Ideas for you to Prepare and Grow your Small Business During the Holiday Season | 1.) Set Sales Goals
You can’t know what you need to prepare for the holiday season without knowing your goals. Sit down with your trusted team members and carve out goals for hitting different targets along the way from now until the end of the year. Define your goals as the minimum goals you need to reach, your expected goals, and your stretch goals. Don’t only define these goals in terms of revenue. Add any other goals you may have such as customer engagement and social media following. 2.) Create a Holiday-Focused Marketing Campaign
Use our holiday-crazed society as a benefit to your business. We’re programmed to LOVE holidays, especially the present buying season. Don’t be shy about it, let your target audience know that you have what they need and since you’re a small business, you actually care about them, so you’ll do it better than the big guys. 3.) Make a Plan to Stock Up on Extra Inventory
You’ve done your best to anticipate the crowds, their needs, and be prepared, but was it enough? Make sure you have a plan to purchase extra inventory quickly if your holiday sales are better than expected. 4.) Decorate Your Windows and Store
Take some time to decorate your storefront for the season. It’ll draw the eyes of passersby and bring them in. A bit of holiday cheer will help your bottom line. 5.) Train Your Seasonal Employees
You know you’ll be busier than usual this holiday season, so you hired a couple of extra employees. Invest your time and train them properly. Even though you may not see its worth now, the better their training, the better experience your customers will have, and the less stressed you’ll be about an unexpected rush. 6.) Invest in New Software
Have you been eyeing new software? Whether you’re in need of updated bookkeeping, inventory tracking, or employee management systems. The holidays are busy enough, buy yourself this early holiday gift and enjoy the perks of your business run smoother and spend more time with your family, friends, or alone with some relaxing time. Source: https://www.ondeck.com/resources/6-small-business-tips-to-an-outstanding-holiday-season | Business Highlight: Small Business Week | Congratulations to the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce for hosting a successful and fun week of activities for Small Business Week (Oct. 17-21)! As a partner in this year’s event, Okotoks Economic Development wants to thank Dawn LeMaistre (executive Director) and the Chamber team and volunteers for all their efforts. It was a week of learning and networking with new and familiar faces. The Local Business Panel was fantastic, and we were all able to get a wonderful insight on how they started their businesses, how they keep them thriving and who are the personalities were behind them.
The grand event on Thursday evening with guest speakers Elaine Vincent, CAO of the Town of Okotoks and author of “13 Way To Kill Your Community,” Doug Griffiths, inspired us to look at how we can do things differently, dream big and to challenge ourselves every day to improve our businesses and our community better. We hope to see those of you who could not join us next year for what will be another amazing event. 
| New Business Listings The Town of Okotoks is thrilled to welcome the following new businesses to Town: Homebased: Window Washing Matters
County Custom Upholstering
Crystal Shores Massage & Wellness
Lilac Alberta Counselling
Perfect Contrast
Link Haus
Accountability Okotoks
Appelhof Electric Ltd.
Marshall Lee Studio
Samson Systems Storefront: Full Circle Movement Studios:
Heart of Healing
The Real Yogi Wellness Studio & Boutique
The Coterie Co.
Senna Wellness & Spa
Shelbie RMT The online business directory is a list of all Okotoks businesses that have chosen to be included. The Business Directory is another helpful resource for sourcing companies, products, services and expertise located in the Town of Okotoks. Check it out! Online business directory | Friday, November 11, 2022 | 9:00am to 12:00pm
Centennial Arena, 204 Community Way Doors Open | 9:00 a.m.Service Starts | 10:20 a.m. The service will reflect the honouring and remembrance of those who have served our country as well as the 77th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The service is supported by the Royal Canadian Legion, in conjunction with the Town of Okotoks. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday, November 11, 2022 | 10:20am
Okotoks Cenotaph (corner of Elma Street & Veterans Way) Note that Veterans Way will be closed from the south side of Mountain Street to the north side of Elizabeth Street from 8am-1pm. | | Okotoks Christmas Market by Okotoks Marketsquare Friday, November 4, 2022 - 2:00pm to Sunday, November 13, 2022 - 4:00pm
Locations: Foothills Centennial Centre, 4, 204 Community Way and Okotoks Elk's Hall, 58 Elizabeth Street With over 120 artisan vendors at two locations, you are bound to find the Ultimate Santa, perfect gifts, yummy treats and all of your yearly favourites. Learn more & get tickets! | | Light Up Okotoks! Friday, November 18, 2022 - 5:30pm to 9:30pm Light Up Okotoks is back for its 30th year. Since 1992, Light Up Okotoks has been the kick-off celebration to the holiday season and the annual lighting of the community Christmas Tree.
