Latest Issue: October 1, 2019
OCC Talks Economic Development
Every region is different; group efforts encouraged
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has released a report about reviving Ontario’s regional economies. The report divides the province into 11 regions, one of which is Kingston-Pembroke and discusses how a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development doesn’t work due to the factors that comprise those regions. The authors note that “statistics about the province are heavily influenced by the performance of the Greater Golden Horseshoe area (GTA, Kitchener, Waterloo, Barrie, Hamilton and Niagara). The GTA alone has 48 per cent of Ontario’s population and 51 per cent of its service sector jobs, yet only seven per cent of good-producing jobs. Sixteen per cent of Ontarians live in Eastern Ontario, comprised of Greater Ottawa, Kingston-Pembroke and Muskoka-Kawarthas. This regional economy is largely centred around service industries (health care, professional and social services) while in Ottawa, public administration makes up 17 per cent of employment. Download the latest issue.
Federal Election 2019
Updated list of candidates for local ridings
An update of candidates registered with Elections Canada as of September 28 for Renfrew- Nipissing-Pembroke, Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston and Pontiac. Advance polls will take place October 11-14, 2019. Election Day is October 21, 2019. For more information visit www.elections.ca. Download the latest issue.
Provincial News Re-Cap
Craft brews, war memorial, speed limits and more
A brief look at the news from the Government of Ontario. Download the latest issue.
Marketing | Jennifer Layman
Investing in Customer Loyalty: Why it pays to talk to your long-term customers
When a business thinks about marketing, they often think about attracting new customers. What can they do differently to appeal to new people? What bonus incentive can be offered to bring a new audience through the door? But how much effort do you put into customer loyalty and retention? I bet it’s not enough. Let’s start with some facts about acquiring a new customer. A range of studies referenced in an American Marketing Association (AMA) report note that it is four times to 10 times more expensive to acquire a new customer than retain a current one. The cost of bringing a new customer to the same level of profitability as a current one is up to 16 times more! Loyal customers are more profitable the longer they are with your business. They also refer more people, are less price-sensitive and buy more frequently over time. Download the latest issue.
Book Club | Glenn Elliott, Debra Corey
Build It: The Rebel Playbook for World-Class Employee Engagement
The current way of treating people at work has failed. Globally, only 30 per cent of employees are engaged in their jobs, and in this fast-paced world, that’s just not enough. The world’s best companies understand this and have been quietly treating people differently for nearly two decades. Now you can learn their secrets and discover The Engagement Bridge™ model, proven to build bottom-line value for companies through sustainable employee engagement. Companies with the best cultures generate stock market returns of twice the general market and enjoy half the employee turnover of their peers. Their staff innovate more, deliver better customer service and, hands-down, beat the competition. These companies outperform and disrupt their markets. They break the rules of traditional HR, they rebel against the status quo. Download the latest issue.
- Events Calendar: Business and related events in the region
- Business News Around The Valley: Briefs on local news and information
- Provincial and National Business News: Briefs on news around the province and Canada that local businesses should know
- On The Move: Local promotions, new hires and retirements
- It’s A Fact: Interesting facts connected to business
- News 10: A quick 10-question quiz on recent news headlines
- Tenders: Current tender postings and results
