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Make Everyday Teariffic with T by Daniel!

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BY ALYSSA MAHADEO 

The concept of ‘tea’ originated in China as a medicinal beverage believed to possess natural health strengthening qualities. While it has often been thought of as being quintessentially British, people have been drinking tea for over 350 years. Over the years tea consumption has changed in so many ways. Although the brew might be different, a good cup of tea is sure to warm up your soul on these cold winter days.

Daniel Lewis was born in Toronto and has lived in Brampton for most of his life. Always interested in the music, arts, and fashion, Daniel spent ten years of his life as an aspiring musician exploring the sounds of Rap/R&B even trying out Rock and Roll for a while. For a decade, Daniel spent time writing and performing music locally as well as travelling to the states, even becoming a songwriter for Socan pitching songs and penning lyrics for other artists.

While he enjoyed his time as an artist, Daniel’s music didn’t leave the impact he would have hoped. He was the unfortunate victim of a stabbing over some choice lyrics he had written in a song, and it was a pivotal moment in his life where he had to reassess and decide what his goals and mission were for this lifetime.

Daniel was raised in a very close knit family of Christian values. His parents had taught him and his siblings to always be open and transparent with each other. “Despite the great advice and morals for living we are taught we stray from those teachings and end up in the wrong crowd, and although we learned good things in the home we still didn’t apply them for a long time,” Daniel shares.

After leaving music he was thrown into standard franchise and factory jobs. He took some time to re-assess his current position and realized his talent wasn’t going away he just needed to tailor, refine it and channel it a different way. “My goal, purpose and mission in life became to impact people’s lives in a positive way.” he explains.

Following his incident Daniel made a lot of changes in his life, mentally, physically and emotionally. He married his childhood sweetheart Renata who stayed by his side everyday while he was in the hospital. Moved by her caring nature, despite the terrible situation, she stuck by him through everything. They first met when they were only eight years old, and their story is one of love, strength and resilience. “I knew when she was there with me that this is a person who can be with me through tough times and really strengthen and encourage me to become a better version of myself,” Daniel shares.

Tea became a popular drink in his life, as he gave up drinking soda and other detrimental food options and picked up drinking tea instead. He made more health-conscious decisions and positive life changes and that’s what sparked the idea for T by Daniel.

Aware that there were already other tea shops out there, Daniel wanted to use tea to create a company that was a reflection of his artistic, quirky and stylish personality. “It was all about blending those ideas together to start my own cool tea business,” Daniel explains. “I like drinking tea, and I like being fashionable so I set to work researching ways that I could put all of my ideas together to make sense.”

Partners in life and now in business Daniel and Renata, invested whatever savings they had into opening T by Daniel located in the heart of downtown Brampton, across from the Rose Theatre. T by Daniel opened their doors on May 24th, 2011. Since then their mission has been to present T as the exciting, fashionable, irresistible beverage that it truly is.

T By Daniel is the funky, modern tea company, that focuses on selling tea in a very fun, interactive and stylish way. Their focus is to bring you the most exciting and unique tea concoctions that they can find on earth, for their guests to enjoy in the everyday adventures of life.

“When it comes to Starbucks and David’s Tea, they are great companies with great products mainly focused on the product and service.” Daniel explains how they are different from what some might consider their competition. “With T by Daniel, despite the fact that we might carry the same type of tea similar to David’s Tea the premium loose leaf tea we focus on mastering experience.”

T by Daniel is the Willy Wonka of tea shops; each experience is golden ticket approved.

“We’re more in competition with Disney World and Wonderland because these are places that have mastered experiences so much that you will travel the world to visit them to live that magical experience, and that’s we want to become, and to get there we have to take customer service to the next level.”

“Customer service doesn’t exist for us. It’s all about extraterrestrial, out of this world experience.” Daniel says. “Our one of a kind experience is unique in the way we treat our guests put on a show and put a smile on their face.”

