Summer Issue MARKHAM S EXCLUSIVE BUSINESS MAGAZINE …€¦ · Social Media Screeningle eginnings in 15 Employer Leadership Council York Region 18 ... mother’s lap, working through

M A R K H A M ’ S E X C L U S I V E B U S I N E S S M A G A Z I N ESummer Issue2014

FROM THE KITCHEN TABLETO INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS4 MarkhaM CoMpanies go global

Markham’s entrepreneur eco system – part ii pg 6

5 sure-fire small business shoestring Marketing Tips pg 11

6 steps to spam regulation Compliance pg 13

are Unpaid internships Fair? pg 14

P L U S :inClUded in This issUe:

In ThIs Issue

Thank you To our generous sponsors

Publisher Richard Cunningham, President & CEO

Editor Dave Deeley

Director, Marketing & Communications Your comments are always welcome.

Please email [email protected]

Advertising information Christine Rogers

Advertising & Marketing Consultant 905-474-0730 ext. 30

Membership information Mary Ann Quagliara

Director, Member Services 905-474-0730 ext. 16

Markham Board of Trade Markham Convergence Centre

7271 Warden Avenue, Markham, ON L3R 5X5 T: 905-474-0730 • F: 905-474-0685

[email protected] www.markhamboard.com

Markham Board of Trade 2013-14 Board of Directors

OFFICERS:Joe A. Salib (Chair), Sun Life Financial – Unionville

Daisy Wai (Vice Chair), Ad2000 & Beyond AdvertisingCharles Scott (Secretary), Grant Thornton LLPZamin Baqar (Treasurer), KPMG Enterprise

Frank DelZotto (Past Chair), BDO Canada LLP

DIRECTORS:Dr. Peter Kim,

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic CollegeCarole McAfee Wallace, Wilson Vukelich LLP

Bruce McMeekin, J Bruce McMeekin LawVito Marchese, Whiteboard StudioStephen Mathieu, Metroland Media

Rashpal Sahota, Powerful Mind Powerful YouBruce Tilden, RE/MAX Realtron Realty Inc.

Erez Zevulunov, MIT Consulting Andy Taylor, City of Markham Representative

Richard Cunningham, President & CEO, Markham Board of Trade

Cover and Cover Story Design: CS-Graphic Design Inc.

Design: Lisa Mervin, L.J. Sales

Cover Photo: Dave Starrett

Printing: Canmark Communications

Circulation – 12,000© June 2014. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in parts, or as a whole, without prior written

permission of the Markham Board of TradePublication Agreement Number 41245573

CenturyLink is proud to announce our state-of-the-art data center opening in Markham — an Uptime Institute Tier III certified multi-tenant facility.

With our multi-layer site security and proven 100% uptime commitment, we’re doing even more to help your growing business in the GTA and beyond.

We are accepting orders for Phase 1 of the 100,000 square foot facility which will be open in summer 2014.

Let us help you grow your business, learn more and get a quote now at: CenturyLinkTechnology.com/toronto

WE HAD ONLY ONE THING IN MIND WHEN WE BUILT OUR NEW STATE-OF-THE ART DATA CENTER.

YOU.

©2014 CenturyLink. All Rights Reserved.

Colocation • Cloud • Managed Hosting Internet • Data • Security

In ThIs IssueMARKETing 5 Tips for Marketing on a Shoestring Budget 11

6 Steps to Spam Regulation Compliance 13

BuSinESS BOOKS 12

HuMAn RESOuRCES Are Unpaid Internships Fair? HR professionals split on unpaid intern issue 14

HR Best Practices: Social Media Screening 15

Employer Leadership Council York Region 18

TECH gOODiES 16 3 Hot New Apps for Summer

2013 BuSinESS ExCEllEnCE AWARD RECiPiEnT PROFilE 17 F.T. Ross & Sons Ltd.

ASK An ExPERT 16 Norbram Group Insurance Benefits Inc.

FinAnCiAl ADViCE 19 Individual Pension Plans on the Rise!

SAluTE TO SMAll BuSinESS 20

WElCOME OuR nEWEST MEMBERS 22

Corporate: Title sponsor:

Breakfast networking series:

premier:

Thank you To our generous sponsors

8

COVER STORY

6Markham’s Entrepreneur Ecosystem – part IIThere’s a lot of help for entrepreneurs, if you know where to look. We’ll show you where.

From the Kitchen Table to International Success

GROUp Of GOLd LINE

For Group of Gold Line founders Ata and Neda Moeini,

starting a telecom business was a product of missing home. Not long after immigrating to Canada in the early 90’s, they saw an opportunity to help connect other new Canadians with their friends and families around the world. The telecommunications industry was deregulating – allowing smaller players to get in the game – and the Moeini’s created Group of Gold Line.

Daughter Anissa Moeini, now Gold Line’s vice president of business development, remembers her parents sitting at a table, one on each side, with her younger brother perched on her mother’s lap, working through the night.

The company would eventually grow to become the largest provider of prepaid long-distance calling cards in North America. But it wasn’t always that easy. Individuals were used to dialing long-distance using the rates of traditional service providers.

“My parents had this amazing solution that would instantly save their customers 80 per cent of their long distance

It takes guts, tenacity

and a touch of luck

to build a successful

business. for the

entrepreneurs

featured in this story,

success wasn’t an

option – it was a

necessity. Whether

it was quitting a

well-paying job or

leaving their home to

immigrate to Canada,

these business owners

truly risked it all

for their passion.

