Holiday sales can account for 25% or more of the annual revenue for your retail business!
Because this time of year is so critical for your business it’s even more important to think ahead and be ready to maximize the opportunity all those end of year holidays offer.
To help you have a solid plan for this year, the Loudoun SBDC is offering an online Get Retail Ready Holiday Prep Class – hosted by the Virginia SBDC.
In this interactive event we review important best practices so you don’t miss important opportunities this holiday season. You’ll create your own check list of must do actions & refocus on critical customer trends. We’ll share ideas from other retail business owners about ways you can make your holidays a little brighter… and more profitable!
After this interactive session you will be able to:
- Create a Simple 4-Part Holiday Action Plan to Get Your Business Ready
- Refine Your Focus on Best, Most Profitable Customers
- Identify Promotional Opportunities for More Traffic and Sales
- Generate a Road Map for Activities to Drive Smarter Business
Through information & exercises, you will gain insights into the best way to prepare your retail business to make the most of the 2023 Holiday Season.
Speaker: Loudoun SBDC Manager, Eric Byrd, will lead the discussion and exercises to assist you to make sure you’re ready to make the most of the holiday rush.
- Do you reside in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia and are thinking about starting a new business?
- Do you have questions about how to move forward?
- Are you considering moving your hobby into a more structured business form?
- Have you already started your small business and now realize you may have missed a few things?
Your Shenandoah Valley SBDC has answers, information, and resources to help!
In our Start Smart Workshops, we discuss the path to good decisions and a successful start. You’ll learn to take a thorough 360° approach to your business and all its components – from product development to target marketing to financial projections and bookkeeping. We also cover the regulations and registrations you need to know.
Follow-up appointments are then available with SBDC business advisors to focus on your individual business growth needs.
Thank you for your registration to Start Smart Workshop. Please let Rosie know if you are unable to attend or have questions via email to rigglerc@jmu.edu
Thank You! Barry Henderson, Shenandoah Valley SBDC
Join us for the SBA Women’s Business Month SBA HQ WOSB Certification Program! This exciting online event is designed to empower and support women entrepreneurs in their business endeavors. Starting on Wed Oct 18, 2023 at 1:00pm EST, this program will provide valuable insights and resources to help women-owned small businesses thrive.
During this event, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification process, an essential step in accessing federal contracting opportunities. Our expert speakers will guide you through the application process, eligibility criteria, and the benefits of WOSB certification.
Whether you’re just starting your business or looking to expand your existing ventures, this program is tailored to meet your needs. Connect with like-minded women entrepreneurs, gain valuable knowledge, and discover new opportunities to grow your business.
Don’t miss out on this incredible event! Register now and take a step closer to achieving your entrepreneurial dreams. We look forward to seeing you there!
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform and marketing on LinkedIn can generate more leads than some of the top social media platforms, especially for for B2B marketers.
If you want to grab the attention of top-level executives, then you should work on your LinkedIn marketing strategy. In this webinar, our expert presenter will explain how you can use LinkedIn as an effective marketing tool to grow your business.
What you’ll learn:
- Why LinkedIn can be an effective marketing tool
- What you should have on your LinkedIn profile
- How and why to create your company page
- Finding LinkedIn groups and making connections
- LinkedIn posts, engagement and the unique LinkedIn algorithm
Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.
Diane McCarthy from the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center will be at the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce office from 9am until 4pm on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. This drop-in event will provide business owners and entrepreneurs and opportunity to learn more about the SBDC resources available to them. To make an appointment, contact Diane via email or call 540.568.3227.
Start with the federal government using simplified acquisition procedures and build a strong relationship.
- Why use simplified acquisition procedures
- Know the government market place
- Understand government set-a-side procedures
- A comprehensive strategy for success
About the instructor: Daryl Corley, Virginia PTAC Procurement Counselor
More than 30 years of contracting experience with comprehensive contract Life Cycle support in reviewing initial procurements package for accuracy to contract closeout. Most recently, he worked as a Senior Consultant for MSDS Consultant Services, LLC, which included working with the diverse business community, and clients on contractual issues, provide training material for stakeholders and clients — instructing classes on contract regulatory compliance in the federal government. He created a best practice mentor protégé program by combining governmental and commercial organizations.
