Business Awards deadline is coming!

 https://didsburychamber.ca/Content/Business_Award_Nominations_/

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (11+ employees) Honours a noteworthy enterprise with more than 11 full-time* employees that lead with vision and have demonstrated continued success. *employee works 20+ hours per week	SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (10< employees) Honours a business with 1 - 10 full-time* employees, that demonstrates continual business excellence through positive business growth, a competitive business model and a commitment to the community. *employee works 20+ hours per week
BUSINESS LEADERSHIP OF THE YEAR Honours a business that demonstrates leadership in their business practices their industry, and the Didsbury community.  The business provides inspiration and acts as a positive role model in these areas.	EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR Honours an individual whose service went above and beyond what is traditionally expected.  Recipients are chosen based on the quality of service, not the number of nominations.
ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR Honours an incorporated, not-for-profit, society that demonstrates organizational leadership and measurable success, as defined by the organization, in achieving its mandate.	YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Honours an entrepreneur under the age of 30 who excels in business, exemplifies leadership and entrepreneurial skills and demonstrates exceptional vision that contributes to business success.
INNOVATIVE ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR Honours a business that exemplifies successful innovation; displays vision in the development and launching of new technologies, products and/or services and demonstrates the ability to take risks.	GREEN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Honours a business that demonstrates leadership with their environmental and sustainable business practices.

BUSINESS/ GARDEN STATUS REPORTS...

                                    

So, how is your garden (business) growing?

We started the COVID A.C. blogs with references to taking the time to weed, prune and replant your business.  Let's take a moment to see how you are growing….

What has survived the drastic measures taken to renew, strengthen and grow?!

Your business plan was dusted off and you took a look at how/why you started your journey.  What changes did you make:

Staffing:                - this was a huge factor in the business world.  Between February and April over 14 million Canadians became unemployed.  

-          As a business owner/manager we take things personally and I know you struggled with these hard decisions.  Please don’t beat yourself up about what happened.  It was out of our control.  We have to remove the pest (COVID) before we can strengthen and grow!

This was a good time to look at everyone’s roles, processes, etc and see if there are ways you can improve.

Services/Product             - how have you improved? 

-          Have you reduced stock?  Is stock still available?  Break downs in the Supply Chain have affected all areas of life.

-          Did you move to an online presence? Keep it up! Even with restrictions slowly being eased people will not be flocking to the stores in the same numbers as before.

-          Did you remember to Thank your customers and Employees? Kindness and respect makes the best soil conditioners…

Goals                     - Are you still striving towards the same goal?

-          Has a new opportunity shown itself?

 

You have survived!  Some changes have occurred but if you continue in this new direction then the harvest will be strong and plentiful!

Did you remember to record your changes?  Now we need to take these changes and put them into a more concrete plan.

As an employee I used to hate the Annual Review questions….where do you see yourself in X number of years?  But as a business owner that takes on such an important role!  Think of this as the crop rotation plan!  How are you going to stay strong? Improve your soil (basis for all crops)?

The drum roll please …..A Strategic Plan!

This is like your business plan but on fertilizer!! Your business plan was for the here and now.  Setting up the processes, markets, etc.  You planned and seeded the garden.  Now you need to look at guiding your business towards your long term (2-5 year) goals and establish the steps necessary to attain them.

You know the processes, the market, the supplies, and the staffing of your business today but the Strategic Plan takes it that one step further.  It is a challenge to review markets and review if projects are falling within the parameters of your visions and objectives.

Strategic planning allows you to capitalize on your strengths, take advantage of opportunities and become more forward-thinking…Forward thinking is hard today, but if we don’t keep looking and moving forward we will go nowhere.  Having a plan and changing it as things change is much better than not having one.  It is easier to weed and thin out then to try and start new plants in the middle of the season!

Just like a business plan this is not something done in an evening or on a napkin.  Look for resources to guide you through the process:  The Didsbury & District Chamber of Commerce has links to various resources: Your local financial institution; the BDC; Alberta.ca (https://www.alberta.ca/small-business-supports.aspx). 

And one last thing….don’t forget to include your Emergency Response Plan – you know the one you have been working in ….that little garden plot of perennials that once planted only needs maintaining and occasional pruning…

Share your garden/business success with us by Following the chamber blog and see how others have worked toward a strong harvest!