FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Majda Ficko- President and Founder of Hair Do Zoo and Olen Cosmetics Corporation- Declared Finalist in Provincial Awards in Canada

Winnipeg, MB. Canada – The Women Business Owners of Manitoba (WBOM) are proud to announce,

Majda Ficko owner of The Hair Do Zoo and Olen Cosmetics Corporation has been declared among 30 Finalists in the 2012 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards! This annual gala event puts the spotlight on the successes and achievements of women entrepreneurs in Manitoba. The dinner, to be MC’d by Gord Leclerc and Leah Hextahl from CTV, will take place at the Winnipeg Convention Centre on Thursday, May 17^th. The finalists’ names are public, however the winners are not revealed until the evening itself.

This year’s 30 finalists come from across the province, and represent businesses as diverse as a jewelry design, spas, holistic medicine and of course, Specialty children’s hairstyling salons called The Hair Do Zoo and Olen Cosmetics Corporation maker of Winnipeg’s famous Baby Butz cream

Majda Ficko, a mother of Invention and Innovation, opened Hair Do Zoo, Canada’s first specialty children’s hairstyling salon in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1987, and this year, they are celebrating their 25^th anniversary!

Olen Cosmetics Corporation, another of Ficko’s companies, manufactures the famous all-natural diaper rash cream, Baby Butz, that she had made for her ailing son. See the full story, www.babybutz.com

“Manitoba is rich with women entrepreneurs whose stories are inspiring,” said Lucy Camara, President of WBOM and Vice-President of Olatech Business Hosting Corporation. “Anyone in business knows how tough it can be to keep that entrepreneurial spirit alive when the bills are mounting and the challenges exceed the triumphs – but when you believe in your business, in the vision you’re realizing your passion fuels your strength to carry on.”

Women represent a growing economic force in Canada:

Women entrepreneurs are one of the fastest growing segments of the Canadian economy: 4 out of 5 businesses are started by women; between 1991 and 2001, women’s self-employment increased by 43%.

The 821,000+ women entrepreneurs in Canada annually contribute in excess of $18 billion to the economy.

The number of women-owned businesses that focus on manufacturing, construction, transportation and communications is growing rapidly.

A full listing of finalists is available online at www.wbom.ca.