Our Chairman, Chuck Loewen, Discussed at Schulich

I was a guest speaker at Schulich School of Business last night and had to cross the Union’s picket line. It was dark, 6:30pm and I was engrossed in thought. I did vaguely notice a woman in a fuzzy sweater walk past my car but as she was not police, I did not pay her much attention.
I found out later that I was supposed to roll down my window to listen to the union’s side of the story. No wonder they made me sit there for ages!
But as I hear of Polar Capital being closed and more on Bay Street, I just wonder about this model of government workers voting themselves higher pay raises during bad times. The Union at Ford is hanging in until that old cow is dry so I guess the same for Canada.
The students made it to Bob Angel’s marketing class and I was impressed with the level of interest. Cindy asked me if marketing using a photograph of an old, white man in our brochure (our Chairman, Chuck Loewen) was a good idea. She thought it would put off people as the world is now more diverse. Maybe one day we will get beyond identity as a decision making criteria but for now it seems that it is an issue for marketing.

News - Speaking at TBDC

Networking at TBDC Wednesday November 12th
Date Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:27PM
Toronto Business Development Centre is very excited to have Jacoline Loewen, author of Money Magnet - How to Attract Investors to Your Business, as featured speaker at our November Networking event.

Money Magnet - How to Attract Investors to Your Business

Toronto Business Development Centre is very excited to have Jacoline Loewen, author of Money Magnet – How to Attract Investors to Your Business, as featured speaker at our November Networking event.

Jacoline is an experienced corporate consultant, lecturer, and writer of business strategy. She is currently a partner at Loewen & Partners where she advises owner managed companies seeking capitol - venture capitol and private equity.
Ms Loewen sits on the Advisory Board of the Women's Post and on the board of the University of Toronto, Rotman MBA IMC. She is a mentor for the Canadian Youth Business Foundation and a member of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprises, Women in Capitol Markets and The Ticker Club.
Join us Wednesday November 12th at our 1071 King Street West location as Jacoline talks about what is required to get the money you need for your venture. She will discuss strategies and how to pitch potential investors for capitol. In addition Jacoline will share business development strategies and success stories.
Don't forget to bring your business cards.
Admission is free, but requires registration. You can register online, or contact our Advisor on Call at 416-345-9437 to register by telephone.

Agenda
5:00 - 5:30 PM: Registration with light refreshments
5:30 - 5:45 PM: Welcome and introductions
5:45 - 6:15 PM: Money Magnet - How to Attract Investors to Your Business - Jacoline Loewen
6:15 - 6:30 PM: Questions and Answers
6:30 - 7:00 PM: Networking continues

Click here to download flyer.

It's a recession proof business

Post from the CBC's hit reality TV Show, Dragons' Den Blog:

“Succulent,” is not a word you think you would hear from Kevin – where’s the money – O’Leary. Of course he was describing profits, not his favourite roast beef, but there was not one, “You’re crazy” or “What a stupid idea” to be heard during the presentation by Creative Hair Solutions.
It all began when Brenda, the flight attendant, arrived in the Den with her hair extension business. At first, Kevin did look like he was measuring Brenda for her coffin but then, what a turnaround, as soon as the magic words “1000% mark up” were spoken.
After that, Kevin was lying on the ground letting Brenda tickle his tummy, purring, “I like your numbers, I like your product, I want to buy your product, I want to wear your product.”
Brenda created this positively oozing love fest because she knew her clients and her competitors, she went to market well prepared, she had proof of concept with an impressive sales track record and she could quote her financial numbers and key ratios. It was clear she was competent in business and was sane enough for an entrepreneur.
One of the investors, Dragon Robert Herojovac, allowed Brenda to use him as an extreme makeover model, going from plain millionaire to heartthrob Braveheart warrior in minutes. Lay on a kilt and axe and we could see Robert heading for the battlefield. I must admit, I felt a thrill going up my leg. Then Robert flicked back his hair and asked Arlene in his usual charming way, “This is one of the few times I actually do care what you think. What’s your opinion?”
Arlene was so overcome, she said, “I can’t even look at you, Robert.” See the affect of men with long hair on women? Imagine all those male office workers who could change their lives: during the week-they are Dilberts in their cubes, but by weekend – they morph into manly Fabios.
Kevin licked his lips as he talked about what drives the cash flow of a business and he was mesmerized by the fact that sales for Creative Hair Solutions would be driven by female vanity. Revlon sells “Hope” which has translated into billions of dollars spent on lipstick by ever hopeful women. “It’s a recession proof business,” Kevin said, glowing at the thought.
Then Jim Treliving put it in a far more eloquent and may I say, poetic way, “It’s about big boobs and big hair.”
W. Brett Wilson agreed. He shared a quaint story that in Texas, where they like everything big, a woman with large tracts of land is appealing and big hair also helps.
All the Dragons could see Brenda did not need their money to grow her business which is a big vote of confidence for her long term success. And then Kevin did the most extraordinary thing. He offered to make a phone call to change Brenda’s life.
Here you see the benefit of getting out of your comfort zone and talking to people who are not from your usual group of colleagues. By taking out your business presentation to people who scare the heck out of you, there is fresh information to gain. As the book Money Magnet will show you, they may turn you down but at the same time, they may put you in contact with someone who would invest in your business.
Kevin said, “Usually I take a slice.”
A slice?
A slice of what exactly, Kevin? That sounds alarmingly Lock, Stock and Smoking Barrels.
But it is true that rarely will you gain access to a Dragon’s Rolodex without first selling a piece of your business or paying an introduction fee. It must have been the effect of Brenda wearing her big hair or perhaps Robert looking so caveman or even Big Jim’s naughty talk, but Kevin seemed to have been rolling in catnip and was feeling particularly generous.
So Brenda, if you do get a deal as a result of Kevin’s phone call, remember to pay it back – perhaps give Kevin his own succulent hairpiece?

