Media Room

1. What ignited the spark in you to start your own business?

I say in the book that at a young age I knew I had a problem with authority! It might be the wrong answer, but it is the honest one. I always felt that my opinions and ideas were never taken seriously because of my age, sex and physical appearance. Being an event planner has been a dream since I was 17 and I always knew I would open my own business. Sometimes tragedy, risk and dreams all come together at the same time to create something beautiful – my beautiful was my business, PEAR.

 2. What three pieces of advice wo...

1. How does brand building for authors compare to developing a brand for a business?

It depends. Is the brand a product, person, or entity (a persona like the Coca Cola polar bear)? The principles of marketing/publishing in the digital platforms would be similar in that they all follow the same rules of engagement if they want to build a community. All potential readers/clients/viewers... want the same thing: a connection, to be wowed/wined and dined, to be inspired/entertained/appreciated...

The digital revolution has drastically changed where readers buy books, what books they read and in what format they read them. While these changes initially made engaging with and building loyalty among readers a challenge for authors and publishers, the shift online has come to be seen as an enormous marketing opportunity. Digital platforms offer valuable insight into how characters, plot lines and topics are perceived while presenting an opportunity for publishers and authors to directly engage with readers.

The internet offers authors many ways to market and promote a book. Engaging...

The Globe and Mail recently published an excerpt from Robert Keats' book, The Border Guide: A Guide to Living, Working, and Investing across the Border.

The excerpt offers advice in finding US medical coverage for Canadians in the US.

Read: Getting the most f...

The Globe and Mail recently published an article on cross-border issues that could affect businesses. Our very own Tony Wilson, author of Buying a Franchise in Canada was featured in an article entitled What to consider as a Canadian dealing with a U.S. franchisor.

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Lynne Butler, author of Estate Planning through Family Meetings recently held a live in-depth discussion with The Globe and Mail readers on the topic of estate planning. 

The discussion was highly informative and generated quite a bit of buzz around family meetings and estate planning. 

Read the entire discussion: Planning for your estate...

The Globe and Mail recently published an excerpt from Lynne Butler's latest book, Estate Planning through Family Meetings.

Family meetings can often calm tensions and provide for mediation. Lynne talks about the benefits to holding a family meeting when it comes to estate planning, and discusses the importance of deciding the future of the family's assets before a family member passes away.

Taking...

The Globe and Mail published a three part series based on author Aiden Livingston's book The Secrets of Advertising to Gen Y Consumers (available in our Canadian shop and our American shop).

Read more: Why Gen Y prefers...

Small-business owners are always busy and kept on their toes -- especially when it comes to the hiring of employees.

"Legally speaking, you can ask just about anything at a job interview, " says Lin Grensing-Pophal, author of Employee Management for Small Business (available in our Canadian and American stores), "but there are a handful of questions that can get you into hot water." The full...

Lynne Butler, author of Succession Planning Kit for Canadian Business and Estate Planning through Family Meetings, was interviewed in an article published by The Province newspaper.

The article touches on the delights and downfalls of going into business with family and, more specifically, the challenges that mothers and daughters face when going into business together.

Read:...