Entrepreneurship on Ontario Initiative Network

Entrepreneurship Challenges: Financing

Fri, 03 May 2013 19:00:25 +0000

For any business owner, the challenges are many – marketing, business growth, profitability and (amongst others) the ever-present challenge of financing. While financing can be a challenge to existing businesses, particularly those looking to expand, in this blog entry I’d like to examine how it impacts start-ups.

Prior to coming to OIN, I spent nearly 7 years in the financial services industry. While I focused heavily on insurance and investments, I did spend a significant amount of time with mortgages and leasing. I was in the industry during a very interesting time, the beginning of this economic shift or recession. All throughout I also managed to see how financing has changed and what it means for business owners.

Why SMEs Will Continue to Grow.

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:44:46 +0000

The current state of the economy has driven many to entrepreneurship. In the wake of massive lay-offs in the manufacturing sector, downsizing across all industries and renewed vows to create sustainability, SMEs are a powerful way to create diverse, real, and sustainable communities. Although entrepreneurship is not all rewards, here are 5 reasons why SMEs will continue to grow.

1. Generation Y

Brought up to value their own individuality, talents and skills, research has shown that as this generation matures they are more entrepreneurial than those before them. They value the flexibility of entrepreneurship and bring passion and tech skills that allow them to work anywhere at anytime. In addition, this generation has lived at home longer, and has been less likely to purchase major assets (from cars to homes) permitting them to bootstrap and live on less income than generations before. In pure numbers, they represent a major “wave” of demographics, and the impact of their generation is just beginning to be felt.

So, what is Digital Napkin?

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:29:45 +0000

Digital Napkin

Digital Napkin is a web site set up to encourage up-and-coming entrepreneurs in Sarnia Lambton to share their ideas, strategies and wisdom with others who might be thinking about going into business for themselves. The site offers a wealth of knowledge and pointers from people who have actually experienced the pitfalls of self-employment as well as motivational strategies to keep others on course.

Many find the resources on the site useful, including grant and funding programs and contact information about the municipal, provincial and Federal agencies plus other on-line sites that can assist entrepreneurs.

Business Library: Driven (Kobo)

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 01:58:37 +0000

Price Paid: $11.99

Bottom line

A great read for any immigrant entrepreneur, and especially anyone who is a fan of Dragon’s Den. Some great advice, and not what I expected. Herjavec has a nice guy image, and after reading this it’s clear to him that friends and business are two very separate things. Definitely some good advice tidbits in here!

Digital Napkin: Sarnia-Lambton’s Entrepreneur Community

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:25:13 +0000

From Digital Napkin

Entrepreneurship in Sarnia Lambton is booming. The area has thousands of entrepreneurial businesses. This is something that we in Sarnia Lambton often forget and something that those outside the area simply don’t know about. Entrepreneurs are everywhere in Sarnia Lambton. They are in agriculture and industry. They are in services and sales. They are young and old. They are creative. The diversity of the entrepreneur community reflects the diversity of the Sarnia Lambton economy.

Success Stories – Shawn Lee, Pantry Mart

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:18:33 +0000

Success Stories – Shawn Lee, Pantry Mart – Aylmer, Ontario

During our research, I had the pleasure of interviewing several successful immigrant entrepreneurs. The first was Shawn Lee. Shawn is a South Korean immigrant who successfully manages the Pantry Mart at 249 John Street South in Aylmer, Ontario.