Join us for festivities throughout the downtown core including wagon rides, warm fire pits, choir performances, late night shopping, Spirit of Christmas Artisan Market and so much more. A visit from Santa with photo ops for the kids and kids at heart is always a highlight and a spectacular fireworks display will round out the evening. Note: Event Day Road Closure from 4 - 10 p.m.
Elizabeth, McRae & North Railway Sts from Northridge Dr to Lineham Ave; South Railway Street, east of Riverside Gate to Lineham Ave. Artisan Street Market Explore the artisan street market, courtesy of our partner, Okotoks Market Square. Market booths will be set-up at Elks Hall on Friday evening and Saturday. Interested in being a vendor? Click the button below to register. Register Here Okotoks Public Library (23 Riverside Dr)
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| | Gingerbread Station
Okotoks Art Gallery, 53 North Railway Street
Friday, November 18, 2022 - 10:00am to Saturday, December 17, 2022 - 5:00pm The Okotoks Art Gallery will become the Gingerbread Station for the holiday season. Drop in to see some fantastic gingerbread creations. Everyone is welcome to participate with a creation of their own! Pre-registration required for participation and accepted until November 12, 2022. Prizes will be awarded based on public voting, which begins on November 18. Learn more | Spirit of Christmas &
Tree of Warmth
Okotoks Art Gallery, 53 North Railway Street
Friday, November 18, 2022 - 10:00am to Thursday, December 22, 2022 - 5:00pm Spirit of Christmas During the holiday season, the Okotoks Art Gallery will be transformed into the Spirit of Christmas, your best choice for holiday gift shopping, all crafted by local artisans. The Spirit of Christmas showcases one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments, jewelry, cards, and the walls will be filled with original, local artwork for sale. Everything in this holiday showcase will be priced under $250 so you can enjoy this brilliant, yet affordable, original art. Tree of Warmth Don't forget to share the warmth this holiday season with our Tree of Warmth. You can bring in your brand new, unopened gifts to the Okotoks Art Gallery to decorate our Tree of Warmth. Most needed items include: - toys/games/art supplies
- warm clothes for children and adults
- gifts for seniors and adults,
- gift cards for teenagers
- baby items
All of the items collected will be donated to local and regional charities. | An Old-Fashioned Christmas
Okotoks Museum & Archives, 49 North Railway Street
Friday, November 18, 2022 - 10:00am to Wednesday, December 21, 2022 - 5:00pm Celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas at the Okotoks Museum and Archives. The main floor will be decked out in Christmas finery with an emphasis on the Roaring Twenties. Discover what Christmas was like in Okotoks in the 1920s - from food to music to what was on people's wish list. | | 6th Annual Saskatoon Farm Christmas Market
The Saskatoon Farm, #20 80181 338 Ave East November 25, 26, 27 December 2, 3, 4 December 9, 10, 11 There will be over 400 local small businesses over three weekends at the event this year. Every weekend will feature a unique selection of local makers and creators joining in on the festivities, making each weekend a little different than the last! This year's event will take place both indoors and outdoors. Make memories with family and friends while warming up around roaring fire pits, or explore the market inside the sunny greenhouses around the farm. Delight your tastebuds with a wide variety of savoury goods and fresh house-made sweets baked daily. Get your fill of fresh baking, kettle corn, softpretzels, cinnamon buns, hot cocoa and so much more. Learn more & get tickets | | Christmas Decor Swap
Saturday, November 26, 2022
12:00pm to 4:00pm
Environmental Education Centre
1118 North Railway Street Have you had the same singing Santa for a long time? Need a change in your home’s holiday look?! Instead of buying more decorations, help practice some of the 3Rs! - REDUCE...the amount of new materials being purchased, and
- REUSE...great decorations so they don't end up in the landfill.
