and responding to customer needs." she added. "If they don't like the service they won't come back." White noted that small business is Huron County is thriving and growing, and that more consumers from outside the area, including urban consumers, are choosing to shop in the area. Specialty shops. excellent customer service, unique ' shopping, entertainment, food and accommodations are among the popular features. As for the future trends in business. White advises entrepreneurs to watch what the Baby Boomers.are doing. "They're had working. they're well educated and they are ready to spend money. Comfort, health and wellness as popular trends • as are services for double income partners who have less time for home, like homemaking, childcare, pet care . and •homecooked meals." October is Small Business Month and a seminar series is being offered at the Huron Business Centre over the next year. Seminars will also be offered in locations throughout Huron. For moreinformation contact the Huron Business Self Help Office at 138 Main Street, Seaforth 519'- 527-0305. The Office is open Monday. to Friday from 9=5 and. on Wednesdays until 8 p.m. EHealth* imummi Brussels 4-H Show and Sale Grand Champion Steer Doug Johnston Buyer - Brussels Livestock, Len Gamble Nicole Moore Buyer - Townsend Tire Derek Van Dieten Buyer - T.D. Bank Seaforth Tonya Drost Buyer - McKI!!op Insurance Grand Champion Lamb Jason Murray Buyer - Thompson Feed & Supply Chris Regele Buyer - Townsend Tire Kevin Whyte Buyer - T.D. Bank Seaforth Garrett Van Dieten Buyer - Hensall Co-op Brussels 4-H Show and Sale was held Oct. 7 at the Brussels livestock. There were 27 calves and 24 lambs. The 4-H members would like to thank Len Gamble, Brussels Livestock and the following buyers and cash sponsors. (C denptes calf, L denotes lamb) Multiple Buyers - Omni Insurance (2C,1L), Thompson Feed, Ripley (2C,1L), Lucknow Co-op (1C,1L), Hay Insurance (2L), Townsend Tire (2L), CIBC Huron Branches (1Ci1L), Brussels Livestock (2C,2L), Brussels Agri Service (2L), McKillop Insurance (2L), Hensall Co-op (1C,1L), Toronto Dominion Bank, Seaforth (2L), McGavin Farm Supply (2L). Single buyers - Mabon Meats, Elliott Fencing, Green's Meat Market, BDO Dunwoody, Dauphin Feed, Metzger Vet Services, McCutcheon Motors, Better Beef Guelph, Snobelen Farms, Rob Thompson Auctions, Mayfair Restaurant, Ron Clark Trucking, Wawanoeh Inc (Mike Foran), Brussels Transport, MacDonald Lumber, Helm Welding, Chisholm Fuels, Teeswater Concrete, Howick Transport, George Smyth Welding, Lucknow Village Market, Lucknow Farm Supply, Cliff Livingston Trucking, Edward Fuels, Beefway. Cash sponsors - Pfizer Canada, Howick Insurance, Formosa Insurance, Merick Agvet (Ivomee), Neil Edgar (Jones Feed Mill), Cardiff & Mulvey, Brussels.