They also share the

common bond of

humble beginnings, in

basement workshops

and around kitchen

tables, where the

big ideas begin.

FROM THE KITCHEN TABLE TO INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS (Where big ideas begin!) By Samantha Sim

Photography by Dave Starrett

The VoiCe summer 20148

4

Publisher Richard Cunningham, President & CEO

Editor Dave Deeley

Director, Marketing & Communications Your comments are always welcome.

Please email [email protected]

Advertising information Christine Rogers

Advertising & Marketing Consultant 905-474-0730 ext. 30

Membership information Mary Ann Quagliara

Director, Member Services 905-474-0730 ext. 16

Markham Board of Trade Markham Convergence Centre

7271 Warden Avenue, Markham, ON L3R 5X5 T: 905-474-0730 • F: 905-474-0685

[email protected] www.markhamboard.com

Markham Board of Trade 2013-14 Board of Directors

OFFICERS:Joe A. Salib (Chair), Sun Life Financial – Unionville

Daisy Wai (Vice Chair), Ad2000 & Beyond AdvertisingCharles Scott (Secretary), Grant Thornton LLPZamin Baqar (Treasurer), KPMG Enterprise

Frank DelZotto (Past Chair), BDO Canada LLP

DIRECTORS:Dr. Peter Kim,

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic CollegeCarole McAfee Wallace, Wilson Vukelich LLP

Bruce McMeekin, J Bruce McMeekin LawVito Marchese, Whiteboard StudioStephen Mathieu, Metroland Media

Rashpal Sahota, Powerful Mind Powerful YouBruce Tilden, RE/MAX Realtron Realty Inc.

Erez Zevulunov, MIT Consulting Andy Taylor, City of Markham Representative

Richard Cunningham, President & CEO, Markham Board of Trade

Cover and Cover Story Design: CS-Graphic Design Inc.

Design: Lisa Mervin, L.J. Sales

Cover Photo: Dave Starrett

Printing: Canmark Communications

Circulation – 12,000© June 2014. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in parts, or as a whole, without prior written

permission of the Markham Board of TradePublication Agreement Number 41245573

YPC – ASPIRE Award winners

www.markhamboard.com

Markham’s exclusive business magazine published by:

The VOICE Summer 20144

Congratulations! Meet the 2nd Annual ASPIRE Award Recipients

he Board of Trade’s Young Professionals Committee (YPC) presented the 2nd

Annual ASPIRE Awards at the Flato Markham Theatre, honouring three outstanding local business people under the age of 40.

Eligibility for the ASPIRE (Achieving Social and Professional Ideals, Reaching Excellence) Awards includes demonstrating business success, community involvement as well as being a role model and inspiration to others.

The 2014 finalists:Adina Zaiontz, napkin marketing

Andrew Jennings, Offset Marketing

Andy Chan, Miller Thomson LLP

Francesca Turco, Victoria Angel Registry of Hope

George Arabian, nvision solutions

Lak Gill, Interware Systems Inc

Maithili Mavinkurve, Sightline Innovation Inc.

Michael Fin, M.I.T. Consulting

Mike Xu, IBM Canada Ltd.

Milla Yurman, Scarrow & Company Professional Corporation

Robert Martella, NLI Solutions Inc.

Vineet Sehravat, Cancer Recovery Foundation of Canada

Wayne Westernacher-Schneider, Idealogical Systems Inc.

T

Y P C W h aT ’ s G o I n G o n ?

Richard Cunningham, President & CEO Markham Board of Trade; James Watzke,

Dean of Applied Research & Innovation and Markham Campus Principal,

Seneca College; award recipients George Arabian, President & CEO, nvision

solutions; Andy Chan, Partner, Miller Thomson LLP; Robert Martella, President,

NLI Solutions Inc.; Young Professionals Committee Chair, Bill Hutton, Benefits

Consultant, Norbram Group Insurance Benefits Inc.

YPC Title Sponsor:

Stay connected: MBTYPC


Ever wonder where the money goes?

To support local and provincial charities, as well as Ontario’s amateur athletes

$130 million

Towards community infrastructure like community centres and college campuses for host municipalities

$94.1 million

In funding for the operation of hospitals and other provincial priorities

$1.6 billion

*Based on period between April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013.

That’s only part of the $3.4 billion* in economic activity that OLG generated last year in Ontario. Learn more about OLG’s modernization and how it can benefit you at ModernOLG.ca.


t’s a well-documented and all too often realized expectation that 50% of business

startups fail in the first five years. There are several reasons for this: lack of funding, lack of sales, aggressive competition, too fast growth … the list goes on.

This has implications not just for individual entrepreneurs but for the economic performance of Canada. For example, according to the World Economic Forum, Canada’s global competitiveness has been slipping over the past several years, from 10th place in 2010 to 14th in 2013. When it comes to innovation, Canada ranks 14th out of 17 peer countries.

Our best hope: helping small businesses commercialize their ideas and grow. According to the federal government, Canada’s small businesses are engines for job creation, employing 48% of the total labour force in the private sector and contributing about 30% to Canada’s GDP – the impact on GDP jumps to more than 50% when you focus on businesses with less than 500 employees.

