The Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society hosts several Workshops and Seminars on a monthly basis for entrepreneurs looking for information and education regarding topics such as Business Planning, Sales and Marketing Strategies, Internet Advertising and Marketing Strategies, Financial Fitness and many, many more. 

OVES holds at least one Workshop per month dedicated to helping your business grow and thrive. They usually occur on a Saturday and OVES members receive a discount on the Workshop fee. Our Workshops 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 Workshop, but the practical knowledge gained by the facilitator after years of business experience.

From time to time OVES will also sponsor two-day Seminars for those businesspeople and entrepreneurs that want more from their business. Seminars usually delve deeper into business topics in those areas that can't be covered by a one-day Workshop and are filled with practical experience not only from the facilitator, but from the attendees as well. Check our Events Area for more information on our Workshop Series and Seminars for specific dates and times.

The following is a list of regular Workshops 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.

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.

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.