THUNDER BAY – Business Now – The Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre isn’t just building businesses anymore. The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) wants to help local entrepreneurs to “Imagine, Plan and Execute” innovative business ideas.
This is the message that is the focus of a new branding strategy, officially unveiled for the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre (EC) which is located within the CEDC offices.
The modern, new brand positioning for the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre is intended to highlight the diversity of services available for would-be entrepreneurs and small businesses across the region. It also includes a new logo and visual identity strategy.
“We felt that time was right to renew and modernize the image of the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre to better represent the diversity of our clients, their businesses and our range of services,” stated Ron Humphreys, Development Officer, CEDC and EC. “Our old brand message and logo was designed around a traditional and outdated concept of entrepreneurs and businesses. We clearly know thattoday’s entrepreneurs and their ideas are diverse in every way and are not necessarily built out of a bricks and mortar operation.Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre is here to help people imagine, plan and execute their innovative ideas and we needed a brand identity that would clearly communicate this message.”
Two clients of the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre participated in today’s launch event.
Kim Tang recently opened Imerly Boutique in December 2011 and says; “There are a lot of people in the area who have big dreams and great ideas but just aren’t sure how to move them forward. The Centre helped me to develop my business plan, keep me organized and ultimately, make my business idea a reality.”
The second entrepreneur, Andrea Novoa, believes that there is so much opportunity for entrepreneurs in Thunder Bay compared to her hometown in Colombia. She recently opened the World Dance Centre and says; “I didn’t ever expect to be a business person but after receiving tremendous support from the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre, I have definitely taken on the role with confidence. The Centre helped me apply for grants, write my business plan, and even assisted me with marketing and networking. It’s a really nice support system. People should not be afraid to ask for help.”
Steve Demmings, the CEO of the CEDC shares, “The Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre is just another example of how the CEDC continues to be innovative and responsive to the changing socio-economic environment and emerging trends in the marketplace. To be a successful Entrepreneur Centre, we must do more than just offer template advisory products and services – we must listen, connect and be client-focused in our service delivery model. Only then, will we truly be able to help small business ideas grow and contribute to community economic development. ”
The Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre is funded through a partnership between the Province of Ontario, City of Thunder Bay and the CEDC.