The Business Beat With Stu Harrison

CHARM TREE TOYS
Maren Fine from Charm Tree Toys is launching 2 creative workshops for kids starting the week of September 16. Maren is a Registered Early Childhood Educator, and the first workshop, called Makedo, will give kids ages 6 – 10 an opportunity to design, build and create structures using recyclable materials and Makedo tools.  The second workshop is called Write Me A Story, and gives children an opportunity to write and illustrate their own story with Eeboo art materials.  Both workshops are 4 weeks and cost just $50. You can register at Charm Tree Toys at 372 George Street North or online at Charmtree.ca.

DONNA LOCKHART
If you work with volunteers, you’ll know that 99% of them are great to work with. Donna Lockhart wants to help you deal with the 1% in a workshop on October 29th at the Lions Centre in East City. Called “Dealing with Difficult or Challenging Volunteers”, the half day workshop will deal with myths, hard truths, strategies and solutions, all of it based on cases submitted by workshop participants. Details are online at Rethinkgroup.ca or call Donna at 705-292-5331.

PETERBOROUGH REPTILE
Peterborough Reptile specializes in reptiles and education. Located across from Costco behind the building at 494 The Parkway, they sell live reptiles, terrariums food and decorations, and will soon be offering pond supplies and installation. They also offer educational programs in store and out. They manufacture their own substrates and décor and they support local and national reptile and amphibian charities and rescues including the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre. Go to Peterboroughreptile.ca for more info.
 
LORNE KELSEY
Congratulations to Lorne Kelsey in his new role as Business Development Lead at the GPAEDC. Lorne brings a strong business and tourism background to the job, which will focus on helping local business expand and attracting new business to the community.
 
CAROL BERTUZZI
The Women’s Business Network kicks off the Fall season this Wednesday with guest speaker Carole Bertuzzi Luciani on “Keeping Yourself Mood-ivated”. Details at Womensbusinessnetwork.net.
 
PROSPERITY TRADE SHOW
Don’t miss the Chamber of Commerce Prosperity Business Trade Show next Wednesday from Noon to 7 pm at the Morrow Building. New features this year include the Innovation Zone profiling a number of incubator companies from the Peterborough Innovation Cluster, plus the Networking Café and lots of door prizes including a netbook computer from MicroAge. Details at Peterboroughchamber.ca. 

To submit your new business to Stu's "The Business Beat", click here.

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Popeyes Is Coming To Lansdowne Street

The sign for a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchise just recently went up at the new building beside Chapters on Lansdowne St. They're still busy working away but no doubt it'll be open for business soon. In the meantime, you can check out their menu.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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DBIA Featured Post: Ariyana

In a downtown such as Peterborough's, which is known for having one of the best varieties of locally owned restaurants around, one might think a newcomer to the industry would shy away from starting from scratch right in the middle of it all. But if risks weren't taken in the restaurant world, we wouldn't have the chance to experience a wonderful restaurant like Ariyana, opened by Mina Monsef and located at 396 George St N.

Ariyana brings with it one of the few cuisines that was truly missing from our amazing downtown, that being Middle Eastern! Upon opening on April 30th of this year, the restaurant serves a wide array of meat, vegetarian, vegan, and even gluten free dishes which actually comprise 90% of the menu.

A few specialties they serve are Vaziri Ghaimeh (a chicken skewar and beef kebab with all the fixings), and Ghormeh Sazbi—which are absolute Middle Eastern delights for those who have never had a chance to experience them. Local menu favourites have turned out to be the Shawarma plate and sandwich which is served in a pita, and the eggplant and falafel dishes which are a vegetarian's dream!

Mina and her staff have absolutely loved and appreciated the reception they have been given from the very day they opened. They love all of the businesses that surround them and wouldn't want to be located anywhere but in the heart of the city (they're close to the corner of Hunter and George St.). They say the support has almost been overwhelming.

Growing up in Peterborough, Mina has known the joy of the community she calls home, and has done her part to get as involved as possible. Ariyana took part in Ribfest this year, and were the first entry ever to serve halal meat at the event. They also been approached by the ReFrame Film Festival to take part by serving many of their delicious dishes to spice up the variety!

