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14 t yfjf rt qnqmuisunftnbune bujness fuefiy march 212000 ymca markham business centre step to success for new entrepreneurs centre offers coaching seminars network by patrick casey staff writer when cellie gonsalves conducts her semi nars on ecommerce at the ymca markham business centre shes not only a teacher to her students shes also an example of how a per son with a solid idea can use the resources of a professional business centre to succeed a recent graduate of seneca colleges richmond hill business centre gonsalves has tapped into a global marketplace with cyber flowers an online florist operation where cus tomers can select from more than 130 floral arrangements and arrange delivery times at wwwcyberflowerscom the richmond hill resident also operates a flower store in nobleton i opened both at the same time and the online business is going gangbusters im doing twice as much- business online said gonsalves who receives 2500 hits a day from people as far away as vancouver halifax taiwan and australia i cant get 2500 people into my store in one day the internet is the way of the future it is not a fad but here to stay it is as important to businesses as the telephone because it levels the playing field for small businesses against larger corporations small businesses must understand the opportunity that is staring them in the face gonsalves is intrigued with the aggressive approach to online business savvy the markham business centre has taken since opening its doors in july facilitated by the ymca and funded by human resources development canada to provide budding entrepreneurs with the sup port and skills necessary to succeed the centre offers a selfemployment assistance program and a business incubator program with ser vices ranging from oneonone coaching and we have had an incredible response from people that come to our workshops on the internet ecommerce is now a marketing tool and it has to be incorporated into any marketing plan maureen catania business coach and trainer consulting to workshops and seminars an extensive information network allows business owners to access important informa tion at no cost including a business library and reference materials use of a fax arid photocopi er a boardroom for interviews and the avail ability of computers with internet access to search and register their business name there was a real void in markham when it came to business centres there just wasnt any thing out here said centre business coach and trainer maureen catania noting the 14th avenue location has already helped 80 people in less than nine months before this opened people had to go to richmond hill or up to newmarket the interesting point about the ymca and employment is people believe we cater to youths but a large part of our participants are over 35 years old mature adults who have found themselves looking for work are unem ployed or are choosing the selfemployment route the centres incubator program is a 12week venture offering oneonone and group coach ing as well as a variety of workshops on topics relating to entrepreneurship and the selfemployment assistance pro gram goes a step further where coaching is tai lored to the needs of a participant who receives financial assistance throughout the program with the internet creating opportunities for business owners and opening a window of pos sibilities catania said all participants need is an idea to help shape their business future we dont recommend a particular business because that has to come from the individual but 99 per cent of the people that come in already have a business idea said catania who has more than nine years of retail experi ence to offer after selling a bagel franchise store she owned in newmarket at the end of 1998 from that idea we can develop an action plan and begin coaching them and we have had an incredible response from people that come to our workshops on the internet e- commerce is now a marketing tooland it has to be incorporated into any marketing plan susan sommers has extensive background in marketing and media relations in toronto but after recently opening the words matter communications company with a partner in richmond hill she understands the frustra tions of tapping into a new market and as a business coach at the markham centre she hopes to bring that message to bud ding business owners im really in the same boat as many of the people i coach im one of them said sommers i just wish a program like this had existed when i started my first business in 1982 what i have noticed is that people today really do their research and understand their market before jumping into business they are more realistic than what we saw in the 80s and 90s they are more prepared and i just hope to pass along some of my knowledge to make the learning curve a little shorter for more information about the ymca markham business centre call 9489622 starting out the ymca markham business centre offers a free 12week business incubator program to people who want to start a business in york region and are unem ployed or working part time a small fee applies to registrants who work full time oneonone coaching weekly appointments consist of 45minute coaching sessions with experienced business coaches and trainers providing professional advice on starting a new business including research financial market ing and business planning followup and eval uation continue up to one year group coaching register to attend a three- hour strategies for success workshop on top ics relating to entrepreneurship led by experts the workshops provide tips and infor mation on 13 topics 1 advertising and promotion 2 cash row survival 3 creating dynamic promotional materials 4 internet for entrepreneurs 5 keeping the records straight 6 marketing to win 7 organizing your office 8 pricing for profit 9 researching business opportunities 10 sales and business opportunities 11 strategic business planning 12 tax and legal considerations 13 time and project management selfempioyment assistance program the program is offered to individuals who want to create jobs through a selfemployment pro gram participants receive financial assistance throughout the programs duration other assistance includes coaching ongoing technical advice and help in business plan preparation and evaluation coaching is tai lored to participants needs and can include subjects such as business plan development accounting marketing and access to comput ers watch for our special pullout advertising section tuesday march 28 2000 home garden registration for advertising rates and information please call economist sun 9052942200 stoiiftviiie triune 905294433 1 to book your ad please call 9052944331 or fax 9052943563 iftutc vmittftd ttotmatf nut 11 economist sun stouffville tribune markham markham occe club open registration at mount joy soccer facility wednesday march 22 2000 79 pm please bring birth certificates and health card numbers under 9 girls rep team tryouts at mount joy soccer facility march 25 2000 23 pm april 12000 23 pm april 8 2000 23 pm 6140 sixteenth avenue po box 476 markham l3p 3r1 phone 905 4722869 fax 905 4725350 website wwwmarkhamsoccerorg