TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pinellas News

Tarpon Chamber Offering Workshop On Brave New World Of Business

ADVERTISEMENT

By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: March 14, 2009

TARPON SPRINGS - The world has dramatically changed for both small and big business.

So the Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce has created a series of seminars to help entrepreneurs avoid the pitfalls of starting a business and teach the latest business-survival lessons.

"It's a whole new world out there," Chamber of Commerce President Sue Thomas said. "These days, you just can't expect to open up your doors and have customers coming in."

The Chamber of Commerce will put on the seminar at St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs Campus. The college is a co-sponsor of the series.

In the current negative economic climate business owners need to focus on marketing while sticking to a budget, Thomas said.

In addition, "You have to provide the customer service that will keep customers coming back when they can go so many other places," she said.

More people are starting home-based businesses these days and they need to know the specialized information necessary to survive, Thomas said.

Business people have to reach out to potential customer via the Internet and find them anywhere they can, she said.

Chamber of Commerce members will pay $25 to take part in the seminar series. Everyone else will pay $40.

The 3-hour-long workshop sessions will be presented twice a day on Mondays, at 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

The schedule is:

•March 16 - How to start a business, form a business plan and budget for success.

•March 23 - How to create a marketing plan to effectively promote a business.

•March 30 - Creating a realistic business and financial plan.

•April 6 - The 135 ways to market and promote a business.

•April 13 - Identifying marketing tools that are right for your business.

•April 20 - How to do business with government entities.

•April 27 - How to create an effective Web site that will be successful in the 21st century and electronically market an enterprise.

•May 11 - The important aspects of creating an image people will remember and what the public expects in the way of customer service. A light meal will be served at each work session.

To reserve space people can contact the Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce at 727-937-6109 or visit www.tarponspringschamber.com.

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT