WATERLOO - JacPac CO2 Power System was awarded Popular Mechanics' Editor's Choice Award in recognition of outstanding achievement in new product design and innovation at the National Hardware Show in Orlando, Florida on May 8, 2007.

The award highlights "the most useful and innovative new products for your tool box."



JacPac's: break-through technology uses easy-to-carry CO2 canisters as its pneumatic power source. Popular Mechanics' editors recognized that with JacPac, common air-powered handtools are now free from reliance on the heavy, noisy conventional air compressors.

The JacPac CO2 power system was developed by Supplierpipeline Inc. of Waterloo, Ontario. Supplierpipeline is Canada's number one manufacturer of climbing products (ladders) in Canada, which are marketed under the Lite brands. Supplierpipeline is also an emerging player in the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) power tool market with the introduction of the JacPac line in 2006.

Awarded "Top 10 Tool Innovation" by Workbench Magazine

JacPac has already garnered another major award when it was named one of the Top 10 Tool Innovations for 2007 by Workbench magazine in March. jacpac logo 2007

Workbench, a popular publication targeting the rapidly growing do-it-yourself market, said, "...with the advent of the JacPac CO2 the inevitable extinction of the hammer maybe at hand." Workbench Top 10 Tool Innovations 2007.

Presenters from salespeople to CEOs have embraced PowerPoint, but they're using it incorrectly and undermining their own messages. Paul LeRoux, author of Visual Selling, offers six tips for regaining control and delivering presentations that truly persuade.

Hoboken, NJ - If you present for a living--whether you're a CEO selling your ideas to the board or a salesperson trying to win new business--your job is tougher than ever. You face relentless competition. People are bombarded with messages from the media, the Internet, and other sources. It's getting harder and harder to break through the clutter, yet that's what you must do in order to persuade your audience. And ironically, in a time when you most need to hit your prospects with a powerful pitch, you're likely to fall back on an ineffective crutch: PowerPoint.

"Sellers have become projectionists, throwing words onto a screen while listeners read ahead and sellers plod behind, mouthing what's already been displayed," says LeRoux, coauthor (along with Peg Corwin) of Visual Selling: Capture the Eye and the Customer Will Follow (Wiley, April 2007, ISBN-10: 0-4717936-1-2, ISBN-13: 978-0-4717936-1-8, $24.95).

"PowerPoint's electronic barrage of words, bullet points, and sentences threatens to turn the art of persuasion into a lost art."

That's right. LeRoux is on a mission to break presenters from the seductive PowerPoint routine. When you allow yourself to play second fiddle to PowerPoint text, you cripple your own selling efforts. By adopting the principles of visual selling--which basically means drawing attention to yourself and shaping images, room environments, personal appearance, and gestures for maximum impact--you can give dynamic presentations that truly persuade.

Interestingly, says LeRoux, presenting your ideas with images rather than text says four important things about you:

1. You're different from the average presenter. From the first visual, you're separating yourself from competing ideas, dramatically and non-verbally.

2. Your work and service also will be personalized. Tailored image presentations are more difficult to create than text slides, and they show you'll go the extra mile.

3. You're smart enough to speak without huge cue cards on the screen.

4. You're creative. Rather than presenting the same old material the same old way, you've demonstrated your ability to think conceptually. Your images reflect your imagination.

"People respect individuals who exhibit these four qualities," says LeRoux. "Even without saying, 'I'm dependable; I deliver,' you're conveying these facts. They understand implicitly that the person who is creative, who is smart, who makes an effort, and who is different is more likely to deliver than someone who is not."

Here are six tips, excerpted from LeRoux's book, on regaining control of your presentations:

· People remember pictures, not words. Use this principle to your advantage. Researchers tell us that the mind stores and retrieves pictures more efficiently than words. A face is easier to remember and recall than a name. Cognitive psychologists call this phenomenon "the picture superiority effect." You can leverage it to sell your ideas by presenting powerful images to your audience, unsupported by text, as you give your pitch.

"In its anti-smoking campaigns, the Canadian government makes the connection between tobacco use and impotence," says LeRoux. "On cigarette packages it shows an image of a flaccid, burned cigarette. This is clearly a far more effective and memorable way to get the point across than text alone."

· Use PowerPoint images, but stay away from text. Let's say you're a financial planner trying to get your audience to buy into a retirement plan. Instead of posting a lot of dry bulleted points stating that 57 percent of retirees must continue working to maintain their lifestyles--and parroting the words people see on the screen--you simply show them an image of a senior citizen serving fast food. Emblazoned on his apron is "57%." People look at the screen momentarily and then quickly shift their focus to you.

"If you don't read text aloud, you can bet your audience is reading it and not paying attention to what you're saying," says LeRoux. "If you do read it aloud, your audience is insulted. Aren't they smart enough to read for themselves? Either way, PowerPoint text takes the focus off you and drains the persuasiveness right out of your presentation."

