By Cybele Negris

This is part II of my series on the Vancouver Small Business community and how companies and their owners are taking advantage of the Olympics as billions around the world cast their eyes onto Vancouver.

I spoke to Jill Earthy, Executive Director of the Forum for Women Entpreneurs to find out what members of the organization were doing to leverage off the Olympics in their businesses.  Jill provided some great examples ranging from official licensed suppliers for the Olympics to innovative products and promotions:

Kathryn Adrian of Please Mum who has the officially licensed merchandise for children's wear.

Debra Lykkmark of Culinary Capers which also caters many of the FWE events is catering a number of events during the 2010 Olympics. She had planned many years ago first by pursuing the catering contract for the BC-Canada Place pavilion at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. Her company then catered the BC-Canada Pavilion in Beijing from May to September 2008. She went after these contracts to gain the experience and learn the expectations from these clients who would then be in Vancouver. Her strategy has led to great success.

Stacey Hall of Justin Stitches is offering a wide selection of Olympic merchandise, iconic Canadian mitts, hats and sweaters at her location near Granville Island including Toque Town where they make custom toques on the spot.

Andrea Scott of Skoah is offering the "fan-friendly facial" until the end of the Olympics where for only $55, they will make your skin medal worthy.

It was great to hear how some members were finding success through the Olympics and being creative. I wanted to hear more about the general state of women owned businesses in BC. Jill feels it is a very positive time for women in business. There are over 35 women business networks in BC and they are becoming more collaborative. Many of these women's groups have started to engage with each other and support the promotion of each other's events and activities. And some of the groups, like the FWE for example, has an integrated approach where it is not just about women helping women but both men and women as supporters. Membership is also open to both men and women although programs are geared towards female entrepreneurs.

In terms of how women entrepreneurs are fairing economically, while many businesses including FWE members had a tough year in 2009, many spent the last year re-evaluating their strategic goals, developing stronger core values and trimmed the fat.  Jill says that while it is still early in the year, there is positive and cautious optimisim all around. People are bracing themselves to see what happens after the Olympics. She is also seeing many more partnerships and a lot of collaboration happening on the business front.

Symbolic of such partnership was the event we both attended the same morning hosted by FWE and Price Waterhouse Coopers Being The Torchbearer In Your Business And Community which fellow blogger Natalie Sisson wrote about. The collaboration goes beyond a sponsor just writing a cheque and providing space but a much deeper relationship of support in so many ways. Jill thinks that after the Olympics, people will continue to recognize the importance of strategic partnerships and be innovative to create opportunities rather than wait for them to come along.

Jill Earthy, Executive Director of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs

Jill Earthy, Executive Director of FWE and Tracey McVicar, FWE Board & Olympic Torch Bearer

More about the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs:

Don't miss the upcoming FWE Roundtable event in May "Capitalizing on Change". More information will be posted on the FWE Website.
Join the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs for only $150 per year (open to men and women)
Digital business card: fwe.tel
Website: fwe.ca
Twitter: @fwebc

Related Posts:

Vancouver Small Business & the Olympics- Part I of Series – Eclipse Awards by Cybele Negris
Being The Torchbearer In Your Business And Community by Natalie Sisson
The Olympic Torch Relay – Great Way to Get the Community Engaged by Cybele Negris

Add your comments below if you have a story about how your business is being impacted by the Olympics whether positively or negatively.

Cybele Negris is Co-Founder of Webnames.ca, Canada’s Original Domain Registrar. She is on the Boards of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, Small Business BC, Government of BC Small Business Roundtable and the Vancouver Economic Development Commission. More information is available at cybele.tel or webnames.tel. Follow on Twitter @cybelenegris and @webnames