Export Development: Removing the risk; expanding markets
Canada is widely regarded internationally for its high-quality wood products. Our expertise opens the doors to exporting, but exporting has its own set of challenges.
Guest speaker Lucian Mihett, Export Development’s Senior Account Manager, and an experienced commercial banker discussed how to access capital, de-risk international sales, and take advantage of the current low-interest-rate environment. EDC is Canada’s international trade expert devoted to supporting Canadian companies with international business opportunities.
Lucian Mihett, Export Development’s Senior Account Manager, discusses how EDC can support Canadian companies with international business opportunities.
Lucian shared how companies don’t have to tie up capital with banks, how to avoid risk with offshore clients, and how to do a market analysis. Those in attendance learned, working with EDC can help free up time, money, and attention so they can focus more on preparing for success in new markets.
The BWA continues to provide solutions for wood manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers training and skills development for those doing business locally as well as those interested or already into global markets.
To help navigate the open waters of international trade, the BWA is expanding our services to provide more training for our members. New Lean manufacturing training, Sales Growth Strategies Training, Leadership Development training, Export Development, and Health & Safety!
On Thursday, September 26th, the BWA hosted its Fall Quarterly Networking Event – Export Readiness Series at the home of Ontario’s largest Woodworking Center, Conestoga College.
MPP, Conestoga Mike Harris commenced the event by recognizing the significant impact the value-added wood sector has on the Ontario economy. He highlighted the 155K+ direct & indirect jobs our industry employs; the $16B revenue it contributes to the Ontario economy. He also outlined the upcoming Ontario’s Forestry Sector Strategy – a plan to help unleash the potential of the forest industry.
Mike Baker, Executive Director of the Bluewater Wood Alliance, opened the event with an update on current events and highlighted more new content set to roll out later on in the new year!
Mike Baker Executive Director of the BWA kicking off the September Quarterly Networking Event
Social Media Marketing the Smart Way
You wouldn’t ask your accountant to fix your car’s transmission, so why would you have a staff member oversee your company’s social media in addition to their daily job functions?
How a company brands themselves online is more than putting up a facebook post and calling it a day. Michelle and Tamara of Form and Affect shared a great deal of insight on effective strategies when implementing a social media marketing plan. From a CEO level perspective, Form and Affect extrapolated the types of goals to set and metrics to evaluate its effectiveness.
A social media marketing plan is, in effect, the gateway for international customers to learn about and assess a Canadian wood company. This holds for companies that currently ship products across borders, as well as companies that may be considering it.
They discussed target audiences and how to engage them, content strategies, choosing medium channels, digital advertising, ROI, and implementation of a plan.
The presentation raised a lot of attention for many manufacturers that may open the door for future events with more related content.
H&S – Better to be safe than sorry!
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Nowhere is that more fitting than with health and safety in the workplace.
Presenter, Randy Dignard of Industrial Safety Trainers, shared many case examples and information on what businesses in the manufacturing sector need to comply with the law. He also shared how companies can perform their best due diligence for the well being of their employees.
Has the MOL ever paid your company an unexpected visit? What prompted it? Why do they happen? Randy, elaborated on various reasons of MOL visits as well as provided understanding
things companies can do to ensure they are doing their best if met with inquiries from ministry officials.
Randy Dignard of Industrial Safety Trainers speaking on proactive safety measures for Health & Safety.
Have you considered getting your workforce trained in health and safety? Do you feel your employees are trained well enough on how to be safe workers? Ensuring your workforce can perform their tasks safely and comply with the Ministry of Labour is in everyone’s best interest.
That’s why the BWA is partnering with Randy Dignard of Industrial Safety Trainers to bring to the BWA a Health and Safety training program to be rolled out early 2020. Stay tuned for more details, and if you have any questions or feedback on this, please contact the BWA.
Randy Dignard, is one of Ontario’s leading safety consultants, recognized by Ontario courts as an expert in Workplace Safety, has been involved in Workplace Safety for over 30 years. As president of Industrial Safety Trainers Inc, Randy spends most of his time coaching and mentoring business owners across Canada on how they can demonstrate due diligence and compliance to Ontario’s Safety Laws.
If you would like more information about BWA, please contact:
Ryan Tabone
Program Coordinator
Bluewater Wood Alliance
e: ryantabone@bluewaterwoodalliance.com
Together we’re strengthening Ontario’s wood manufacturing future.
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