· You wouldn't propose marriage with a handout. Don't try to sell your ideas with one, either. Imagine you are about to propose marriage to someone with whom you are madly in love. In your mind, you know what you want to say. You are confident that you know you can make a compelling argument to convince her to say "yes." You get down on bended knee and you begin your proposal. But first, you provide her with a written summary of your main points.

"Obviously, this is ludicrous," says LeRoux. "You would draw her attention away from you eloquently emoting on bended knee and direct it toward the piece of paper. That's what happens when you distribute a handout before your speech. I'm not saying you can't give your audience a handout or deck at all; I'm saying that you should delay doing so until after your presentation."

· When presenting to a group who insists you use a handout, give them an "image deck." You'll satisfy their need to "follow along" without distracting them. It's true that there are situations in which a group demands a handout. When this happens, print full-page versions of your image slides and duplicate them to create your handout. This is an acceptable compromise. With an "image version," your audience will not be overly distracted.

With a text-driven handout, heads are down and eyes are glued to the copy. With "image handouts," people rapidly peruse the entire document and return their attention to you. The viewer's "fast take" occurs because image pages only broadly indicate where the seller is heading. It gives the skeleton of your message, but it doesn't flesh it out in a way that is absorbing. Images need a presenter to fill in the details. As a result, your listeners will listen that much harder while you speak.

· Do use strategic hand gestures. When you're under pressure, your adrenaline surges and you want to do something with your hands. Don't try to squelch this natural impulse by hiding your hands behind your back or jamming them in your pockets. Instead, use gesturing to your advantage--to indicate size ("small" costs or "huge" margins) or action (sales will "skyrocket" or we'll "check off" results). (LeRoux's book provides illustrations.)

Proper gesturing has five specific benefits:

*Burning off energy--Instead of fidgeting, pacing, or making inappropriate movements, gestures provide a positive outlet for your increased energy.

*Looking professional--Gestures, executed correctly, become positive movements instead of negative, embarrassing ones. The right gestures can convey confidence and commitment to your prospects and customers.

*Supporting the message--It's not uncommon for gestures, even more than words, to carry the message. (Think of how an obscene gesture can enrage the viewer.)

*Involving listeners--When sellers gesture, people pay attention. Viewers find it mentally hard to turn away from the "action."

*Slowing down--It takes a half-second to match the words to the gesture, so you naturally slow down into a conversational pace.

· Learn the simple technique that creates instant enthusiasm. No doubt about it, enthusiasm sells. In fact, "enthusiasm" is a Greek word that translates roughly to "the god, the spirit, and the energy within you." Yet, it's the hardest of all delivery skills to learn or to teach. But LeRoux says there's an easy technique anyone can use to convey heart, drama, and passion: just speak up.

"Increase your volume and, like magic, enthusiasm usually appears," says LeRoux. "It is a direct, one-to-one relationship. When you speak more loudly, you are also more likely to display body language that communicates your enthusiasm. Oh, and by the way, a microphone does nothing to produce enthusiasm. It's a crutch. I suggest that, unless you're in a large room speaking to forty or fifty people, you don't use one at all."

It should be clear from these tips that there's no mysterious "speaking gift" involved in delivering compelling presentations. With practice and coaching, anyone can learn to sell visually. And speakers who do, consistently outshine the competition to win new accounts, convince stockholders, or bring home venture capital monies.

"You don't have to be a 'born speaker' to convince a group," says LeRoux. "That's a myth. You simply have to be trained in proven techniques for selling your ideas, not merely 'telling' them. You must abandon the put-'em-to-sleep-with-a-PowerPoint approach and seize the attention of your audience. Selling visually is a tangible skill--and you can master it."

TORONTO- The Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario (RGD Ontario) elected its first woman President, Nicole Vallée, amongst the 2007 Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting in Toronto on April 28.

"I am honoured to have been elected president of RGD Ontario," said Nicole Vallée, President of Allegro168 in Ottawa. "RGD has become a valuable resource for designers with initiatives such as the DesignThinkers conference, Design at Work, showcasing how design helps meet business objectives, our national salary survey and advocacy against spec work (requests for free work as part of pitches for business).

In the coming year, we will build upon RGD's successes and continue to promote design as a strategic business tool for private and public sector clients." RGD Ontario is the professional body for graphic designers in Ontario, setting standards of practice in graphic design, improving the quality of design education and promoting the value of graphic design.

The organization grants qualified graphic designers exclusive use of the designation Registered Graphic Designer. For more, go to www.rgdontario.com.

