Small Business Centre - CentrePiece, Newsletter Updates June 2011

In This Issue

Cold Stone Transforms the Ice Cream Social With Facebook

Seminar - Social Media for Your Business

June, 2011

This month marks the 25th Anniversary of the London Small Business Centre! Help us celebrate and join us on June 21 where SBC graduate Rick Lambert will present the keynote on the Rise of Social Media in Business.

Along with the much anticipated heat of summer, June brings you informative seminars on HST and social media. We kicked-off summer vacation season with patio networking at the Barking Frog and the weather could not have been better for the nearly 100 friends of the SBC making business connections (and enjoying some fabulous food)! We hope to see you all again when Networking Wednesday resumes in September at the Junior Achievement Charity BBQ.

News & Information

The following clients have recently been featured

in the local media. Congratulations!

The London Free Press, May 30 2011

Jennifer Broxterman, Nutrition RX
A new nutrition business is offering Londoners a chance to learn more about healthy eating. Jennifer is a registered dietitian and sports nutritionist who will be giving a free nutrition talk at Lululemon Athletica at Masonville Place on June 12. For more information about what Nutrition RX can do for you, check them out online.

If you are a Small Business Centre Client and have been featured in the media recently, we would like to hear from you so we can pass it along. Send details to info@sbcentre.ca and we may include it in our next newsletter.

Entrepreneur Interview

David Ciccarelli of Voices.com, London ON

David Ciccarelli, Chief Executive Officer. As the founder of Voices.com, David offers management experience as well as a clear vision the company's future. Currently, David oversees infrastructure maintenance, infrastructure development, and web application development. David was nominated for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Business Development Bank of Canada and has also presented Voices.com as a New Voices winner at DigiFest, an award recognizing Voices.com as an industry leader who provides digital media products and innovations that contribute to Canada's economic and cultural future.

In this article David provides his insightful solutions and results to the question "What processes or procedures have you implemented that have helped grow your company?"

Read the full article here.

Source: BusinessInfoGuide.com

Cold Stone Transforms the Ice Cream Social With Facebook a

Ice cream has always been social. But Cold Stone Creamery

has found a way to make it even more so - with Facebook.

The ice cream retailer, known for pounding and slapping customized creations on a "cold stone," has long been a favorite of ice cream lovers. Like many retailers, the company long relied on traditional advertising to spread the word. But a YouTube video contest in 2005 set the company on a social media course.

Today, Cold Stone continues to innovate outside the kitchen, recently releasing what may be the first eGift feature on Facebook, and running contests that get thousands engaged even more deeply with the brand. The payoff goes well beyond greater customer engagement; Cold Stone's promotions add to the bottom line by moving people from their computers to physical stores.

Stats & Highlights:

A new eGift Facebook feature added $10,000 in incremental sales to franchisees in just a month and a half
With social media, Cold Stone averages a cost of about 39 cents per coupon redeemed compared to $3.60 per redemption with print advertising
The company added 66,000 new fans over about an 8-week period with a flavors contest
A Facebook coupon increased sales 1 to 1.2%
14% redeemed the coupon compared to .02% in the past

Check out the details in the full article here.

Source: Social Media Examiner, Author Casey Hibbard

Upcoming Events

Join us for an evening of networking and celebration!

We'll take an entertaining journey back through the past 25 years as we revisit some of our most memorable moments. SBC alumnus, Rick Lambert, will then have us looking to the future with his energizing keynote on the Rise of Social Media in Business.

MEDT
Sponsored by The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade

A2P

Your Connection

to Accountants, Lawyers, Online Marketing Specialists and Bankers

Through our Access to Professionals service,you can connect with accountants, lawyers,

web and banking professionals for 30 minute consultations on business related issues.

Accounting Consultations: July 5th

Access certified accountants to address financial questions and assist with bookkeeping best practices and future forecasting.

Legal Consultations: July 7th

Expert lawyers are available to clarify your concerns and provide easy to understand answers to your legal questions.

Online Presence Consultations: July 12th

Knowledgeable in web design, development , and online marketing, get answers to your web based questions from the professionals.

Visit us on the web or call the Centre for more information

or to arrange an appointment.

Social Media for Your Business

Social media marketing is changing the way people and businesses communicate.

You can generate more traffic to your site, stay in touch with your client base, and connect with valuable resources. In this seminar you will learn how to navigate the social media landscape and discover the right tools for your business.

Topics include:
ˇ General do's and don'ts guidelines
ˇ Building a strategy and creating content
ˇ Specific tactics for each platform
ˇ Measuring social and refining your strategy
ˇ Using social media to convert
ˇ Public relations and damage control
ˇ Policies and guidelines

Visit sbcentre.ca/advanced or call 519.659.2882 ext. 0 to register.

Thank you to everyone that participated in our recent survey.

Included in the survey was a draw to win a

$25 Gift Certificate for a 2011 ABS.

Jerome Pepping of J.P Project Management

Your feedback and suggestions will help us plan for future events. Keep an eye on our website for upcoming seminar topics - chosen by you!