In the last issue, we pointed you to resources to help you turn your idea into a business, including Markham’s own Convergence Centre, home to the Markham Board of Trade, ventureLab and the Markham Small Business Centre – organizations that can help entrepreneurs at each stage of their development. This issue, we’ve compiled a list of organizations and programs to help you not only survive the first five years of business but thrive and take your startup to the next level.

CommercializationThe federal government is doing what it can to help connect small business to innovation with initiatives such as the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), which encourages SMEs to seek solutions to their problems in the work coming out of National Research Councils. IRAP provides funding for qualified innovations and facilitates networking between potential business partners. It also has 70 Industrial Technology

Advisors in 35 offices across Ontario, including one located at Seneca College and another in the Markham Convergence Centre. www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/irap/index.html

Additional help: NRC-IRAP works closely with the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario which is delivering the new Advanced Manufacturing Fund (AMF) across the province. AMF is designed to help Ontario’s manufacturers grow by supporting the development of leading technologies and innovations that will drive innovation and productivity. www.feddevontario.gc.ca

growing globalOntario’s Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment, offers access to export and trade specialists, export market reports, and the opportunity to apply for the Export Market Access Program, which offers grants, that can cover up to 50% of the direct costs of accessing and expanding

I

Markham’s Entrepreneur Ecosystem – Part IIBy Mary Teresa Bitti

We believe the

only way to

build sustainable

businesses –

and secure

Canada’s future

in the process –

is to help small

businesses grow.


114 Anderson Avenue, Suite 7C, Markham, ON L6E 1A5

Servicing all your accounting

and tax needs• Bookkeeping Services

• Income Tax Preparation & Planning

• HST/GST

• Payroll Services

• Manual or Computerized

Tel: 905-471-7979 Email: [email protected]

into export markets and the Ontario Exporters Fund, which can cover up to 50% of the cost of hiring an experienced export manager (to $80,000 maximum) for qualified companies. www.ontario.ca/business-and-economy/export-outside-canada-international-trade-and-market-specialists

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, is committed to helping Canadian businesses expand internationally. The site features free trade agreements and foreign investment promotion and protection agreements between Canada and trade partners. www.international.gc.ca,

Export Development Canada, is the country’s export credit agency and provides insurance and financial services and solutions to Canadian exporters and investors. Its online knowledge centre also offers white papers on how to expand beyond Canada, trends,

economic analysis and top of mind business issues. www.edc.ca

FundingThe Business Development Bank of Canada, is the only Canadian bank dedicated exclusively to entrepreneurs. It has a nationwide team including an office at 3985 Hwy 7 E Suite 201 in Markham. www.bdc.ca

The Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs, offers one-on-one consultations from its two centres in Markham: ventureLAB and the Markham Small Business Centre (more on both of these centres below). ONE also provides links to online resources for established businesses looking to grow, including the opportunity for peer to peer learning at the Wisdom Exchange, and Innovators Alliance, Canada Business Ontario, provides guides online guides on how to grow, programs that support

innovation, how to protect intellectual property and exporting and importing. www.onebusiness.ca www.innovators.org www.cbo.eco.cawww.ontario.ca/business-and-economy/high-growth-firms-resources

Mentor Works, helps companies find and access the best opportunities to fund growth, training and innovation via grants and other government funding tools. In addition to free workshops explaining government funding, Mentor Works also has an office in Markham where you can work with one of its agents directly. www.mentorworks.ca

Business supportIn addition to providing advice and support to help get your business started, the Convergence Centre’s Markham Small Business Centre and ventureLAB have

advisors who are also able to help existing businesses grow. For entrepreneurs who have successfully launched a technology product, ventureLAB will help develop an expansion strategy through a workshop series that will help prioritize next steps, scale the business, develop strategic partnerships and explain the principles of business valuation. To learn more, visit www.venturelab.ca.

The Markham Board of Trade is the city’s premier business association and its mandate is to help Markham businesses grow. To do that, it offers networking opportunities, discounts to members and advocates on your behalf to help ensure policy makers at all levels understand your concerns and needs.

In this particularly unsettled market, it’s more important than ever that Canada’s small businesses get a leg up. We hope this resource list helps you get growing!


GROUp Of GOLd LINE

For Group of Gold Line founders Ata and Neda Moeini,

starting a telecom business was a product of missing home. Not long after immigrating to Canada in the early 90’s, they saw an opportunity to help connect other new Canadians with their friends and families around the world. The telecommunications industry was deregulating – allowing smaller players to get in the game – and the Moeini’s created Group of Gold Line.

Daughter Anissa Moeini, now Gold Line’s vice president of business development, remembers her parents sitting at a table, one on each side, with her younger brother perched on her mother’s lap, working through the night.

The company would eventually grow to become the largest provider of prepaid long-distance calling cards in North America. But it wasn’t always that easy. Individuals were used to dialing long-distance using the rates of traditional service providers.

“My parents had this amazing solution that would instantly save their customers 80 per cent of their long distance

It takes guts, tenacity

and a touch of luck

to build a successful

business. for the

entrepreneurs

featured in this story,

success wasn’t an

option – it was a

necessity. Whether

it was quitting a

well-paying job or

leaving their home to

immigrate to Canada,

these business owners

truly risked it all

for their passion.