R.G.D. Members of the 2007 Board are:

President:
Nicole Vallée, Allegro168, Ottawa

Past-President:
John Furneaux, karacters, Toronto

Vice-Presidents:

Peter Gabany, Limelight Advertising, Port Hope;
Jack Mlynek, Avalanche Communications, Paris;
Wendy Wong, York U, Toronto

Corporate Secretary:

Angela Bradfield, dragonfly design, Toronto

Treasurer:

Lionel Gadoury, Context Creative, Toronto

Directors:

Brian Dodo R.G.D., BMDodo Strategic Design, Kingston;
Bob Hambly, Hambly + Woolley, Toronto;
Kevin Hoch, Pylon, Toronto;
Wayne McCutcheon, Entro, Toronto;
Albert Ng, Albert Ng Graphic Design, Richmond Hill;
Laura Piché, Entercom, North Bay; Annelies Vogel, Brandwork, Toronto

Ex-Officio (non-R.G.D.):

Donald Lapowich Q.C.,
Koskie Minsky;
Mark McAllister ProvRGD,
50 Carleton, Sudbury;
Holly Polanick, Student, Kitchener

Distributor Leads Industry with New Initiative Bringing Vendors Together for the Sake of Seamless Interoperability

Van Nuys, Calif. – AVAD LLC, America’s leading distributor of custom home electronics, announced the introduction of a new marketing initiative called “Integration Partners.”

This new AVAD program strives to improve interoperability among the distributor’s roster of home technology manufacturers. The program benefits consumers and installers alike by fostering products that “play well” with one another, so components can be used together for seamless installation and operation.

Examples of the program in motion include the following scenario of AVAD manufacturers working together: A Pronto® TSU9600 universal controller integrates with Escient® Fireball® media servers, whole-house lighting products from Lutron and iPod® media, resulting in a seamless control experience for the end user – and ease of programming and design for the custom installer.

So far, AVAD is the only distributor within the custom installation industry whose network of manufacturers work together to create fully integrated systems and solutions. This cooperation among manufacturers makes products easier to use, easier to install and service, and enhances customer satisfaction. Several of the AVAD manufacturers have joined the initiative. Installers can tell which manufacturers are supporting interoperability by looking for a new AVAD Integration Partner logo labeled on products from integrated vendors.

“We believe this program is unique in the industry. Individual manufacturers often have technology partner programs, but they are focused only on their product line. AVAD has the ability to broker these engineering-level relationships with dozens of disparate vendors and product types. The end result will be more scalable, easier to install systems with high levels of functionality. From the flat panel display to the media server to the distributed audio system and the lighting controls, everything will work seamlessly together. And the work is pre-engineered so our dealers can have confidence the outcome will be successful and repeatable,” said Bob Gartland, President of AVAD, LLC.

Similar initiatives have in the past revolutionized entire industries. For example, the National Screw Thread Commission, convened in 1928, standardized the number of ridges per inch, and their slopes and diameters, vastly simplifying the construction and manufacturing industries. Within the electronics industry, DARPA developed Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in the 1970s, which set the framework for networked computer interoperability that eventually made the modern Internet possible. More recently, Microsoft made computers accessible to millions of novice users, and facilitated the introduction of countless new computer devices, when it integrated ‘Plug and Play’ to its existing technology – essentially ensuring seamless equipment interoperability with a minimum of effort on the part of consumers.

“Ultimately, we believe that our Integration Partners initiative will not only create scalable systems and increased profitability for our customers, but also provide a better, more reliable end user experience,” Gartland added.

Most Popular Online Movie Store Offers Over 500 Movies

LOS ANGELES and CUPERTINO, California — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Apple® announced that MGM is now offering titles from its prestigious catalog of feature films for purchase and download.

Beginning today, iTunes customers will be able to purchase legendary films such as “Dances With Wolves,” “Mad Max,” “The Great Train Robbery” and “Rocky,” with other titles to be added in the coming weeks. MGM has the largest modern film library in the world and has received 208 Academy Awards in its history, making it one of the biggest award winning collections of films in the world.

“It’s exciting to be bringing so many amazing films from our catalog to iTunes,” said Douglas A. Lee, MGM’s executive vice president of Worldwide Digital Media. “We have an unrivaled movie library and are looking forward to adding even more films in the future so users can take their favorite movies with them wherever they go.”

“More than two million movies have now been downloaded from the iTunes Store making it the world’s most popular online movie store,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We’re absolutely thrilled so many legendary MGM films are joining an iTunes film catalog that now has over 500 movies.”

Titles from MGM’s collection of blockbusters and classics that will be available on iTunes will include “The Thomas Crown Affair,” “Ronin,” and the acclaimed musical “Lilies of the Field.” Movies downloaded from the iTunes Store are downloaded in near-DVD quality at a resolution of 640x480 (up to 480, depending on the aspect ratio) and can be viewed on a computer, fifth generation iPod® or widescreen TV with Apple TV™.

