March at the Mudpuppy

Been meaning to explore the local galleries? There are two exhibits on the go at the Mudpuppy Gallery in Amherstburg this month. The "Colour and Light" exhibit showcasing works by feature artist Catherine Bast, and the March Madness Recycle Retro exhibit which features Recycled, Repurposed, and Upcycled pieces from a number of area artists. The opening reception for the two exhibits will be Sunday, March 9th from 2-4pm. Both exhibits run until March 30th. Mudpuppy Gallery is located at 264 Dalhousie Street, Amherstburg and is a co-op style community gallery.




Catherine Bast - 'Colour and Light'

Catherine Bast - 'Colour and Light'



'Recycle Retro' - Dennis Smith

Some pieces currently on display




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Contributed by Melissa Piva



The Pursuit of The ‘Previously Loved’ Possession

Pied-a-Terre Home Decor

      Some people enjoy the thrill of the hunt, uncovering a priceless piece at a bargain price. Some seek out the unique and eye-catching designs that are becoming obsolete as time ventures on. Some go in search of quality work. Some buy to resell. Some to salvage, refinish, re-purpose and recreate. Whatever the reason you are drawn to antiquing, the Windsor area has a plethora of items to catch your eye and your interest.

          Antique furniture and décor has a quality and appeal unmatched by any modern replica style that has made them quite sought after in recent years. The craftsmanship of vintage fixtures and furnishings have people on the hunt for the original treasures rather than spending their money on the modern recreations made to mirror these pieces from the past. From home furnishings, to jewellery, to knick-knacks, to clothing – the demand for items with past lives is on the rise.

          Whether you are a seasoned collector, furnishing a home, seeking out a specific accent piece, or just browsing what the days gone by have to offer, shopping antique stores has a mystery and excitement about it that cannot be beat. In an area so saturated with antiquing opportunity, it’s hard not to get caught up in the thrill of this modern day treasure hunt. But for those new to that hunt, we have mapped out the local stores, shops, nooks and attics that sell these timeless treasures, and have even included some tips from the experts themselves – the antique dealers.


Jones & Company

           Beginning on the bustling sidewalks on Wyandotte Street in Windsor, our first stop is a located in a shared building where you will find not one, but two charming and completely unique antique shops. The Vintage House, run by Lorian Taylor, is the epitome of Shabby Chic. This breathtaking little shop offers both sales and consignment, and is vastly stocked by previously loved items that are brought in from the downsizing company that Lorian is part of. The shop has a style and essence that is completely it’s own, and prices that anyone seeking a deal would love. The owner is simply as lovely as the items in her shop, and encourages buyers that are new to shopping resale to “look for pieces with potential. A layer of paint or some fresh fabric can add new life and personalize your purchases.”


          Just next door, across the shared front stoop, you will find yourself in the home of Tango & Magpie. A sensational shop stocked with an eclectic mix of antique, vintage and mid-century pieces. With a mix of home décor, furnishings, china, crystal, artwork and more, you are sure to find something you love within their walls. With years of experience under her belt, Sally, the owner of Tango & Magpie, says that furnishing a home from resale can actually run “less than ¼ of the price of furnishing straight from a run of the mill furniture store.” It also allows more room to personalize and be creative with your décor, and gives your home a more unique aspect. Her tip to buyers – “look for furniture with good bones. Structure is important, and vintage and antique furnishings have such quality structure and design.” 


Penny Jane's

          Continuing West on Wyandotte, you will find yourself in the much loved area of Walkerville, a favourite area of Windsor to locals and tourists alike. In the heart of Walkerville you can find Penny Jane’s Vintage & More, a shop whose collection of vintage attire and jewellery is not to be beat. This lovely little store is a must for anyone with a taste for vintage fashion. Within Penny Jane’s you will find a fabulous tribute to the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s from Aquarius Vintage. Offering a mix of wild and retro clothing and accessories that are sure to catch your eye, not to mention a name that will surely leave you humming a familiar tune while you shop. Steps down the street browse the beautiful home décor and one of a kind accent pieces at Timeless Treasures or Jones & Company.

          On to the town-like atmosphere of Ottawa Street. Ottawa Street is home to a cluster of antique shops that offer a wide range of items. Ruelland`s Antiques is both in quantity and square feet the largest antique shop in the area. With over 40 years in business, Ruelland`s is an unbelievable site to behold. From the outside in looks like any run of the mill resale shop (to be honest I kind of doubted it’s potential before I ventured in,) but once inside it leaves shoppers speechless. Artwork large and small lines the walls floor to ceiling, shelves of books fill the back corner of the shop just the same. This hidden gem offers a wide array both in product and in price range, and such wonderful services as free local delivery and layaway plans. (It worked for Sears!) The owner of the shop, Maurice Ruelland, expresses passion for his work that is contagious, expressing that “Art is meant to cause emotion,” and encouraging buyers that “when it comes to deciding on home décor and accent pieces the best instincts are their own, and to shop from the heart.”

