Surry Community College’s Small Business Center will be holding free seminars and workshops in September at various locations in Surry and Yadkin counties. Listed below are the seminars scheduled for Mount Airy, N.C., and Pilot Mountain, N.C.
• Marketing on a Shoestring Budget will be discussed in a seminar on Tuesday, September 13 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 1320 Ems Drive, Mount Airy.
Mark Twain once said, “Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.” Advertising can be expensive, and in today’s economy many small businesses cut their marketing budget due to financial concern.
However, it is even more important to keep your business brand in the forefront during these times. In the current economy, customers have less money to spend, which means when they are ready to buy, business owners want their brand at the top of the list.
This seminar will show participants 10 marketing strategies that can help promote a business brand on a shoestring budget. Jason Dunlap will be the speaker.
• A Women’s Business Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, September 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Center for Public Safety, 1220 South State St., Mount Airy. This luncheon is the perfect opportunity for female small business owners, and those with small business ideas, to step away from the office and network with fellow female entrepreneurs. Leave inspired and renewed with the comfort of knowing what resources are available to you and your business. Tonya Snider will be the speaker.
• Instagram Made Easy will be the topic of a seminar on Thursday, September 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Pilot Center, 612 East Main Street, Pilot Mountain.
Instagram is the “it” thing in social media at the moment. Find out how your business can benefit from this platform and grow sales online. This three-hour workshop will teach you how to start an Instagram business page, how to gain followers and keep them engaged, how to integrate Instagram into your current marketing plan, and the best apps to use to make your photos stand out and save you time. The speaker will be Chisa Pennix-Brown.
• How to Start a Small Business will be addressed in a seminar on Tuesday, September 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Center for Public Safety, 1220 South State St., Mount Airy. Understand the basics of starting a business in this seminar that takes you from idea to opportunity.
Learn key strategies for startup, 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 with speaker Ruben Gonzales.
• The Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce is the sponsor for seminars held in Mount Airy and Pilot Mountain.
To register for any of these seminars or to view a complete listing of the upcoming Small Business Center offerings in Surry and Yadkin counties, visit www.surry.edu/sbc. Anyone in need of information about confidential, one-on-one counseling and resource referrals may contact Dale Badgett at badgettd@surry.edu or call (336) 386-3685.