They also share the

common bond of

humble beginnings, in

basement workshops

and around kitchen

tables, where the

big ideas begin.






charges,” says Moeini. “But, because people weren’t familiar with it, it was hard for them to understand why they should try it.”

The business now serves 70 per cent of the calling card market and issues over 200

million long distance minutes every month. Their state-of-the-art facility in Markham is home to over 250 full-time employees.

“Gold Line has always worked around the idea that we’re connecting you with what matters. We’re providing a direct line to something you may have not been able to afford before,” says Moeini.

Now with the prevalence of smart phones, Wi-Fi and free services like Skype, Gold Line is seeing a shift in what consumers

want, and they’ve responded again with their new GL Wiz service.

Moeini explains it as a Netflix for cultural programming. For a low monthly subscription fee, users are able to access over 100 cultural channels from their home countries, including, thanks to a recently signed a deal, China. Gold Line will be the first provider to stream Chinese programming, from mainland China television, outside the country.

For a new generation of children who may have never

seen their parents’ homeland, GL Wiz offers them a way to connect with a culture half a world away.

As technology advances, and the telecom industry with it, the Moeinis continue to look for ways to innovate.

“People thought my parents were crazy when we first started Gold Line,” says Moeini. “But this has become more than just a business for us. Gold Line will always be about helping people connect to what matters to them.”

Rescue 7 Inc.

Fifteen years ago, John Collie had no idea a game of bridge

would literally change his life. A career firefighter, Collie was lamenting to friends the need for better CPR and safety-training, the kind that would engage students and give them knowledge beyond standard first-aid courses.

Rising to the challenge issued by his card-playing colleagues, Collie began planning what would become Rescue 7 Inc. A true one-person show, Collie originally set up shop in his basement and took six months to complete the business plan.

From his first contract, worth $5,000, Rescue 7’s growth has been remarkable – 106 per cent between 2007-2012 – and last year was ranked number 399 on Profit Magazine’s list of the top 500 fastest growing companies in Canada.

Rescue 7 has also expanded into retail – selling defibrillators, trauma bags and other safety products, but they still take pride in making first aid and safety training engaging.

“It’s all about getting people comfortable with first aid or CPR,” he says. “We have fun. We get the students to enjoy the learning process because they’ll remember the knowledge more easily.”

Being an entrepreneur has taken Collie to places he never imagined, including an appearance on Dragon’s Den

where he scored a deal with dragon Brett Wilson. Although it fell through, Collie acquired key new clients from his stint on the show – including Boston Pizza (owned by Wilson’s fellow dragon Jim Treliving).

One of the Boston Pizza teams saved the life of a customer using Rescue 7 training and defibrillator. It was at the ceremony, celebrating the restaurant team’s courage, that Rescue 7 would be offered an opportunity to go half way across the world.

“Shortly after my presentation at the ceremony a mining executive asked us to travel to Mongolia and install our defibrillators and train their team,” he says.

Now Collie is looking south of the border as he expands Rescue 7 into the U.S. with the addition of a Chicago office. He’s even eyeing the Caribbean market to bring standardized safety training to resorts.

“From the beginning, one of our biggest challenges has been getting people to trust Rescue 7,” he says. But that’s only fuelled Collie to push forward even harder.

“Our goal is to be the number one first aid and health and safety provider in Canada,” he says. “But we’re going to do it our way. It’s not about nickel and diming our customers. We’ve always been there for them and we will continue to be ten years from now.”

Anissa remembers her parents sitting at a table, one on each side, with her younger brother perched on her mother’s lap, working through the night.




neville Pather literally built a business with his own two

hands. Over forty years ago, the Pather International founder, then a teacher, stumbled upon some leftover acrylic. Fascinated by the beauty and versatility of the materials, he took the pieces to his basement and began working with it. Liking what he saw, he did it again, and again – creating unique new products until a hobby became a business.

Forty years later Pather International has grown beyond just plastics to include displays, printing and web design for major brands including

Swarovski, BMW, Redbull and Honda. And now they don’t just work with acrylic. Pather has expanded, creating products from all types of materials: wood, metal and more.

The company got its big break when Esprit, one of the world’s biggest retailers at the time, approached Pather. The clothing giant saw what he was able to do with acrylic and asked him to create a mannequin design for their stores.

Pather International has even moved into the world of licensing and creating products for some high-profile clients, including acrylic invitations for

former president Bill Clinton and custom furniture for the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi.

Since day one the company has been in Markham. And the Pather family has made it a mandate to give back to the community, which they feel has been so welcoming to them. Pather International works

with the Markham-Stouffville Hospital and many other charities.

“We’re very humbled to work with prestigious corporations and individuals,” says Neville Pather, son of founder Neville Pather. “They trust us. Because of this we’re afforded the ability to be innovative with the designs we create for them.”

When Mohit Kirpalani found the rewards of being a

successful, well-paid sales executive weren’t fulfilling his entrepreneurial needs, he did what many

people wish but few take the gamble – he walked away. Eleven years ago the computer engineer left the stability of the corporate world to start his own business, working out of his basement as he tackled the challenge of launching his business.

Kirpalani recalls the difficulty of getting his company off the ground, but says he wouldn’t change any of his experiences.

“If I could go back, I wouldn’t change anything.

Every experience happens for a reason and it teaches you something,” he says. “I started this business because of my passion for technology. I wanted

to offer something innovative, to create something.”

