| | Jun 4th, 2004
| | | Firm courts Chinese clients
| | | NB Telegraph-Journal | Local Economy
As published on page C1/C2 on June 4, 2004
INSURANCE
Firm courts Chinese clients
BY JENNIFER MALO
Telegraph-Journal
A Saint John insurance firm is catering to Chinese customers and encouraging new immigrants to settle in Saint John.
Mitchell McConnell Insurance Ltd. is enlisting the help of CANLink Global Inc. to make the company more accessible to Chinese clients. Mitchell McConnell's website is now available in Chinese, its employees have been trained in Chinese cultural nuances and they now have Chinese business cards to hand out to new immigrants.
It is also in the process of hiring a recent MBA grad of the University of New Brunswick in Saint John who speaks mandarin.
The company insures more than 150 mandarin-speaking university students as well as a number of commercial businesses with Chinese owners. "We have developed or just by default, accumulated many Chinese foreign students as personal insurance business," said Chris Bourque, co-owner of Mitchell McConnell Insurance Ltd. "Most of these students can speak English to some degree but in order to better serve them, we want to ensure that we are communicating with those clients well."
Making Saint John more attractive to Chinese immigrants is exactly what Enterprise Saint John is hoping for.
By 2011 a low birth rate will prompt the country to rely on immigration for its workforce growth, said Michelle Robichaud, a spokesperson for Enterprise Saint John.
"We know that in several years, not too far away, we'll be experiencing a labour force shortage," said Ms. Robichaud, Enterprise Saint John's labour force development officer. "Saint John's growth strategy is completely about attracting people, ideas and investment, and immigration is a key to the growth strategy, too."
Ms. Robichaud applauds businesses like Mitchell McConnell because she said the firm recognizes that immigration is increasing and is acting on it.
"It is right on brand," she said. "They see an opportunity and they are developing their business to cater to that opportunity.
"They're probably going to be the first in the insurance market here in Saint John accessible to people whose fist language is mandarin."
Saint John seems to be a popular destination for Chinese immigrants. In 2001, 120 former residents of The People's Republic of China and Hong Kong set down roots in Saint John.
So far this year, Ms. Robichaud said 96 international visitors have toured the city while hunting for a place to live, and more than half were from China.
It also helps that the province allows foreign students to work here up to two years after graduation while other provinces - with the exception of Manitoba - only permit one year's worth of work, said Mike Tilley, president of CANLink Global.
"There's an opportunity here as a community to get these people engaged in their business, and help them stay," he said.
Saint John-based CANLink Global assists clients with making Chinese connections and becoming ready for immigrant customers.
It has been a big transition for Mitchell McConnell, but Mr. Bourque said it is well worth the effort and cost.
"We have huge opportunities for immigrants because we have a city that in the past few months has become very aggressive to entice these people over," he said. "With all these businesses coming in, hopefully at some point they will see a need for insurance.
"If we try to be a No.-1 source for these people, then it is a win for us also." |
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