At T by Daniel they are passionate about three things: Tea, People and Experiences. They carry a selection of over thirty loose leaf teas, tea lattes and frappes with various different tongue teasing flavors of loose leaf T and herbal infusions.

They believe that tea and fashion go hand in hand, which is the main reason why all of their tea accessories are sleek and stylish to complement their classy and chic hot beverage cup designs featuring a dapper gentleman’s blazer and bow tie. T By Daniel has also expanded into selling their own line of wooden bowties! Talk about having your bow tie game on point!

“Building your own business from the ground up is a fun, wild and unstable adventure. Everyday is a risk. Any company you work for has an intricate system in place that allows for employees to come in and have work to do,” says Daniel. “When you have your own business you now have to create the work for yourself.”

Daniel isn’t interested in franchising his business, but wants to continue making it a household name. Through this second chance at life, he wants to use his company to educate inspire and challenge others everyday.

“My father defined a rich man as a person with a keen sense of responsibility and high regard for human life,” says Daniel, “Tea is normally considered a product, but for T by Daniel tea is a tool that we use to impact people’s lives in a positive way.”

Retail Magician and Entrepreneur Daniel Lewis recently released his own book Weird as Waldo, demystify what that means to be weird addressing things like standing out from the crowd and letting the reader know that being different can sometimes give you the upper hand. Daniel is available for branding services through his company Marsketing and speaking opportunities through Daniel Speaks. He will be a speaker at the Toronto Caribbean Business Social this spring.

At T by Daniel they are using their fashion forward ideas and quirky personalities to turn coffee drinkers in to tea drinkers, one cup at a time.

“I’ve learned to implement the slingshot theory my dad taught me; any setbacks in life propel us forward in life.” shares Daniel, “We are here to be the start of a change in the community, to be the example especially for younger people. You can work for a different purpose other than money and impact people in a positive way. Don’t only see me as a business person, see me as a person trying to evoke change.”

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Turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality with RBC’s Black Entrepreneur Startup Program

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

The courage to pursue a passion and turn it into a business can be daunting, especially during times of global uncertainty. Yet, this is exactly what Tarila Morrone, the founder of Heart of Gems, decided to do. Her journey began with an Etsy shop specializing in party supplies, which thrived until the COVID-19 pandemic struck, drastically reducing social gatherings.

Instead of succumbing to the fear and uncertainty, Tarila embraced the opportunity for deeper connection with her children during the lockdown. She realized the profound importance of this bonding time, which sparked the idea for Heart of Gems. Her new venture is dedicated to helping modern parents with busy schedules foster stronger connections with their children and promote self-love.

Determined to elevate her business, Tarila delved into research and discovered a program designed to aid entrepreneurs, which allowed her to secure the necessary funding to propel herself and her business forward.

Tarila is one of many individuals who has taken their business to the next level with the support of RBC’s Black Entrepreneur Program – launched in 2020 with a $100 million commitment. RBC dedicated significant time to thoroughly understand the unique business needs of Black entrepreneurs, which enabled them to develop the following programs tailored to support their growth and success, and has two different solutions:

The Black Entrepreneur Startup Program (BESP)

In partnership with Futurpreneur, they committed $40 million through the BESP to offer: small business loans, mentorship, and business resources to Black entrepreneurs aged 18-39.

The RBC Black Entrepreneur Business Loan (BEBL)

Launched in late 2021, the BEBL provides eligible Black entrepreneurs at all stages of their business journey with loans of up to $250,000.

They have successfully provided $14.5 million in loans (approved and/or disbursed) through BEBL and BESP to over 400 businesses since the inception of the Black Entrepreneur Program in 2020.

Founder of Heart of Gems – Tarila Morrone

In addition to BEBL, RBC also continues to serve the entrepreneur community, including Black entrepreneurs, through its full suite of eligible products and services, including the government-backed Canadian Small Business Financing Loans (CSBFL).

In 2021, they invested $1 million in BKR Capital (formerly known as Black Innovation Capital), a venture capital fund that supports the growth of pre-seed and seed- stage Canadian technology businesses led by Black entrepreneurs. Initially targeted at $10 million, the fund had a successful final close with over $18 million in capital commitments in 2022 and is actively building its portfolio.

