Tag: collingwood business

Countering a Disappointing Offer

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood Real Estate

 

In the process of selling one’s Collingwood home, there is always the possibility of receiving offers from potential buyers that do not live up to initial expectations. When this occurs, it is essential to consult with one’s real estate agent and put a lot of thought into how to approach countering the offer. In an effort to move closer to one’s desired closing price with a level of professionalism, it is important, as the seller, to remain calm while also acting with a sense of determination. There are a few critical methods of countering an offer that can be highly effective. Choosing which one is right for a given situation can make a difference in securing a beneficial deal for both buyer and seller.

 

Countering at Original Asking Price

 

While some sellers, for fear of losing a sale, may feel compelled to settle for a drastically lower price than originally desired, there is a way to maintain reasonable expectations and still procure a smooth sale. Insisting on the original listing price, or something only slightly lower, is not a turnoff to serious buyers and can prevent a homeowner from settling too early on an unfair price. Unless a homeowner has unique circumstances and must sell as fast as possible, even if it means a severe loss of compensation for the value, waiting out for a buyer willing to pay, at least somewhere near the asking price, is usually the best plan.

 

Offer Rejection

 

A more daring strategy, homeowners selling their properties can choose to simply reject an offer without offering an alternative price at all. This puts the next move in the hands of the offerer, requesting another, better offer. As mentioned above, serious buyers are highly motivated and may be prompted to turn in a more beneficial proposition. 

 

Creation of a Bidding War

 

Another way of responding to a home offer is a psychological tactic to increase pressure to agree to a higher closing price. When multiple offers are submitted, the seller can initiate a bidding competition between the interested parties. The seller uses other received offers as their countering response to those who bid lower to get genuinely interested individuals to reach a higher price.

 

Adding in an Expiration Date

 

In addition to the chosen method of countering, it can be helpful for sellers to express a clear expiration date for their counter price or terms. This is a preventative measure to move the process along and keep the negotiations from taking up too much time. The potential buyer can either accept or decline, allowing the seller to move on either way. It is useful for sellers to keep in mind that the state of being in negotiations essentially puts a hold on receiving outside offers, reinforcing that time is of the essence.

 

Tagged : / / / /

Collingwood Cares for its Community

by Collingwood InfoUncategorized

Collingwood, ON invests in its residents and offers many recreational opportunities. This includes activitihttps://www.pexels.com/photo/faceless-multiracial-sport-team-stacking-hands-on-court-5384623/es explicitly geared toward public health and wellness. As Collingwood wants to see its residents thrive and maintain a healthy and connected lifestyle, programs like communal, environmental events, and activities to engage kids are critical features of the city all year long.

Communal Activities and Physical Education

The city of Collingwood lays claim to an outdoor train trail, which is made further engaging to both residents and visitors with the StoryWalk. Originally developed as a concept by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, this helps to engage children, especially in the US. Along the trail, metal and plexiglass protected stands feature pages from a children’s storybook, making fresh air and exercise with the family that is much more inviting. Another great outdoor activity for children is the “Imagination Playground,” which allows kids of all ages to play classic games, like Jenga and Connect Four, but in giant sizes to harness whimsy. There are also opportunities to create new games among the children themselves, encouraging creativity for free and outdoors.

Furthermore, Collingwood’s activity kits geared toward the community’s children promote fun, exercise, and development. Each activity kit, which comes to 20 in total, comes in a bag filled with activity cards and equipment meant to encourage the use of specific skills at home or outdoors. The main goal is to promote “physical literacy,” or the development of essential physical movement skills to have a fulfilling and healthy childhood experience.

Geared toward both adults and kids is Geocaching, a great way to interact with the community out of doors. Essentially, a GPS facilitates a treasure hunt, which features caches or containers along with the city trail system. Each contains small tradable items and a logbook to sign, promoting community connectedness. Also, during the winter, the Central Park Arena is used to host Sunday skates for all ages and levels of ability. Furthermore, adults looking for more gentle exercise, especially the elderly, can benefit from virtual Chair Yoga, offered every Monday and Thursday morning for free. 

