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"Both the delegates and the conference organization committee are very pleased with the workshop presentations and the discussion of the advanced materials showcased at the conference. ... our sincerest appreciation for your presentation."

- Michael Eibl
Conference Coordinator, Provincial Youth Self-employment Conference for Service Providers


"Bruce has been exemplary in his ability to deliver the (business) program within time and budget guidelines. ... Additionally, Bruce's unique presentation style and encouragement provided a favourable learning atmosphere, and as a result many participants went on to successfully launch their own businesses. I would not hesitate to contract with him again."

- Janis Cookson
Program / Policy Officer, BC Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise.


"Putting on these types of days is a real pleasure when you have polished and professional speakers like you. I got nothing but very positive feedback; as a matter of fact everyone wanted to know when the next seminar would be."

- Wilf Warner
VP and General Manager, 760 CKQR

 


Consulting Services
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Surviving Cancer and Laughing About It
101 Business's to Start for Under $1,000
Facilitating Workshops for Youth
How to Start a Home Based Business
The Transition from Employee to Self-employed
Basic Business and Dining Etiquette
Business Planning and Start-up
Exceptional Customer Service
Guerrilla Marketing
Hiring the Best
Marketing a Consulting Business
Starting a Cooperative Business
Proposal and Grant Writing
Public Speaking for the Totally Terrified
Running Successful Meetings
Manipulating the Media: How to Get Free Press and Air Time

Surviving Cancer and Laughing About It

In July 2002, Bruce Lacroix was diagnosed with Stage 3 Grade 3 bladder cancer. That August he took part in and completed his first triathlon. In September of the same year, he underwent three operations at once to remove his bladder and re-create an alternative. With the support of his family and friends, Bruce has overcome the challenges and now laughs at many of the experiences he and his family went through. While cancer is a serious topic, his experiences with the discovery, operations and subsequent life changes are presented with humour and insight.

This topic is of particular interest to support groups, physicians and care givers, families of cancer patients, insurance companies, those who live with cancer patients and those who face serious challenges in their lives.


101 Business's to Start for Under $1,000101

From the traditional to the bizarre, for youth or the newly retired, this fast paced presentation uses 101 real examples and audience participation to get the point across that opportunities exist everywhere. There are a lot of businesses that can be started in your community for very little money. This workshop is of particular interest to re-training programs, economic development agencies, Chambers of Commerce, youth groups and government agencies.


Facilitating Workshops for Youth

Trying to connect with the under 30 crowd? Based on five years of marketing and delivering the highly successful Youth Business and Entrepreneurship Training Program (YouBET!) for the British Columbia Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture. Here are a number of tips and techniques on creating relevant workshops, marketing them effectively, and then presenting in a manner that "wow's" them and gets results.


How to Start a Home Based BusinessHome

According to a recent study by the Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, businesses in the home now account for 71% of all new business start-ups in Canada.
Let us help you through the whole process, from idea to opening day.

  • business planning - See Business Planning and Start-up, plus the following

  • local, provincial and federal regulations
  • financing
  • simple bookkeeping
  • tax considerations
  • setting up the home office
  • technology for the home office
  • separating business from home life
  • time and stress management

The Transition from Employee to Self-employed

Of particular interest to laid off government workers, long time workers getting pink slipped, and recent retirees who want to keep busy and make some money. Similar to How to Start a Home Based Business, above, with additional sections on:

  • thinking like an entrepreneur
  • marketing the consultant
  • financial planning for the self-employed

Basic Business and Dining Etiquette

This workshops includes dinner at one of the better restaurants in the market area, to practise what was learned in class.

Manners have made a big comeback in the business world. Those subtle but so important behaviours that our grandmother's generation knew and practiced have not really changed much. But without them, you could inadvertently be damaging your business or career.

  • Business Introductions
  • Gender Issues
  • Basic grooming and dress
  • Etiquette in meetings and conferences
  • Communications do's and don'ts: Phone, e-mail, print, conversations. Invitations, RSVP's
  • Body language, handshakes and eye contact
  • 10 tips for any social situation
  • 25 do's and don'ts at the table
  • What your mother told you (or should have)
  • Silverware and table layout
  • Eating, from artichoke to watermelon
  • Mastering the business meal

Business Planning and Start Up

This workshop leads participants through all the steps necessary to go from "idea" to "opening day".

In a logical sequence, and in understandable, everyday terms, would-be entrepreneurs will learn all the steps necessary to research, create and complete a viable business plan. This completed plan will be for both their own use, and to attract potential lenders or investors.

Not a "canned presentation", but tailored to each individual and their business idea.

Participants will:

Learn how to do an accurate feasibility study of their idea to see if the idea has a chance of succeeding.

Explore the characteristics of an entrepreneur, to discover if self-employment really is for them.

Take a look at what they want from a business: financially, personally and emotionally.

Then participants will learn how to gather the information for their business plan, and how to put it all together. Topics here include:

  • Introduction
  • Management
  • Market Research and Analysis: product or service, target customers, market area, competition, current market analysis, summary of market analysis, market support
  • Marketing Plan
  • Operations: organization, location, equipment, production process, suppliers, staffing, guarantees, professionals, banking, advisors
  • Laws and Insurances
  • Financial Projections: personal budget, cost analysis, pricing method, personal investment, start-up costs, cash flow, projected income statement
  • Risk Assessment

Exceptional Customer Service

Numerous studies show that businesses lose most customers, not because of price, location or competition, but because of poor customer service. Competent, friendly and knowledgable staff increase your profits and keep those customers that you worked so hard to get.

