Topshelf News for February 2011

Topshelf News

INFORMATION, IDEAS & INSIGHTS FOR SHELFSPACE MEMBERS

February 15, 2011

LiveSmart BC Small Business Program
Countdown To Earth Hour 2011
Energy Fix
ShelfSpace PEAK Speaker Webinar Series: Are You In The Dark About Social Media?
Clearer Credit and Debit Statements Coming Soon!
Upcoming Shelfspace Events 2011

LiveSmart BC Small Business Program

Shelfspace is pleased to announce its participation in the LiveSmart BC Small Business program. Shelfspace will assist retailers in reducing energy consumption and waste by providing free energy assessments of their locations and coordinating funding for installations saving retailers valuable time, money and energy!

About LiveSmart BC

LiveSmart BC programs help British Columbians make green choices to save money at home, on the road and at work. Most recently, LiveSmart BC launched a $15-million, three-year Small Business program tailored to meet the needs of key sectors such as accommodations, retail, restaurants, agriculture and business offices. There are four components to the program: business energy advisors, direct installation programs, enhanced product incentives and funding for innovative energy reduction solutions.

Program Components

BUSINESS ENERGY ADVISORS (BEA's):

Shelfspace is in the process of hiring a dedicated Retail Energy Advisor.
Targets retailers that spend up to $50,000 per year on electricity.
The Retail Energy Advisor will be available to visit eligible retailers and work directly with them to identify potential energy and money saving opportunities, including lighting, hot water, heating and ventilation improvements.
The advisor will help retailers access other available incentives and LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program elements, including coordinating the installation of the equipment on behalf of the owner.

DIRECT INSTALL:

Targets small retailers that spend up to $20,000 per year on electricity.
Coordinates and funds 100 per cent of the cost to install select products such as energy efficiency lighting and lighting controls and pre-rinse spray valves to conserve hot water in commercial kitchens.

ENHANCED PRODUCT INCENTIVES:

There are currently product inventive programs available throughout the Province, providing cash rebates on more than 10,000 energy efficient technologies including lighting, refrigeration, and commercial cooking equipment.
The LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program will enhance the value of the rebates, allowing businesses across the province to save even more.

LIVESMART CHAMPION PROGRAM

Available to businesses that spend up to $50,000 per year on electricity, this is an open call for businesses to develop innovative ways to conserve energy in their specific sectors. Projects will be chosen and funding provided based on their energy savings, innovation, replicability and impact on the community.

Countdown To Earth Hour 2011

British Columbia is a leader in conservation and energy efficiency. Join BC Hydro and partners across the province in supporting Earth Hour 2011 – a global energy-awareness event that takes place annually. Sign up today at www.earthhourcanada.org and switch off lights and unnecessary equipment on Saturday, March 26, 2011 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. to help combat climate change.

Earth Hour FAQ

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Energy Fix

Want to learn the tools and tips to save big on energy and cut costs for your small business? Tune into BC Hydro’s Energy Fix makeover and witness a transformation at Donald’s Market on Commercial Drive. Saturday, February 26 and March 12 at 5pm on Global BC

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ShelfSpace PEAK Speaker Webinar Series:
Are You In The Dark About Social Media?

PEAK Speakers Series: Social Media for Retailers Intro
This introductory session will help you get your story to the world. Learn about the different ways to get started and interact in the Social Media space. This course is great for businesses wanting to get started or need a little direction on how to pull all the different elements together into one cohesive story about your brand. This course will feature:

The Big Picture: Why Social Media Storytelling is Crucial for Retail Success
5 Ways Social Media Effects our Lives (and What this Means for Retailers)
Old Media vs. New Media: The New Dynamics that Fuel Retail Buying Decisions
The Soya Principles of Storytelling (featuring real-life examples): Creating Your Retail Social Media Strategy
Creating a Retail StoryRoom on Your Web Site: Your Homebase for Social Media

Date:	March 1st, 2011
Time:	8:00am - 9:30am (Pacific Time)
Price:	$89 + applicable taxes for Shelfspace Members $99 + applicable taxes for Non-Members
Location:	Online

Social Media Storytelling for Retailers
Shelfspace & RBC Royal Bank invite you to attend an evening with Soya Marketing. This session is great for business owners, marketers, communicators, social media managers, and web site managers who want to cut through the mayhem and madness of social media, and wrap their heads around what it really takes to market a business (or a cause) in this new digital landscape.
Here is what you will be learning:

The Big Picture: Why Social Media Storytelling is Crucial for Retail Success
How to Get Your Story to the World
Old Media vs. New Media: The New Dynamics that Fuel Buying Decisions
Soya’s Principles for Creating a Retail Social Media Strategy

Date:	March 8th, 2011
Time:	7:00-8:30pm, Light Appetizers & Registration 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Price:	FREE
Location:	RBC Seven Oaks Branch, 142-32900 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC

PEAK Speaker Series: Social Media for Retailers Advanced
If you are comfortable using Social Media for your business, then this course can take you to the next level by incorporating it into your strategic marketing goals. Using Social Media in an engaging and creative way is an excellent complement to your current marketing mix and has little or no cost. In this course you will be learning about the following tools:

Creating Your 12-Month Retail Social Media Editorial Calendar
Finding Great Story Ideas that Set You Apart from other Retailers
Writing Stories that Sing (aka Never Being Boring)
The Art of Imagery: Telling Your Story Visually
Question of Tone: Creating a Voice for your Retail Brand

Date:	March 15th, 2011
Time:	8:00am - 9:30am (Pacific Time)
Price:	$89 + applicable taxes for Shelfspace Members $99 + applicable taxes for Non-Members
Location:	Online

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Clearer Credit and Debit Statements Coming Soon!

On February 17, 2011, Policy Element 1, of the Code of Conduct for the Credit and Debit Card Industry in Canada, comes into effect. This policy requires increased transparency and disclosure by payment card networks and their payment processors.

Expect to see the following changes to the information you receive:

Payment card networks will make all interchange rates applicable to their products and any upcoming changes to these fees easily available on their web sites.
Merchant statements from their acquirers will include the following information presented in a clear and simple manner:
Effective merchant discount rate for each type of payment card from a payment card network;
Interchange rates and any other rates that acquirers charge the merchant;
The number and volume of transactions for each type of payment transaction;
The total amount of fees applicable to each rate;
Details of each fee, including the payment card network to which they relate.

When the Code of Conduct for the Credit and Debit Card Industry in Canada came into effect in August 2010, so did most of the requirements of the Code. However, the government gave the payment card network operators and acquirers extra time to make the necessary changes to their systems so that they could provide merchants with agreements and statements that are clear, simple and not misleading.

More information on the Code of Conduct for the Credit and Debit Card Industry in Canada, including how to resolve disputes, how the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) is monitoring the Code and how merchants can pursue recourse can be found on the FCAC web site in the FCAC News section at www.fcac.gc.ca.

Merchants may also contact FCAC by email at info@fcac.gc.ca or by telephone at 1-866-461-3222. If it appears that there is non-compliance with the Code, FCAC will investigate and will follow up with the payment card network.

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UPCOMING SHELFSPACE EVENTS 2011

February 27-28	FREE registration for retail buyers! Register today!
March 1	PEAK Speaker Series Social Media for Retailers Intro: Learn How to Get Your Story to the World Webinar
March 8	Shelfspace & RBC present Social Media by Soya Marketing Abbotsford, BC at the Seven Oaks Shopping Centre
March 10-14	Trends The Apparel Show Edmonton, AB
March 15	PEAK Speaker Series Social Media for Retailers Advanced: Executing Your Storytelling Strategy Webinar