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Ken LeBlanc's daughter, Isabelle, sits in one of his most treasured possessions: a vinyl seat from Maple Leaf Gardens from the section in which Mr. LeBlanc sat when he watched the last hockey game played by the Toronto Maple Leaf and the Montreal Canadiens at the legendary stadium in 1998. He bought the seat for $1,400, bubble gum still stuck to it, at an auction of Gardens memorabilia.

Check out the best stories of the week of Nov. 28 from Report on Small Business, the Globe's home for entrepreneurs. Read our columnists, view archives of discussions, and connect through social media on the Report on Small Business homepage.

He shoots, he scores with hockey memorabilia. The Splurge: PropertyGuys co-founder Ken LeBlanc has amassed a collection of more than 15,000 pieces, worth $75,000, much of it focused on his favourite team -- Go, Leafs, go -- and players. Also see him and his collection in pictures.

No small potatoes: Landing your first major contract. It can be tough to get in the door, but play it right, and the relationship can be long-lasting and rewarding. Also, pitching to the big guns: How a small company can score with a big one.

How to convince employees to relocate for work. The Challenge: To keep growing, Great Big Solutions wants to move from Edmonton to Vancouver. Its CEO wants help in enticing staff to make a move, too.



Imaginative office stays true to art gallery roots. The Amazing Space: By keeping the open concept floor plan, white walls and wood floors - and incorporating a floating wall of red doors made from reclaimed materials - the office of social media firm Entrinsic nods to the heritage of the space.

Breaking a story with the speed of social media. Toronto start-up saw a market in the news-cycle niche.

The danger of market timing a sale. Final column from John Warrillow: The problem is, when you sell your business, you'll be putting your money into something affected by the same economy. Instead of thinking external economic factors, think internal.

Stepping into another manager's shoes? Then follow these guidelines Taking over from a successful and well-liked executive can be a daunting challenge.



Speed up the reno two-step with a one-stop-shop. Home-improvement mall to offer a variety of renovation-specific stores – all under one roof.

Ten tips to improve your leadership skills. The Top Tens: Being a business owner doesn't make you a leader, but this advice may help you see improvements in staff motivation and performance.

Five tips for targeting the green market. Green only yields green when messaging blends transparency, practicality and savvy.

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