Canadian Small Business Week: 5 Ways to Participate

Small and medium-sized businesses are the engine of the Canadian economy. According to BDC, small and medium-sized businesses represent 99.8% of all companies and employ 64% of private sector workers. October is Canadian Small Business Month, a month to recognize and celebrate the contribution of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses. Small Business Week is taking place on October 18 – 24, 2015 and here are 5 ways you can participate in Small Business Week Canada in Canada:

1. Attend Small Business EventsSME-related conferences and trade shows are held across Canada in celebration of Small Business Week. These events are invaluable to professionals in networking with other small business owners, hearing stories and challenges from entrepreneurs, and meeting established, successful industry experts. Lendified will be exhibiting at the SOHO: SME Business Expo in Calgary on October 20 and Staples’ Tradeshow in Markham on October 22 as part of Staples’ National Small Business Week Celebration!

2.  Join a Twitter ChatTwitter chats are a great way for business owners and professionals to interact and establish relationships with each other as well as to stay well-informed with entrepreneurship trends and business practices in the industry. Lendified and execs, Troy and Kevin, will be participating in a Twitter Chat on Thursday, October 22, 2015 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm (EDT) using the hashtag #SBW2015. The Lendified team is looking forward to discussing growth strategies and sharing their experiences through this interactive discussion on social media.

3. Research and get educatedTake this opportunity to learn more about Small Businesses in Canada. There’s plenty of information and resources available online, like the recent Lendified Index, that provide up-to-date insights, stats, facts and figures about the state of the small business sector in Canada. You might find learn some surprising facts. For instance, did you know that small business owners use their personal credit cards to manage their day-to-day business needs. In fact, seven percent of small business owners maxed out on their personal credit cards

4. Support Local Small BusinessesSmall Business Week is the perfect time to seek out ways to support a small business in favour of a large international chain. Next time, consider making a conscious effort to shop local – visit your corner store, farmers market, or neighbourhood coffee shop. There are simple and easy ways you can celebrate small business week and help local businesses in the community; you can enjoy your next meal in a locally owned and operated restaurant, tell a friend about your favourite local business, and share with your friends and family the important role small businesses play within the Canadian economy!

5. Get Inspired!Startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses love to inspire and motivate others. Read a book or biography, or listen to podcasts like StartUp and Entrepreneur on Fire and learn what it’s really like to get a business off the ground. If you’re considering reading Canadian books about small business or entrepreneurs, we recommend All In by Arlene Dickinson and Reaching for a Star: The Extraordinary Life of Milan Kroupa by Josef Čermák