Previously, he worked as a consultant/trainer for CACI providing government business solutions and services. In these positions, he demonstrated the ability to resolve a variety of issues (such as acquisition and supply systems, integration, data mapping and analysis service, system testing, training customers, and software malfunctions. He also provided consultant support creating solicitation matrixes, market research, acquisition plans at the contracting offices for the various agencies. Daryl is also a Service Disabled Veteran and dedicated to assisting Veteran Entrepreneurs.
Webinar information will be sent to registrants prior to the class and will be conducted via GoToWebinar. After registration is complete, your email confirmation will contain the link. You MUST register your name and email and receive the login information and calendar invite before you can join the webinar. You may attend without downloading the software, but please understand your webinar functions may be limited.
In honor of cybersecurity awareness month this webinar will assist small business owners with the importance of taking proactive steps to enhance your current security posture.
Speaker: Quiana Gainey, Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Expert
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.
With the final quarter of the year still ahead, learn what year-end tax planning you can do to favorably impact your bottom line and your tax bill for 2023 and how to better position yourself moving into 2024.
Whether you work with a CPA or go it alone, learn which tax breaks apply to you and how to nail them down now before time runs out.
In this webinar, you will learn:
- What’s new for your 2023 return
- Year-end actions to reduce your 2023 tax bill
- Best business practices to avoid problems with the IRS
- Necessary actions to get ready for 2024
Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.
In celebration of Global Women in Entrepreneurship Week, the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship will be organizing a showcase to highlight local female entrepreneurs from throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Enjoy light refreshments while browsing their products and learning about their unique entrepreneurial journeys.
In partnership with Women for Madison, Shenandoah Community Capital Fund, Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center, and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, we aim to bring the JMU community and local community together to support female-led companies and learn from their stories.
Click here to see what women-owned business’s will be in attendance at this year’s Women in Entrepreneurship Week showcase.
Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center Auditorium
620 Simms Avenue Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Council Chambers, Harrisonburg City Hall
409 S Main St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
THIS SESSION HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Please view our calendar for upcoming dates.
- Do you reside in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia and are thinking about starting a new business?
- Do you have questions about how to move forward?
- Are you considering moving your hobby into a more structured business form?
- Have you already started your small business and now realize you may have missed a few things?
Your Shenandoah Valley SBDC has answers, information, and resources to help!
In our Start Smart Workshops, we discuss the path to good decisions and a successful start. You’ll learn to take a thorough 360° approach to your business and all its components – from product development to target marketing to financial projections and bookkeeping. We also cover the regulations and registrations you need to know.
Follow-up appointments are then available with SBDC business advisors to focus on your individual business growth needs.
Thank you for your registration to Start Smart Workshop. Please let Rosie know if you are unable to attend or have questions via email to rigglerc@jmu.edu
Thank You! Barry Henderson, Shenandoah Valley SBDC
What’s all the fuss about AI and ChatGPT?
What AI tools are available, and how can a small business use them to streamline customer service and marketing tasks?
This session with the Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson will help answer those questions and more. The first half of the session will give an overview, and the second half will be set aside for Q & A.
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.
Presenter: Cameron Nelson, Chief Digital Advisor, VA SBDC
Mr. Nelson has over 19 years experience in technology, and as a senior tech consultant in Silicon Valley helping Fortune 500 companies improve their digital marketing and eCommerce. At the same time he founded several tech companies, including a SaaS website for tree preservation and a blockchain platform for nonprofits. Cameron is accomplished in language, culture, has an MBA and MA and believes new technology products have the ability to help shape our world for the better.
Do you want to learn how to use your story to create engaging content for your business? As a business owner or entrepreneur, your first marketing asset should be your story. Whether it’s in the form of a bio, personal narrative, website copy or blog, your story will set you apart from your competition and establish to your audience why they should do business with you.
During this webinar, national bestselling author Joylynn M. Ross, founder and CEO of Path To Publishing, and Brandy M. Miller, Path To Publishing Copywriting and Storytelling Expert, will teach you how to use your story to create story-driven content that will bring awareness to your business.
You’ll also learn how to repurpose your story to create other marketing material, such as:
- Blogs
- Articles
- Website Copy
- Newsletters
- Social Media Content
- Books
Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.