The iTunes Store features the world’s largest catalog with over five million songs, 350 television shows and, with the addition of the MGM catalog, over 500 movies. The iTunes Store has sold over 2.5 billion songs, 50 million TV shows and over two million movies, making it the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,000 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 110 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and will enter the mobile phone market this year with its revolutionary iPhone.

It comprises establishments primarily engaged in: creating mass-media advertising or public relation campaigns; placing advertising in media for advertisers or advertising agencies; selling media time or space to advertisers or advertising agencies for media owners; creating and implementing indoor or outdoor display advertising campaigns; creating and implementing direct mail advertising campaigns; delivering (except by mail) advertising materials or samples; creating and implementing specialty advertising campaigns; providing related services, such as sign painting and lettering, welcoming services and window trimming services.

This industry does not include advertising sales by newspapers, magazines, radio, television or internet, which accounts for the majority of the difference between results of this survey and calculations of total advertising spending in the Canadian economy.

The use of the federal government's corporate signature - which is strictly reserved for the Government of Canada - and the similarity to the former name of the Department of Industry - Industry, Trade and Commerce - has led many businesses to believe that receiving this solicitation is in association with the Canadian government.

Neither Industry Canada nor any other government department has anything to do with this solicitation, which is apparently being conducted out of Switzerland. Authorities there are aware of this scam.

Based on information gathered to date, recipients have received invoices in the amount of $749.00 for a directory that they supposedly ordered. In addition, it appears that Canadian Companies Directory for Industry, Commerce and Trade is not located at the address shown on the document.

The use of the corporate signature is reserved for Government of Canada business activities. Neither Industry Canada nor any other government department produces or markets a directory of Canadian businesses.

Tips for business to protect themselves:

- The Government of Canada does not market business directories or solicit business.

- If the federal government's corporate signature is used, check the name of the stated organization on the official Government of Canada Web site to determine if this organization is part of the Canadian Government: www.gc.ca.

- Don't pay for products that you did not order. If you receive invoices for services you are unfamiliar with, verify that an order was placed.

Anyone receiving this type of solicitation is invited to send their complaints to the Competition Bureau; these will be forwarded to the Swiss authorities.

The Competition Bureau chairs the Fraud Prevention Forum, which is a concerned group of private sector firms, consumer and volunteer groups, government agencies and law enforcement organizations committed to fighting fraud aimed at consumers and businesses. Through its partners, the Forum works to prevent Canadians from becoming victims of fraud by educating them on how to recognize it, report it and stop it.

What if I told you a growing number of 21st Century CEOs spend a majority of her day car-pooling, changing diapers with a little spit-up in her hair. Mom-preneurs are breaking ground with particularly innovative products for the chic and stylish mommies.

Tired of the cumbersome diaper bag, Christie Rein founded Diapees and Wipees™, fabric sleeves in contemporary prints and colors that hold enough diapers and wipees for any mommy or daddy outing. Featured in the gifting suite at the Golden Globes this year Diapees and Wipees™ get the thumbs up from celebrity parents as varied as Tina Fey to Britney Spears.

Too nauseous from morning sickness to deal with raunchy maternity tees that read “this isn’t the threesome my husband imagined,” designer ShaeLyn Werner developed Blessence Maternity, chic, fitted mommy and baby tees with empowering messages such as “Baby Love,” and “Simply Divine” for mother and child. Werner’s designs, too were featured at the Golden Globes this year.

Lastly, rockers everywhere are excited to learned about Tracy Bobbit’s Crib Rock ™, a brand of innovative, fun and stylish line of mock rock concert tees and children’s wear in colorful, butter-washed Supima and pima cottons. Crib Rock’s concert series tees free classic nursery rhyme characters from the bookshelf and let the legends run wild through your child’s closet. Crib Rock's Baa Baa Black Sheep tee pays homage to ACDC’s “Back in Black;” The Queen of Hearts tee reminds you not to “Phunk with her Tarts;” and a trio of visually-challenged mice hit the road on the “Carving Knife Tour!” Endorsed by rocker parents Ricky Sambora of Bon Jovi and Chris Martin of Coldplay amongst many other celebrity moms and dads (see below) Crib Rock ™ is the coolest thing for little head-bangers since baby mohawks.

“Electrohome has become an iconic brand with Canadian consumers, this year marking its 100th year of Canadian heritage,” explained Andy Redmond, President and CEO, Redmond Group of Companies. “ The purchase of the trademarks, represents great opportunities for us to further invest and grow the Electrohome brand in Canada, expanding its product categories and offerings.”

Redmond Group acquired the exclusive license of Electrohome consumer electronics-related products in 1999. The Company also provides consumer audio, video electronics and home appliance products from brands like Citizen, Koss, Magnasonic, Sylvania, Memorex and Emerson.

"Canada's New Government is a proud partner of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," said Minister Bernier. "By introducing this bill today, we are demonstrating our continued commitment to VANOC and its efforts to secure private sector sponsorships, an important source of funding for the Games."

