SwarmJam was launched in the second quarter of 2010 by Canadian media conglomerate PostMedia. If that name sounds familiar it’s because they own and operate print and online media such as; The Windsor Star and the National Post. They were one of the first daily deals sites to gain popularity after GroupOn because of the exposure they received from all the media outlets under the PostMedia umbrella. If you go to the Windsor Star’s website right now, you’ll find 3 or 4 ads for SwarmJam.

Small businesses seemed to be hesitant to give the new group coupon site a try when it was first launched because they weren’t sure how much extra business they would actually receive. Instead, they tried to wait out the long lines of businesses who were trying to get their deal on GroupOn. Eventually, small businesses started to catch on that the Windsor Star was running their own daily deal site and gravitated towards them.

SwarmJam is more beneficial to local businesses because it’s more local than GroupOn and it’s a much shorter wait period to get on SwarmJam than GroupOn. It’s also an added benefit that even if someone doesn’t have a SwarmJam account, they will see the deals of the day on The Windsor Star, which reportedly receives between 10,000 and 50,000 page views daily.

I spoke with Angela Doube this week who owns a hair salon in Windsor. She loved how much extra business SwarmJam gave her and how easy it was to set it up.

“I honestly couldn’t believe how easy it was to contact a sales rep at SwarmJam and get started. All I had to to was tell her what deal I wanted to offer and she did the rest.” She later said about the ad, “I actually sold 24 coupons that day and 90% of them had come into the salon by the end of the month to redeem them, it was totally worth it!”

Business after business in Windsor is giving sites like SwarmJam a try. If you’re a small business owner and would like more information, visit the Swarm Jam website.

Candy Orbit offers candy, snacks and decor from past to present and around the globe. Some great finds I have come across include Rain Blo bubblegum including the original sourball Eye Poppers, Sugar Babies, 5th Avenue chocolate bars and Popeye candy cigarettes. With such a wide selection it’s easy for anyone, young and old, to get carried away in a sugar filled universe at the self described Sweetest Spot in the Universe.

Not only does the store provide a great selection of sweet treats but it also offers a dose of wholesome family fun. Events such as the 2011 Candy Rap Battle and the upcoming grand opening celebration featuring a visit from Toy Story character Buzz Lightyear and more provide an alternative to the usual hobbies and pastimes Windsor has to offer.

The staff is unbelievably friendly and upbeat. The staff treats everyone with kindness and respect and often sparks up conversation on anything from candy to the weather. You will find genuine hospitality at every time you visit Candy Orbit, something missing from most establishments in Windsor these days, especially the large chain retailers.

For a truly unique experience visit Candy Orbit again and again. The stock always changes and there is always plenty to choose from. The selection includes various sugar free treats for the diabetic visitor as well as sours, sweets, gums and accessories. Be sure to check out the extensive candy bar collection including coconut flavoured M&M’s previously only offered in the USA and definitely a must try!

Rating: 5/5

The offers are simple…

• For $30, you get five Extreme car washes (a $73.40 value, including HST)
• For $45, you get five Works car washes (a $101.65 value, including HST)
• For $90, you get a full-service detailing (up to a $327.70 value, including HST )

Riverside Auto Spa Highlights

• Professional, uniformed staff
• Thorough detailing package

Riverside Auto Spa Location

277 Pillette Rd.
Windsor, Ontario N8Y 3B3
(519) 948-6555

Sign up to be notified about daily Windsor Groupons here. Today’s (December 15th, 2010) Groupon deal is for this car wash and detailing offer… Go there now if you want to take advantage of this offer, as of this writing there is only 12 hours left!

The offer is simple… you pay just $50 for five 1/2 hour piano lessons, a $100 value.

Mordent Music Highlights

• 10 years teaching experience
• Centrally located facility
• 30-minute weekly lessons
• Beautiful baby grand piano

Mordent Music Location

778 Memorial Dr.
Windsor, Ontario N8W 1W1
(519) 819-6131

Sign up to be notified about Groupons here. Today’s (December 9th, 2010) Groupon deal is for this Mordent Music offer… Go there now if you want to take advantage of this offer… a great holiday gift for a loved one..

As a nominee, I was part of the prestigious event. This was my first experience at the gala and I was not sure what to expect. But the luxury and decadence was evident driving along riverside and looking up towards the St. Clair Centre for the Arts.

As my fellow nominee and I went up the escalators, walked along the color lit walls, approached the entrance and stepped across the red carpet we knew this was no ordinary night.

The banquet hall was draped in gorgeous fabrics with bright icicles dangling from the ceiling. This was contrasted by the ‘fire’ element of the evening’s theme with our firefighters standing by to collect the ‘entrance fee’ i.e. toys for Sparky, a mountain which did not take long to fill.

The invitees were dressed to the nines. The men were in tuxedos and women in elegant gowns, some reminiscent of fairy tale princesses.

But take all the glitz and glamour aside, and I will share with you what truly captivated me and inspired me to write this article. What I valued about the night was – for that brief moment in time- everyone was the same. We were all there for the same reason, to celebrate the hard workers in our community. Whether in the form of corporate chains or momma and poppa stores, there was no discrimination to the naked eye or the nomination process. If you pick up the awards issue of Biz X magazine and read through it you will notice such an array of nominees, often in just one category. An example that comes to mind is ‘artist of the year’. This category features singers, painters and my fellow nominee’s art: dancing.

Any event which is able to bring us all together and remind us that hard work exists in any level of the food chain, is admirable to me. After all, whether you are a sole proprietor with a boutique retail outlet in Old Walkerville or manage a corporate franchise operation, hard work is hard work is hard work.

So if you are out and about and you see Biz X magazine’s red hot November issue, please pick it up, turn to the awards section and read about some of our local businesses, business professionals and artists. Take a look at some faces which you may have seen before and wondered about. And the next time you feel like trying some new food, getting acupuncture treatment, insulating your house, going shopping for a baby on the way or booking entertainment, remember that Windsor has no shortage of resources!