Alberta Women Entrepreneurs

Operating or looking to operate in Africa, the Caribbean or Latin America? Fin Dev is hosting info sessions in Edmonton and Calgary on how they can help support your business.

The new Spotlight on International Marketing from the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) is here to help ensure your export marketing plan is a success. When selling a product or service abroad, there are 5 key considerations you must take into account that will determine the effectiveness of your marketing efforts.

Join us in our Loan Program Info Webinar! On August 29, 2018 11:30 am to 12:00 pm, we will walk you through:
1. What is the AWE Loan Program 2. Basic Eligibility to Apply 3. What kind of businesses can apply for an AWE loan... 4. What expenses AWE can and cannot finance 5. How AWE’s loan program different from other lenders Application process
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We've partnered with Simplified Social for their upcoming workshop in Calgary on Thursday, August 23.
Learn how to create content that converts for your business including blogs, e-newsletters, photography and social posts. Use code "AWE" and receive $10 off the cost of registration!

The newly remodeled Poppy Barley store at Southgate is looking good! We had a great time visiting our client Kendall Barber this morning.

Are you a new to Canada and thinking of starting a business? Business Link is hosting an event on Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Edmonton on Aug. 22 and in Calgary on August 28th! Learn more and register: http://businesslink.ca/what-we-do/all-eve nts

As an entrepreneur, you’ve probably considered financing at some point for your business. Whether it’s money to help start your business or grow your business, working capital is essential for business owners. At AWE we provide loans from $30,000 to $150,000 to help entrepreneurs start, build and grow their businesses. While many entrepreneurs are eager to apply for financing, many do not qualify. What is the reason for this?
Many entrepreneurs apply for financing, yet only a small percentage of them are actually ready for financing. How do you know that you are ready to apply for financing for your business? We’ve highlighted five important things to consider before applying for your business loan.

CLIENT FEATURE: Myrna and Perla were both born and raised in Brazil, however, in 2013, the two met for the first time in Edmonton.
Perla was temporarily living in the city, while Myrna had re-located to Edmonton full-time with her family. Myrna, a Business graduate and Perla, an Engineer had no idea five years later, they would be opening their own dog grooming salon in Edmonton.

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AWE's PeerSpark™ program is designed to help you learn, build, and implement business growth strategies and tactics with a cohort of like-minded entrepreneurs. The program offers business coaching in a safe and supportive environment of other women entrepreneurs who are focused on growing their ventures.
Ready to learn more? Join us at our webinar! On August 16th from 10:30am - 11:00am, we are hosting a PeerSpark™ Info Session via webinar with AWE CEO, Marcela Mandeville, and past PeerSpark™ participant Sonia Egey-Samu.

An outsider might think that entrepreneurs take chances. That’s simply not true. They take risks -- and there’s a profound difference.
You’re taking chances if you act on the assumption that everything will go your way, if you rely on variables that are outside your control, if you do not understand the fundamentals of the market you are about to enter and if you cannot measure your actions.
On the other hand, you are taking calculated risks if you perform reasonable due diligence before executing, you seek input from trusted advisors, you rely on experience -- not luck -- and if you can measure results against your plan.

We spent this morning interviewing our clients, Oh My Dog Spa in Windermere. Stay tuned for their full interview coming out next week!

We've partnered with CPA Alberta and BDC to bring to you a two part learning session on financial information for business owners.
The Money Side of Business:
This is an advanced session explaining the basic tools and techniques of financial management for a business owner, including budget creation and monitoring, cash management, product/division/customer analysis, planning/ forecasting, and trend analysis.
... Getting Money: What Lenders and Investors Want
This session explains to the business owner the financial and non-financial information a bank or investor uses to evaluate a loan/investment request, and explains the steps necessary to prepare a business for presentation to a lender and/or investors.
Join us August 23 in Calgary!
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Serving smiles with a smile! We loved visiting our client Kim last week and getting to see her business, The Lunch Lady, in action!

For many entrepreneurs, business slows down in the summertime. Now that you finally have time to breath, how can you take advantage of the extra time on your hands? Here are five things you can do to ensure your summer is both productive and enjoyable.

This week we visited our client Faith Grant and got a sneak peek at her 4th location of Rejuvenation Health Services which is having its grand opening on August 15th!

According to a 2017 article published by McKinsey, "almost one-third of senior leaders cite finding talent as their most significant managerial challenge." It's not just them, 82% of companies think they're hiring people who aren't "highly talented," and only 7% of companies who do think they've hired top talent believe they can keep them around.
Hiring top talent is key to company success, as highly skilled people are more productive, resulting in stronger returns and more rapid company growth, but companies are floundering when it comes to finding them and bringing them onboard.

Alberta Women Entreprenuers (AWE) has partnered with Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA)& Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to bring to you a 2 part learning sesssion on financial information for business owners.
The Money Side of Business
This is an advanced session explaining the basic tools and techniques of financial management for a business owner, including budget creation and monitoring, cash management, product/division/customer analysis, planni...ng/ forecasting, and trend analysis.
Outline:
• What’s financial management?| • What tools can help operate my business? • How do I determine if a product is profitable? • What’s my most profitable product? • Who are my most profitable customers? • Why do I need a budget? • How do I create and use a budget? • What reports do I need? • How do I tell where my business is heading?
Learning Objectives:
• To be able to use financial management tools to evaluate their business and make informed financial decisions
This session will be presented by Christin Giebelhaus
Getting Money: What Lenders and Investors Want
This session explains to the business owner the financial and non-financial information a bank or investor uses to evaluate a loan/investment request, and explains the steps necessary to prepare a business for presentation to a lender and/or investors.
Outline:
• Why will I need additional financing and capital? • What are the typical sources for financing? • What are the advantages and disadvantages? • How are lenders and investors different? • Why do I need a business plan and how do I create one? • What are leverage ratios and how should I use them? • How do leverage ratios vary between business types? • How do lenders look at my business?
Learning Objectives:
• To understand how a bank or investor will evaluate their business and the steps necessary for the owner to get their financial statements and business plans in order for presentation to lenders and investors.
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