WOMEN IN BUSINESS
According to Industry Canada, the number of women heading up Canadian companies has doubled since 1990, with women partially or wholly owning almost half of all small businesses in Canada. Traditionally, most women entrepreneurs worked in the service and retail sectors, but this is rapidly changing. From technology to manufacturing, insurance to real estate, law to accountancy, women are moving on up. In our regular series focusing on women in business, MB Magazine presents more local success stories, from recent start-ups to established companies.
Helen Stergiou and Joanne Triantafilou,
The Office Shop
The Office Shop offers furniture solutions to meet their customer’s budgets with their style. The manufacturers they represent are selected for their quality, service and product offerings, in order to provide customers with numerous options and solutions.
What sets The Office Shop apart from the crowd? “Knowledgeable, friendly service,” Helen explains. “Product selection alone will not meet our customer’s needs nor will it be to our satisfaction. We take pride in taking the time to understand our customer’s needs. We also will provide every potential client with full design drawings. There is no better way to understand their future purchase than for them to visualize it.” The Office Shop’s professional design team provides two- and three-dimensional drawings to ensure that the client fully understands how their office will look.
Helen has worked in the office furniture industry for almost 20 years now and her staff has over 10 years of experience. This wealth of knowledge and experience enables them to provide clients with suitable solutions to their needs and contributes to the company’s ongoing success.
Andrea Blair,
Blair Insurance Brokers
Andrea Blair, president of Blair Insurance Brokers is dedicated to getting clients the best possible insurance coverage for the best possible price. Even when navigating through a hard market cycle, whereby insurance coverage options are more limited and prices are higher, Andrea’s clients can rest assured that she is passionate about getting the best coverage package for her clients.
Blair Insurance has been providing insurance solutions to customers since 1978, making this the company’s 32nd year of operation, specializing in Automobile, Property, Business and Life Insurance.
What sets them apart from the masses of insurance businesses out there? “Not only do we shop the marketplace for you, saving you time and money,” Andrea explains. “But most importantly, we find the RIGHT coverage to suit your needs.” Another advantage is that they are fully independent and work FOR the client, not any one insurance company, so they can offer objective advice and service.
Daisy Wai,
Ad2000 and Beyond Advertising Inc.
Daisy Wai, President of Ad2000 And Beyond Advertising Inc., is happy to celebrate her company’s 18th anniversary. Her experience in the advertising, public relations and publishing field has resulted in the success of Ad2000.
“My goal is to bring growth and success to clients’ business with professional, innovative and results-oriented marketing,” says Daisy, who grows her business by following the motto “Creating Your Successful Promotion is Our Best Campaign.”
“We are very down to earth and are committed to our clients, big or small,” Daisy states. Ad2000 was awarded the Business Achievement Award by the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce and the Award of Merit by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Daisy has been recognized by several business groups including the ACCE and the York Region In Celebration for Women Marketing Award.
Ad2000 specializes in marketing to Chinese markets both in Canada and China. Recently, they expanded into email, mobile and social marketing, which has brought tremendous growth
to their clients’ business.
Gloria Rajkumar,
SIMAC (Superior Independent Medical Assessment Centres)
Gloria Rajkumar, President and CEO of SIMAC Canada Inc., proves that with hard work and determination anything is possible. In less than a decade, this dynamic entrepreneur has built a highly successful company and has earned a reputation for excellence, acknowledged by three business achievement awards this year including the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Award for Business Excellence.
SIMAC provides independent medical assessments for insurers whose claimants have been injured or disabled in an auto accident, and employers dealing with workplace injuries. SIMAC is a leading vendor for several key insurance companies and Ms. Rajkumar has been recognized by PROFIT Magazine as a Top 100 Woman Entrepreneur. Ms Rajkumar is also a member of the exclusive Women Presidents’ Organization – a group that connects top women entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptional performance in business practice and revenue.
Ms. Rajkumar attributes her success to uncompromised customer care and service excellence. “It’s about making a steadfast commitment to exceed your customers’ expectations with reliable and superior performance. That’s what SIMAC delivers – every time.”
Marj Andre,
OnRichmondHill.com
Marj Andre, Director of OnRichmondHill.com, a web site and weekly email newsletter, informs people about what is happening in Richmond Hill.
There are so many ways in which to participate in what is happening in our Town, and OnRichmondhill.com does a very good job of listing them all in one place. There is no charge to have an event posted.
OnRichmondhill.com also includes interesting articles and features many events going on in a thriving Town. Marj also profiles the community’s organizations. The weekly email newsletter is currently sent out to about 3000. Marj hopes to be sending it to 35,000. More and more advertisers are coming on board. They want to be associated with something that has been well received by the community. The Nabernet technology that is the back end of the web site allows Marj to quickly and easily post events, send out the newsletter and create a presence for advertisers by publicizing their information. Advertisers have more than just a button ad – there is an expanded listing that can include photos, descriptions and the opportunity to let the community know how they are involved.