Preserving Community Health and Environment

Collingwood knows that disposable water bottles are a severe issue to the modern environment worldwide. The city does its part by encouraging the refilling of reusable water bottles all around its community. Water fountains providing fresh and clean drinking water for free are located all around the city and in schools. These refill stations encourage further engagement by displaying a digital counter at each fountain, showing how many bottles have been refilled since their installation in 2017. Collingwood also participates in the BlueW program, which guides residents and visitors to places that provide clean and free municipal drinking water rather than expensive and wasteful bottled water.

The community also promotes healthier eating habits by installing health-conscious vending machines around town. These feature alternatives to greasy and sugary foods, offering cheese, crackers, apple sauce, and fresh fruit cups instead.

Collingwood as a community also knows the value of spending time outdoors. Through their ” Walk or Wheel ” slogan, the city encourages more travel by foot or using physical modes like bikes and skates through their “Walk or Wheel” slogan. The city also provides planning materials through “Walk a Block” and “Map My Route” to encourage exercise while traveling safely to and from schools. Gardening is similarly important to residents, particularly as it relates to healthy eating.

Tagged : / / / /

Preparing For A COVID-19 Collingwood Ski Season

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood things to do / Uncategorized

With an unprecedented year coming to a close and some cold and unpredictable months ahead, more people are thinking about how to get their daily recreation and leisure in during the winter. Skiing, the perfect combination of exercise and recreation, has long been a winter pastime for many Canadians throughout the country (primarily on the West Coast, in Quebec and Ontario.) 

Collingwood, one of Ontario’s most coveted ski destinations and the home of some established mountain resorts and private clubs, is witnessing a changing tide that could change not just the face of the mountains, but skiing accessibility in general. As more mountains prepare for a busy winter and try to navigate COVID-19 protocols without going under, skiers try to comprehend how they should approach the snowy season. 

If you are a skier and wondering what you can do to stay safe while also skiing regularly, you will need some advice. Whether you plan on moving to the area or are a long time visitor, these tips will help you feel more confident about the months ahead. 

Contact Hills Individually

A big mistake you might make this ski season is assuming the rules are the same at each ski hill. While past winters were as easy as driving up to a resort, unloading your gear, and hitting the lift, things are different now, much different. As most hills will be swamped trying to invoke a new system for booking and renting, you need to ensure you have the correct details before jumping in the car. 

If you are already living in the Blue Mountains area, currently looking for homes, or coming in from the city, knowing how each hill is approaching the season will help you prepare. You can find out what their scheduling system is like, what their COVID protocols are, and other information that will better inform your excursion. 

Avoid Renting

For tourists and people looking to try skiing for the first time, renting equipment is useful, especially if you realize you never want to do it again. However, if you tend to ski every year, even if only once or twice, but have never bought yourself gear, this is the year you should. Renting requirements could make your ski excursion more complicated, increasing wait times or costing you more money than usual. 

If you invest in some good skis or borrow from a friend, you will be better prepared for the Collingwood ski season. As you might also have to ski somewhere further from home or at a hill you’ve never visited, having your own equipment will ensure you actually ski and aren’t just waiting for your friends and family to finish.

Stay Updated

If there was ever a time to listen to the news, it’s now. With COVID-19 protocols in constant flux and more news regarding the months ahead being released every second, you should be staying up to date. Keeping informed about the issues and the state of various winter activities like skiing in the Collingwood area will ensure you don’t miss any critical information. 

Preparation will be necessary if you want to ski this winter in the Collingwood area. If you contact the various hills and find out their protocols, avoid renting and stay informed, you will plan your trip more effectively. While the upcoming months may be different than others, if there’s anything Canadians handle best, it’s the unpredictability of winter.

 

 

Tagged : / / / / /

3 Reasons to Start a Business in Collingwood, ON

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood business

Anyone who has been to or lives in Collingwood, ON knows that it is a beautiful place that is filled with opportunity. It is filled with amazing people, attractions, and events. However, it is also filled with great businesses. This is partially due to the fact that Collingwood, ON also offers great opportunities for businesses. Young business owners or entrepreneurs that are looking for a home for their business should look no further than Collingwood, ON.

