BDC Small Business Week™ Getting back to basics for business growth and success

MONTRÉAL, Oct. 28, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ -The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is pleased to report on its BDC Small Business Week™ activities. The high point of the week's events was the business luncheon at which the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Jean-René Halde, presented Montréal entrepreneurs with the conclusions of the BDC study released at the beginning of the week, The Five Do's and Five Don'ts of Successful Businesses.

"During the 2013 edition of BDC Small Business Week™, Mr. Halde pointed to the importance for Canadian entrepreneurs of planning their business's growth," said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. "The results of this year's study show just how important it is to get back to basics and put in place simple factors that are fundamental to the success and growth of businesses, such as innovation and recruiting and mobilizing top talent."

"The do's and don'ts listed in the study published earlier this week appear simple at first glance," Jean-René Halde said. "But they often make the difference between business success and failure. The good news is that every entrepreneur can put these five do's into practice and avoid the five don'ts. That way they can tackle the daily challenges of running and building a business, one step at a time."

Mr. Halde's presentation was followed by an animated discussion with two Montréal entrepreneurs whose concrete experience spoke volumes about the importance of using best practices to ensure business success. These two entrepreneurs were France Gervais, General Manager of Bleu Lavande, and David Lipes, co-CEO of Budge Studios.

"The entrepreneurs who took part in the panel today have demonstrated vision and surrounded themselves with the right people to avoid the stumbling blocks that can threaten a business," Mr. Leblanc said. "Their stories helped drive home the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, measuring results and making the regular adjustments needed for survival and success."

As part of BDC Small Business Week, the Board of Trade also organized the Funding Meet-and-Greet™, a roundtable during which participants could talk with BDC experts about the different types of financing available, and a series of express meetings with financiers on hand to discuss the entrepreneurs' plans for growth and need for financing. To close out the week of activities, entrepreneurs were also invited to explore for free Info entrepreneurs resources that can help them start up a business and received advice about making their projects a reality during an open house, which close to 330 visitors attended.

Consult the BDC study The Five Do's and Five Don'ts of Successful Businesses here.

About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has over 7,000 members. Its mission is to be the voice of Montréal's business community and to promote the city's prosperity. It is involved in key areas of economic development, advocating a philosophy of action based on engagement, credibility, proactivity, collaboration and innovation. The Board of Trade also offers a range of specialized services to individuals and to business of all sizes to support them in their growth at home and abroad.

About Info entrepreneurs
Info entrepreneurs is a leader in the delivery of quality strategic information on government programs and services directed to the business community. It constitutes a privileged source of commercial information, thus contributing to the economic growth of SMEs. Info entrepreneurs is a service of the Government of Canada delivered by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. Info entrepreneurs is part of the Canada Business Network which comprises 13 major centres across Canada.

About BDC Small Business Week™
For 35 years, the Business Development Bank of Canada has been organizing BDC Small Business Week™ in recognition of the contributions and achievements of Canada's entrepreneurs. Events held during the week bring entrepreneurs together at conferences, luncheons and trade fairs across the country, where they have the opportunity to learn, network and enjoy themselves in the company of their peers.

™ BDC Small Business Week is a trademark of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).

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SOURCE: Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

For further information: Michelle LLambias Meunier, Advisor, Media Relations, Board of Trade of Metropolitan, Montreal, Tel.: [phone], ext. 4042. [e-mail]