"Hosting the 2010 Winter Games will provide Canadian businesses, from coast to coast, with significant economic benefits. The sustained growth in numbers of foreign visitors, construction of Games-related sport and event venues, and the potential for increased sales at home and abroad are only a few examples of the positive impacts the Games will have on Canada's economy and our international reputation," said the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics. "This legislation provides appropriate protection for 2010 Winter Games sponsors in recognition of their important contribution toward the success of the Games in Vancouver and Whistler and will ensure respectful and responsible business practices."

In July 2003, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose Vancouver to be the host city for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. A significant part of the funding for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games comes from sponsorship agreements between VANOC and the private sector.

The bill will enable VANOC to maximize sponsorship opportunities by strengthening existing trade-mark protection over Olympic and Paralympic marks and by preventing non-sponsors from advertising in a manner that falsely suggests a business connection with the Games (known as "ambush marketing").

The security and stability brought about by these changes will reassure existing and potential sponsors without impacting on legitimate business practices, such as the use of a protected word in a business address or to explain the nature of a good or service. The bill also contains a "sunset" clause which will result in the automatic termination of some of its protections once the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games end and the need for sponsorship funding is no longer as pressing. VANOC has committed to use its intellectual property rights in a disciplined, sensitive, fair and transparent manner, and will be issuing public guidelines to that effect in the coming weeks.

By introducing this bill, Canada is aligning itself with best practices in other host countries that have enacted special legislation for Olympic and Paralympic marks. These include the Sydney 2000 Summer Games, the Athens 2004 Summer Games, the Torino 2006 Winter Games and the Beijing 2008 Summer Games. The bill is also consistent with similarly intentioned legislation passed by Parliament in respect of the Montreal 1976 Summer Games.

Friends of mine, George Torok and Peter Urs Bender wrote a great book about marketing and branding called, Secrets of Power Marketing in which they point out, “You cannot not market.” In other words everything you say and do – or do not do, affects your brand. Somehow the collective leadership at Telus figured their brand wouldn’t be affected by this new enterprise – one which no one ever associated with a phone company. Hmm...

I believe the huge amount of negative publicity Telus received about this provides yet another wakeup call to business leaders. Think about how your decisions affect your personal image and your company’s reputation. Over the long term your reputation is everything. Of course you have a responsibility to maximize profits for your shareholders. There is however a greater calling than short term profit. As a leader, you are expected to do the right thing. Always. No matter what it costs you.

The leaders at Telus gave a lot of people the impression that they sold their corporate souls. Frankly, I felt sorry for the employees at Telus who had nothing to do with this ill-conceived management decision. Telus leaders now have the distinction of being Canada’s most high profile example of how to mismanage your brand. Let this at least serve as a reminder that everything your company does creates an impression. As a leader making strategic decisions, you’ll of course check your sales forecasts and government regulations. Above all that external noise, however, you need to stop and listen to that voice in your gut.

Jeff Mowatt, BComm, CSP, is a customer service strategist, professional speaker, and the author the critically acclaimed book Becoming a Service Icon in 90 Minutes a Month. His Influence with Ease® column has been featured in over 200 business publications. He is based in Calgary and can be contacted through his website at www.jeffmowatt.com

02.21.2007 - SAN JOSE and CUPERTINO, California—Cisco and Apple® announced that they have resolved their dispute involving the “iPhone” trademark. Under the agreement, both companies are free to use the “iPhone” trademark on their products throughout the world. Both companies acknowledge the trademark ownership rights that have been granted, and each side will dismiss any pending actions regarding the trademark. In addition, Cisco and Apple will explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security, and consumer and enterprise communications. Other terms of the agreement are confidential.

I’ll leave it to others to debate the morality of pornography on the Internet. The issue I want to tackle is how ‘leadership’ in such a large company decided this was a good business decision. Apparently there is a lot of money to be made in this new enterprise. I’m trying to fathom how a phone company that markets to both adults and youth decided that this was the direction to move their brand.

Friends of mine, George Torok and Peter Urs Bender wrote a great book about marking and branding called, Secrets of Power Marketing in which they point out, “You cannot not market.” In other words everything you say and do – or do not do, affects your brand. Somehow the collective leadership at Telus figured their brand wouldn’t be affected by this new enterprise – one which no one ever associated with a phone company. Hmm...

I believe the huge amount of negative publicity Telus is receiving about this provides yet another wakeup call to business leaders. Think about how your decisions affect your personal image and your company’s reputation. Over the long term your reputation is everything. Of course you have a responsibility to maximize profits for your shareholders. There is however a greater calling than short term profit. As a leader, you are expected to do the right thing. Always. No matter what it costs you.