 

Reason #1 – Proximity to Major Cities

 

Although Collingwood, ON may seem like a northern town; it is reasonably close to a number of major cities. To be precise, it is only about a 90-minute drive from Toronto, Ontario’s largest city. This means that business owners can easily travel to major cities for meetings and more.

 

Reason #2 – Growing Population

 

One thing that all businesses need is customers. If a business doesn’t have any customers, they won’t be able to generate profit and will eventually go out of business. However, businesses in Collingwood, ON should have no problem finding new faces in their stores. This is because Collingwood, ON is a relatively populated town. In fact, in 2017, Collingwood, ON was the 24th fastest growing town in Canada (outside of census metropolitan areas). The town is expected to have a population of approximately 30,000 by 2030. This means that businesses in Collingwood, ON should have a bright future ahead of them.

 

Reason #3 – Beautiful Location

 

When a town is dull and grey, it can be difficult for a business to look visually appealing to customers. Thankfully, Collingwood, ON is anything but dull. This beautiful town is full of amazing buildings that have years worth of history. Whether it is a retail storefront or an office building, business owners can be sure that they will find beautiful buildings in Collingwood, ON.

 

With a bit of research, it is easy to see why moving to Collingwood, ON is a great move for new businesses. The town offers a number of benefits, such as reasonable proximity to major cities, a growing population, and beautiful buildings. However, these benefits are merely the tip of the iceberg. All business owners should take a quick drive up to this beautiful town to see what it truly has in store (no pun intended).

Tagged : / / /

Another Successful Entrepreneur from Collingwood: Chickapea Pasta

by Collingwood InfoCollingwood business

Being the entrepreneurial town that Collingwood is, a number of amazing businesses and products come out of here. Last summer, we told you about the success of the creators of Georgian Bay Gin Smash. Well, now there is another very successful product line in town, and this one is definitely for Collingwood residents who like to eat healthy.

Chickapea Pasta was started by Collingwood’s Shelby Taylor, who made a successful transition from health food store owner to full-fledged owner of her product line. Feeling a need for more nutritious options for kids that were also quick and easy, a pregnant Taylor got to work on her product – a gluten-free pasta made from chickpeas and lentils.

As the winner of the exC!te Experience in Barrie, where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas, Taylor started off with a line of dried, organic baby food. From there, she got the attention of the Georgian Angel Network, where investors were keen to award her grant money to get her products out to the market. She received a reward of more than $30,000 from the Ontario Centre for Excellence Smart Start Seed Fund, which allowed her to get her product on the shelves.

The product is now sold in more than 500 Canadian stores and just recently launched in the U.S. market. Canadian Restaurant News named it as one of their products of the week and Taylor has been featured on many news shows in the country to promote her fantastic product.

collingwoodpasta2

Since becoming an entrepreneurial success in Collingwood, Taylor also likes giving back and recently donated more than 3,000 boxes of her Chickapea Pasta to The Stop Community Food Centre in Toronto. She felt that everyone should be able to eat healthy foods, no matter their situation.

So what is Chickapea Pasta?

With three shapes of pasta available, Chickapea Pasta is made from organic chickpeas and red lentils – and that’s it. The ingredients are sourced locally in Ontario, although the manufacturing is done in the U.S., for the time being. The super nutritious pasta has 23 grams of protein, 11 grams of fibre and is high in iron and b vitamins. Taylor says that her pasta tastes even better than regular pasta, with a smooth texture and it may even be hard to overcook it, which is also unlike traditional pasta.

Check out the very healthy and delicious recipes on her site for ideas on how to cook Chickapea Pasta.

Tagged : /

Collingwood Ranked #1 Entrepreneurial Community in Canada

by Collingwood InfoUncategorized

Last year, Collingwood ranked 3rd in the ranking of entrepreneurial communities in Canada and this year it has raised the bar and come in first! Now Canada’s most entrepreneurial community, this means that Collingwood is the best spot in the country to start a new business.

