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Second annual international business awards recognize companies expanding beyond Canada
Doing business abroad brought accolades to four companies last night at the second annual HSBC International Business Awards.
The awards, developed by HSBC Bank Canada in partnership with Business Without Borders, recognize achievements of companies that have decided to expand beyond Canada's borders.
Magog, Que.-based Boreal – Information Strategies was honoured as international business of the year among small and medium enterprises.
The company helps other firms implement corporate social responsibility strategies It operates in more than 25 countries.
Targray Technology International Inc. of Kirkland, Que., won for leadership in international trade in the Asia Pacific. The company supplies materials used in creating high-tech and alternative energy products and has operations in 50 countries.
Bassett & Walker International Inc., based in Toronto, won for leadership in international trade in Latin America. It connects food producers and processors throughout the world, especially in Latin America.
Broadgrain Commodities Inc. of Toronto was the international business of the year for large enterprises. The company is a purchaser, handler and seller of bulk grains and food-grade commodities worldwide; it has scored particular success in Africa and parts of Asia.
Business-travel essentials
Travelling for business, you might have favoured and needed items that must come along for the ride. Breath mints might not be the first thing you'd think of, but it's part of this list of suggested essentials at Entrepreneur.com, from business cards to phone chargers, that you might want to consider packing.
EVENTS AND KEY DATES
Talking startup communities
Join venture capitalist, entrepreneur and author Brad Feld for a conversation about what it takes to create successful startup communities. Mr. Feld, a co-founder of TechStars, and managing director at Foundry Group in Boulder, Colo., is also the author of Startup Communities: Creating a Great Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City. The event takes place Oct. 30 in Toronto. For more information, click here.
Dynamic networking
People like to do business with those they know and trust. Learn more about the art and value of networking at an event being held by The Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development on Nov. 6 in Halifax. To learn more about its dynamic networking session, click here.
Small Business Summit Toronto
There's still time to register at a discount for the next Small Business Summit, to take place in Toronto on Nov. 22. For more on what the day will hold, click here .
EDITOR'S PICKS FROM REPORT ON SMALL BUSINESS
Full-force expansion in U.S., or pull back and focus on Canada?
Many Canadian entrepreneurs dream of cracking the U.S. market, but Regan Stevenson is already there. However, the founder of Sunpeak Foods Inc. has found the U.S. retail market much tougher and costlier than its Canadian counterpart to penetrate. This week's Challenge : After making inroads down south, should the company ease up and train its sights on this country, where the costs are lower, but so are the potential rewards. Also have a peek inside Sunpeak Foods in this photo gallery .
FROM THE ROSB ARCHIVES
Serial entrepreneurs: How to find the next big idea
When you've had one successful business idea, how do you come up with the next? How to find another winning concept, and make it work, was the subject of in this piece , published in November, 2011.
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