It is one thing to read about a fantastic opportunity, and it is another thing to hear about it from someone who has found a way to elevate their business by utilizing RBC’s programs. I had a chance to speak with Tarila, and she shared with me the story of her entrepreneurial evolution.

“The idea for Hearts of Gems came about during the pandemic. I knew that it would be helpful to other parents because it had helped me. I had an infant and a toddler, and I had started a party supply business, but the pandemic slowed that business down, and it was an opportunity to zone in and connect with my children.”

“When I decided to pivot, I went on Google to see what was available, and I stumbled across Futurpreneur, and I was then introduced to the Black Entrepreneur Program. I was nervous at first, because it seemed like it was going to be a lengthy, vigorous process.”

“Once I got started, my anxiety let up; I was pleased with the amount of support that I was provided with. The one thing that I learned throughout this process is that entrepreneurship is not meant to be done alone.”

“The financial support helped me obtain the things I needed to get my business going. The saying is true that you need money to make money. I needed people to help me realize my vision, and strategically execute it, and they provided mentorship throughout the duration of the program and after. This allowed me to navigate some of the challenging aspects of entrepreneurship, and a bonus; for the first year, you are paying interest only on the loan, and this allows time for your business to grow, without the weight of burdening payments on your mind.”

Tarila’s story is a testament to the resilience and creativity that can emerge in challenging times, inspiring others to follow their passions and create something meaningful, even amidst uncertainty. With the help of the Black Entrepreneur Startup Program, Tarila’s dreams became a reality, and if you are ready to take that leap, consider exploring RBC’s Black Entrepreneur Program.

Visit rbc.com/blackentrepreneur and turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality.

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Nervous about your English Proficiency Test; Worry no more! Introducing Pearson|PTE English Language Tests

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“Why is this so hard? I’ve studied, I’ve practiced… but what if I fail? What will happen to my family? The test is next week. If I don’t pass, I don’t know what I’ll do. Everyone says it’s really hard, and I can’t afford to fail…”

Canada is a land of opportunity, a place where dreams can come true. For many new immigrants, becoming a permanent resident, or Canadian citizen is a significant milestone in their journey. It can be a long, and paper laden process that includes medical examinations, background and security checks, proof of funds, educational credential assessments, biometrics, citizenship tests, the interview and of course.

The English Proficiency Test! This is one aspect of this journey that does cause a high level of stress. Naturally, taking a language test in another country, especially after a long hiatus from any form of testing, can be an intensely overwhelming experience. The unfamiliar environment, coupled with the pressure of demonstrating proficiency in a foreign language, can amplify anxiety. Additionally, the absence of recent test-taking practice may lead to self-doubt and apprehension, making the overall experience particularly daunting.

Of course! The test can be daunting, but what if we told you that there was a way for you to effectively, and efficiently prepare; a platform offering practice tests that simulate the actual English Proficiency Test required for Canadian permanent residency, or citizenship?

Introducing, Pearson|PTE English Language Tests the world-leading provider of English language tests recognized worldwide by universities, colleges, governments, and professional bodies. Trusted by 3,500+ universities and colleges globally, their ambition is to support test takers every step of the way for a true worry-free experience.

At Pearson, their purpose is simple: to add life to a lifetime of learning. They believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That is why their 18,000 employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. They are the world’s leading learning company, serving customers in 200 countries with: digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data.

PTE Core was created in response to Canadian economic migration needs. It is already recognized by more than 97% of universities and 95% of colleges in Canada. the UK, Australian and New Zealand governments also accept PTE tests for all visa applications, and PTE Academic is also accepted by 100% of Australian, New Zealand and Irish Universities and 99% of UK universities.

