Choose an event or two and learn something new
FOR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS and small business owners, March is certainly roaring in like a lion.
A flurry of events and workshops this week offer an exciting array of educational, professional and social opportunities.
First up on Wednesday, from 8 to 9 a.m., the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce will host “Using Mobile Technology to Increase Sales and Retain Customers,” a free business education workshop that will be held at 2969 Elmore Park Road.
Keynote presenter will be Aaron Prather, CEO of 2011 Seed Hatchery graduate company Stiqrd, discussing how customer loyalty and retention is the most costeffective way to increase profitability.
Seating is limited, so call (901) 372-9457 or e -mail info@bartlettchamber.org if you want to attend.
Later on that day will be “In the Mix with Small Business,” sponsored by the Greater Memphis Chamber.
The social mixer and networking event will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the National Civil Rights Museum, 450 Mulberry. Admission is free for members, $20 for guests. To register, contact Ericka Milford at (901) 543-3518 or emilford@memphischamber.com.
On Thursday, take a deep breath and put on your running shoes because there are several offerings, beginning at the Collierville Chamber of Commerce, 485 Halle Park Drive.
That’s where the local chapter of S tartup Memphis SCORE will host two workshops to help small businesses better navigate the social media landscape.
From 9 a.m. to noon the topic will be “Facebook for Business Made Easy,” followed by “Blogging for Business Made Easy” from 1:30 to 5 p.m.
Registration is required and if you sign up before Wednesday, cost is $79. After that date admission goes up to $99.
For more information, visit prepare1.com/registrationfacebook-workshop.
Also on Thursday is “F Ratings & Unanswered Complaints: Companies You DON’T Want to Do Business With” sponsored by the Better Business Bureau of the MidSouth.
The free seminar is part of the Bartlett Business Expo and will be from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at 7700 Flaherty Place. Seating is limited to the first 25 registrants.
And from 2 to 2:30 at the expo, renowned speaker and author Ed Horrell will discuss “Customer Service Practices Used by the Best Companies in the World.”
Admission is free, but reservations are required and seating is also limited to the first 25 registrants.
For more information on either program, call (901) 372-9457 or e -mail info@bartlettchamber.org.
Capping off the day will be a workshop sponsored by Wordpress Memphis at 6 p.m. Thursday at Emergememphis, 516 Tennessee.
Featured presenter will be James Ruffer, discussing Wordpress Multisite. The forum is free, but registration is requested.
Visit meetup.com/wordpressMemphis for details.
Rounding out the week’s activities — and offering a humorous early start to your weekend — will be the latest installment of U.S. Learning’s Prosperity Series from 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. on Friday at the Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry.
The program will feature Capt. Charlie Plumb, who was shot down during a combat mission over North Vietnam and survived almost six years as a prisoner of war.
Plumb uses his experiences to inspire business leaders to break free from their own “prisons” of doubt and fear and achieve greater success.
Admission is free for Prosperity Series members, $149 for guests and reservations are required.
For more information, e -mail huey@uslearning.com or call (901) 767-0000.
Learn more about small businesses and entrepreneurship in Memphis at The CA’S startupmemphis.com
— James Dowd: (901) 529-2737