Message from the Executive Director The week of October 18th – 22nd was celebrated across Canada as Small Business Week. The Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation was proud to co-host a full day of valuable and inspiring presentations by PK Marketing Solutions and the Clodhopper Guys – Chris and Larry!! The event was well received and total attendance approached 80 attendees. Although Small Business Week is a celebration of the small to medium size businesses in our community; it is also a great time to take a step back and reflect on how your business is doing! Are there efficiencies you could be working on, are there emerging markets you could be focusing on or is there new training available that may help you reach the next level? At LOWBIC, we are here to help you identify issues and provide potential solutions for your business and all at little or no cost to you! If you have questions about your business, please feel free to come down and chat with our professional staff about how we can help you. October 21st was celebrated as CFDC Day at LOWBIC. We held an Open House Celebration at our office with nearly 50 people attending. Folks that dropped in for a visit were treated to various snacks and dainties while chatting and networking with LOWBIC staff and community “movers and shakers”. LOWBIC proudly displayed the lending portfolio averages over the last couple of years – on average LOWBIC has provided lending solutions of just over $1 MILLION per year! The number of entrepreneurs and businesses we have assisted since incorporation has helped diversify the local economy tremen-dously. If you have a business idea and want to discuss your potential business opportunity – call us today for a free confidential consultation.

LAK E O F TH E WOO DS BUS INE SS INC ENT IVE COR P. THE LOWBIC LAKER Finding

Solutions for Small Business

301 First Avenue South Banister Centre, 2nd Floor

Kenora, ON

P9N 1W2

Phone: (807) 467-4640 Fax: (807) 467-4645

E-mail: lowbic@lowbic.on.ca

LAKE OF THE WOODS BUSINESS INCENTIVE

CORP.

In this Issue......

- SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 2010 - BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS - CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Winter 2010

We were introduced to LOWBIC through our financial institution, when we were looking for the capital to make improve-ments to our business. They suggested we contact LOWBIC, which proved to be a good decision. LOWBIC provided Copperfin with the guarantee so we could in fact secure the funds we needed to extend our business and expand our services to a new audience.

Business Highlight

Business Highlight

Small Business Week 2010

LACROIX LANDSCAPING & PROPERTY CARE

Born & raised in Kenora, Rob Lacroix is the owner of Lacroix Landscaping. After being employed in the landscaping business for five years, I decided to start my own landscaping company. In

October of 2008, LOWBIC provided me with the necessary funds to purchase the equipment I needed to get my business up and running. In 2009 I came back to LOWBIC for additional funds to purchase a loader/backhoe, trailer and 1 ton truck. With the addition of this equipment I am able to take on larger projects and provide year round landscaping services, including snow plowing. I found the process to be straightforward and my loan was approved quickly. As my business grew, LOWBIC staff were there to assist me in acquiring additional equipment. Through the seminars and video conferences provided by LOWBIC, I have been able to develop the business and marketing skills necessary to make sure my business is a success.

Our experience with the staff at LOWBIC had been a real success and we appreciate the fact that they made it possible for us to continue to grow our business and move it forward. We are happy to

have been introduced to LOWBIC and the work they do for such small business as our own.

- Kendall House Bed & Breakfast

Above: Patrysha Korchinski, PK Marketing Solutions, discussing Marketing: Maximum Impact For Small Business Budgets.

Come visit LOWBIC if you are looking for Marketing advice for

your business.

Above/Below: LOWBIC Open House and CFDC Day Celebrations. Clients were given the opportunity to meet with Community Partners, exploring ways to improve their businesses. Approx 50 people attended the days events.

Above: Clodhopper Guys, Chris (R) & Larry (L), with Mike Greaves (NWBiz) and Ryan Reynard (LOWBIC) Below: Full house presentation - 80 people took part in the special event

November 2010

December 2010

Upcoming Events

Please contact LOWBIC (467-4630) to register for seminars/workshops

Most of our events are free or require a small fee. Registration is required for all events and fees, if due, are payable at registration.

“VC” indicates Video Conferencing session.

