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    Turning your Small Business into a Community Leader: Success Secrets from a Small Business Owner

    TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2011 /CNW/ - When it comes to running a successful small business, you can learn a lot from the experts. Scotiabank asked the owners of Mellohawk Logistics, winners of The Small Business Big Impact Challenge in the Leadership Category, how a small business can lead the way in their community.

    "As a small business, taking a leadership role is incredibly important, because you are reaching the community through their hearts and minds," said Peter Hawkins, Mellohawk Logistics Managing Director. "You are creating a circle of leadership and reward that will come back to you to make a huge difference in your business' success."

    The majority of Canadians (86 per cent) agree that the leadership provided by local small businesses is important to their communities, according to a recent Scotiabank poll conducted by Harris/Decima about Canadians' views on small businesses. Mr. Hawkins offers the following tips for small businesses looking to grow as local leaders:

    Tips for Becoming a Local Leader:

          1. Know your community: If you learn what your community truly needs, you are in the best position to find out how your company can reach out and make a difference.
          2. Get involved: Find charity initiatives you can get your company involved in. When you are starting out, you might not have the money to donate, but you can donate your time, leading to name recognition and potential clients as you help worthy causes.
          3. Listen to people: Through talking to your clients and employees, you can learn interesting ideas about where your business can take action in community projects and spread the word about your company.
          4. Widen your horizons: Go to events that are directly related to your business, and then expand. Going to events and fundraisers outside of your traditional client base both promotes business and helps you see new ways to make an impact.

          5. Find partners: Your company can't exist in a vacuum. Find other companies with similar values and goals and work together on initiatives to increase both your profit and mark on the community.

    To hear more from Peter Hawkins and other small business experts, visit www.getgrowingforbusiness.com today at 2 p.m. ET for an online panel discussion featuring CBC's Dragons' Den's Jim Treliving. The online event also features CFIB's Catherine Swift; business specialists from Google Canada and Scotiabank; and the winners of The Small Business Big Impact Challenge.

    For more ideas on how to succeed in your small business, please meet with a Small Business advisor at any Scotiabank branch or visit www.getgrowingforbusiness.com.

    About Mellohawk Logistics:
    Mellowhawk Logistics, based in Toronto, is an international freight forwarder, arranging the movement of cargo around the world. They actively hire new immigrants as well as support students in a mentoring program, which both teaches logistics and English as a second language.

    About The Small Business, Big Impact Challenge
    The Small Business Big Impact Challenge invited nominations of local small businesses across Canada that could demonstrate that their business made a difference in the community where they live and work in one of the following three categories: Employment, Products or Services, and Leadership. Over 1200 small business entered the contest and three truly unique businesses were selected to win the challenge.

    About Scotiabank
    Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank. With more than 70,000 employees, Scotiabank Group and its affiliates serve some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking. With assets above $567 billion (as at July 31, 2011), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com.

    For further information:

    or to book an interview with Peter Hawkins or a Scotiabank small business expert, please contact:

    Diana Hart: Scotiabank Media Communications, 416-866-7238, diana_hart@scotiacapital.com