Being locally connected to the New Canadians Centre, Red Pashmina Campaign (which is partly run by her sister Maryam) and our local Mosque has given Mina plenty of support in her decision to open Ariyana and the downtown core is thankful she made that choice.

If you haven't had the chance to check it out, we suggest you give Ariyana a try. It will truly open your eyes to another example of cuisine that is truly unique in our dowtown.

For more on Ariyana (396 George St N), go to:
Twitter: @AriyanaFood
Facebook: Ariyana

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

PTBOCanada Featured Post: COIN

The Community Opportunity & Innovation Network (COIN) is celebrating its 20th year of pioneering in the social economy! On September 18th, 2013, at 5 p.m., COIN will host a celebration at its new co-working office space at 120 Murray Street in downtown Peterborough. The event will host previous and current board members, staff and clients as well as community leaders, partners, and friends of COIN.

COIN would like to extend an invitation to YOU! Come check out the silent auction, enter to win some great draw prizes, and find out what our social enterprises are up to. You can even check out the next event in the Peterborough Innovation Talks series at historic Market Hall the following night at 7 pm.

COIN is a non-profit community economic development agency, United Way member and partner of the Canadian CED Network. It was formed in 1993 to address Peterborough’s lack of job opportunities for people with barriers to employment.

In the past 20 years, COIN has achieved a lot worth celebrating, including creating hundreds of new job opportunities for unemployed community members, partnering to generate new economic activity and investment, and the development of dozens of enterprises.

It currently operates four social enterprises: Peterborough Eats, reBOOT Peterborough, TekDesk and an exciting new co-working space in its pilot phase.  Social enterprise may be nothing new but COIN’s years of experience demonstrate the imperative for constant reinvention to stay relevant and have impact.

POST PRESENTED BY PTBOCANADA

For more info on COIN (120 Murray St.) and this special event, go to:
Website: Coin-ced.org
Phone: 705.743.0238
Email: info@coin-ced.org
Twitter: @COIN_Ptbo

For more info on PTBOCanada Featured Posts, email here.

A Big Part Of Peterborough's History Coming Down

The former Have You Seen... and Jim's Pizzeria building are among those coming down to make way for the new Shoppers New Drug Mart that will be built there.

[via Kruz FM Facebook ]

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The Business Beat With Stu Harrison

TEAM FIDO DOG TRAINING
Cindy VanFrankfoort has started a dog training business called Team Fido Dog Training. She is offering positive, reward based training in your home for obedience training and behavior issues. Cindy has worked in veterinary hospitals for 24 years, and is the office manager at Peterborough Pet Hospital. She will also be offering beginner Flyball training in the fall. Cindy can also be contacted by email, teamfidodogtraining@gmail.com or phone 705-652-6758.
 
WOOF'UN DOG WALKING
Terrie-Elizabeth Zweep’s new business is called Woof'un Dog Walking. Terrie is a retired registered massage therapist, experienced in treating debilitated dogs. She is also a cat and dog rescue volunteer.  Services include daily walks, puppy visits, kitty visits and pet sitting in your home. Complete details are on the website at Woofundogwalking.com.

HARDY'S HOBBIES AND CRAFTS IN MADOC
Hardy’s Hobbies and Crafts in Madoc recently underwent a major renovation, doubling in size in order to expand their hobby department. Owner Cathy Hardy offers art supplies for acrylics, oils, water colours and all the accessories, plus the expanded hobby department specializes in models, paints, balsa wood and more. Plus the Fall class schedule starts soon and includes both in studio and online classes, Full details are online at Hardyshobbies.com or if you want to check out the new digs they’re at 93 Tannery Road in Madoc about 1 km North of Highway 7.
 
JACK IN THE BOX PARTY RENTALS
Jack in the Box Party Rentals has moved! Celebrating 24 years in business the new location is 322 McDonnel Street at the corner of Reid and McDonnel. Owner Kim Trimm offers the same great services which include rentals of tents, tables, chairs, dishes, linen, popcorn machines, wedding supplies and decorations, plus sales of plates, napkins, confetti, place cards, balloons and more. Plus it’s a Sears Catalogue outlet and a Ferguson Cleaners depot. Full details online at Jackintheboxpartyrentals.com.

To submit your new business to Stu's "The Business Beat", click here.