The leaders at Telus gave a lot of people the impression that they just sold their corporate souls. Frankly, I feel sorry for the employees at Telus who had nothing to do with this ill-conceived management decision. Telus leaders now have the distinction of being Canada’s most high profile example of how to mismanage your brand. Let this at least serve as a reminder that everything your company does creates an impression. As a leader making strategic decisions, you’ll of course check your sales forecasts and government regulations. Above all that external noise, however, you need to stop and listen to that voice in your gut.

Jeff Mowatt, BComm, CSP, is a customer service strategist, professional speaker, and the author the critically acclaimed book Becoming a Service Icon in 90 Minutes a Month. His Influence with Ease® column has been featured in over 200 business publications. He is based in Calgary and can be contacted through his website at www.jeffmowatt.com

NOTICE: iCON Advertising Awards

Coming soon - Call for Entry for the iCON Advertising Awards. To learn more about this prestigious award that honours the hard work and high standards that go into producing the best design and advertising in the K-W and surrounding area, click here.

New International Marketing Centres In Paris, Mexico City And Beijing To Help Create Jobs In Ontario

TORONTO - Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sandra Pupatello and federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter MacKay have announced that three new Ontario international marketing centres will be co-located within the Canadian Embassies in Paris, Mexico City and Beijing.

"With this move, the McGuinty Government continues to expand Ontario's international reach and raise the province's economic profile in the global marketplace," said Minister Pupatello.

Ontario's new International Marketing Centres in Paris, Mexico City and Beijing will bring to ten the number of Ontario international marketing centres abroad, with the other seven already located in the Canadian missions in New York, Shanghai, Munich, New Delhi, Tokyo, Los Angeles and London.

"Provincial co-locations are further testament to Canada's New Government's commitment to open federalism and its willingness to work with the provinces and territories to promote Canada's interests abroad," said Minister MacKay. The three new offices will add to an existing network of 21 provincial co-locations involving Ontario and other provinces at Canadian diplomatic and consular missions abroad.

The advantages of co-location for both orders of government are significant. They facilitate access to local contacts and centres of expertise, provide the opportunity for the province to work in close cooperation with federal commercial and public affairs representatives, and help to assure that Canada's activities and messaging in the host country are coordinated and coherent.

"Expanding Ontario's strategic international presence is a key priority," Minister Pupatello said. "Our international marketing centres have been very successful in boosting Ontario's strengths and expertise in key global markets. They're helping attract more job-creating investments to the province; they're providing Ontario companies with the contacts and information they need to succeed in a global economy; and they are connecting with key influencers and business decision-makers to promote Ontario's interests. Moreover, our partnership with the federal government and our association with the "Canada brand" has been a key element in the international marketing centres' success to date," she added.

<< Ontario has made the strategic decision to locate its newest offices in three of the world's most dynamic business centres:

- Paris: France is a key source of international investment for Ontario and an important European partner.

- Mexico City: Mexico is a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement, is one of Ontario's most important trading partners, and holds significant potential for both outbound and inbound investment.

- Beijing: The Beijing office will expand Ontario's presence in China, a key market for pursuing Ontario's ongoing commitment to global competitiveness, and will complement Ontario's existing International Marketing Centre in Shanghai.

It is anticipated that these three new international marketing centres will become operational in the first half of 2007. Each will be staffed with two full-time representatives - one sent from Ontario, another hired locally to support Ontario's interests. In addition to attracting investment and promoting the export of Ontario goods and services, these offices will reach out to international business media, gather strategic commercial intelligence, foster linkages between international and Ontario-based researchers and institutions, and market Ontario's business advantages to key decision-makers and influencers in a host of key economic sectors.

Ensures a Consistent and Safe Online Experience for Customers and Partners

TORONTO - BrandProtect, the industry leader in online brand protection, announced that Everpure, LLC, a trusted provider of water treatment products to the food service, vending and office coffee service, residential, marine and aviation markets, has renewed its contract for brand protection services. As a result, Everpure will continue to rely on BrandProtect to protect the integrity of its brand from online risk exposure, as well as safeguard the online experience for its customers.

As a leader in the water purification market, Everpure's brand has become a corporate asset for the company. With a majority of commerce now happening on the Internet, the company first selected BrandProtect in 2004 to help ensure a consistent online brand experience by authorized dealers and to identify trademark infringements. By continuously monitoring the Internet for references to the Everpure brand, BrandProtect's services identify hundreds of online infractions each quarter that would otherwise go undetected. These infractions can include legitimate Everpure vendors using outdated logos or product photos as well as ensuring that only authorized dealers are linking to the Everpure Web site.

The company has recently expanded its use of BrandProtect's services to help mitigate other online risks such as traffic diversion and illegitimate sites masquerading as Everpure distributors. When competitors embed Everpure terms within their own Web site's metadata or online advertisements, potential customers conducting online searches for Everpure products can be redirected to a competitive site. Not only can this impact company sales, but also brand equity as the sites may make false claims of compatibility and may be of a lower quality or standard than the Everpure products.