At the time, the business (not yet called Hip Street) was manufacturing PC products and mainboards. After recognizing the company needed to move onto something bigger, Kirpalani pivoted, completely changing his company overnight to create something new – Hip Street. “In our PC-manufacturing days, we couldn’t request a higher price for our product,” he says. “Going into the world of consumer electronics allows us to raise more value, not only for ourselves, but for our customers.”

Now the company sells 250 different products and has expanded all over the world, with offices in the U.S., India, China and Singapore. There are over 50 employees working for the business today, many of which have been with the team for over 10 years.

From tablets to kids’ cameras, Hip Street designs and manu-factures all its own products. The company isn’t trying to compete with Apple or Microsoft. Kirpalani says the company is interested in creating consumer

electronics with the best value and price. Take a look through the company’s online store and you’ll find Hip Street tablets ranging from $74.99 - $249.99, that’s a stark difference from other products on the market.

“Our strength has been afford-able innovation,” he says. “If a customer spends $10 on our product, they should get $10 of value.”

Kirpalani says the company is looking to developing nations, such as India and China. Here consumers are looking for value, but they also don’t change their electronics as much. Hip Street’s products are designed so that they can be serviced, unlike some other less expensive tablets or consumer electronics.

This past year wearable technology became the hot new trend. Kirpalani and his team are working to create a Hip Street line of wearable tech products for all ages.

“Our team always works with the objective of creating products for the entire family,” he says. “From young children to seniors, we want our products to be accessible and add value for all ages.”

HIp STREET


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E: [email protected]

www.eigenmachtcrackower.com345 Renfrew Drive • Suite 202

Markham, Ontario L3R 9S9

5 TIPS FoR Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

M a R K e T I n G

all know to make money we need to spend money. But when you’re starting

a business, it’s difficult to justify big marketing expenditures when there’s no revenue rolling in.

Here are five low or no-cost options for marketing and promoting your business, on a shoestring budget.

1. Create a one-page Website. A website, even a temporary one- pager, explaining your services, with an email link, broadcasts to the world that you are indeed, in business. A domain name and a one page website should cost less than $100 and can stay in place until you have the resources to upgrade to a more detailed website.

2. set up Business Facebook, Twitter, google+ and LinkedIn pages. Creating social media pages can, for the most part, be done yourself at no cost and will help promote your business (for free!) to your existing social media contacts. They also help set the foundation for more advanced advertising on those networks later on (i.e. if you want to get into paid Facebook ads to increase your exposure).

3. send an email announcement To your network. One of my best sources for leads was an announcement emailed to friends, former colleagues and coworkers, informing them that I just started my business. This simple email got my business off the ground. The costs were low, about $30 for the email marketing software, around

$150 in design costs, plus my time to write the email and compile the list.

4. network selectively and Follow up post event!As an eager, newbie entrepreneur, I went to just about every networking event I heard about. Many of these events were full of business owners who were as desperate as I was to get a new customer and couldn’t afford my services. Now I network more selectively, choosing events more likely to be frequented by established business owners, or more qualified buyers. (Note: my Markham Board of Trade membership has definitely paid for itself).

Try to differentiate yourself at the event by becoming a speaker, sponsor, award nominee or by having a booth or table to present your wares and brochures. After an event, make sure you follow up by email within 48 hours to the people you met, and add them to your CRM, address book and/or LinkedIn contacts.

5. Blogging/Content Marketing.I can testify personally, and on behalf of my clients, to the power of content marketing in actually generating leads on Google. Writing relevant blog posts, containing the keywords under which you want to be found, will gain positive results for you when it comes to your search ranking and actually gaining leads through online marketing.

Adina Zaiontz is director of napkin marketing, a social media management and web design agency. Contact her at 289-597-6600 or [email protected]

WeBy Adina Zaiontz


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ome-based business? Whether you’re just starting out or already up and running Markham Public Library has resources to help. Here’s a few suggestions:

The Big Book of small Business Grow your business fast! The Big Book of Small Business by Andrew Griffiths shows how an entrepreneurial attitude can improve every aspect of a business, from customer relations to promotion to backroom accounts.

201 great Ideas for your small BusinessAvailable in eBook format this book, by Jane Applegate, was hailed by management guru and author Tom Peters as “Brilliantly researched. Brilliantly written. A gem of priceless value on almost every page. Read. Inhale. Absorb. Great Stuff!”

unlabelPart memoir, part business Unlabel by Marc Ecko is an informative and creative book for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, marketing, branding or merchandizing.

The $100 startup: reinvent the Way you Make a Living, Do What you Love, and Create a new Future Author Chris Guillebeau talks about getting past the barriers that we place in front of our dreams and how he has turned ideas into income to support his life of adventure.

The Library also has great research tools. Try the Small Business eCollection. This database of full text magazine articles provides insights, tips, strategies and success stories perfect for entrepreneurs. Access it online with your library card. Click on online databases from the Library’s homepage.

www.markhampubliclibrary.ca

gOOD READing FRoM THE MARkHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY

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6 STEPS to Spam Regulation Compliance

hen Canada’s new anti-spam legislation (CASL) comes into effect on July 1, 2014, it will be one of

the most aggressive laws in the world with penalties of up to a million dollars for an individual and as high as ten million dollars for companies.

Here are 6 key steps to ensure you and your business are ready for the new regs.