           On the next block over you can step a bit further back in time at The Vintage Witch Shoppe. Vintage collectibles, antique home décor and furnishings give a Victorian feel to this cozy shop. Also on Ottawa you are likely to find a wide variety of ever changing items at Holland Consignment Shoppe & Auction House.

           If you are from the county or favour a scenic drive thru the country, consider setting out for the following destinations. The lovely town of LaSalle has a lot to offer the collector. For a place with a lot of history check out the Canadiana and Auto Museum on Laurier, or browse a vast collection of records, turntables and unique gifts at Vintage & Vinyl on Front Road.


Dusty Loft Antiques

          About half an hour outside of Windsor you will find yourself in the historic town of Amherstburg. For the historian, this may be a good time to stop and browse the waterfront, and surround yourself in the history of the war of 1812 with a visit to the museums and buildings of Fort Malden National Historic Site. While in Amherstburg, stop and buy a piece of history of your own at Dusty Loft Antiques. This charming antique shop houses a wide variety of previously loved items within a two level barn behind the owners’ home. This location is a known hot spot for local photographers seeking unique and trendy props, and with items for both the collector and the decorator, this spot is not one to overlook in your travels. Whatever the reason for your visit, owners Gene and Sherry are sure to be helpful, friendly, and a great source of tips, ideas and advice.

           If you venture right into town you will be able to browse two lovely shops unique in their own ways. Pied-a-Terre Home Décor on Dalhousie Street is an eye-catching mix of old, new, and refinished. So many chic one-of-a-kind pieces cover their walls and fill their displays. The décor feels just like home, and the displays are changed so often that even their regular customers are guaranteed to see new pieces every time they visit. From large home furnishings to the tiny details like light-switch covers and drawer pulls, they are sure to have something that suits your unique style. And across town on Sandwich Street you can find Re-Inspired Vintage. This shop recently moved to a larger location and is always packed full with a wide variety of antique and vintage furniture, home décor, linens, and even upcycled and re-purposed specialty pieces, such as tiered trays made from antique china plates and tea cups. Definitely a good spot to look for a wide array and style of pieces.


Re-Inspired Vintage

          Bringing our journey to an end along the Lake Erie Shoreline we have Harrow Antique & Collectible Centre on the main street in Harrow, a hot spot for local Bed & Breakfast owners seeking new and interesting pieces for their décor. And since we have you out this way, be sure to take some time to enjoy the scenic drive along the curves and bends of the county roads, and be sure to watch for signs directing you to this barn or that, as there are always seasonal antique sales spotting the area. Other good places to hunt for treasured finds are the local thrift shops, pawnshops, resale shops, yard sales, estate sales, and the occasional auction.

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On Wyandotte Street East in Windsor, ON:

1. The Vintage House
4667 Wyandotte Street East
Windsor, Ontario
519-944-9685

2. Tango & Magpie
4661 Wyandotte Street East
Windsor, Ontario
519-945-5889

3. Jones & Company
1755 Wyandotte Street East
Windsor, Ontario
519-252-6448

4. Timeless Treasures
1747 Wyandotte Street East
Windsor, Ontario
519-977-1042

5. Penny Jane`s Vintage & More
(home of Aquarius Vintage)
1585 Wyandotte Street East
Windsor, Ontario
519-971-8734

On Ottawa Street in Windsor, ON:

6. Ruelland’s Antiques
1686 Ottawa Street

Windsor, Ontario
519-253-6064
www.ruellandsantiques.com

7. The Vintage Witch Shoppe
1201 Ottawa Street
519-980-4823


8. Holland Consignment Shoppe & Auction House

1407 Ottawa Street
519-977-5200

                       

Essex County:

                                   

9. Canadiana & Auto Museum

995 Laurier

LaSalle, Ontario

519-734-7943

                                   

10. Vintage & Vinyl

891 Front Rd

519-980-SAVE

                          

11. Dusty Loft Antiques & Collectibles

5619 Concession 5 North

Amherstburg, ON

519-736-7645

                         

12. Pied-a-Terre Home Décor

258 Dalhousie Street

Amhersburg, On

519-713-9022

13. Re-Inspired Vintage

421 Sandwich Street

Amherstburg, On

519-981-0171

                                     

14. Harrow Antiques & Collectables

15 King Street West

Harrow, Ontario

519-995-4699









Contributed by Melissa Piva - January - 2014

Meeting New Clients and Contacts Through Networking

Great article lots of useful information.
Enjoy!



The ability to network is one of the most crucial skills any startup entrepreneur can have. How else will you meet the clients and contacts necessary to grow your business?

But many people are put off by the idea of networking, thinking it requires a phony, glad-handing personality that oozes insincerity. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Think a moment. What does a good networker do? How does he or she act? What is his or her basic attitude? You'll probably be surprised at how much you instinctively know about the subject.

You may decide, for example, that a good networker should be outgoing, sincere, friendly, supportive, a good listener or someone who follows up and stays in touch. To determine other skills an effective networker needs, simply ask yourself "How do I like to be treated? What kinds of people do I trust and consider good friends?"

