As it is wedding season, there have been announcements of engagements and weddings throughout the offices here at the Canadian Business Journal.

Seeing as it’s hard for us to not turn most conversations to the topic of business or industry, there has been a great deal of debate over the value of the industry that is getting married.

It starts before it even begins. The engagement ring industry goes to great lengths to sell us diamond rings, with millions of dollars being spent on rings every year.

The wedding industry truly is a recession-proof industry. Every year there are approximately 150,000 wedding performed in Canada at an average cost of $22,000.

According to the National Mail Order Association ( a marketing and consumer analyst group )

The average engagement in the lasts 15 months.

During the engagement period, couples buy:

• $1 billion in furniture
• $250 million in house wares
• $100 million in tableware

$19 billion is spent buying presents at wedding gift registries.

The average amount spent on a bridal gown is $800.

Tuxedoes are typically purchased 5-6 months after the wedding gown.

Bridesmaids’ gowns are general purchased 3-4 months in advance of the event.

One third of engaged couples retain a wedding consultant.

When I heard that BP fired its CEO, Tony Hayward, I couldn’t help but think it was pretty tricky, except not that tricky at all.

Now that the cap is covering the leak and the problem is “fixed”, BP can put all the blame on Hayward and then move forward with a new CEO, as if to say “oil spills will no longer be a problem, now that that idiot Hayward is gone.”

Had they fired Hayward when Obama recommended they do it, which was almost two months ago, the new CEO would have still had to answer for the continued oil leakage. But now BP can wrap the issue up in a neat little box with Hayward’s name on it, and the new guy, John Browne, will come in looking squeaky clean.

(Don’t think I feel sorry for Hayward, by the way. He will get the golden parachute and secretly meet with the Board of Directors for golf in years to come.)

PR fail.

Back in April, when George Media attended the G8/G20 Business Summit in Gatineau (coverage can be found at www.cbj.ca) I witnessed some of the most enlightened business leaders in the world present the reasons to do business, together. It took me some time to let the real impacts of this event sink in, but alas, here we are and I’m really coming to grips with the messages conveyed at the Summit—just in time for the Leaders’ Summits later this month.

Along with other politicians, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper had the stage, for quite some time on the second day of events. Normally, Harper is a PM whom I’m fine to support—provided his platform is based on solid fact. For the most part, he did a great job in Gatineau. Harper was quick to illustrate, during his panel discussion with John Manley and Perrin Beatty, that Canadian society is just as well-balanced as its economy.

However, much to my chagrin, he also made a very contentious general statement about Canadian society. I count this as a massive PR mistake, despite the fact that I was likely one of only two or three people that took issue with Harper’s statement (if they heard it).

“I think something has to be said about the Canadian society itself. It’s not that we try to tell our foreign visitors that this country is perfect, but Canada has, in a sense, the first truly globalized population. It is a country where we have people from every background, for the most part successfully integrated, and we have none of the deep social tensions and cleavages that mark so many other societies” Harper said—surely much to the disappointment of anyone in the audience of First Nations origin, or anyone from Quebec. I’m sure there were other audience members who felt alienated…but who am I to say anything? I just think whoever prepped him did a half-baked job.

I had to ask myself, more than a few times, did he really just say that? Stay tuned for an article in CBJ about social tension and how it affects business relationships.

In the meantime, discuss.

(Picking up where we left off  from the G8/G20 Business Summit)

Concluding the morning session at the G8/G20 Business Summit was a panel discussion with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, hosted by President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Honourable Perrin Beatty, and Honourable John Manley, President and CEO, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.

The panelists, including Harper, were candid with eachother, having all met in the House of Commons at some point. During a lighter part of the discussion, Harper even commented that he “wasn’t used to being peppered from both sides” with Manley and Beatty, quite literally, flanking his sides.

The gentlemen spoke at length about issues that would need confronting at the G8/G20 Leaders’ Summits, and expectations of the G20 to come through on agreements post-Doha.

Beatty asked the tough questions. First was his foray into the failure of international organizations to deliver on promised actions, and so he poised to Harper: “What degree of confidence do you have with the G20 on the agendas they have?”

Harpers comments were positive, and forgiving, as he explained that although the G20 is a powerful group, it is difficult to come to agreement with so many players around the table-referencing the failure of Copenhagen to bring about intended action with regards to climate change.

“So far I think the G20 has shown a capacity to arrive at decisions” Harper acknowledged. “I think the real test going forward now-particularly as we look at creating that longer-term framework for strong sustainable growth-is can we bring forward the same type of consensus and shared responsibility that existed from the economic crisis” he added.

“For the majority, everything I’m seeing so far indicates that all the players around the table want to make it work…I do see evidence that the big players are coming to understand the shared initiatives they have to pursue in order (not just only for the G20) to be successful, but for all of our interests to be protected.”

Harper reasoned that the larger the range of issues, the more difficult it is to deal with on a global front. However, he addressed Beatty’s underlying concern about the ability of the G20 to mobilize when he said his bet is that the G20 will be successful: “I’m optimistic on that.”

Harper went on to say that he say the need for governments not to quash growth, but rather to provide a systematic framework for the market to sustain itself on a global level-echoing the sentiments of the other speakers that day.

The G20: Moving the economy forward

Beatty was on the mark again with his query about the power of the G20 to being about economic change, as he asked if Harper saw the G20 as a “steering committee for the global economy.”

Harper’s response focused in on coordinated policies, and international stability. He explained that “the actions of the G20 truly diverted a world-wide depression-a pretty impressive achievement” and applauded international governments on their ability to curb the economic crisis.