1. Do you have consent? CASL is all about consent. Did your subscriber take an active step (such as signing up for your mailing list where you explicitly say they are going to receive emails from you and they agreed to it)? Do you have evidence to back up that consent such as a signup or confirmation IP address, date/time stamp and proof that the enrollment form met all guidelines?

2. ready, set… reconfirm! The key objective is getting that express consent where the subscriber proactively says “yes, I want to receive your emails,” – be sure to save evidence of that request.

3. audit your sign-up forms. CASL is opposed to sneaky pre-checked boxes that try to opt-in a user. The act of opting in needs to be proactive not reactive, so be sure all your enrolment checkboxes are unchecked and are worded correctly.

4. Welcome emails for double opt-in. Upon signup, ensure the subscriber is sent a welcome

or confirmation email with a link to verify their subscription. This way you know that the email address belongs to the correct person who is signing up and you acquire valid express consent.

5. evaluate your online and offline workflows. Review all the ways an email address can be added to your mailing list so you can create proper procedures for acquiring the opt-in and the more difficult part for offline acquisitions, have evidence to prove your claim.

6. Date stamp new customer orders. CASL has a “Two Year Rule” that essentially lets an organization send emails to someone if they made a purchase or signed a contract within the last two years. During that window, proper express consent needs to be acquired in order to continue emailing them. It is important that an organization has accurate records for the exact date of a customer’s last purchase (or contract signing date) so that this window is clearly defined.

While none of these changes are outrageously complicated, it will take a little bit of time, effort, and critical analysis to ensure your organization is ready for CASL.

Matthew Georgiadis is the VP, Business Development for Elite Email, a leading, global, cloud-based, marketing service provider based in Canada. For more in-depth information on Canada’s new anti-spam laws download the Elite Email CASL Survival Guide: www.eliteemail.com/learning-center/casl/

WBy Matthew Georgiadis


Are Unpaid Internships Fair? HR professionals split on unpaid intern issue

h R I s s u e s

ast year when Facebook CFO Sheryl Sandberg posted an unpaid

internship position for her Lean In Foundation (a non-profit that exhorts women to “lean in” and ask for more pay, more responsibility, and more power in the workplace), reaction on social media was swift. People found it ironic that Sandberg, who had just sold Facebook stock for more than $90 million, was advertising for unpaid labour, requiring applicants to “lean out” just a bit and work for free.

It’s a debate that continues especially here in Ontario after the provincial labour ministry shut down unpaid internship programs at two magazines (The Walrus and Toronto Life) and prompting other publishers to follow suit.

The Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) recently surveyed its 20,000 members on how they (as professionals who oversee internships) felt about unpaid internships.

Exactly half of the 850 survey respondents said there is a place for unpaid internships, and that they provide young people with important work experience, as well as an opportunity to build networks and acquire important, transferable, skills.

But just as many answered that unpaid internships are never right and that they only benefit the organization—never the intern. Many respondents said that no organization should be exempt from the Employment Standards Act, particularly when it comes to the minimum wage.

Seventy-six per cent of

respondents said that, regardless of whether they think unpaid internships are right or wrong, they are concerned about the issue – either because they believe that doing away with unpaid internships would mean lost opportunities for young people to gain valuable and much-needed experience, or because they consider them exploitative.

A majority – 62% – of HR managers said that any kind of unpaid internship that is not part of a training or educational program should be outright illegal. Of those respondents who work at organizations that currently offer unpaid internships, almost 60% said they should be illegal.

Over the past five years, a third of respondents have seen the number of unpaid internships at their organizations

increase, which they attribute not to an increase in opportunities for young people, but to increasing vigilance over the “bottom line” by companies. Members who completed the survey made a distinction between for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, saying that any employer making a profit should pay its interns, but that the same doesn’t hold for the non-profit sector.

Many members made the point that if unpaid internships continue to exist, they should do so only within specific frameworks: that they be run as part of a larger educational program; be limited in length of time (i.e., three to six months); and offer compensation for travel costs. kristina Hidas is VP, HR Research & Development at the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA).

L

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By kristina Hidas


HR Best Practices: Social Media Screening

h R T I P s

today’s digital age, organizations can view a prospective employee’s social

media accounts with just one search. This is exactly what many employers are now doing and it’s affecting how they hire. Even though a candidate’s information is easily searchable, it doesn’t mean it can be used in the hiring process. In fact, using social media to background check candidates can actually expose a company to easily avoidable risks.

David Goodis, director of legal services and general counsel at the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, and Shirley Garcia, director of career management and community engagement for the Human Resource Professionals Association (York Region Chapter), offer their expertise on exactly how far organizations can go when using social media to screen potential employees.

“Employers should resist the temptation to background check employees through their social media accounts,” says Goodis. “It’s not true when someone says, ‘If I can find it on Google then its fair game.’ Privacy laws may still be breached.”

However, Garcia says doing checks of a candidate’s social media accounts are okay, as long as it isn’t the deciding factor for a hiring decision. Googling an individual, to look up their work, can verify whether the information on their application is correct.

“Social media checks are a part of the hiring reality. It’s a recruitment tool that gives an image of what the candidate is like,” she says.

But this concerns Goodis. He’s seen examples of companies asking for social media accounts in the interview process. He’s even heard of employers asking a candidate to login to their

social media accounts during the interview, something that is definitely not okay, and individuals have obliged.

