Friday, May 27, 2011

Updated Membership CCD List

Directory Listings
Personal Concierge, Personal Assistants and Errand Services

British Columbia

Bizzy Butler Catering Concierge Services http://www.bizzybutler.com

Mary Ann Westendorf
Maple Ridge / Vancouver

Complete Care Concierge http://www.completecareconciergeservices.com

Paytra Jacobsen
Vernon

Done Deeds Errand Services http://www.donedeedserrandservices.com

Sharon Tucker
Vancouver

Jupiter Concierge http://www.jupiterconcierge.com

Sean Colbourne
New West/Vancouver

Quality Time Concierge http://www.qualitytimeconcierge.com

Shelley Mosley
Kelowna

Tri-Cities Concierge http://www.tri-citiesconcierge.com

Kirsten Johnston
Coquitlam/Port Moody

Urban Rush Concierge http://www.urbanrushconcierge.com

Judith Rowley
Vancouver

Alberta

Get it Together Inc. http://www.get-it-together.ca

Sheri Bruneau
Calgary

Lethbridge Concierge http://www.lethbridgeconcierge.com

June & Rob
Lethbridge

The Butler Did It - 780-455-5228

Marianne Brown
Jasper

VIP Concierge & Errand Services http://www.vipedmonton.net

Lisa Brick
Edmonton

Manitoba

Concierge One http://www.conciergeone.com

Heather Hlady
Winnipeg

Ontario

Balance InStyle http://www.balanceinstyle.com

Amanda O’Reilly
Ottawa

Butler Girl http://www.butlergirl.com

Kathy Russell
Newmarket

Carrara Concierge http://www.carraraconcierge.com

Linda McAnuff
Toronto

Concierge by Request http://www.conciergebyrequest.com

Aline Goulet
Toronto

Exceed Personal & Property Services http://www.exceedservices.ca

Elana Gorman
Toronto

On Call Concierge http://oncallconcierge.googlepages.com

Charyl Brooker
St. Catherine’s

Key to Health Concierge Ltd. http://www.keytohealthconcierge.ca

Rory G. Harrison
Ottawa

Luxe Concierge & Event Planning http://www.luxeservices.ca

Jennifer Pessoa
Cambridge/Kitchener/Waterloo

Luxurious Concierge http://www.luxuriousconcierge.com

Janik Aubry
Ottawa

Take It Easy Personal Concierge Inc. http://www.takeiteasytoronto.ca

Tarra Stubbins
Toronto

Time to Spare http://www.timetospare.ca

Deborah Twomey Brown
Toronto

Wishes Concierge http://www.wishesconcierge.com

Marni Heather
Barrie


Monday, May 9, 2011

What an honour ...

Amanda is one of the co-founders of the CCD as well as founder of InStyle & Co which consists of three separate entities;Balance InStyle, Weddings InStyle & Events InStyle . May 1st, 2011 she was awarded the Ottawa Business Journal Forty Under 40 Award.

OBJ Article highlights the 2011 recipients and the criteria used to reach their decision.

“This year’s list of 40 recipients proves Ottawa has the talent, creativity and the ‘jazz’ that goes along with moving a city forward into a vibrant place to work and live. The city is alive and well,” said Michael Burnatowski, OCRI Entrepreneurship Centre manager and one of the panel of judges determining the awards. The committee included Mr. Burnatowski, University of Ottawa Telfer EMBA director Terry Kulka, Ottawa Chamber of Commerce executive director Erin Kelly, CellWand Communications CEO Nick Quain, OBJ editor Peter Kovessy and OBJ publisher Michael Curran, who also chaired the process. The judges collectively spent around 100 hours reviewing and ranking each of the submissions. All nominations were assessed according to a 40-point system: 20 points for business achievement, 10 points for expertise and 10 points for community involvement. “I really like the way the award itself is structured. It is a balanced scorecard, with a slight tilt to business achievements. It is a great way to think about what it takes to be a business leader in the city. It’s not just about business expertise – it is about being a part of the community,” said Mr. Kulka.