Julie King,
CanadaOne.com
CanadaOne.com® was founded in 1998 to provide Canadian-specific small business information online.
By building excellent content, the site emerged from the “dot.bomb” crash as one of Canada’s few dot.com success stories.
“We started CanadaOne to help people start, run and grow their businesses,” says co-founder Julie King. “Today we publish new information each month and our site has evolved into a just-in-time business library.”
A visit to CanadaOne reveals a wealth of high quality content. There is a business directory, events calendar, business guides and over 900 articles in the archives. One of the most popular features of the site is the ask-an-expert service. All content is available for free, with revenue coming from advertising.
Whether you are thinking of starting a new venture or growing an existing business, CanadaOne can help.
“It’s where Canadians surf for success,” says King.
Tina Vedovat,
Nimlok Canada Ltd.
Tina Vedovat, President of Nimlok Canada Ltd., finds the challenge of evolving her business to help her client market with meaning an exciting feat. Nimlok Canada is a leading display and exhibit solutions provider of custom exhibits, graphics, show services and event management committed to making their client’s tradeshow or event a success.
With expertise and resources throughout North America and in the United Kingdom, Nimlok Canada provides full service tradeshow and exhibit resources anywhere around the globe.
The company has been around for 25 years and they are constantly evolving by introducing new products and expanding their capabilities in order to assist with the ever-changing marketing demands facing their clients. Aside from manufacturing some beautiful creative displays Tina says she is blessed to work with a great group of people in the company on a daily basis. "We work hard, have a lot of fun (sometimes I think too much fun), and share one common goal, that is, keeping the client happy."
Angela Rosa,
AMR Services
Angela Rosa, President and CEO of AMR Services, has over 15 years of experience in the accounting field and works hard to ensure the success of her business as well as that of her clients. She also successfully meets the challenge of balancing her professional and family life, running her accounting services business while raising two children.
“There is no magic potion,” Angela says. “Determination, perseverance, patience and knowing that you must balance both family and business is what gets me through.
In regards to her growing business, Angela makes sure that her clients are not treated simply as files. “Each company we work for has a unique methodology to their business. AMR Services applies the owner’s philosophy and business acumen to the work we complete on their behalf. Even though AMR Services operates as a separate and distinct contractor, the services we provide are personal. The relationship is not simply as a hired outside contractor but more so as partners, with each partner knowing their role in the relationship and striving for success.”
Monica Bryan,
meetforbiz
Monica Bryan is the owner and President of Meetforbiz, which is a B2B Networking Event Management Company. The Meetforbiz Network was officially launched in March 2008 and continues to grow steadily in membership. Regional Event Sponsors and Directors have been, and are being strategically positioned to offer forums for members to show case their businesses and local business owners a chance to come out and meet other like minded professionals and promote their own businesses.
The Meetforbiz motto is simple: Relationships. Abundance. Flexibility.Meetforbiz is inclusive, so it allows people to build relationships based on similar values, rather than product or service.
Meetforbiz is not restrictive or demanding. It operates out of abundance, not obligation. There are no referral minimums, or territory restrictions. You can use the Meetforbiz resources to grow your business anywhere you want, in one or all territories.
It’s all about connecting to the best people, the best opportunities and the best benefits!
Tammy Mang,
Media Diversified
Tammy Mang, President of Media Diversified Inc. (MDI), brings over 25 years of experience as a publisher and sales manager into your company. Tammy provides you with the support of an experienced team, who can work effectively with your staff to help you create a unique custom magazine to help build your brand, create loyalty, increase business and build client relationships.
Custom publishing means you put your company or brand name on a publication and direct your target market in an intended direction. MDI offers you a one-stop-shop to produce your own magazine in print or digital format. They find the right talent for your specific project, provide you with realistic timelines and budgets and then ensure the project is followed through from A to Z.
Some of MDI’s projects include: publishing LL&A Magazine, a quarterly magazine for the retail industry, publishing the inaugural issue of The Distillery District Magazine, project management on the Markham Board of Trade 25th Year Anniversary Book, Mississauga Tourism Visitor Guide and Mississauga Conference Planner.
Jess Joss,
Insiteful Solutions
Insiteful Solutions, established in 2002, is the result of a partnership between two Internet Consulting Companies, combining 13 years of Internet marketing and E-business experience, implemented by an exceptional team of Internet and programming specialists. Jess relates: “Our goal is to help clients use the Internet effectively to promote themselves and increase profitability. We are online results specialists. We created a unique process for business owners and marketing decision makers called The Targeted Insite Solution™. This system helps you continuously gain new insite to efficiently reach your targeted Internet audience. The outcome? Targeted Internet Results.
They provide expert service, harnessing talent in Graphic Design, HTML, Flash and Database programming, as well as expertise in the fields of Search Engine Services, Social Media Marketing, Videography, and Website Content. Their client relationships are built for the long term.” As a result, the company continues to grow through word-of-mouth referrals as well as the implementation of the Online and Offline Marketing Strategies they recommend to clients.
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