Manley and Harper took the conversation further, speaking to issues about trade restrictions and the necessity for cooperation-not protectionism.

“I think it’s safe to say and fair to say that there has been no systemic widespread move towards to protectionism, and that is a significant achievement. We know from past downturns, that that has been the temptation in any number of countries. The fact that [protectionism] has not broken out as a systemic pattern, notwithstanding a number of individual cases, I think is an achievement” Harper said.

Harper and Manley both agreed that countries must keep the movement of growth forward, and that means pushing a free trade agenda forward.

Canada emerges, relatively unscathed

Harper spent much of his stage time talking about the strength of Canada’s economy, and how Canada can serve as a model for economic stability. “Look at the strengths of the Canadian economy: the biggest thing, we all know, is the financial sector. Not only do we have the strongest financial sector in the world, Canadian banks are some of the largest in the world. Canada has a strong financial position, and we entered this recession with (and by a significant margin), the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio of the G7″ he explained.

“Obviously, that will go up a little bit, because of the large scale economic stimulus programs we’ve been running-we will actually emerge from this recession in relative terms with an even wider lead in terms of the best fiscal position in the G7″ Harper continued, and went on to point out Canada’s well-balanced economy and the country’s advanced sectors.

“We’re going to be the place from which to do business in North America. We’re not trying to erect walls, not trying to trump up our strengths simply in isolation. We’re trying to contribute to the development of good global governance of good global policies” he concluded.

I was invited to cover the 7th annual Search Engine Strategies (SES) Toronto 2010 conference (coming June 9 to 11), so I thought I would spread the word and encourage everyone to come.

In my opinion, the average business person should have a basic understanding of SEO, SEM and PPC management. Outsource for an expert, sure, but at least know what that expert is dealing with.

The conference promises to bring business people (regardless of industry) into the loop, with keynote speakers who will cover topics such as:

• How search engines rank web pages and optimize yours
• New methods of link building to keep your brand in front of your customers
• Increasing traffic via organic listings and avoid “spam” penalties
• Improving user experience and increase conversions by testing and tuning landing pages
• Tracking performance and maximize ROI using free and paid analytics software

As the internet becomes more prevalent, these are things all businesses will be expected to understand and use in order to succeed.

I hope to see you there.

This month, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce will host Canada’s 2010’s foremost business event in the National Capital Region.

Join the leaders of the world’s most prominent business associations as they exchange ideas on how to address the pressing global business issues to be discussed at the G8 and G20 Leaders’ Summits hosted by Canada this year.

Panel topics include:

• Global recovery and financial reform: What must still be done?
• From trade to climate change: Moving forward on global economic issues
• Engines of economic growth: Maximizing opportunities for all.
  
  

Also, attend a breakfast keynote by Bruce Ross, President of IBM Canada and a luncheon keynote by Rick George, President and CEO of Suncor Energy.

Click here for more information.

With the way commodities performed last year around the world—who really wanted to attend a conference, or go to a mining show, in order to talk about making deals or forge new partnerships?

Times have surely changed. Along with thousands of other eager attendees, I will be at the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference next week, Monday through Wednesday, scoping out new stories and making some new contacts. Coverage will be included in all George Media publications next month.

Though last year was tough for the sector, I’m looking forward to re-connecting with old friends, and hopefully making some new ones!

George Media will not be at a booth, but you can surely find me, or my colleague Aaron Weafer, scoping out the scene. We look forward to meeting you!

With its central Toronto locale, down the street from the TSX, PDAC 2010 is sure to be a hub of activity for anyone who’s considering investing, reporting, or looking for new strategic partners. For more information and to register visit http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/conv/index.html.

See you there!

Sara Kopamees, Editor in Chief

This week, AIG gets a shout-out for issuing even more bonuses to its executives–sometimes people have to learn the hard way, twice. After public fury over the $165-million paid from bailout funds in March, AIG is back with the handouts. Next week, millions more will make its way around the C-Suite.

No, this isn’t Canadian news, but it’s an issue that Bay Street isn’t totally innocent of either (READ: Nortel). It’s certainly a worthwhile discussion.

Some say executives are entitled to these bonuses because it’s in their contracts, and cutting them out would set a negative precedent. Others say it was executives that drove these companies into the ground and don’t deserve to be compensated for performance. As a non-expert, I say (struggling) taxpayers didn’t write the contracts and therefore aren’t liable to fulfill said contracts.

Of course, the public is rightly enraged. When unemployment rates are increasing by the month, it’s not surprising there is little interest in paying for other peoples’ (undeserved) Ferraris/McMansions/French villas.

The payments AIG is set to make next week are a part of the $9-million in performance bonuses promised to about 40 senior managers in 2008.

The Canadian Business Journal is proud to call ourselves the first all-digital publication to be audited by BPA Worldwide.

What’s the big deal?

Third-party media auditing shows our advertisers we’re transparent and accountable’ an invaluable quality, especially during a recession when people are looking for certainty.

Let’s face it, when times are tight, one of the first expenses to get scaled back is usually marketing. Media buyers have to be careful how they spend the limited budget they have, leaving no room to gamble with ad dollars. Choosing an audited publication, such as CBJ (shameless plug intended), represents an informed marketing decision to ensure ROI. Media buyers can rest assured, knowing that metrics are accurate and up to date.

CBJ is excited to be the first to step up and do our due diligence. We hope that others in our industry will follow suit.