Amanda has a lot in common with her clients and understands the need to have things done quickly and without compromise. “To do” lists are a constant in people’s lives; it seems that as quickly as one list is checked off, another list is started. “Understanding our clients’ individual needs, building long-term, trusting relationships, and valuing client confidentiality are the standard at InStyle.
Balance InStyle opened its doors in 2006 and was the first in Ottawa to provide lifestyle management solutions from leisure to luxury all the way down to the routine and mundane. In 2007 Balance InStyle opened it’s second location in Naples Florida catering to snowbirds.
Also in 2007, Amanda co-founded the Canadian Concierge Association to offer support and advice to those wishing to start their own Concierge Business after learning the ropes the hard way.
After running her business out of her home for the first few years Amanda decided it was time to take her game to the next level and took up residence at 107 Murray Street in the heart of the Byward Market.
In 2009 Weddings InStyle was created to offer couples opting for an intimate glamorous affair an alternative. "Budgets might be tight these days, but that doesn’t mean that style and romance are going away."
Civil weddings or bigger than “BIG” Sex in the City weddings were the options at hand, before Weddings InStyle. There were no turnkey full service options available in the downtown core that could accommodate 2–90 guests without compromise. In 2010 Amanda also became a licensed wedding officiant thus having the privileged to also perform ceremonies.
Events InStyle completes the trio. Offering premier event planning solutions that are a reflection of personal style that are customized to meet individual needs.
Amanda is so passionate about her business and her clients and this is evident in everything that she puts her InStyle signature to.
Amanda and her team give back on a regular basis through the generosity of their clients. When re-organizing, purging or staging client homes, they often come across unwanted clothing, toys, and household items which they in turn donate directly to various women & children based shelters.
In 2005 Amanda co-founded the 100 Man Run and has helped raise over $100,000 for The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation a cause which is near and dear to her heart.

Amanda maintains that this award is a collaborative effort and is very thankful for her team, her vendors, friends and family who never lost faith in her vision, passion and determination to bring something new and InStyle to Ottawa.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Welcome our newest member!

We would like to extend a warm welcome to Tarra Stubbins of Take It Easy Personal Concierge Inc.


"We are a fully bonded, insured and licensed concierge company. We take care of personal and professional tasks that busy individuals and families have no time to complete.We are a company that can be relied upon to do what needs to be done".


Tarra Stubbins

President

Take It Easy Personal Concierge Inc.

Certified Lifestyle Managers & Professional Organizers

www.takeiteasytoronto.ca

Email: service@takeiteasytoronto.ca

Office: 416-578-2890


"Bringing Time Back to Life"

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Living and Working by a Code of Ethics!

Canadian Concierge Directory Code of Ethics

We will demonstrate the highest personal standards of moral responsibility, honesty and integrity when acting in our professional capacity.

We will disclose prices and offer quotations for service when required.

We will always respect the privacy and confidentiality of our customers.

We will comply with all the applicable local and national laws and will abide by the highest ethical, moral and legal standards.

We will perform our work diligently, impartially and responsibly, to the best of our ability.

We will commit to the promotion of our industry through our personal and professional example and mentoring

It is my humble opinion that caring for and looking after people is one of life’s most inspiring professions.

Concierge Industry clients entrust their homes, friends and families into our care. Quoting fairly and keeping our word is paramount in business and in daily life. Clients need to trust their service providers. Honesty is everything. We need to do everything in our power not to disappoint or breach that trust. Protecting our client’s privacy and confidentiality is a crucial component in our business.

Working diligently and knowing that we are doing the very best we can do for a client, friend or loved one allows us to sleep peacefully at night and hold our heads high during the day.

Paying it forward is gratifying and helping fellow concierge business owners is a win-win engagement! Karma has a way of working in circles and the rewards are endless.

Please welcome our New Members!

Carrara Concierge

Address:12 Castlegrove Blvd; Unit 7

Toronto, Ontario M3A 1K8

Website: www.carraraconcierge.com

Email: info@carraraconcierge.com

Phone: 647-963-8900

Owner: Linda McAnuff

Linda McAnuff’s experience as a personal assistant to business owners and to the C.E.O. of a prominent not-for-profit organization has inspired her to create Carrara Concierge. Linda’s strong organizational skills, innate creativity and excellent customer service orientation have enabled her to create a client-centered business that reflects her values.

