The weather cooperated for the BWA March 26 quarterly networking event that brought over 50 members together from across southwestern Ontario!
Spring weather cooperated for over 50 BWA members from across the southwestern Ontario Cluster region! The March 26 event was originally scheduled back in late Nov, 2014 and postponed due to weather. Members were primed and ready for this first quarterly event of the new calendar year!
The event opened with an update on BWA projects by Manager Mike Baker. Top on the list included the current and ongoing project funding for BWA members provided through the OMAFRA RED program. BWA members are eligible for funds toward improvement projects of their choosing. (If you missed out, there is another round starting April 1! It’s not too late if you join now!). Next on the collaborative project update included upcoming trade show at High Point, North Carolina, and Index 2015 in Dubai UAE.
Digital Marketing is a common topic for all of us in the BWA, both manufacturing and supplier members alike. Themes that members needed to learn more about included dispelling myths about Search Engine Optimization and understanding how to truly tap into its potential to attract people to your website over others. Having your website and online presence really needs to be effectively married into your over-all marketing strategy in order to reap its full potential benefits to your company. Other opportunities on this topic included strategies to attract web traffic from the U.S and out of the country for export purposes. Richard Picart of Search Engine People provided a dynamic presentation on foundational concepts and principles on these themes including conversion optimization. Watch for future BWA training events on this topic in the near future.
Profit Improvement Planning requires a quick identification of gaps in your business processes that impact a company’s effectiveness to optimize efficiencies to realize a profit. Setting measurable goals with timelines and understanding key financial ratios and how to calculate them can help guide companies to being more efficient and focussed on customers and margins at the same time. George Lightfoot of Entrepreneur Support Services provided a unique overview of an approach all business can take to improve their profitability by identifying the activities and processes that are truly having an impact, and making necessary changes to realize bigger profits and higher value to your customers. Financial strategies are key to profitability, and George leveraged his 45 years in the industry to provide an interesting and enlightening approach to looking at financial ratios and strategies to improve your business.
The gluing of wood panels for applications in cabinetry and furniture manufacturing is a constantly moving target with technology and preferences. The trick is to maintain the integrity of your glue lines to accommodate finish with consistency in an efficient manner. Kyle Roesneck of Taurus Craco provided a detailed overview of the converging technologies available with a review of wood properties under gluing conditions. The vast knowledge that Kyle possesses was appreciated by members and very obvious as he continued to answer members’ questions and concerns as the event concluded.
Congratulations to all members of the BWA and our guest speakers for another very successful day of clustering activity! If you are a wood product manufacturer or supplier in southwestern Ontario and would like more information on the BWA, please contact BWA Manager at manager@bluewaterwoodalliance.com
Richard Picart of Search Engine People engages the BWA audience on digital marketing strategies.
George Lightfoot of Entrepreneur Support Services engages BWA members in discussion.
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