Another issue to consider is the type of information an organization can find on a person’s Facebook or Twitter pages. These accounts can reveal a person’s race, religion, political views and other information considered prohibited grounds of discrimination by the Ontario Human Rights Code. This is where businesses can really run into problems.

“What happens if you see a candidate’s public profile and their display picture shows they have a physical disability? Or, it may show which religion they practice,” says Goodis. “These aren’t allowed in the hiring process. Even if you weren’t looking for it, it doesn’t mean you won’t be accused of discrimination.”

He encourages employers to ask candidates for references, academic transcripts or criminal checks (this only applies when the position involves interaction with children or the elderly). These ‘less-intrusive’ means paint a more professional image of a candidate and protect employers from being accused of practicing discriminatory hiring practices.

When she hires employees, Garcia notifies candidates if she’ll be looking for their work online. Or, she asks the candidate to send samples of their work, when it makes sense for the position.

Garcia stresses that using social media for recruitment must not contravene the Ontario Human Rights Code, which includes the protection of individuals from discrimination in employment. And in the circumstance where checking someone’s online presence or social media profiles just doesn’t make sense for the position, she doesn’t recommend doing it at all.

“If you’re looking to fill a nursing position, I don’t know what you’ll find on a person’s Facebook account that will show the candidate’s professional abilities,” she says.

LinkedIn and Twitter are what Garcia usually sticks with. Users are more likely to have an expectation the public will be viewing those profiles, especially with LinkedIn. However, Goodis goes as far to say that LinkedIn should be the only social media network employers are accessing for background checks.

“People have made sure what they show on their LinkedIn account is suitable for a public professional image,” he says.

“Anything beyond that is very blurry. Most people use Facebook or Twitter to express themselves more personally.”

Garcia says employers should develop a structured process of hiring in order to protect themselves from accusations of discriminatory hiring practices. This means creating a job description, clearly labeling its requirements, and documenting interview questions and answers. It’s also important they ask each interviewee the same set of questions.

Ultimately both Goodis and Garcia think a balance is needed. It’s important for employers to get to know interviewees, but using social media may not be the most effective way.

“Even if it’s legally okay, it doesn’t mean it’s ethically okay,” says Goodis. “Think about your organization’s reputation. If you’re company is known for having these sorts of hiring practices, word gets around.”

Garcia agrees. “You don’t want your company to be known as an organization that’s suspicious of its candidates,” she says. “It can really backfire on you and become a PR nightmare.

InBy Samantha Sim

It’s important for employers to get to know interviewees, but using social media may not be the most effective way.


asK an eXPeRTWe asked: norbram group insurance Benefits inc.What makes the Chambers of Commerce group insurance Plan different from other plans?

Board of Trade members are protected from significant rate fluctuations by pooling with 30,000 participating businesses. As a not-for-profit program, any surpluses are used towards plan enhancements, such as Best Doctors and Business Assistance Services. A full suite of benefit options allows you to tailor a plan that meets your needs.

The plan is: • Easy to administer • Fully customizable • Available to businesses of all sizes

Bill Hutton BBA, CHS Benefits Consultant Norbram Group Insurance Benefits Inc. 905-479-6711 | [email protected]

T e C h G o o D I e s

1. newsbeat:Listen to your very own personalized radio cast with Newsbeat. Pick the news you want to hear, from a large catalogue of stations and national news organizations. The app pulls together a list of news stories and narrates one-minute summaries of each one. Turn on your smartphone’s current location and the app will report weather, traffic, and even game scores for your specific area.Available for iPhone on the App Store and Android devices on Google PlayPrice: Free

2. FireChat At first glance FireChat seems like another edition in an already crowded space of messaging apps. Take a second look and you’ll realize why it’s different. The app takes advantage of a little known feature on iPhones called Apple’s Multipeer Connectivity framework.

Essentially it’s allows users to share messages (and soon photos) with other app users nearby, regardless if they have an actual Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Next time you’re at a crowded event and can’t get a text through, try FireChat. Available for iPhone on the App Store Price: Free

3. MobileDay Sign on to any conference call, anywhere, through any conference provider with MobileDay. The app allows users to coordinate of all in-person and conference call meetings, dial in to calls automatically, email with participants and even get directions to the meeting place. MobileDay also integrates with a smartphone’s calendar, email, text messaging and contacts apps to provide a seamless experienceAvailable for iPhone on the App Store and Android devices on Google Play Price: Free

3Hot New Apps for Summer

By Samantha Sim

An employee benefit plan with a twist – rate stability, fair renewals and innovative offerings for small business. That’s what the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan® has been providing small businesses for over four decades. Check out a Plan that won’t squeeze your budget!

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HOW DO I SAVE $184,000IN TAXES WHEN I SELL MY BUSINESS?

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F. T. RoSS & SoNS LTD.

or over 50 years, F. T. Ross & Sons Ltd. has been creating products with a green

twist. There are many cleaning and personal care products that F. T. Ross claims to be environmentally friendly, but F.T. Ross says there’s something unique about their approach.

“Our products are people friendly first. Not all environmentally friendly products keep this in mind,” says Gina Conte, the company’s president. “Some products are great for the environment but not for people with sensitivities or allergies.”