Interactive, fun, and practical. Exceptional Customer Service works with you and your staff on the following topics:

  • Just what is Customer Service?
  • Remembering and using customer names
  • Making conversation
  • Positive first impressions
  • Communicating clearly: listening, body language, and speaking
  • Knowing your community and providing local directions and advice on the area
  • Professional telephone communication
  • Handling customer complaints, using respect and empathy
  • Cultural differences: awareness of cultural and religious issues and how to effectively handle them.

Guerrilla Marketing

Discover numerous ways to market your business or organization using untraditional methods that work, and cost LESS than traditional advertising. This is not a "sit and listen" workshop, but a dynamic, hands-on and creative day. Includes after-class follow-up. Guaranteed to give you at least 5 new ways to market yourself, business or organization, or we don't invoice you.

  • Three reasons why most traditional marketing does not work
  • What is Guerrilla Marketing
  • General Guerrilla Marketing Tips
  • The power of NINE
  • Know your competition
  • Create a Benefit Statement
  • Specific Guerrilla Marketing Tips
  • Your top 5 Guerrilla Marketing Methods

Hiring the Best

The success of your business depends upon the staff you hire.
Highly interactive and hands-on, this workshop will help you find, hire and keep the very best staff. Some of the topics covered in this hands- on workshop include:

Preparing for the Interview

  • Identifying what you want from and in an employee
  • What to look for on an application and resume
  • Identifying "resume cheaters" who falsify their qualifications
  • The value of an application form versus a resume

Creating an Environment Conducive to Applicant Openness and Honesty

  • The interviewer's attitude and demeanor
  • The arrangement of the interview room and furniture
  • The specific techniques that encourage applicant candor
  • The type of statements that discourage applicant openness and honesty

Step by step format for conducting a professional, effective interview

  • Three types of interviews, and when to use each
  • The seven types of questions to use during the interview
  • The most effective way to design the question phraseology

Identifying Possible Deception During the Interview

  • Verbal and nonverbal behaviours that suggest deception
  • Recognizing when an applicant is withholding relevant information
  • Using follow-up and clarification questions to develop complete and honest answers

Marketing a Consulting Business

For independent, self-employed consultants in any field who wish to learn how to market their skills and business, and thus increase sales and income.

  • Defining the "consultant"
  • Knowing what you have to offer
  • Finding the work: who hires consultants, and how to find them
  • Using the Internet
  • Building your marketing portfolio
  • 10 marketing tips for consultants
  • When and why to turn down an offer
  • Pricing your consulting services
  • How to submit a consultant's proposal and get the contract

Starting a Cooperative Business

Almost any type of business venture can be run as a co-op. This workshop takes participants from co-op idea to everything necessary to get the co-op up and running.

  • Bruce Lacroix has worked with a number of groups to help them learn how to start a co-op, go through all the necessary steps, and run the co-op as a successful business venture.
  • He is a past director of the Nelson and District Credit Union, a financial cooperative, where he took courses in co-op development.
  • In addition, Bruce was a major contributor to the business section of Co-operative by Design: Building Blocks for Co-op Development, British Columbia Institute for Co-operative Studies, University of Victoria ©2002. , the definitive how-to manual for starting and running co-operatives.
  • He also coordinated and facilitated the highly successful Youth Business and Entrepreneurship Training (YouBET!) Co-op Business Program for the BC Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture.

Participants will learn:

  • A brief history of the co-op movement
  • Values and Principles of cooperatives
  • 5 basic types of co-ops
  • Advantages and disadvantages of cooperatives, and how they differ from corporations
  • How to test the feasibility of their co-op idea
  • Steps to starting a co-op, including recruiting members, legal issues, incorporation.
  • Financing the start-up
  • Writing the business plan
  • Running the co-op as a successful business
  • Case studies and examples of other co-ops
  • And lots more.

Proposal and Grant Writing

Very hands-on workshop. Designed for Canadian businesses, organizations, not-for-profits, government agencies and individuals. Learn how to create a proposal or application that lands you the contract or grant.

  • What goes into a winning proposal
  • How to find grants and proposals
  • Using the Internet: good sites
  • Dealing with government
  • Creating a team approach to writing proposals and grants
  • How to rise above your competition and get the contract
  • Pitfalls to avoid when writing proposals and grants
  • Why price is not always the major issue in proposals
  • How proposals and grants are evaluated
  • The layout and "look" of your proposal or grant
  • How to think like the evaluators of your proposal or grant
  • 16 guidelines for writing proposals and grants
  • How to get more money

Public Speaking for the Totally Terrified

Anyone can learn how to make a great presentation. Managers, sales people, board members, potential politicians! This dynamic workshop removes the fears and barriers to public speaking. Bruce and Wendy Lacroix, (Advanced Toastmaster and Area Governor Toastmasters - Kootenays) will guide you through the 5 steps, from speechless to confident. We will explore:

  • Why you are terrified
  • What you can do about it
  • Practise techniques to relieve fear
  • Practise, make and critique short presentations
  • Learn to feel comfortable and confident in any public speaking situation.

Running Successful Meetings

"Boring and useless." Is that what you hear or say after one too many wasted meetings? Your club, organization, business or society will like this humourous and interactive workshop.
Learn:

  • Why and when to have a meeting, or not!
  • Why have rules at meetings, and which rules are important to you
  • 9 Steps to holding a great meeting
  • Roles and duties of chair and secretary
  • Sample agendas
  • How to get people to speak up, or diffuse the ones who monopolize

Manipulating The Media: How To Get Free Press And Air Time

Why not? They manipulate us all the time. Great for not-for-profits, small business, clubs, groups, organizations... anyone who "wants to get the word out" in print, radio, TV. Our team members have worked for media and know what it takes.

  • Understanding how media works
  • What's your message?
  • Knowing your target audience
  • Choosing the right media
  • How to create a press release
  • 7 tips to getting free press
  • Getting an interview
  • Handling an interview
  • Handling negative publicity
  • List of media contacts

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