Gayle Anderson – Co-Founder & Consultant

Gayle Anderson has spent twenty years in management for the hospitality industry and ten years in concierge and project management services. Clients and associates alike appreciate Gayle’s excellent communication and strategic management skills. Integrity, strong work ethic and efficiency are the values that Gayle brings to

Carrara Concierge manages all your home and lifestyle requirements from home maintenance, event coordination, gift sourcing, errand services and much more. Our services save you time – your most precious resource. Stay focused where you excel, and let Carrara Concierge take care of the rest.

Lethbridge Concierge Service Ltd. have updated their Website!

Please open the link and review June and Rob’s diversified services and new transport vehicles:

http://www.lethbridgeconcierge.com/

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Phone: 403 - 892 - 7116

Email: info@lethbridgeconcierge.com

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Welcome our newest members!

Many of us find that our company focus evolves from our original business plan. Kathy Russell is no exception. Kathy has changed her corporate name and website to represent the evolution of her company. You go, Butler Girl! Butler Girl


Company: Butler Girl (formerly Eloquent Events & Concierge Services)

Contact:Kathy Russell, Owner/President

Email: kathy@butlergirl.com

Website: www.butlergirl.com

Address: 525 Keith Avenue

Newmarket, Ontario

L3X 1V4, Canada

Phone: 1-905-715-1766


Butler Girl is a multi-service company. Offering event/wedding planning, running all types of errands, home services and office services. Butler Girl is very client focused and will do whatever it takes to make the client happy. Kathy Russell is the owner and founder of Butler Girl. Her mission is "Just ask, it can be done! Kathy is extremely well organized, thrives on multi-tasking and planning everything she has to do. Her services are met with a smile, and a "how can we help" attitude. No matter if the task is big or small, she does it all with such passion. Kathy loves helping people so they have the free time to do the things they love to do. She has an experienced team who work with her

on a number of events and tasks that need to be done. Kathy is certified in Event Management from Ryerson University and has received her Wedding Coordinator Certification. Kathy is also certified in Social Responsibility from the University of Toronto and is currently completing her certification in Concierge Services. She is very passionate about giving back in the community where she can. She gives generously to Sick Kids Hospital and volunteers weekly at Southlake Regional Health Centre.


Company : Complete Care Concierge Services

Contact: Paytra Jacobsen, Owner/President

Address: 25 - 5920 Heritage Dr.

Vernon, British Columbia V1H 1Z6

Phone: 1.778.475.5556

Email : info@completecareconciergeservices.com

Website: www.completecareconciergeservices.com


Complete Care Concierge Services is a licensed, insured and bonded home management company specializing in the care and security of homes for vacationers, seasonal and fulltime residents. We offer a home watch program to ensure the security of the home, while additional services such as cleaning services, departure arrival services, yard maintenance and even fridge stocking allows our clients a carefree getaway and return. Complete Care Concierge Services also provides a large array of additional services to help our clients regain balance in their lives.

Paytra is the Founder and President of Complete Care Concierge Services in Vernon, BC. Starting Complete Care Concierge Services was a natural for Paytra. It provides a service that is greatly needed while using her natural organizational abilities, along with her out-going personality and love for helping others. Paytra has a solid administrative background and strong Business Development Skills. She obtained these skills while working as a Business Development Manager for a prominent financial institution and from having owned and operated her own business. Paytra knows that success comes from hard work and making customer service a number 1 priority.


Company: Urban Rush Concierge

Contact: Judith Rowley

Address: 3510 Turner Street, Vancouver British Columbia V5K2H9

Email: judith@urbanrushconcierge.com

Email:michelle@urbanrushconcierge.com

Cell: Judith Rowley 778-998-7295

Cell : Michelle Jacobsen 604-612-6670

Website: www.urbanrushconcierge.com


Business highlights: Urban Rush Concierge is your very own personal assistant serving Vancouver and the entire lower mainland. We offer trustworthy, professional and efficient lifestyle management services so that you have more free personal time and peace of mind. We can organize, de-clutter, clean, cook, run errands, do chores, shop, plan and set up events. The possibilities are endless. Please take a look at our rates and services page for a complete list.

Michelle Jacobsen has 17 years as an executive assistant with a background in the film industry. Michelle enjoys assisting people to help achieve their goals. Judith Rowley has 15 years experience in customer service and over 10 years experience as a personal assistant with a background in the music industry. Judith prides herself on her organization skills and enjoys helping people.





Thursday, January 27, 2011

Welcome to our newest members!

Welcome Our newest Canadian Concierge Directory Members!


Get It Together Inc.