Bring your Christmas décor to the swap and find something new for the season! Please bring in gently-used, clean and operable decorations only. Staff will go through your items with you to decide if they can be kept for the swap. Learn more | | Podcasts are extremely popular as of late—and for good reason! Now people can listen while driving, walking or at your desk to conversations with experts to learn, laugh, join a community, and ultimately, be inspired! There are plenty of podcasts out there suited for any niche, and that certainly includes entrepreneurship. We are proud to even have one of our own local podcaster “Business Life of a Husband and Wife.” Be sure to check in our and hear some familiar voices from our business community. Here are 3 podcasts to help enrich you along your entrepreneurship journey, featuring both local and national productions as well as personal recommendations from the Okotoks Economic Development team! - Local:
https://businesslifeofhusbandandwife.ca/the-podcast/
- Regional:
https://wekh.ca/introducing-women-redefining/
- National:
https://www.startupcan.ca/learn/startup-canada-podcast/ If you have any podcasts you’re listening to on business or entrepreneurism please let us know so we can share with the rest of the Okotoks businesses. | | Upcoming Business Webinars | Check out the following upcoming webinars! - Intro to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Entrepreneurs
Tues, Nov 8, 2022 at 6:00pm I Eventbrite
We will cover key concepts, all the essential terms, and ways you might apply or develop AI.
Reserve spot
- MVP Series: Don't Be Afraid - It's Customer Discovery
Thurs, Nov 17, 2022 at 6:00pm I Eventbrite
In this series, we will look to develop and test the elements of a new idea that genuinely helps to get the idea to commercialization-ready innovation.
Reserve spot - MVP Series: 99 Problems but Value Prop Ain't One
Thurs, Nov 24, 2022 at 6:00pm I Eventbrite
This workshop will explore what makes your business idea unique and how to market the value of your product or service to your customer.
Reserve spot | | Small Business Energy Saving Tip | There a many ways to help small businesses save energy; here is the fourth tip in a series of 12! Most electronic office equipment such as printers and photocopiers have energy saving capabilities. Train your staff on how to use these features. | | Holiday shopping can account for up to 30 percent of a retailer's annual sales. Are you ready? Here are some ideas on how to grow your business sales. source: https://finicalholdings.com | | Business Support Programs | | | Join the Business Visitation Program Your Business Matters!! We would love to hear your unique story. Why did you choose Okotoks? How can we help you grow? Book a visit | | | | Local Business Success Stories Connect with Community Growth and Investment to participate in the Success Stories program. Let's collaborate to promote your business! Join today | | | 
Access webinar, events, programs & services
Learn more | | | | Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce
A not-for-profit organization, directed by a team of volunteers, dedicated to helping local businesses thrive in our community.
Learn more | | | | Community Futures Highwood
Financing, programming and free support for entrepreneurs.
Learn more | | | | MCG
Careers
Innovative Career Development, Training, and Human Resource services which enable individuals and companies to achieve their full potential.
Learn more | | | | Bow Valley
College
Bow Valley College is an innovative, world-class college with more than 600 faculty and staff who speak more than 50 languages. Campuses in Airdrie, Banff, Calgary, Cochrane Okotoks & Strathmore.
Learn more Events Events for job seekers | | | | | RINSA
Provides support to entrepreneurs & small businesses rooted in technology & innovation.
Learn more | | | | Alberta Innovates
By seeing beyond the possible, Alberta Innovates solves some of the biggest industry challenges.
We support research, the growth of business, and we help the start-up community to build new technology and drive new ideas. Learn more | | | | Alberta Women Entrepreneaus
Dedicated to enabling women to build successful businesses.
Learn more  Inclusion Foothills
Available for employers to train new or existing employees.
Learn more
| | | | BDC Entrepreneur
Financing, mentoring and support tools for aspiring business owners aged 18-39.
Learn more
Futurepreneur Canada
To help businesses grow their online presence and upgrade or adopt digitial technologies.
Learn more | | | Grant Program Information | | | Canada Alberta Job Grant Eligible employers can get government funding to help employees and unemployed Albertans access training opportunities. Learn more | | | | Canada Digital Adoption Program Get money and expertise to transform your business Do you own a small or medium-sized Canadian business? We can help. Get a grant and access to expert advice to increase online sales, reduce costs, better manage inventory and more. Learn more | | | Encourage a Friend to Subscribe | Connect with Us/Submit an Event | Enjoy the Economic Development Newsletter? Do you have ideas to make this newsletter more exciting or business-related topics you want to see? The Town would love to hear from you! Connect with us! Have a business event you would like to include? Click the button below to submit it! Submit your event | | | | | |
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