MONTREAL – Aug. 10, 2022 - Island entrepreneurs with the ability to deliver services in French are invited to register by Aug. 19 to participate in the sales mission to Montreal that RDÉE Prince Edward Island is organizing this fall.

"Our missions are always a great success. That is to say that the participating businesses continually succeed in signing substantial sales contracts and therefore always receive a very good return on their investment of time and money; this is why we continue to organize mission after mission, year after year. In fact, we are planning our 12th mission right now," says coordinator Robert Maddix proudly.

He bites that he can accommodate 10 businesses in this fall’s mission; he has four confirmations right now, which means he can accept six more. "Participants in our fall mission will have the choice, once again, to participate either in person from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 or to participate virtually from Nov. 7-10. The results of the virtual business meetings are comparable to those of the in-person meetings so, ultimately, it's a matter of comfort and availability for our participants. Some prefer to do business face-to-face while others are just as comfortable participating in video conference meetings."

SALES TRAINING

The RDÉE's long-time partner, the Quebec firm Clientis, will once again be retained to meet with each of the participating businesses to get to know the products and services they offer and then to set up individual meetings with a dozen potential buyers. Clientis will then deliver to each of the participants two training sessions on the effective presentation and the sale of their specific products or services – in other words, their sales pitch – to maximize their chances for sales.

"Clientis has the advantage of being from Quebec and being able to explore the operating methods of the potential buyers, therefore its consultants can very well orient our participants for their meetings with each of the buyers they will meet," explains Maddix.

He adds that 40 per cent of the participants' expenses (return trip to Montreal, cab transportation within the city, meals, hotel rooms) will be reimbursed.

There are really no restrictions on the type of product or service that can be offered for sale. However, participants must have the ability to communicate in French as most of the Montreal buyers they will be dealing with speak French.

"We are once again planning a networking dinner, featuring some Island products, in collaboration with the Montreal Metropolian Chamber of Commerce while we are there. Our entrepreneurs will therefore have the opportunity to meet with many other chamber members in a more social atmosphere. They will have the opportunity to talk to other entrepreneurs about their products," says Maddix.

To learn more about the mission or to register, contact Maddix at robert@rdeeipe.org.

These missions are organized in partnership with Innovation PEI and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

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PHOTO: Solange Aké of Distinct Magic Decor/Fusion Gift Boxes in Charlottetown was in deep discussions with Maurice Gerardi of Omega Design Events & Nite Mix Entertainment during the spring 2022 mission.