Ventures Dialogue

Canadian shoe retailer ALDO entered the Hong Kong market with the opening of its first flagship store on May 25th at the IFC mall, Central which houses over 100 international brands.

ALDO, the ALDO Groupe’s flagship brand, delivers total high fashion at prices that make keeping up with seasonal style a luxury within reach. ALDO footwear, handbags, and accessories are young in sprit, urban in mindset, and on the cutting edge of international style. Bursting with personality, ALDO is the lifestyle brand for people stepping up in the world.

The ALDO store at the IFC mall, which is the brand’s first foray into the Hong Kong retail market, will offer a wide product range of women’s and men’s footwear, handbags, and accessories to cater to every consumer’s fashion needs. Continue reading ‘Canadian fashion footwear giant ALDO puts best foot forward in the Hong Kong retail market.’

For those out there who do not know about the Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre (COBSC) it’s time to catch up.  It’s a great resource for provincial and federal business related programs, services and regulations.  And best of all, their services are free. 

The COBSC website, www.canadabusiness.ca/ontario, covers a whole host of  topics ranging from starting a business, market research, financing, employment, e-businesses, and  intellectual property, just to name a few.  If your business in not in Ontario, no worries, all provinces and territories have a similar service. 

For Ventures readers, you should definitely check out their international trade section.  The COBSC offers assistance through each stage of the export process, including locating financing and training programs, foreign market research, and sector and regional contacts. The centre can also provide information on the regulatory paperwork involved in moving products and service across borders.  There are online guides as well.  Exporting – Preparing for World Markets Info-Guide, Importing Info-Guide, and Guide to International Development Project Bidding are just some of the options available.  The site also supplies financing resources, tools, training and data links, and other web sources.  For those looking for a good read, it also provides articles, reports and even a booklist for suggested reading.

For those who like the more one-on-one contact you can always pick up the phone and give them a call at 1-888-576-4444, send them an email, or visit a nearby partner organization within their Regional Access Program.  The Regional Access Program is a partnership arrangement between the COBSC and other regional business organizations in Ontario.  As an important point of contact for the business community, bookmark this site. 

Photo by leeno

Just a few short hours after the last two American Presidents discussed Canada-US relations at a ground-breaking event at the Toronto Convention Centre, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Robert Brown, appears in the Wall Street Journal with an opinion piece on reducing trade barriers.

Prime Minister Brown makes a irrefutable argument against protectionism.

At Friday’s event with US Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, there was very little discussion about the recent protectionist measures south of the Canada-US border.  Both Presidents commented on the special nature of the US-Canadian relationship, but the economy and current trade concerns were barely touched.  Read a National Post article on the event here.

One interesting development, with today as the day when all people entering the US by land or sea will require a passport, enhanced driver’s license or a NEXUS card, neither former President appeared to know of the new security requirement! 

Photo courtesy:  National Post