The Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society (OVES) hosts workshops, seminars and events throughout the year for entrepreneurs looking for information and education related to the many aspects of operating a business.  Topics include:

• Business Planning
• Sales and Marketing Strategies
• Internet Advertising
• Marketing Strategies
• Financial Fitness and many, many more including Fast Trac.
  

OVES holds at least one workshop or seminar per month dedicated to helping your business grow and thrive. Our workshops & seminars are conducted by professionals in each particular field and attendees will spend the day learning not only the theory behind basic business principles outlined in each session, but the practical knowledge gained by the facilitator after years of business experience.  OVES members receive a discount on the Workshop & Seminar registration fee.

Click here to view our current workshops being offered.

From time to time OVES will also sponsor two-day Workshops for those businesspeople and entrepreneurs that want more from their business. Seminars may be 3-4 hours in duration for a single topic or longer to delve deeper into business topics in those areas that can't be covered by a one-day workshop. They too are filled with practical experience and sage advice not only from the facilitator, but from the attendees as well. Check our Events Area for more information on our Workshop & Seminar Series for specific dates and times.

 The following is a list of planned Workshops to be provided by OVES:

Business Planning: What is a business plan and why do you need one? If you're looking for funding of any type, or wish to expand your product and service line, or just want to get your business back on track, you need a business plan. Experts all agree that if you fail to plan, plan to fail. This workshop helps you start the business planning process and talks you through the essential elements for any business plan success, with real life sample business plans to show you how to tie it all together. Click here for more details on this workshop and availability.

Principles of Business Finance: Every business manager/owner should have a basic understanding of accounting and business financial principles and why they are important for you, even if you don't do the books. A lack of financial fitness is a key attribute to many business failures and this workshop delves into teaching you the basics you need to know to build and maintain a successful business.

Providing Outstanding Customer Service: In this age of extreme competition and declining customer loyalty, this workshop focuses not only on strategies for getting new customers, but how to keep the customers you already have. Advances in web search technologies means more people are buying online. How do you capture this online market, and how do you re-align your customer revenue goals in the Internet age? The Customer Service workshop outlines and details hundreds of strategies, programs and ideas to help you get more customers and keep them coming back. Establishing and Maintaining Long Term Customer Relationships is currently being offered. Click here for details.

Enhanced Sales and Marketing Strategies: Everyone needs sales. After all, without sales, there is no business. This workshop outlines different sales and marketing strategies that include increasing your sales to your current market, growing your market share in new markets, guerrilla marketing tactics that don't cost much money, getting free PR and recognition for your products, service and gaining increased awareness for your company. The workshop also covers how to use the Internet to capture new sales and revenue streams and strategies to showcase your products and services to an increasingly active online market.

Human Resources - Getting The Most From Your People: Your people are your biggest asset and this workshop focuses on how to hire the right people the first time, how to help your employees grow with the company and the importance of training and development. HR is an area that is the most-often neglected area of a growing business and owners often find themselves saddled with employees that are unmotivated, unprofessional and quite often, the largest detriment to providing outstanding customer service. The HR workshop shows you how to create an ultimate team of professional, motivated and loyal employees that strive to be the very best.

Increasing Quality Control: Quality is the key to any long-term business strategy. From systems and processes to maintaining operational guidelines in the manufacturing, sales and distribution process, this workshop delves into quality control issues, identifies and showcases quality parameters in real-life case histories and shows you how to put quality control systems in place in everything from your ordering, sales, delivery, customer care, and financial systems.

The Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society Workshop & Seminar Series is a work in progress with new educational offerings coming online regularly. If you are interested in a specific offering please send us an This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it letting us know. We will put you on a waiting list and notify you when the program is being offered. Sessions are currently being offered in Kelowna but we plan to expand our delivery of quality business skill education & training throughout the Okanagan Valley as the need is identified. Contact us if you would like to see a session run in your community. As well, if there is a business skill related program or topic that you like to see offered, let us know. We are open to suggestions!

The Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society is also looking for qualified business skills trainers/facilitators to partner with us to provide sessions for our Workshop & Seminar Series. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it us to receive a Request for Proposals form. If you have ideas for potential topics not included above feel free to submit your proposal.