Muskoka Enterprise Centre

With the holiday season upon us and a new year just around the corner, it’s a natural time to start thinking about how to renew our energy for the coming year.  

Despite the fact that many businesses are very busy this time of year with Christmas shopping in full swing and winter conditions placing extra demands on many, there is an opportunity at this time of year to slow down a bit and catch one’s breath. While the rest is valuable, it is also helpful to think about some new goals we would like to accomplish in the future. This may involve acquiring something to improve production, adding a new staff member, getting a website up and running, designing a new business card and brochure to give the business a new look or simply putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls.  The idea is to revitalize the business by revitalizing yourself.

While we pause, it’s important to remember the people who make our businesses possible – our customers. Nothing makes a customer feel better than to feel you really value his or her business. This can often be accomplished by simply saying “thanks for your business” or “thanks for coming in” to casual walk-in customers. Account customers will appreciate a greeting card wishing them a happy holiday or a merry Christmas. If you happen to keep e-mail addresses for your customers, it is very easy to send out a greeting with minimum effort. Taking the time to connect with your customers, i.e. the people who appreciate what you do for them, is a great way to find some new energy.  

The Muskoka Enterprise Centre will be presenting a fresh new look in 2008. one that is the result of a lot of hard work by the centre’s advisory committee, staff and people experienced in developing new images.  While I’m not at liberty to disclose any details at this point, I can say that the emphasis will be on making the centre more recognizable to the general public as a support for small business throughout Muskoka.

Our clients include small business owners from across Muskoka and some from outside the district. We attempt to provide all of them with the same courtesy, professionalism and confidentiality in our advice and consultations. Our advisory committee includes representatives from all three major towns in Muskoka, which helps to give us some insight into the challenges faced by entrepreneurs throughout the district.

The staff and advisory committee of the Muskoka Enterprise Centre would like to congratulate all of our clients on their business start-ups and expansions, and to thank them for making use of our services.

We would also like to wish them and all of the hardworking business owners in Muskoka a very happy holiday season and a prosperous year in 2008.  

The office will be closed between Christmas and New Year’s, but we will re-open Jan. 2 with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

To take advantage of our free services call 646-9021, email info@

muskokaenterprisecentre.com or visit www.muskokaenterprisecentre.com.