Now that you have an idea of what attributes a good networker must have, take an objective look at your own interactive abilities. Do you consider yourself shy and regard networking groups as threatening? Do you tend to do all the talking in a conversation? Do you give other people referrals and ideas without a thought to your own personal gain? Can people count on your word?

Many people go to networking events, but very few know how to network effectively. Networking is more than just getting out and meeting people. Networking is a structured plan to get to know people who will do business with you or introduce you to those who will.

The best way to succeed at networking is to make a plan, commit to it, learn networking skills and execute your plan. To make the best plan, ask yourself: What do I want to achieve? How many leads (prospects) do I want per month? Where do my customers and prospects go to network? What business organizations would benefit my business? How can I build my image and my business's image? What would I like to volunteer to do in the community?

Make a five-year networking plan listing your five best customers, five targeted prime prospects and five targeted organizations. Next, set goals for involvement in each organization, determine how much time you will need to commit to each organization and prospect, and decide what kinds of results you expect.

Now that you have a plan, get committed. Tell yourself that you will devote enough time and effort to make it work. Half the battle of networking is getting out there and in the swim.

The other half of the battle is learning to network effectively. Typically, ineffective networkers attend several networking groups but visit with the same friends each time. Obviously, this behavior defeats the entire purpose of networking. If you stick with familiar faces, you never meet anyone new. And since most people stay within their circle of friends, newcomers view the organization as a group of cliques. This is one reason people fear going to new organizations by themselves -- they're afraid no one will notice them.

The trick with networking is to become proactive. This means taking control of the situation instead of just reacting to it. Networking requires going beyond your comfort zone and challenging yourself. Try these tips:

• Set a goal to meet five or more new people at each event. 
  Whenever you attend a group, whether a party, a mixer or an industry luncheon, make a point of heading straight for people you don't know. Greet the newcomers (they will love you for it). If you don't make this goal a habit, you'll naturally gravitate toward the same old acquaintances.
   
• Try one or two new groups per month. 
  You can attend almost any organization's meetings a few times before you must join. This is another way to stretch yourself and make a new set of contacts. Determine what business organizations and activities you would best fit into. It may be the chamber of commerce, the arts council, a museum society, a civic organization, a baseball league, a computer club or the PTA. Attend every function you can that synergizes your goals and customer/prospect interaction.
   
• Carry your business cards with you everywhere. 
  After all, you never know when you might meet a key contact, and if you don't have your cards with you, you lose out. Take your cards to church, the gym, parties, the grocery store -- even on walks with the dog.
   
• Don't make a beeline for your seat.
  Frequently, you'll see people at networking groups sitting at the dinner table staring into space -- half an hour before the meal is due to start. Why are they sitting alone? Take full advantage of the valuable networking time before you have to sit down. Once the meeting starts, you won't be able to mingle.
   
• Don't sit by people you know.Mealtime is a prime time for meeting new people. You may be in that seat for several hours, so don't limit your opportunities by sitting with your friends. This is a wonderful chance to get to know new people on either side of you. Sure, it's more comfortable to hobnob with familiar faces. But remember, you are spending precious time and money to attend this event. Get your money's worth; you can talk to your friends some other time.
   
• Get active. 
  People remember and do business with leaders. Don't just warm a chair -- get involved and join a committee or become a board member. If you don't have time, volunteer to help with hospitality at the door or checking people in. This gives you a reason to talk to others, gets you involved in the inner workings of the group, and provides more visibility.
   
• Be friendly and approachable. 
  Pretend you are hosting the event. Make people feel welcome. Find out what brought them there, and see if there's any way you can help them. Introduce them to others, make business suggestions or give them a referral. Not only will you probably make a friend, but putting others at ease eliminates self-consciousness. A side benefit: What goes around comes around. If you make the effort to help others, you'll soon find people helping you.
   
• Set a goal for what you expect from each meeting.
  Your goals can vary from meeting to meeting. Some examples might be: learning from the speaker's topic, discovering industry trends, looking for new prospects or connecting with peers. If you work out of your home, you may find your purpose is simply to get out and talk to people face to face. Focusing your mind on your goal before you even walk into the event keeps you on target.
   
• Be willing to give to receive. 
  Networking is a two-way street. Don't expect new contacts to shower you with referrals and business unless you are equally generous. Follow up on your contacts; keep in touch; always share information or leads that might benefit them. You'll be paid back tenfold for your thoughtfulness.

Source

Enactus Windsor launches the Windsor-Essex Pitch Series

Wednesday March 6, 2013
6-8 PM
Walkerville Brewery
525 Argyle Rd.

Come out to Walkerville Brewery and present your business idea to local business owners and receive valuable advice as you network with established business leaders in our community. Patrick Lor, North American president of Fotolia.com, product development manager at Adobe and co-founder of iStockPhoto, will be among the attending entrepreneurs.

"Enactus, a student-run organization, is an international non-profit group that brings together student, academic and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to improve the quality of life for people in need."  Their pitch series offers a platform to get advice from successful local business owners and promote and develop ideas.

Source