Sheri Bruneau, BEd.

Professional Organizer

403.813.0067

get-it-together@telus.net

Sheri Bruneau is the founder and President of Get It Together Inc. Sheri has

worked on organizational issues with both corporate and residential

organizing. While working with clients, Sheri is quick to assess the

situation and give practical suggestions, advice and ideas. Sheri believes

that she has the necessary skills to help guide her clients through their

personal journey of organizing their lives - whether it be through

organizing personal space issues, time management or paper issues.

Sheri's background is in education and was an elementary school teacher for

seventeen years. She has demonstrated leadership and compassion, while

maintaining an outgoing and enthusiastic personality. Sheri believes that

having an educational background has helped her connect with all of her

clients. She believes that her teaching background has given her an upper

hand with her business and working with people. Just like in teaching, there

are some people who need an extra push, while there are others that need a

gentle nudge. Sheri believes that she is good at reading people and using a

variety of strategies to make an impact. She also believes that everyone is

in control of his or her destiny. Some people just need some help to see

that and believe it.

Get It Together Inc. has added a new service. Adding the Concierge Service

is one that Sheri is very excited about! Anyone who knows Sheri knows that

she is the one to get the work done. If there is a 'to do' list, you can

always count on Sheri to get the work done!


Sheri was raised in Calgary, Alberta. Sheri currently lives with her 2

teenagers and her wonderful husband in Calgary.


Sheri is a proud member of POC (Professional Organizers of Canada). Name: Luxe Concierge & Event Planning


Jennifer is still in the process of getting Luxe up and running, however she is reachable by email and by phone should you know of someone in the Cambridge/Kitchener area that requires servicing!


Luxe Concierge Services

Jennifer Pessoa

Cambridge/Kitchener/Waterloo

jennifer@luxeservices.ca

Phone: (519)222-2495

www.luxeservices.ca

As always, we hope this finds you well and with LOTS of TIME on your side!
We welcome suggestions and submissions for future posts.


Monday, January 3, 2011

5 key lessons for entrepreneurs

With 2011 upon us, It is not only crazy how time flies, but amazing how much you can learn about being an entrepreneur while in the midst of it. One of the realities of running your own business is that the learning curve never ends. To keep your business vibrant and moving forward, it is important to be open to new developments, trends and tools that drive productivity, efficiency and profits. Here, in no particular order, are five key lessons learned about being an entrepreneur in 2010:

It’s all right to pass on business
Be realistic about what you can and can’t do. While you may be tempted to accept business that stretches your skills and capabilities, doing so can often lead to trouble when the customer’s expectations are not met, even if you’ve had the best of intentions. Rather than take on business that is outside of your scope, it is smarter to decline or refer a potential customer to someone who has better-suited skills.

Don’t rest on your laurels

Never stop selling your products or services. Even when business is good and customers are happy, the selling process never stops. It has to be a steady and constant process. Otherwise, you risk waking up one day to discover the sales pipeline is empty.

Be nice to your books, and they’ll be nice to you
Don’t underestimate the importance of having well-organized financial records. One of the big mistakes many entrepreneurs make is to focus all of their time and effort on getting and doing business, and spend too little time on making sure the books receive enough attention to support the business. When year-end comes around, having a pile of invoices and receipts can lead to a lot of headaches and time spent scrambling to get organized.

Build and nurture your network
It is important to establish an ecosystem of suppliers and partners. When you run a small business, it is impossible to do everything yourself. This includes meeting the needs of customers or clients, who need a variety of products and services. Creating a strong ecosystem makes it possible to meet the needs of your customers and, at the same time, support other entrepreneurs.

There is such a thing as work/life balance

Although it can be challenging, it is important to strive for work-life balance. Run your business rather than let it run you.
Be disciplined about how much time you devote to the business, and work on making sure your efforts are as productive as possible. At the same time, recognize the importance of family, friends and pursuing outside interests.
These are just a handful of the lessons from what has turned into a crash course in business. It is also important to recognize that the learning doesn’t end; it keeps on going as your business grows and evolves.

Much success to you all in 2011!

Special to The Globe and Mail

Mark Evans is a principal with ME Consulting, a content and social media strategic and tactical consultancy that creates and delivers ‘stories’ for companies looking to capture the attention of customers, bloggers, the media, business partners, employees and investors.