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Times Advocate, 1994-03-09, Page 5rrsyouR BLJSiNFSS _ Times -Advocate, March 9, 1994 Page 5 Business seminar Hard work key to small business success By Catherine O'Brien T -A staff HENSALL - The doors of Hen- sall Public School were open this past Saturday as more than 100 people came out to a special day- long seminar on establishing a small business. Experts in starting new business- es as well as specialist in financing and marketing joined business peo- ple to speak to the crowd about new business ventures. And at the end of the day, partici- pants went away with a sense of what it takes to establish a small business and how to identify busi- ness opportunities. They also discussed how to get funding for new ven- tures and legal mat- ters that need to be considered. As well, they heard personal success sto- ries from local busi- ness people. Speakers ranged from those owning small sideline businesses to those who have established national businesses. Grant Kime, president of the Big '0', told the participants how his company grew to the national level with 11 locations across Canada. Kime said success didn't come over night, rather he worked eight years at two jobs before getting into the manufacturing industry full time. The bottom line to success that all speakers touched on was the need to work hard and be commit- ted. For those who are thinking about getting into business for them- selves, Cam Steckle, president of Cobble Design Inc., said it is im- portant to be realistic about how committed you can be to the ven- ture. When he started the business, "Th le take w have and ap Steckle said his wife had a secure job and they didn't have any chil- dren. "We were able to pump every- thing into the business," he said. "And there were a lot of lean years." So, he said, it is important for each person to look at their own sit- uation before starting out. "The hard work is both physical and mental," said Bob Gehan, man- ager of Stedman's. Gehan said his family lived and breathed the store for the first 18 months while they were getting it off the ground. And with more than 30 major re- tail stores closing in the last few years, Gehan said survival of those remaining or coming into the market place depends on customer satisfaction. "Customers Are Really Everything," is Gehan's motto. Carol Steckle, own- er and operator of Hu- ron Ridge Acres, spoke on the need for long and short term goals. "You need a business plan," she said. That way you have a focus on goals to be reached and have a bet- ter idea of how to handle money generated by the business. "You need to know where you are spending your money," she said. Steckle also said owning your own business means constantly learning. That means going to seminars and continually reading on the sub- ject as well as taking management courses. "You always have to be willing to learn," she said. "The challenge is to take what you have learned and apply it to your business." As well, it is necessary to believe e chal- nge is to hat you learned pply it to ur busi- ness," Budget info coming late to most of council GODERICH - On March 31, Hu- ron County .council will sit down and either approve or reject its 1994 budget. However, a few feathers were ruf- fled on Thursday in the manner in which the budget is actually being presented this year. "i thought it came out at the last strategic meeting that the way we handle the budget is wrong. Last year we passed it in 10 minutes," said Exeter deputy -reeve bossy Fuller. There was a complaint from Goderich reeve John Doherty that while the executive committee has seen the budget for a month, the rest of council will not receive it until March 24, just one week i?e- fore it comes forth for approval. "I don't believe one committee should have information that the rest of council doesn't," said Doher- ty. Hullet Township's Tom Cunning- ham wants the budget to be present- ed line -by-line because if the head- ings are all lumped together, it would be harder to examine. The department heads have al- ready set the budgets even though they have yet to be approved by council. Brian McBurney of Turn - berry Township said this could re- sult in departments presenting pro- tective budgets in the future as departments are unaware of to where council will want to make cuts. Steckle invites public participation in policy reform CLINTON- Huron -Bruce MPP Paul Steckle is calling for the pub- lic to get involved in the social re- form process. "I invite constituents of Huron - Bruce to participate in this most important policy reform," said Setckle, "we need to have a pro- cess where people have input be- fore final decisions are made." Comprehensive social security I reform has been