LOCO has partnered with DFG, Manulife Financial, and Special Markets Solutions (Industrial Alliance) to create a package of benefit options designed with our entrepreneurial members in mind. We know that many business owners are without health care, and are interested in coverage for themselves, their families and their employees.

Dehoney Financial Group surveyed the Canadian marketplace for group insurers that understood small business to find two insurance carriers that offer robust benefits at very competitive rates.

LOCO has partnered with DFG, Manulife Financial, and Special Markets Solutions (Industrial Alliance) to create a package of benefit options designed with our entrepreneurial clients in mind.

Did you know Employee Benefits:

• Are less expensive than giving your employees a raise;
• Cost approximately 3 – 6 % of annual payroll;
• Are fully tax-deductible as a business expense;
• Can provide Dental care and Extended Healthcare coverage for all of your employees and their dependants;
• Are available to companies with as few as 2 employees;
• Can continue to pay an employee, sometimes up to age 65, who is unable to work due to an injury or illness; and
• Offer up to $100,000 of life insurance without completing a medical exam or answering any medical questions!

What Dehoney Financial Group can do for you:

•  Develop a group insurance plan that is cost-effective, specific to your company’s needs, and provides all the benefits that you want (this is not a one-size fits all plan!);
• Conduct an employee meeting to explain the many benefits provided;
• Enroll the group and handle all administration;
• Create rate stability overall by effectively managing the LOCO plan;
• Negotiate and present the renewal on an annual basis; and
• Provide expertise and support regarding employee benefits including Retirement planning.

We would be happy to meet with you, at your convenience, to discuss the possibility of implementing a LOCO Business Network Benefits Plan.  You will be pleasantly surprised at the benefits available not only to your employees, but to you and your family as well.

Please contact Dehoney Financial Group at 604-684-2300 or info@dehoney.com

LOCO has partnered up with Ethical Deal to give away a $1,200 prize pack full of awesome local items from LOCO members to celebrate the 1st annual Buy Local Week (Dec 3-9) in the City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia.

The $1,200 contest prize includes: ethicalDeal $100 gift card; Singing Lands $100 gift card; Olla Flowers $100 gift card; The Window handcrafted backpack and apron; Halfmoon Yoga Studio sit set; Water Matters portable water purification kit; Mitani Designs organic stroller blanket; Hazel and Jools $100 gift card; Salt Spring Coffee 6 bags of coffee, free delivery; Luna Pads $100 gift card; River Market prize pack including a family circus school class, two food crawl cards, and basket of goodies from Donald’s Market.

Enter here to win and Live Local, Buy Local this holiday season!

To learn more on the Live Local, Buy Local campaign in partnership with Vancity contact, info@locobc.com

MEDIA ADVISORY: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

To RSVP for launch event: Julia Spitale (julia@locobc.com) 604-724-1581

LOCO BC LAUNCHES LIVE LOCAL, BUY LOCAL CAMPAIGN.

VANCOUVER, BC. 30 NOVEMBER 2012 – LOCO BC launches Live Local, Buy Local, a 12-month consumer awareness campaign promoting the social, environmental and economic benefits of buying local and creating community amongst businesses.

The launch event will be on Dec 4^th at 5:30pm at The Dodson Conference Centre  (25 East Hastings) with the announcement of Buy Local Week (Dec 3-9) for both the City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia. Making the announcement at 5:30pm will be the Honorable Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Small Business, LOCO Founder Amy Robinson, and Andy Broderick, VP Community Investment, Vancity.  Attending the Vancity-hosted LOCO business mixer will be 200 local business owners and the event will run until 9:00pm. Media are invited to attend for the announcement and to stay on for the rest of the event.

“I’d like to recognize LOCO BC’s efforts to promote local shopping during the holiday season and am proud to proclaim Dec 3-9, 2012 ‘Buy Local Week’ in B.C. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and our economy. They are often locally owned and operated, so when you buy from a local small businesses you support families and local jobs” says the Honorable Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Small Business.

LOCO is a non-profit organization that promotes local businesses because they build community, circulate dollars and support a strong local economy. The Live Local, Buy Local campaign is aimed at increasing consumer awareness of these benefits. Says Amy Robinson, LOCO’s founder: “The thing we hear most often is “how do I know who’s local?”, so we created this campaign to connect the shopping public with our network of amazing local businesses. The businesses themselves are not only locally owned, but are often sourcing local products or services, and are engaged in efforts to green their business.”

One of LOCO’s four Founding Member businesses, Vancity, is the campaign’s partner. Says Andy Broderick, VP Community Investment, Vancity: “At Vancity we make you good money by putting money to good. That’s why we’re delighted to continue our partnership with LOCO, beginning with the Live Local, Buy Local campaign this December and continuing into 2013.  At Vancity we look for ways to use all our resources, people and capital to strengthen member wealth and well-being. By supporting the Buy Local campaign we’re asking people to invest in local businesses. That’s good for our local economy and good for our local community. It helps our members and communities thrive and prosper.”

The campaign’s media partner, The Tyee, is an independent online magazine dedicated to publishing lively, informative news and views. The campaign includes monthly ads in The Tyee highlighting local businesses, a series of video ads, and social media contests.

LOCO BC:

LOCO is a growing alliance of local companies working to strengthen communities, grow the local economy and build strong, sustainable businesses.  @locobc

For more information, contact Julia Spitale (julia@locobc.com, 604-724-1581), Director of Community Engagement for LOCO.

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The Tyee

LOCO BC members receive a 25% discount on stand-alone Tyee ad campaigns. Consumer business members (retail, restaurant, coffee shops, groceries) receive a free display ad in the Tyee during our 12-month Live Local Buy Local campaign. Contact Meaghan MacDonald, Community Manager for more info. 604-689-7489 ext. 2 mmacdonald@thetyee.ca

The Vancouver Observer

Group Benefit Plan Launch

LOCO and Dehoney Financial Group (DFG) have launched the LOCO Business Network Benefits Plan.

DFG has negotiated some significant wins for small businesses, such as preferential pricing and access to insurance products not normally available to companies with less than 50 employees. The more members that join, the better the pricing becomes, so please consider starting business coverage with us, or moving your existing plan over to make our group stronger.

We will organize another information session soon. In the meantime, please contact Erin Gunn for information.