With an increased focus on supporting Canada’s economic resurgence and post-pandemic growth, IRCC is increasing its Levels Plan to further address the growing demand for the coming years. With high demand in Canada for professionals in areas such as: nursing, engineering and web development, the approval of PTE Core arrives at a good time for test takers and opens new opportunities for Pearson.

“I am grateful to PTE for providing such an intellectual test. It was easy to prepare and understand the format. The training and support also helped a lot in explaining methods.” Syeda, Malaysia

Currently, they are offering a free taster test as well as an online guided practice test for test takers to familiarize themselves with the test experience and to optimize their preparation time and improve their skills. In addition, test takers have access to a ton of resources like the PTE Core Handbook to support their test taker journey.

PTE Core is a new addition to the Pearson Test of English portfolio, sharing many of the unique characteristics of PTE Academic. It is relevant for the vocational test taker, and designed with a real-life, non-academic focus. It was created to meet Canada’s specific migration needs and the IRCC’s language proficiency requirements but could be used to assess the English proficiency of vocational test takers in any country.

Approved last year by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), PTE Core can now be taken to provide proof of English language efficiency for the purposes of permanent economic immigration to Canadian citizenship. Some other great benefits include:

  • It meets the Canadian Government’s requirements based on migration needs
  • It tests four key English language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing
  • It enables people to be themselves in English – it has a vocational and real-life focus
  • They use a unique combination of AI scoring and human expertise that reduces the risk of bias
  • PTE Core test takers will enjoy the same features as PTE Academic test takers.
  • The test can be booked online 24 hours in advance, is computer based and taken in a test center
  • Results are usually within 48 hours
  • Accepted for visa applications to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK

PTE Core uses similar item types to PTE Academic, but focuses on general English, making it more relevant for test takers. Test questions were developed with detailed specifications and field tested to ensure reliability and validity. Below is what you can expect as a test taker:

  • Part 1: Speaking & Writing (This section will test your speaking and writing skills in around 50 minutes)
  • Part 2: Reading (This section will test your reading skills in around 30 minutes)
  • Part 3: Listening (This section will test your listening skills in around 30 minutes)

Pearson’s vision: to be the world’s leading destination for people committed to building and improving their English proficiency, and with 1.5 billion people currently learning English, there is a big opportunity to grow across the globe.

Gio Giovannelli, President of the English Language Learning division at Pearson, shares, “We are excited to roll out PTE Core to test takers across the world. It was designed to test real life language skills and allows test takers to showcase their proficiency and be themselves in English. Whether people are looking to work, study or migrate to Canada, there’s a Pearson English language proficiency test that suits their requirements.”

Support and preparation can make all the difference. Don’t hesitate to seek the help you need. Start your journey today. Visit https://www.pearsonpte.com/ to learn more.

Prepare with confidence. Achieve your dreams. Welcome to Canada!

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The Silent Hero: Why every business needs a good bookkeeper Nuages Consulting Inc, Chartered Professional Accountants, Certified Public Accountants

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“I received a call, and the client started crying. She had a business, her bookkeeping and taxes were everywhere, and she was feeling overwhelmed. She only used Excel, and she wanted to save money.”

“I can do what you want me to do, but that won’t help you. How about we offer you something that will help you out.”

In the fast-paced world of business, where attention is often drawn to flashy marketing campaigns and innovative products, there exists a silent hero that operates behind the scenes, largely unnoticed yet indispensable to the success of any enterprise or small business. Meet Nuages Consulting Inc, Chartered Professional Accountants, Certified Public Accountants – the unsung guardian of financial integrity and stability.

In the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship, it’s easy to overlook the crucial role that a good bookkeeper plays. They are the backbone of our financial operations, ensuring that every dollar is accounted for, every transaction is recorded accurately, and every decision is grounded in reliable data.

Beyond the mundane task of number-crunching, a skilled bookkeeper serves as a strategic partner, offering valuable insights and guiding prudent financial decisions. From budgeting and forecasting to tax compliance and financial analysis, their expertise is indispensable in navigating the complex terrain of business finance.

