GRAND RAPIDS ? Need help writing a business plan, obtaining financing, or creating successful marketing and sales plans? The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center will be hosting several workshops this winter to teach these skills and more to entrepreneurs.
The workshops bring together several experienced business instructors to cover topics including fundamentals of starting a business, writing a business plan, obtaining financing, marketing/sales and information about patents and trademarks.
The Successful Marketing Plan is scheduled for February 1 from 6 pm – 9 pm at the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) DeVos Center Rm 297C, 401 West Fulton, Grand Rapids. This seminar offers a step-by-step process to help you evaluate markets, identify opportunities and obstacles, map out strategies for your product or service, packaging, pricing, distribution, sales, advertising (including the Internet) promotions and more. The cost is $45 and payable at the door.
Marketing on a Shoestring Budget will be held on February 8 from 9 am ? Noon at the GVSU Center for Health Sciences, 301 Michigan Ave NE, Room 240 Grand Rapids. Marketing is an important key in building your business. This class explores the marketing process, along with low-cost options for creating awareness among your customer base. Cost is $45 and payable at the door.
Effective Selling Techniques for Today’s Business will be held on February 8 from 6 pm – 9 pm at the GVSU DeVos Center Rm 297C, 401 West Fulton, Grand Rapids. The bottom line of your business requires sales and good solid ones! Learn basic selling and presentation skills so you can feel confident and in control during the selling process. Know the 12 strategies that will give you distinct advantage over those who work with yesterday?s approaches. Find out how information about yourself, your customer and their business will help to create the results you desire ? sales! Cost is $45 and payable at the door.
Accessing Financing for Your Small Business is scheduled for February 22 from 6 pm – 9 pm at GVSU DeVos Center Rm 303C, 401 West Fulton, Grand Rapids. Understand the process of applying for a commercial bank loan. Familiarize yourself with terminology related to loan applications. Analyze your business from a lender?s perspective. Understand credit line and begin positioning your business for a loan, start-up expansion funding, or ongoing lines of credit. Determine whether this is the right time for your business to seek financing, and understand the importance of building a relationship with your bank. Cost is $45 and payable at the door.
Patents & Trademarks will be held on February 15 from 6 pm – 9 pm at GVSU DeVos Center Rm 297C 401 West Fulton, Grand Rapids. Inventors will find this class indispensable for learning the basics of patenting and trademarking.
Learn who should patent, when to patent and the difference between patents and trademarks. Cost is $45 and payable at the door.
Business Start-Up: Fundamentals of Starting a Small Business will be featured on:
* February 11, 2005 from 9 a.m. – Noon at the Holland Chamber of Commerce, 272 E 8th Street, Holland.
February 18, 2005 from 9 a.m. – Noon at the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce, 900 Third Street, Muskegon.
This session will work attendees through a step-by-step process for launching a new company. Resources will be shared that enable the entrepreneur to create his or her own individual action plan for business development. The cost is $45 payable at the door.
The Six Keys of Leadership / February 11, 2004 from 9 am – Noon at the GVSU Center for Health Sciences, 301 Michigan Ave NE, Grand Rapids. This Leadership session will take a look at the six keys to effective leadership and how they can be implemented to increase the success of your operation.The session will closely examine the different styles of leadership and help the participants to identify their own particular leadership style. Participants will learn how and when to adapt their particular leadership style to fit and be most effective with given situations. Cost is $45 and payable at the door.
For more information, interested persons may call (616) 331- 7370 or click on
