By Jean-René Halde
In my role at the Business Development Bank of Canada, I meet lots of young entrepreneurs in every part of the country. When I ask why they’re in business, the reply invariably is that they love the freedom of being their own boss and they want to make a difference.
To turn their dream into reality, they have to build a business from the ground up, often starting with little more than hard work, ingenuity and determination. They relish the challenge and take pride in seeing customers respond to what they have created.
One of those young entrepreneurs is Pierre Martell in Moncton, N.B. Martell works in an industry that is almost as old as humanity: He builds homes. But, unlike most builders, he’s learned to make savvy use of the Internet not only to attract customers but also to respond to their greatest fears — that their home won’t be ready on time or on budget. Martell Home Builders website allows tradespeople, suppliers and clients to find information about a home and follow its construction during a “99-day countdown” to completion. People love it and business is booming. ... Read more