Coastal Carolina Community College Small Business Center

James S. Melton Vocational Skills Center

Jacksonville

Marketing for the 21st Century small business is more dynamic and challenging than ever. Discover how to most effectively and efficiently use the many marketing tools available. Gain insights to understand and reach your customer, analyze your industry and business environment and differentiate between branding, advertising, and grassroots marketing techniques. Explore the components of an effective marketing plan in this comprehensive seminar.

Speaker: Roxanne Reed

These days, small businesses will not survive for long without great customer service. To compete in a “big box” world, customer service is your greatest competitive weapon. Find out what you need to do to keep your current customers happy, attract new ones, and keep both groups coming back. We’ll discuss some of the typical reasons why customers leave and what you can do. We’ll look at customer service from different perspectives and share stories – the good, the bad and the ugly. You’ll leave with skills to improve customer relationships, build customer loyalty and increase sales.

Speaker: Emily Ballance

Come learn about the Better Business Bureau and hear about how scams are affecting small businesses. Think consumers are the only victims of fraud? Think again! Every year, thousands of small businesses find themselves targets of scams and deceptive sales practices. From phony invoices for unordered products to fake online advertising, scammers go to great lengths to duplicate letterhead and create phony websites in efforts to scam small business owners. Often, it’s a matter of identifying suspicious activity, asking the right questions and doing your research.

Speaker: Claire Abshire

Are you thinking about starting your own business? Not sure what steps to take or which ones to take first? This seminar is designed to provide basic information to individuals who are thinking about starting a business. This information includes critical ingredients for start-up success such as: feasibility study; market demographics; funding sources; and business owner support. Come prepared to engage in a practical exercise of using these tools.

Speaker: Steve Gill

An excellent credit score is now considered to be 740 points or higher. Should you have one credit card or four? Should you pay off your balances every month or carry a balance? Should you carry a credit card even though you have not used it in years? The answers to these questions may surprise you when it comes to increasing your credit score. Now more than ever, having good credit is important in being able to obtain a loan for your business or to obtain a personal loan. Your credit score is also important in determining the interest rate of your loans, your insurance premiums and deposits required for phone and utility services. As of October 1, 2005, every adult in North Carolina has been able to receive a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting bureaus. Do you understand these reports and how to read them? In this three-hour seminar we will discuss the history of credit scoring, how to read a credit report and what factors are used in calculating your FICO or Beacon score. You will learn the legal tricks credit bureaus do not reveal on how to raise your score simply by the way you use your credit cards, treat inquiries, make your payments and carry balances. This seminar will also include information about the importance of maintaining good credit and the positive financial consequences it produces. Using several proven methods, your credit score could increase by 50-100 points or more within 60 days. Make plans to attend now!

Speaker: Bob Moore

Are you thinking about starting your own business? Not sure what steps to take or which ones to take first? This seminar is designed to provide basic information to individuals who are thinking about starting a business. This information includes critical ingredients for start-up success such as: feasibility study; market demographics; funding sources; and business owner support. Come prepared to engage in a practical exercise of using these tools.

Speaker: Steve Gill

Understand the basics of starting a business in this seminar that takes you from idea to opportunity. Learn key strategies for start-up, financing and marketing as well as important information about legal issues, licensing, zoning, operations and more. Realize the importance of a self-assessment and how to evaluate the feasibility of your business idea. Discover the resources available to help you start and successfully operate your business.

Speaker: Roxanne Reed