Canada Issue 577

Mom Inc.

2010 Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Chances are we might be one. And if we’re not one, we want to be one. And even if we don’t want to be one, we want to support the ones that are. 

We’re talking about mom entrepreneurs—all superstars in our minds—and today’s the day we begin our annual celebration of them with the launch of the 2010 SavvyMom Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

If you’re a mom entrepreneur, you’ll want to visit www.momentrepreneuraward.com to nominate yourself. It only takes a minute, and you’ll be eligible to win this year’s $22,000 prize which is designed to help take any business to the next level. The prize includes $5,000 (courtesy of our exclusive sponsor, PayPal); a full-year business mentorship with Shirley Broback, winner of the 2009 SavvyMom Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and founder of Vancouver Island Baby Fairs; a workplace productivity assessment and program courtesy of Clear Concept Inc.; a PR plan courtesy of Limelite PR; a search engine optimization assessment courtesy of Eighty 8 Online; a brand make-over courtesy of EntrepreNursery Inc. and a social media design and marketing program courtesy of Virtual Business Solutions On Demand. This year’s winner will also receive a commemorative crystal keepsake, custom-designed by award-winning crystal artist Mark Raynes Roberts of Raynes & Co.

This year, we’re proud to have PayPal on board as the exclusive sponsor of the program. You probably already know that PayPal helps mom entrepreneurs succeed by quickly and securely accepting online payments. What you might not know is that PayPal is Canada’s most-loved way to pay and get paid (did you know a Canadian buys something using PayPal every second?) because it’s safer and easy to use—something any mom can rally behind.

With PayPal, you can shop online using your PayPal balance, bank account, or credit card without your financial information being shared with the retailer. PayPal also helps you get paid. Open a PayPal account for free and you’ll be able to send out email requests to collect money for anything—teacher’s gifts, a group baby-shower present or donations for a walk-a-thon. And everyone can pay you back online, even with a credit card. No more chasing, no more cheques to cash, it’s so much easier.

If you’re not ‘one’ but you want to show your support for Canada’s fabulous mom entrepreneurs, visit the nominee gallery and cast your vote for your favourite mom-run businesses. Every vote gets you one chance to win $500 from PayPal…and with that you could do some serious (and safe) shopping at your favourite mom-run business.

Get started at www.momentrepreneuraward.com and make mom entrepreneurs the stars.

First published 2010.06.01