Rated by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, their 2016 survey found Collingwood in the top spot because they are inviting to new business creation, growth and its prosperity. Organizations in the community that support new business include the Collingwood Chamber of Commerce, Georgian College and other small organizations.

Why is Collingwood so great?

Some in the city say the reason they were ranked highest was because of the entrepreneurial spirit in the community and the prime location for working. With the water and the mountains and the abundance of nature, people are better able to work and think clearly.

With competing communities all over Canada, Collingwood was up against some great contenders. The top ten spots went to:

2) Riviere-du-Loup, QC

3) Kelowna, BC

4) Penticton, BC

5) Toronto periphery, ON (905)

6) Barrie, ON

7) Kentville, NS

8) Saint-Georges, QC

9) Chilliwack, BC

10) Cobourg, ON

Interestingly enough, several British Columbia cities were chosen, which could be for the same speculated reasons – the surrounding environment makes it such a great place to work and start a business.

Barrie was chosen as the number six spot on the list, and with its close proximity to Collingwood, that gives Collingwood residents two cities in reach to start a business and thrive.

working-in-collingwood

The best place in the country to live and work

With the amazing growth we’ve had in Collingwood, both in business and residential, there aren’t any doubts that Collingwood is one of the best spots in the country to live.

If you are interested in starting a business in Collingwood, visit the Business Development Centre. This is a collaborative project between the Town of Collingwood, the Downtown Collingwood Business Improvement Area, the Small Business Enterprise Centre and the Centre for Business and Economic Development to encourage business growth and job creation. There are a number of business events to attend, including networking, job fairs and mentorship series.

Residents who need a spot to work, network and collaborate should look no further than The Creative Space, which will open in November. This co-working space has been in the works for two years and is going to be a game-changer in terms of business in the community, with space to work, meet and learn.

Tagged : /

Success for Area Entrepreneurs with Gin Smash

by Collingwood InfoUncategorized

There have been many successful ventures that have come out of our area. Collingwood was voted one of the top places to start and grow a small business in a ranking of Canada’s top entrepreneurial cities. One recent extremely successful business that was created in the area is Georgian Bay Spirits. While they’ve been around for a while with products like Georgian Bay Vodka and Georgian Bay Gin, it wasn’t until their release of Georgian Bay Gin Smash did their business explode.

Made from local ingredients, Gin Smash has flown off the shelves at the LCBO and is the “hit of summer”. Created by founders Tim Keenleyside and Denzil Wadds, part-time residents in the south Georgian Bay region, the pair were shocked to find out that their new product was sold out all over Ontario.

A gin cooler, made with juniper berries harvested in Muskoka and water from the Elmvale aquifer, the cooler has been immensely popular, which caused production issues for the duo. They sold through their forecasted sales for the summer in the first month, which meant many were disappointed to find the shelves at the LCBO were empty of the product.

The Toronto Star has voted this “The best pre-mixed cocktail to have ever hit the LCBO” and many consumers agree, considering the inability to keep it stocked.

ginsmash

The Georgian Bay Spirit Co. was established in 2013, creating products that evoked the purity, balance and relaxation of beautiful Georgian Bay. Their first choice was the Elmvale water aquifer, as it has been touted as having the purest water on earth. They believe they’ve captured “the spirit of the bay in every bottle”.

Not only is their Gin Smash doing well in Ontario, their vodka has received awards in the World Spirits Competition including Best Vodka. Their next project is going to be creating a vodka cooler with their award-winning vodka and they hope for similar success from this cooler as they’ve had from Gin Smash.

The pair hope the production issues will be resolved soon and that they’ll be able to keep up with the demand. In the meantime, if you can’t find Gin Smash on the shelves at the LCBO, you could try one of their delicious recipes for things like Gin and Tonic, French 75, Salty Dawg and Southside.

Sources:

http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/6823127-georgian-bay-gin-cooler-the-smash-hit-of-the-summer-season/

Tagged : / /