Your Clients Will Like You Green

“Top companies are creating score cards for going green and stewarding the environment,” says Ed Rucels, a specialist in packaging at a conference on fuel and transportation with Jacoline Loewen and DTA.

“Today, green awareness means winning and keeping clients is no longer just
about saving money. If you can demonstrate how you are can help be part of
reducing the carbon footprint, you will have a loyal and grateful client.”

Packaging seems to be an obvious place to start but in large companies, it is a major part of the supply chain. The package does not belong to one department and can be a complex process to change. Wal-Mart reduced packaging and achieved a $3.4B savings in the first year that they introduced the program.
Case Level Optimization
Currently, many companies are shipping a great deal of air. A few quick checks to see how to reduce carbon imprint are:

• Know Your Fill Rate: When asked in surveys, managers will say they are shopping with a 80% fill rate, often it is more around 60%. That is a great deal of money to ship 40% with a zero value.
• Check your Packaging: To mitigate damage, the thick corrugated box is used to save the product. You do not need a big, fat box to protect the product. Instead, you can rework your SKUs and there are experts who can help with this process.
• Reduce Pallets in Play: There are more pallets out in the system than required which allows for easy decisions rather than a smarter approach to reducing costs. If you bring down the pallets, you can force savings.
• Spacing on Each Pallet: There are underutilized spaces on the pallets. This is valuable real estate, with every centimetre worth money. By watching for underutilized pallet real estate, employees can look for ways to stop shipping empty air.

With these programs, you will develop a good strategy for shipping. You will ratchet up the density of shipping, reduce your damage and find savings for yourself and clients. As a result of focus on case level optimization, Ed Rucel says his clients have achieved up to 40% savings on transport, storage and handling. This adds up to a great deal of carbon reduction and a greener happier customer.
Edmund Rucels, Regional VP Supply Chain Optimizers. Edmund’s management experience during the startup and rapid growth of Northern Telecom and Sears Canada has made him the expert on delivering real time solutions for the logistics professionals wanting to drive down costs through better shipping practices.

Jacoline Loewen raises capital for growth companies with Loewen & Partners and she is the author of Money Magnet: How to Attract Investors to Your Business.
http://www.loewenpartners.com/

http://www.moneymagnetbook.ca/

Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way

“Indecision and silence is the most dangerous risk a business owner could take”, says Charles Loewen, CEO and President of a fourth generation family business. Loewen Windows is a company where seeming opposites exist in harmony; delicate beauty and a steely toughness; pride in craft tempered by an abiding humility. This family business has remained faithful to its roots, but has also grown to embrace new technologies and ideas from places as diverse as Europe, Japan, and North America.

Loewen Windows went through expansion and contraction in the Japanese market during the Ninties.

Charles Loewen, CEO of Loewen Windows is speaking at a joint Ivey Business School and Loewen & Partners CEO Roundtable event.

If you are interested in attending, here are the details:

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

10:30 am – 3:00 pm

The National Club

303 Bay Street, Toronto

Bay Street & Adelaide, Downtown Toronto

Map Location & Parking
Cost $148.00 + GST
To Register (Please note, business owners and CEOs only):
Please email: akobeleva@loewenpartners.com or call 416 961 0740 and ask for Anastassia