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DBIA Featured Post: Fontaine Source For Sports

The name Terry Bovair is synonymous with Peterborough sports. Bovair moved to the city in 1977 as a teenager to play for the Peterborough Petes and accomplished something few people ever will: winning a Memorial Cup Championship in 1979. After his playing career came to an end, he took on the position as assistant coach with the same great Petes team he once played for.

Having decided to stay in town, it was here that he met his wife to be. This turned out to be a great decision because in 1984 he made a decision that will forever shape the sports business scene in our town, as he purchased what is now known as Fontaine Source for Sports.

Fontaines has been in business in town since 1954, operating originally at the corner of Water and Hunter St, and has been at its current location at 384 Queen St since 1974. This makes it one of the oldest running locally owned businesses in the city’s downtown core.

Fontaine Source for Sports is a specialty shop through and through. With a working motto of “We know our stuff”, Fontaine’s focuses its energy on a few specific areas, being cycling and hockey.

Operating partly as a full-fledged bike shop, the store offers numerous makes and models such as Norco, Rocky Mountain and Haro in mountain bike, BMX, high performance, and comfort bikes from kids to adult size. With such a large selection, Fontaine's also offers repairs and tune ups to all makes and models even if they don’t carry them in the shop.

The other side of the business is hockey where they cater to every level of player. They offer such brands as CCM, Reebok, Easton, and warrior in every form of equipment necessary, and also offer customizable skate sharpening.

As a member of Source for Sports, Terry and his shop are a part of a National buying group that allows them access to top flight products to compete with giant box stores. Offering friendly, knowledgeable, and quick services combined with top flight products have allowed them to succeed in a time of huge competition.

Terry and his staff are happy to be a part of such a great downtown in Peterborough and love the location they’re in. Being there for almost 40 years is a testament to that. With such a great cycling community in town and with such vast trail systems, they are happy to support riding groups who try to leave their cars at home as much as possible.

If you’re looking for hockey or cycling gear in a smaller setting where customer service and expertise is at the forefront, we suggest you give them a visit.

For more on Fontaine's (384 Queen St.), go to:
Website: Fontainesourceforsports.net
Twitter:  @FontaineSFS
Phone: 705.742.0511
Facebook page: FontaineSourceForSports

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

Value Village 50% Off Sale Is Monday

For those looking to save a few dollars as they do all the back to school shopping this week, head to Value Village Monday (August 26th) to take advantage of their 50% off sale.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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DBIA Featured Post: Level A

When it comes to finding the right people at the right time, no one does it better in Peterborough than Level A. Located at 277 George St., Suite 212, Level A has been in the business of helping local businesses find quality staff to fill specialized positions for over 20 years now.

Locally owned and operated by Rebecca Artymko and Steve Daynes, and with branches in both Cobourg and Barrie, Level A works with the motto THE BEST IN PEOPLE. To help saves businesses the time and effort of finding already qualified staff, Level A puts the hard work in for them to help give employees a seamless transition into the culture of the business.

Level A focuses on quality recruitment, using behavioral profiling, skill validation testing and résumé critiques to find the right employees ready to be called on to fill specific positions at any time. They have a large roster of employees skilled in many fields such as administration, engineering, customer service, finance, accounting and marketing. All of these employees are available for temporary placements, internships, part time fill-ins or whatever a business needs.

Level A is thrilled to be in its current location close to the corner of King St and George St. This positioning allows them to be easily accessible and a great place to connect with future and current employees. Within a few blocks of their locations are the best in restaurants and cafes for their clients to meet at and enjoy at leisure. Being downtown gives the staff an opportunity to interact with the vibrant community all around them.

Level A is proud to be active in the community and has taken part in many endeavours around town including United Way activities, the YWCA Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event, and has been involved with Peterborough MusicFest in the past.

If your company is looking for HR help at any point and don’t know where to turn, we suggest you look into letting Level A help you out. They are a leading personnel source in our community and probably already have what you are looking for.

For more on Level A (277 George St, Suite 212), go to:
Website: LevelA.net

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

Apollo Grill Adding Second Location Downtown

The Apollo Grill, which currently is at 1840 Lansdowne Street West, is adding a second location downtown at the corner of Hunter and George Street across from the Royal Bank.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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