"It is critical for our brand and identity to be protected in the increasingly Internet-based global marketplace," said Eleni Yianas, director of residential marketing at Everpure. "We wanted an online brand protection company that could provide us with the quickest and highest quality monitoring and actionable results, and BrandProtect was the answer. Their unique reporting services enable us to respond to each violation against our brand immediately to not only protect our integrity but also ensure that consumers have a consistent and reliable online brand experience and that they receive safe, legitimate products."

BrandProtect provides Everpure with actionable online analysis of brand representation by using a combination of highly skilled personnel and proprietary Internet technology that monitors billions of Web pages. Once relevant brand-related content is identified, BrandProtect's personnel analyze the data for authority, quality and accuracy.

Reports are delivered to Everpure through an online portal, where the company can easily view the details of each infraction, including a cached copy of each Web site when it was detected. This forensic information can be leveraged as evidence if legal action is required. Within the portal, Everpure can also provide BrandProtect with guidance on the appropriate action to take on each infringement -- to notify site holders of an infraction, work with the ISP to shut down a site or send appropriate logos/photos for updating the site. BrandProtect then handles communication to those violators, eliminating the need for Everpure to contact those parties directly.

"Today it has become increasingly important for brand holders to have a strategy in place to protect their online presence and safeguard their customers from brand misrepresentation," said Daniel Jones, vice president of sales at BrandProtect. "Everpure is a great example of how companies are employing BrandProtect services to improve the online customer experience and protect themselves against a variety of online risks. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Everpure by monitoring the Internet to provide them with unmatched protection against online risks."

Teneo’s “Carrot Factor” suggests the secret to motivating sales reps is to learn a critical motivator for each person and then develop a performance measurement, with the carrot being a reward chosen by each individual. This approach will motivate them to achieve their chosen results and rewards. “You will be surprised at how quickly your team’s motivation factor changes when they are involved in the process and the rewards are relevant to their references.” Lisa comments.

Take the Guesswork out of Hiring

“There is a science to hiring the right people for the right positions.” Lisa suggests using assessment tools like the XT Profile System. This tool analyzes, identifies and matches the right candidate to the right position. Working with an assessment tool such as this one will help reinforce your gut instinct and relieve any second-guessing about hiring or promoting the right person for the job.

* Beware of urban legends: A book will not make the New York Times bestseller list just by selling 10,000 books. The list is developed by an arbitrary survey of random bookstores. Even experienced authors fall for the most absurd of urban legends.

* Teflon Author – Rejection is part of succeeding, whether it’s from editors or book reviewers. An author has to keep defining her niche, she has to realize her book is not a “Field of Dreams” – but can work at making it that way.

* Know the industry - Successful authors study the business by doing what editors, agents and publicists do – read the publishing trade magazines like Publisher’s Weekly and by recognizing important trends.

* The internet has saved thousands of fiction authors – online serialization, blogs and other web features have provided new platforms for dwindling attention to fiction writers.

Invitation-Only Event Brings Together Leading IR Professionals

LOS ANGELES, CA- - Market Wire, a leading newswire in North America and a full-service distributor of company press releases and material news, announced today that President and CEO Michael Nowlan will lead the session, "Technology and Disclosure," at IR magazine's second New York Think Tank on Wednesday at the New York Society of Security Analysts. This invitation-only event will provide distinguished IR professionals with an opportunity to share experiences, express ideas, and discuss pressing issues.

Market Wire's Nowlan will lead a panel that includes blogging consultant and author of "The Corporate Blogging Book," Debbie Weil, and VP Product Marketing, Rivet Software, Rob Blake, in the discussion about the impact of technology on communication. They will focus on the use of e-proxies, XBRL, RSS, blogs and podcasts, as well as:

-- the SEC's move to make XBRL mandatory and the technology's real-world applications;

-- disclosure risks of new social media like blogs and podcasts; and

-- best practice approaches to e-proxy distribution.

"Technology is changing how companies distribute corporate and financial news," Nowlan said. "This session will help to ensure that we're all making the best use of technology, especially as a tool in our communication, compliance, and customer service efforts. The IR Think Tank series as a whole is invaluable in bringing leaders of the IR community together to discuss critical issues and to help determine future paths. Market Wire is proud to be a recurring sponsor of the Think Tanks, and as a result, we are in an even better position to help our customers meet their needs for news distribution."

Tim Hortons still best managed while Canadian Tire and WestJet make strong showing

TORONTO - For the third consecutive year Tim Hortons is again the best managed brand in Canada according to the results of the 2006 Canada's Best Managed Brands Survey unveiled this morning at the Survey's first Breakfast of Brand Champions event.

