Learn, Network, Share and Grow
Owning or running a business in Bruce County comes with great reward, but not without challenges. You don’t have to overcome these hurdles alone. As a member of this business community, you get direct access to training, consultation, business seminars, networking events, research, insights and the support you need to help you navigate government policies, permits and information. Bruce County is invested in helping you business succeed and committed to helping you manage. Explore all opportunities available to you below.
Have an idea for a training session you’d like to see offered? We’d love to hear from you! Send us an email at info@businesstobruce.com.
Upcoming Business to Bruce Training
Starting a Food Business & Regulatory Compliance
April 24, at 10:00AM
This session is for you if you are in the early stages of development and are looking to gain knowledge in the food and beverage industry. In this free 60-minute online seminar you will learn about:
- Creating a Business Model
- Doing your Market Research
- Analyzing the Competition
- What is Your Value Proposition?
- Fire Code Compliance & Building Permits
- Zoning Requirements, Municipal Bylaws & Licensing
- Food Safety Requirements
How to Sell Your Food Product
May 1, at 10:00AM
This session is for you if you want to learn how to sell your food product at markets, online, or to retailers. In this session, we will be joined by Nicole Haney, former Founder & CEO of Boho Bars, a national energy bar company. Nicole will guide us through the key factors to consider in successfully selling your product, whether you’re selling at markets, online, or to retailers. In this free 60-minute online seminar you will learn about:
- How to set your pricing for success
- Positioning your product on the market
- Building an audience of raving fans
- The key things you can do to secure the sale
Costing & Pricing to Make Profits
May 15, at 10AM
This session is for you if you want to know how to price your food or beverage product appropriately. Learn how to cost and price your products and services for profitability and how the decisions you make about your operations and production processes affect your bottom line. Understand how to budget and spend money so you can pay all your bills and still have money left in your pocket at the end of the year. In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:
- Understanding your COGS
- Cash Flow Management
- Planning for Profits
Marketing & Branding your Food Product
May 22, at 10:00AM
This session is for you if you have a food or beverage product that needs the perfect brand to suit the right market. Amanda DeVries of Eye Candy Design specializes in branding food and beverage companies. In this webinar, Amanda will share her expert insight, from how to create your brand, how to retain and grow your brand to what sort of colours and typography styles are right for your product. In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:
- Why YOU are your brand as a new food or beverage business
- What to consider when creating a visual identity for your company
- What does marketing in 2025 look like?
Selling to Food Retailers
May 29, at 10:00AM
This session is for you if you have a CPG (Consumer Packaged Good) Product but have never sold into retail stores. Gain some insight and instructions on how to conduct a sales call. This session will be hosted by Paul Dromgole, a member of the Foodpreneur Advantage Team, who has extensive training with Fortune 500 companies as well as his own independent Sales Agency. In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:
- Breaking down a sales call into 7 clear steps
- Creating a plan for your sales call
- Learning how to overcome objections
- Closing the deal
- Following up & Customer Service
Labelling & Packaging your Food Product
June 5, 10:00AM
This session is for you if you have a food or beverage product that needs an accurate and compliant label. For this session, we will be joined by Nicole Haney, former Founder & CEO of Boho Bars. Nicole will guide us through what to consider when choosing a package for your food product, what to include on your label, and what mistakes to avoid when packaging your food product.
- Packaging Considerations
- Labelling Requirements
- Mistakes to Avoid
Free Tools with Tech Compass: Unlock Your Digital Potential
May 8, at 10:00AM
Join us to explore Tech Compass, a program designed to help businesses navigate their technology journey. Whether you’re looking for ready-to-use tools or a personalized technology assessment for your business, Tech Compass offers the guidance and support you need to make informed decisions. Best of all, program participation is completely free, and qualifying tourism businesses may receive hands-on implementation support. Â
Annual Events
International Women’s Day
March 20, 4:30PM to 9PM
Save the Date: Mark your calendars for March 5, 2026, for next year’s events.
This International Women’s Day event is a networking opportunity in March designed to celebrate women entrepreneurs and community leaders while inspiring business owners and encouraging networking opportunities.
Bridges to Better Business
Save the Date: Mark your calendars for October 23, 2025 for this year’s event.
A fall networking event designed to inspire your growth as an entrepreneur. Each year we invite captivating speakers who understand the pulse of entrepreneurship. Stay tuned for 2025 Bridges to Better Business event details!
Discover Community-Supported Workforce Resources
Navigating the complexities of staffing can be challenging for any employer. Discover workforce-related events, activities, and news offered by our community partners designed to support your business needs and make managing your workforce easier and more successful.