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Whatcom Business
The biggest small business event of the year is set for Sept. 26 at the Best Western Lakeway Inn. The 18th Whatcom County Business Expo/Business Conference is set to help local business owners connect and learn how to help their enterprise grow. This is the 18th annual expo. It was started by Gerald Baron in 1986 when he was publisher of Business Pulse. The current publisher, Tony Larson, took over in 1990. “People tend to prefer to do business with people they like and trust,” said Larson of Whatcom County businesses. The expo provides an opportunity for business to business vendors to come together face to face and talk about new products, new markets and new solutions. All the while, Whatcom businesspeople forge the kinds of relationships that keep their businesses rolling. Success stories from the conference are many, according to Larson.
He is most satisfied when contacts turn into solid, profitable sales
for local suppliers. For example, in their first year of business,
Laserpoint Awards won a sizeable contract with Key Bank through a
relationship that began at the business expo. The seminar schedule has been part of the expo for four years. Organizers are attuned to local business issues and try to devise a seminar roster that addresses local business concerns. Seminars are 90 minutes long and are divided into four tracks: marketing, marketing/technology, finance and management. Western Washington University, WWU’s Small Business Development Center, Whatcom Community College’s community education division and Whatcom County Business Pulse sponsor the conference. Participants should register for seminars through WCCs community education office. Each seminar costs $15 if participants pre-register. To pre-register, call (360) 647-3277. On-site registration costs $20 and it subject to availability.
The seminar schedule is as follows: Marketing 8:30 a.m.: The Magic of Marketing Presenter: Taimi Dunn Gorman, Gorman Publicity, and Chuck Robinson, Village Books. Owners and managers need to know about basic marketing including ad design, marketing strategies, media and budget planning, obtaining free publicity, in-house customer lists, and the importance of good customer service and store layout.
10:15 a.m.: Overcoming ‘Salesophobia’ Presenter: Tony Larson, Pulse Publications, Inc. and the Bellingham Bells Baseball Club. Do you find that you avoid selling? Learn how to overcome your fear of making sales calls, how to be confident and relaxed yet persuasive when talking to customers, how to deal with price concerns, and anticipating and overcoming objections. This seminar is a must for all owners/employees who work with the public.
1:00 p.m.: Bang for the Buck Marketing: The Realities Behind Strategy, Planning and Execution Presenter: Yvonne Cartwright, Cartwright Zeiler Group What can marketing do for you? When are you asking it to do too much? Learn how to successfully promote your products and services, stretch your marketing budget and achieve your objectives.
2:45 p.m.: The ABCs of Creatively Marketing and Promoting Your Business Presenter: Greg DeMond, Foghorn Advertising and Marketing The creator of Rowdy Buckaroo will offer innovative ideas to help separate yourself from your competition. You may be an expert in your respective field, but are you an expert in letting others know about it? Learn all the basics for creatively reaching your target market.
Marketing/Technology 8:30 a.m.: Media as Fire: Heating Up Your Business Without Getting Burned Presenter: Gerald Baron, Baron and Company The news media can be your best friend or your worst enemy. By knowing the rules of the game and understanding how reporters, publishers and broadcasters work and think you can gain the benefits of positive press while minimizing the risks.
10:15 a.m.: What are Your Hidden Marketing Messages? Presenter: Judith Sult, Here’s How Marketing Word of mouth advertising is important. Do you know what words are being spoken about your business? Learn to become aware of the hidden messages your company sends out. One dissatisfied customer can have more influence than a dozen happy ones.
1:00 p.m.: Still Using Paper to Manage Your Business? Presenter: Allen Pemberton, Pemberton Consulting Do you still keep you list of contacts, customers, suppliers, etc. in a notebook? Learn the benefits of using a database system, the options for databases, platforms, search options, Web-based interfaces, and the kinds of systems that will work best for you.
2:45 p.m.: Are you Ready for a Web Site? Making the Leap Presenter: Maureen Kelly, SageButterfly Seminars Having a Web site is becoming an assumed notion. Lack of one could even result in lost business. If you are considering a Web site for your business, you may be lost as to where to even begin. Learn the basics – from choosing a name to marketing the site once it is published.
Financing 8:30 a.m.: What Every Owner Should Know (and Sometimes Doesn’t) Presenter: Pat Foley, Moss Adams Are you unsure about where your cash is going or worried about the IRS and/or your banker? This session will teach you the basics of good financial recordkeeping. Whether you are a beginner or just need a refresher, this workshop will get you going in the right direction.
10:15 a.m.: Making the Most of Financing and Assistance Resources Presenter: Cathy Canorro, Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise, Mark Costello, SBA, Chris Greenlee, OTED, Judy Putnam, Minority and Women’s Business Development, Tony Skapinsky, Cascadia. Need a loan? Learn from the experts about technical assistance and financing services to assist startups and existing businesses.
1:00 p.m.: What Your Financial Statements are Trying to Tell You Presenter: Stan Miller, CEO, Chemco For those familiar with basic financial statements, this seiminar will show how financial information can be applied to the decision making process. The emphasis will be on practical, meaningful ways to understand and use what be a confusing array of information.
2:45 p.m.: Show Me the MONEY! Presenter: Fred Holubik and Billie Burns, KeyBank Get the inside scoop on how to get money to run your business! Learn about the different sources of capital, what a banker or investor looks for in a proposal, and how to work with your banker before, during and after the loan process.
Management 8:30 a.m.: Leading Your People and Managing for Success Presenter: Bill Palmer and Aaron Brown, Palmer and Associates What makes a great manager? Come find out and develop the core skills necessary to transform your organization. Using effective goal setting, performance measurement and affirmation, learn how to capture the potential of your people for maximum performance.
10:15 a.m.: Work Styles: So That’s Why you Drive Me Crazy! Presenter: Alice Rowe, Ph.D. Some of us are detail folks. Some of us are not. We all have different work styles, but we can keep our sanity by learning to work together. Identify your own style using a simple exercise, then take it back to work to help your team understand one another and work together better.
1:00 p.m.: Tough Communications in the Workplace Presenter: Janet Ott, Ott and Associates Do you ever put off those hard conversations with employees or co-workers? Find out how to prepare for communications that require courage, how to control your emotions, and how to handle tough situations, give hard feedback and set boundaries and limits.
2:45 p.m.: How to Hire and Retain the Best Employees Presenter: Ramona Abbott, Essentially Professional One of the easiest ways to lose money is to hire the wrong person for the job. Learn how to accurately assess what you are really for, techniques for effectively measuring and evaluating candidates, and ways to keep your top performers satisfied.
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