Featured Stories
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COUPLES’ MASSAGE OR A SHAVE? by Maggie Pagratis
Boy times have changed! Twenty years ago, says Ida Fabbro, men and women had their hair cut on either side of the room—even at a unisex salon. Now, as owner and beauty connoisseur, she has gone all out. She spared no expense five years ago when creating Centropolis’ Spa Orazio; two floors of lavish extravaganza, tasteful heaven for the pleasure of self and others—with a grand piano smack in the middle—a tribute to partner, Robert Ricci, son of original founder, Orazio Ricci.
Women bring their spouses, says Fabbro, for a pedicure or a massage. A room specially designed to accommodate couples, with a simple curtain to separate the event. “Open or closed curtain?” your favourite massage therapist may ask. “Male or female hands to soothe the sore muscles?”
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INVESTING DO-IT-YOURSELF — YES YOU CAN! by Chris Scoularinas
I recently asked 20 people I know, all in their early to mid-thirties, the following simple open-ended question: How has the current recession and stock market crash affected your RRSP and/or other investments?
One person gave me a specific percentage of how much he was down this year. Three said they were probably down on the year but were not worried about it. Five people said they just keep their money in a savings account because they don’t understand finance and are afraid of anything other than cash or GICs. Ten others said they haven’t really checked and were meaning to get around to calling their financial advisor about it. And one even said, to my absolute horror, “What stock market crash?”
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MOSTLY FOR MEN—THEN
The Board of Trade, founded 200 years ago as a voice to represent the business community, then almost entirely comprised of men and createdfor men, is now headed by president and CEO, Ms. Isabelle Hudon, who has a word or two of refreshing wisdom for members of the business community—and, of course, of the human race.
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THE QUEEN WHO RUNS MONROI
Interview with Ms. Brana Giancristofaro
Maggie: While reading about your business, I discovered that MonRoi executed the world's first International Women's Chess Grand Prix....
Brana: I really love that we provided the opportunity for women in chess to be heard. Before MonRoi, they didn't have their own Grand Prix, particularly not an international one. We provide an opportunity to put them in the spotlight.
Maggie: Who came up with the name MonRoi?
Brana: I basically came up with the name. I was inspired by Quebec City history and culture. In French MonRoi means 'my king.' The king represents the prize which a chess player wishes to win. Both for chess and checkmate, both came from 'Char,' the Persian word for 'king.' But why not MaReine? Because the only female chess piece is the Queen, and at the same time, the most powerful chess piece. She can move in all directions across the board. Only in the 8th century did the queen appear on the chessboard when chess was brought to Europe from Asia. It was likely due to influence of female rulers in Europe.
Maggie: When did you start the business?
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GODS OF BUSINESS SENSE
Former theologian and pastor, Ralph Loewen, takes on the business world, turning Itergy into a Gold Certified Microsoft Company, and winning the coveted top spot in the Profit Magazine awards.
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| THE NEW BIG THING: SMT-ASSY’s Leyanis Guevara contemplates what it means to be big in today’s marketplace. |
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We customize each ‘meal’ or product, if you will, and cater to the needs of each and every client.”
SMT-ASSY is a family-run business, enabling Mrs. Guevara and her husband to keep close watch on all the details of the business. “We enjoy watching the business grow from the inside out. We love interacting with our customers keeping a close relationship with them whether they are new or old to us. There’s something to be said for the familiar face that brings you new and original ideas to conquer, new challenges to meet. It’s the perfect combination. The old meets the new. The big meets the small.” In fact, she says, the new big now is the small these days. “People prefer doing business with small companies, I find. They like the personal touch, the special attention their product gets. It’s almost as if growing life—giving life to an idea. Our motto reflects this view of ours; we turn ideas into products. We essentially make it come into existence; with the help, of course, of our staff and a multitude of experts and resources at our disposal.
“Our biggest strength is our employees. Anyone can have machines but these do not necessarily translate into quality if you don’t have the right people operating them.
As a small company we are able to get to know each and every one of our employees. And they all know their valuable role in our collective success.” SMT-ASSY has been able to continue growing despite the difficult economic times and that, says Mrs. Guevara, is due to the fact that they keep their customers happy with fast turnaround and good quality, always going above and beyond customers’ expectations.
“When we get involved,” says Guevara, “it is because we know we add value to the process. Experience has shown us who is the best in our field and who is meticulous with regard to design for manufacturing. Thus, when referring a client, we know who will turn the customer’s product into a profit-making project.
“Our goal is not to be top five in the world, it is not to be top five in our market. Our goal is to be top supplier for each and every customer of ours. Our company is strong because of its people, from sales down to the staff who wash the cards, because of its reliability, its low employe turnaround, its equal opportunity philosophy. We value customers that reflect those same values.”
SMT-ASSY welcomes business from all over the world. They have, in fact, done extensive manufacturing work for American companies and European and hope to continue to do so. “Americans are very easy to work with,” says Guevara. “They know exactly what they want yet are almost always open to suggestions.”
Their next goal, jokes Guevara, is to win all the “best supplier awards” possible—to go above and beyond being exceptional. |
