Small Business Blog from Atlantic Canada

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business just released its Quarterly Business Barometer today. It shows the index has fallen in June, back to the levels displayed for most of 2006. That translates to 2-3% growth in the economy.

Risk management is the process of identifying potential negative outcomes and managing them while realizing potential opportunities. Risks are inherent in everything we do - from crossing the road to running a business. Business risk management is the key to ensure risks are identified and a plan-B thought of. Some risks we can control while others we cannot. The mere mention of business risk evokes different feelings depending on our disposition towards risk. Risk is the probability that “good” OR “bad” things may happen that will impact your objectives.

I had written a post earlier on Blogs as a strategic marketing tool. I also wrote about Is this the beginning of the end of primary marketing research companies. I just wanted to highlight Dell’s blog as a case in point and one specific example of how Dell has leveraged its blog to gather customer [...]

Starting a business is like bringing a new born home. It is difficult and challenging. As a business owner you will make mistakes; some you will avoid by learning from others mistakes and some mistakes you will make. You will stumble and fall, and just like a baby you will dust yourself and say, “Charge this to experience.” And move on.

So you have made up your mind to export. However, before you commit your resources to this project, you must first evaluate if your organization is ready to export.

Dr. Mary Brooks (William Black Chair of Commerce at Dalhousie University, Halifax), one of the transportation experts, believes it is important for Atlantic Canadians to realize that the Atlantic Gateway Initiative is not a Halifax-only initiative. It has positive implications for the entire region. But, is transforming Halifax to a global trade hub possible for a province that screwed-up the 2014 Commonwealth Games?

We all know the routine in large publicly held organizations. The board helps in the recruitment of a CEO. This individual is answerable to the board and the shareholders of the company. Profit maximization is the goal

I came across this article by Katie Two reasons for college students to breathe easier about their future. Katie is a graduate student at the University of Malta’s Institute for Thinking working towards a degree in Creativity and Innovation. I started out writing a few lines of comment, but it turned out to be longer [...]

An entrepreneur posed a question to me, “Do you have any tips on targeting the small business market?” Indeed, how do you sell to small businesses? There is precious little public information on small businesses. Who are they? What are their needs? How do you identify them? Assuming you yourself are a small business or entrepreneur, here are some tips on how to market to small businesses

This is regarding Anita Campbell’s comment on the government attention on small businesses.
I came across an article at the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) that mentioned cuts by the Federal government for microloan programs and their plans not to fund the Small Business Administration microloan program. Microfinance and business counseling plays a key role in [...]