October Is Small Business Month: Small Business BC Celebrates With An Evening With The Province's Top Business Leaders

VANCOUVER, Sept. 10, 2015 /CNW/ - October is Small Business Month in British Columbia - a chance to recognize the tremendous contributions that small businesses make to the economy and local communities.

With many activities taking place across the province throughout the month, Small Business BC and TD Canada Trust will kick-off the month-long occasion with the province's largest single-night event, the 6^th Annual INSPIRE Celebration of Entrepreneurship on October 1, 2015 at the TELUS World of Science in Vancouver.

INSPIRE 2015 brings together 400 small- and medium-size business owners, government representatives and industry influencers for networking, presentations and exhibitions.

"Big things often have small beginnings, and business owners need a little inspiration now and then to stay brave, patient and persistent," says George Hunter, Small Business BC's CEO. "The most amazing thing about an event like this is learning from the determination and ingenuity of other successful entrepreneurs."

With that in mind, this year's panel discussion will be about "Leadership and Growth Strategies for Driving Bottom-Line Results". During the panel, Roger Hardy, CEO and Co-Founder, SHOES.COM, Kate Ross-LeBlanc, CEO and Co-Founder, Saje Natural Wellness, Arran Stephens, CEO and Co-Founder, Nature's Path Foods, Terry McBride, CEO and Co-Founder, Nettwerk Music Group and YYoga and Katie Reiach, Co-Founder and Principal, Talk Shop Media will come together to share their advice on how to turn a business into an industry leader.

Christine Day, CEO, Luvo Inc. also joins the speaker faculty for a keynote presentation. As CEO at Lululemon Athletica, Day grew the company's revenue from $290 million to $1.6 billion, making it the most profitable retail-apparel company in the world. Now at Luvo, she plans to revolutionize frozen food world and challenge public perception of frozen versus fresh meals.

Drawing upon her experience at Lululemon and as the head of Starbucks' Asia-Pacific division, Day's discussion, "From Idea to Market Share: The 5 Greats of Great Business," will focus on how to recognize industry disruption and create a business around it.

The community is encouraged to join Small Business BC at the 6^th Annual INSPIRE Celebration of Entrepreneurship for networking, discussion and education.

For more information, visit http://sbbc.co/INSPIRE2015.

Other Quotes

"The success of many small businesses is rooted in the spirit and determination of entrepreneurs who not only dream big, but also receive support and encouragement along the way. In order for small businesses to reach their full potential, we all need to work together to ensure we reach our goal of making B.C. the most small-business friendly jurisdiction in North America - and I'm proud that we are well on our way. Through initiatives like the Small Business Accord, we are ensuring that the proper tools and supports are being developed for small businesses so they can focus on growth and development. I encourage all British Columbians to join me in celebrating our local entrepreneurs during Small Business Month in October." - Hon. Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business, Red Tape Reduction and Responsible for Liquor, Province of British Columbia

"It's always been my goal to empower exceptional entrepreneurship right here in Vancouver. My own entrepreneurial journey started in Vancouver 15 years ago with Clearly Contacts, and continues today with SHOES.COM. I'm looking forward to sharing the valuable lessons I've learned with our province's incredible small business community at INSPIRE." - Roger Hardy, CEO and Co-Founder, SHOES.COM

"I started out with nothing more than a hope and a prayer, and a vision to serve and make the world a better place by offering delicious wholesome food to help heal both the land and the people on it. My dad, an unorthodox farmer on Vancouver Island, told me at age twelve to, "Always leave the soil better than you found it," something I never forgot. Our company, Nature's Path sprouted from a tiny seed to eventually become the largest organic breakfast and snack food company in North America. I'm looking forward to sharing some learnings by experience along our path." - Arran Stephens, CEO and Co-Founder, Nature's Path Foods

"Our wellness journey started in Vancouver more than 20 years ago and we are still proud to be British Columbia-owned and operated. I look forward to connecting with our tremendous small business community at INSPIRE. Growth through education is fundamental to the Saje team and we are thrilled to impart what we've learned and take in all of the wisdom from all of the other fantastic business leaders here in Vancouver." - Kate Ross-LeBlanc, CEO and Co-Founder, Saje Natural Wellness

SOURCE Small Business BC

Media Contact:
Mark Blendheim
Communications Manager, Small Business BC
Direct: 604-775-5607
[email protected]