Self-Employment Benefit Program Information Sessions are held on the last Tuesday of the month (subject to change). Individual Information Sessions are available on request. Please call Crystal Kast, SEB Coordinator at 467-4642 or e-mail cmousseau@lowbic.on.ca to schedule your

appointment.

NOTE:

Microsoft Office 2007 - Tips for Small Business:

Word: December 8, 12pm-2pm

Excel: December 8, 2:30pm - 4:30pm

PowerPoint: Decem-ber 9, 2pm-4pm

Please check with our office frequently for upcoming events or schedule changes. We offer seminars, information sessions, training courses, etc, on an ongoing basis.

If you have a suggestion or idea for a course topic please let us know. We are al-ways looking for new opportunities to bet-ter serve our clients

Your Business Plan - The Home Stretch: Operations & Financial summary

VC: 9am-12pm

Are you ready to be an Entrepreneur?

VC: 1-4pm

2) Self-Employment Benefit Program Information Session

Brdrm: 1-2pm

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

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7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

Boxing Day

Introduction to Balance sheets

VC: 2pm-4pm

Financial Analysis - From your bankers perspective

VC: 10am-1pm

Things to know before starting your small busi-ness Website VC: 3pm-5pm

Employee Relations Problem Solving

VC: 10am-1pm

1) Business ideas & opportunities - Choosing the right one! VC: 10am-12pm

MS Office 2007 - Tips for Small Business

* See Note

MS Office 2007 - Tips for Small Business

* See Note

Your Small Business Website - How to write for the web VC: 10am-12pm

Introduction to Income Statements VC: 1pm-3pm

Daylight Saving Time Ends

December 24 - December 31

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

January 2011

Office Updates

301 First Avenue South Banister Centre, 2nd Floor

Kenora, ON

Phone: (807) 467-4640

Fax: (807) 467-4645

E-mail: lowbic@lowbic.on.ca

Special Notes

Your Business Plan - Getting Started

VC: 1pm-4pm

NOTE:

Savvy Sales Strategies for Success - is a 4 part course. Attendance in all 4 parts is recommended. Part 1: Relationship

Based Sales, Jan 10, 1:15pm-2:15pm

Part 2: Improved Communications using Representation Systems, Jan 17, 1:15pm-2:15pm

Part 3: Rapport, Jan 24, 1:15pm-2:15pm

Part 4: Customer Buying Strategies, Jan 31, 1:15pm-2:15pm

Knowledge Building

Cluster - Marketing is a 4 part course. Attendance in all 4 parts is recommended. Part 1: Marketing

Basics, Dec 13, 10am-12pm

Part 2: Marketing Research, Dec 13, 12pm-2pm.

Part 3: Advertising and Promotion, Dec 14, 10am-12pm

Part 4: Developing a Marketing Plan, Dec 14, 12pm-2pm

Please visit http://events.ebsc.ca/Default.aspx for a description of listed courses as well as others that are offered via video conferencing. If you are interested in a particular course please check with our office for availability.

The holiday season is a very busy time of year. We will be adjusting some of our office events and hours to better meet the needs of our clients.

The Monthly Self-Employment Information Session for December will be cancelled due to historically low turnout. If you would like to discuss your business idea or eligi-bility, please contact Crystal Kast, 467-4642, to book your one-on-one session.

We will be closed December 24th, through to December 31, for the holidays. We will return to regular office hours on Monday January 3rd.

From the LOWBIC staff and board, we wish everyone safe and happy holidays, along with all the best in the New Year!!

Self-Employment Benefit Program Information Session

Brdrm: 1-2pm

Your Business Plan - The Home Stretch: Operations & Financial summary

VC: 10am-1pm

Knowledge Building Cluster - Marketing Part 3 & 4 * See Note

Knowledge Building Cluster - Marketing Part 1 & 2 * See Note

Cash Flow is King: Cash Flow & Financial Ratios VC: 2pm-4pm

Savvy Sales Strategies for Success - Part 1 * See Note

Savvy Sales Strategies for Success - Part 2 * See Note

Savvy Sales Strategies for Success - Part 3 * See Note

Savvy Sales Strategies for Success - Part 4 * See Note

Make it with Marketing

VC: 10am-1pm

Pricing Through Supply Chain

VC: 1pm-3pm