"The fact that Tim Hortons tops our best-managed brands lineup for the third year in a row only reinforces what the public already knows-Canada is Tim's Country," said Jeanette Hanna, Vice President Brand Strategy, Cundari SFP. "If there is one lesson we can learn from Tim's, and other top brands such as Canadian Tire, WestJet Airlines, Molson Canadian and Cirque du Soleil, it is that the most effective brands shape our entire experience, sometimes in surprising ways. That is because consumers are increasingly seeking products and services that jibe with their sense of how the world is, or should be. In other words, the brands we value most are the ones that help us understand or connect to our world in some way."

"The purpose of the Canada's Best Managed Brands survey," said Tim Woolstencroft, Managing Partner, The Strategic Counsel, "is to provide a peer review of the best and worst managed brands. Our survey is unique because it specifically focuses on brands that originated and developed in Canada. This is not meant to be a study of the most popular or recognized brands. Rather, the goal is to look deeper into the issues to see who is doing the best job at managing their brand based on their ability to 'connect the dots" between their promise and their delivery."

The top 10 Best Managed Canadian Brands for 2006 are:

- Tim Hortons - 38%
- Canadian Tire - 20%
- WestJet - 19%
- Cirque du Soleil - 18%
- President's Choice -14%
- Molson Canadian - 11%
- Loblaws -11%
- Bell/Bell Mobility - 9%
- TD Canada Trust 9%
- Shoppers Drug Mart 9%

The worst managed brand was again Air Canada and second, interestingly enough was Bell/Bell Mobility who also ranked eighth in the best-managed group.

The survey asked a total of 1,000 business executives, senior managers, and professionals to rate brands that are either Canadian-owned, or created in Canada. Conducted online, the survey was performed by The Strategic Counsel, in partnership with Cundari SFP, one of North America's leading design and branding agencies and Canadian Business magazine. The margin of error is +/-3.1, 19 times out of 20.

Those in attendance know what a great session it was. For those of you not there you missed an exceptional speaker, a packed room and some great tips.... don't miss out on the remainder of the Club's line-up:

Monday, November 20th
Bingemans Berkley Room

Top 5 @ 5 and auctions – 5 retailers highlight 5 items for giving & entertaining. Auctions of gifts and media advertising at a fraction of retail and rate card!

Dinner followed by speakers and meeting program – an evening filled with information, entertainment and enlightenment – join us!

The timing of the event is as follows:

Time: 6:00 p.m. Networking, Reception and Silent Auction

7:00 p.m. Dinner

7:30 p.m. Guest Speakers

Guest Tickets: $40 plus gst (VISA accepted)

Advanced booking required (for members and guests).
To reserve your seat, contact Gabriele Korschewitz at 519.743.3501 x. 19 or gkorsch@alko.com

Be sure to invite friends, colleagues, or business associates to join you and make an evening of it!!

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Monday, December 11th
Bingemans Berkley Room
Wild Game / Canadiana Night – an extravaganza of wild game served “Canadiana”, followed by wild (casino) games and speaker.

Visit our website for the full Calendar of Events: http://www.iconsalesandmarketing.com/

2006 2005 2004

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Increase...................................... 60% 68% 57%

Decrease...................................... 4% 5% 6%

No change..................................... 33% 26% 36%

Don't know.................................... 3% 1% 1%

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100% 100% 100%

Increased significantly....................... 18%

Increased somewhat............................ 31%

Stayed the same............................... 33%

Decreased somewhat............................ 10%

Decreased significantly....................... 5%

Don't know.................................... 3%

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100%

Toronto - Bell Canada is now offering video ringtones to its customers, the first of this kind of service to be available in Canada. For $4 each, customers can download a video ringtone at www.bell.ca/ringtones, then program their compatible cell phone to play a music video when a call comes in, rather than just a simple audio ringtone.

Compatible phones include the Samsung a900 and the Sanyo 7500 and 8300, with additional phones to be added in the future. Videos can be purchased directly from the cell phone, or via PC, and are available from artists like Warner Music’s Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Sean Paul and Billy Talent.

"Video ringtones from Bell allow customers to instantly listen and watch their favourite digital music videos from almost every genre including R&B, hip-hop, country, and rock, offering the ultimate wireless experience for customers that want to personalize their mobile phone with a sense of style and function that is truly their own," said Ken Truffen, Director, Wireless Business Development, Bell Mobility.

"Video ringtones are another exciting development in the world of mobile music,” added Steve Kane, President, Warner Music Canada. “Warner Music Canada is committed to delivering music directly to the fan, wherever they may be and what better avenue than through the mobile phone."

Bell Canada also announced an exclusive Red Hot Chili Peppers contest to celebrate the launch of video ringtones. Any customer that downloads a Red Hot Chili Peppers video ringtone between August 11 and September 30, 2006 will be eligible to win a trip for two to Milan, Italy, including a pair of tickets to see the band play live on November 29, 2006. The grand prize includes return airfare for two, three nights accommodation, $500 in spending money, and more.