made a priority for the federal government. A schedule in which this reform will take place has been established and is aimed at new legislation and reform of the social security sys- tem. There will be two public forums held in Huron -Bruce. The first is March 17, at Central Huron Secon- dary School, 165 Princess St. E., in Clinton from 7 - 10 p.m. The second forum is in Kincardine the next evening. r INVESTMENTS GIC/RSP 1 Yr. - 4.50% 3 Yr. - 5.25% 5 yr. - 6.00% Segregated Funds 1 YR. - 22.86% 2 YR. - 11.68% 3YR. -12.17% Gaiser-Kneale 235-2420,238-8484 • GIC easel sub/ject to change. Short- term rata avaifabtt. Segregated find rates reflect actual past performance. FUMY* returns will vary. HAVE US PREPARE YOUR 1993 PERSONAL TAX RETURN RECEIVE'(OUR RE REND VENUE M CANADA IN AS LITTLE AS 2 WEEKS by tiling electronically volt) us Accurately and Efficiently . Starting at s19°° CaII for an appointment at our offices located in: Hensall, Clinton, Exeter, Grand Bend 263-3039 or 1-800-567-0844 Fax: 262-3111 W. H. MacGREGOR FARM ACCOUNTING SERVICE 114 King St. 16 years experience Hensall Telling their success stories during the seminar were Carol Steckle on left, Ann Rose, moder- ator Jim Niesen, Jan Barnes, Cam Steckle and Grant Kime. in what you are selling and have pride in the product or service. "We only sell products we can stand behind," said Jan Barnes, owner and operator of Dashwood Lock and Key in Exeter. The reason for this, she said, is be- cause local retailers must go up against the rapidly emerging super - :.:ores that are extremely competi- tive. "Some of these stores are able to sell things lower than cost," she said. So smaller businesses must have some sort of competitive edge. Another key point was knowing your market. That's one of the sub- jects discussed by Ann Rose, presi- dent of ice Culture. She said if you know your market, it makes promotion of the product or service a lot easier. In the case of Ice Culture, more time than money is spent on promotion. "Our product is something that people need to see first hand," she said. "Increased promotional efforts lead to increased production." So she spends a lot of time pro- moting at specialty shows such as winter carnivals rather than advertis- ing, for example. Many of the speakers also empha- sized the need to trust others to help out. They said it is important to rely on professionals for advice on ac- counting and legal matters, for ex- ample. But even with careful planning and consideration, many of the speakers cautioned that starting a small business it still a risky ven- ture. "There is a risk with everything worth having in life," said Gehan. The seminar was set up by the Hensall Development Committee in cooperation with Centennial College Centre of Entrepreneurship, the South Huron Community Develop- ment Area and the Huron Communi- ty Futures Committee. 411 PROFESSIONAL ADVICE PERSONAL SERVICE EFlLE Revenue Canada Authorized Agent HOMUTH, TAYLOR, PINDER & McNEILLY Chartered Accountants 71 Main St. N., Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S3 519-235-0101 Exeter Honda Wins TOTAL QUALITY DEALERSHIP AWARD Wayne Hamather, general manager of Exeter Honda accepted the Honda Total Quality Dealer Award recently at a convention in Las Vegas. Shown above are: Kalim Ansari, senior vice-president, parts and service division: Wayne Hamather, James Miller, senior vice-president, automobile sales and marketing and Isao Suzuki, president Honda Canada. Exeter Honda is one.of only 30 dealerships in Canada to win the "Honda Total Quality Dealer Award." The Exeter dealership excelled against a comprehensive and rigordits set of standards in areas of dealership iitaihigenteitt, showroom presentation, sales, service and customer satisfaction. Honda Londa Canada congratulates Wayne Hamather and his entire staff for surpassing a tough set of standards and some of the best dealers in the business - Honda dealers. All of us at Exeter Honda would like to say ThankYou to our customers. Winning this award would not be possible without your support. WE'RE ALWAYS IMPROVING OUR LEVEL OF SERVICE ANNOUNCING OM NEW ALIGNMENT SYSTEM Licenced Technicians Mark Tuckey and Howard Neeb are fully trained in operating this state of the art alignment system. INTRODUCTORY SPECIALS! WHEEI\ WHEEI. ALIGNMENT ALIGNMENT s� 499 $7995j *PROFESSIONAL CAR & TRUCK CLEAN-UP: 4 • '.Vast) Wax Vacuum, • a'.lrnt Sl'algnt • Upholstery & Carpet Sham' • Srotrhguarthng • .'rte Vehicle P, n btu• OIL GUARD FORMULA II NO DRIP OIL SPRAY 55995 From + taxes EXETER O D JEFF HEYWOOD Service Manager itk HAROLD BORDEN Car Cart Specialist salt 3&1 ' 1 ask Nor Jeff' ...Remember, We Servllce all Makes & Mt.► 650 MAIN ST., EXETER 235-1081 "where service and customer satisfaction matter" i'