Conte says the company also voluntarily reveals all the ingredients of its products, something that isn’t mandated by law. Just another way F.T. Ross believes they’re pioneering products that are safe for the environment and its citizens.

F.T. Ross’ commitment to making ‘green’ people friendly is why it’s the 2013 recipient of the Donald Cousens Conservation and Environmental Leadership Business Excellence Award.

But the company hasn’t always been in the

environmental business. Some may be surprised to know that the family-run company was established in 1928 and manufactured products for the railroad industry, including Weldbond glue.

In 1963, the company launched its NatureClean line of all-natural and hypoallergenic soaps, detergents and cleaning agents after a family member experienced a harsh allergic reaction to commercial soaps and detergents.

F.T. Ross has even expanded to children’s products, partnering with Corus Entertainment to launch its Treehouse NatureClean line. The nature-friendly shampoos, toothpaste and other personal care products make it fun and safe for kids.

Conte says the company is always looking for new ways to make more green products, and that’s no different for 2014.

“We were there before it was cool to be environmentally friendly,” she says. “And we will continue to pioneer products that are safe for the environment, but are also people friendly.”

FMayor Scarpitti and Don Cousens present The Donald Cousens Conservation and Environmental Leadership Award to Gina Conte, President, F. T. Ross & Sons Ltd.

By Samantha Sim


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Employer leadership Council York Region Setting the agenda for employee retraining and retention

he Employer Leadership Council was created to provide a unique forum for local employers to

discuss experiences and best practices in recruiting and retaining good employees.

Matthew Ruscica, General Manager for Mara Technologies Inc., said, “I joined the Council to learn more from fellow employers in the York Region area as different people have different experiences and insights which I thought would be beneficial. There are a plethora of experienced people on the council with excellent viewpoints and problem solving skills that can be applied to many different businesses. Meeting with and discussing the issues we all face in business, especially when it comes to dealing with

employment issues has really taught me a lot.”

The Employer Leadership Council is an initiative of the Workforce Planning Board of York Region and Bradford West Gwillimbury, organizations that facilitate labour market planning and development at a local level.

The council is a partnership of York Region’s employers, Employment Ontario service providers, educators and policy makers. Working together they:• Review and discuss the trends

in the workforce• Share ideas, challenges and

best practices• Identify required skills• Foster sustainability strategies• Discuss training and

assessment tools• Learn about employment

services, subsidies and

incentives

The Employer Leadership Council York Region is comprised of larger companies that have a minimum of 200 employees. Four Local Employer Councils have been developed for Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan and the Northern council, which consist of local companies that employ 5 to 200 people.

“Being part of the Markham Local Employer Council

enabled us to connect with local employers and establish a network of advisors regarding recruitment”, explained Teddy Lubimzev, Business Manager ofQA Consultants. “As an innovative company, we are always looking for ways to improve our hiring process and being part of this consortium is a great way to learn more about current trends and attracting the right talent”

You can be part of the discussion too! For additional information or to apply to join a Local Employer Council, contact Deborah Bonk Greenwood, Employer Liaison, [email protected]; Andy Hewitson, Employer Liaison, [email protected] or visit www.employleadership.ca.

TBy Deborah Bonk Greenwood and Andy Hewitson


Employer leadership Council York Region Setting the agenda for employee retraining and retention

inDiViDuAl PEnSiOn PlAnS On THE RiSE! SAVINGS AND TAx BENEFITS SPUR GRoWTH oF RETIREMENT VEHICLE

ant to put money aside for your retirement and some tax savings too? The answer,

most people would say, is a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). Not necessarily. For some business owners, the better solution might be an Individual Pension Plan, or IPP.

While there’s nothing wrong with the first option, an IPP is a way to potentially contribute more money on a tax-sheltered basis – and sometimes substantially more – than the maximum allowed for RRSPs.

“Companies can establish an IPP, making this an ideal

vehicle for the self-employed, or for incorporated professionals, including doctors and dentists,” says Tony Maiorino, Head of RBC Wealth Management Services.

IPPs, sanctioned by the Canada Revenue Agency, define the pension benefit in advance based on income and years of service. An actuarial formula is used to calculate annual contributions funding the pension benefit. These plans are most advantageous for people aged 40 and older who are earning over $100,000 a year on their T4, and who’ve been maxing out their RRSP contributions.

All IPP contributions made

by a corporation on behalf of an individual are fully tax-deductible to the corporation. For the individual, an IPP is treated as a non-taxable benefit, which means tax savings all around.

There are other benefits: setup, maintenance and management fees are also tax-deductible to the corporation. And, in some cases, companies can make additional contributions for past service dating as far back as 1991.

Though IPPs aren’t as well-known as RRSPs, they’re growing in popularity. In 2005 there were 6,000 IPPs registered with Canada Revenue Agency. In

2012, that number is now closer to 10,000, according to Buck Consultants.

“Talk to your financial advisor to discuss all the features, and make sure that an IPP is right for you,” says Maiorino. “For the right individual, IPP spells out a great retirement and tax strategy.”

This article is provided by Sunil Heda, CPA, an Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. This article is for information purposes only. Please consult with a professional advisor before taking any action based on information in this article.

W

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Documents

Summer Issue MARKHAM S EXCLUSIVE BUSINESS MAGAZINE …€¦ · Social Media Screeningle eginnings in 15 Employer Leadership Council York Region 18 ... mother’s lap, working through