To think; the smallest financial oversight can have far-reaching consequences, and this is why the value of a proficient bookkeeper cannot be overstated. They are the guardians of fiscal responsibility, ensuring that the financial health of your business remains robust and resilient in the face of uncertainty.

“Having a good bookkeeper onboard provides businesses with the clarity and transparency they need to steer the ship in the right direction,” shares Gloria Kapuku, CPA and founder at Nuages Consulting Inc, Chartered Professional Accountants, Certified Public Accountants. “These reports enable us to identify trends, spot potential risks, and capitalize on opportunities for growth.”

“We have a meeting first; during our meeting we let you explain your system. I need to understand you. I then share our process and let them see how things could be. People are resistant, so we take things slowly.”

The full bookkeeping system involves the systematic: recording, organizing, and summarizing of financial transactions within a business. It begins with the initial entry of transactions such as: sales, purchases, payroll, and expenses into the accounting system. Subsequently, these entries are categorized and posted to appropriate accounts, ensuring accuracy and compliance with accounting principles.

Throughout the cycle, reconciliations are conducted to match records and identify discrepancies, followed by the preparation of financial statements, including: the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. Lastly, the cycle culminates in closing entries, ensuring that revenue and expense accounts are reset for the next accounting period. Overall, full-cycle bookkeeping provides a comprehensive overview of an organization’s financial health, facilitating informed decision-making and regulatory compliance.

“One of the first things that I tell my clients,” Gloria shares, “Is let’s set up proper procedure. We set up a step-by-step plan and enforce the workflow. We meet every month to ensure you are staying on course. Then we meet every three months, and then we do a yearly check -in.”

Incredibly, Nuages Consulting Inc, Chartered Professional Accountants, Certified Public Accountants have fantastic resources on their website including Mentorship and Coaching Services that will help you achieve your personal, business, or career goals. Their goal is to introduce you to new ways of thinking, challenging your limiting assumptions, sharing valuable life lessons, and much more.

They have your bookkeeping basics, a DIY in how to keep your books and records clean. Topics of discussion include:

  • Why is bookkeeping important?
  • Best way and software for bookkeeping
  • Important activities in bookkeeping
  • How to master bookkeeping

Bookkeeping practices

  • Mix or separate personal and business income and purchases?
  • What are internal controls?
  • Bank transactions, electronic or paper format?
  • What is bank reconciliation?
  • What are financial reports?
  • What are records?
  • Excel worksheet or accounting system?
  • Tax forms.
  • Accountants, CPAs, and tax professionals/planning

The team also does a deep dive into the numbers – financial statements and balancing the books. They also have a Bookkeeping – Advance Mentoring and Coaching Sessions (10-15 hours) where they explore different types of bookkeeping accounts, what they are, what they do, and how to book them. These sessions include:

  • Accounting Basics
  • Debits and Credits
  • Chart of Accounts
  • Bookkeeping
  • Accounting Equation
  • Accounting Principles
  • Financial Accounting
  • Adjusting Entries
  • Financial Statements
  • Balance Sheet
  • Working Capital and Liquidity
  • Income Statement
  • Bank Reconciliation
  • Accounts Receivable and Bad Debts Expense
  • Accounts Payable
  • Inventory and Cost of Goods Sold
  • Depreciation
  • Payroll Accounting
  • Stockholders’ Equity
  • Nonprofit Accounting

Ready to get started? You can book a 15-minute free consultation for any of the topics below:

  • “Ask us anything” service provides a free consultation where you can ask us about tax, accounting, bookkeeping, incorporating and more.
  • Book a 15-minute scheduling call with us to discuss which mentorship and coaching is appropriate for you!
  • Tax preparation, where the focus is on operating your business and personal affairs, knowing that your tax needs are being fully met.

So, the next time you glance over the balance sheet, or pore over financial statements, remember the silent hero who works tirelessly behind the scenes – Nuages Consulting Inc, Chartered Professional Accountants, Certified Public Accountants, whose meticulous attention to detail and unwavering dedication keep the wheels of your business turning smoothly.

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