BBB events help consumers get an edge over crooks
As growing numbers of consumers and small business owners are discovering, the conveniences of modern technology are increasingly exploited by crooks who prey on the unaware and the uninformed.
Don’t let that happen to you.
To help raise awareness about how to safeguard personal identity and business information, the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South will celebrate National Consumer Protection Week — which runs through Saturday — by hosting several programs for companies, consumers and investors. All events are free and will be held at the BBB offices at 3693 Tyndale.
To get started, check out the Smart Investors workshop at 6 p.m. Monday. Topics include how to identify persuasion tactics used by fraudsters, tips for reducing risky behavior and steps to take before making any investment decisions. Wednesday brings a workshop at noon on how to be a smart consumer and on Friday at 9 a.m. there’s a forum on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft.
Seating is limited for all the programs and reservations are required. Learn more by sending an email to cstewart@bbbmidsouth.org, or calling 901757-8603.
If you’re an early riser, then get your Wednesday off to a creative and productive start with this month’s Interactive Expedition, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis, 3700 Central. The forum topic will be “Inbound Marketing: Qualifying Site Visitors That Convert” featuring presenter Steve Phipps of LunaWeb.
The group meets to discuss trends in technology, including the latest online tools to help entrepreneurs and small business owners, and if you can’t stay for the entire program then feel free to drop in for whatever time you have available. Admission is $20 and includes breakfast, but that drops to $15 each for you and a friend if you bring a newcomer. Registration is requested, so if you want to check it out then visit meetup.com/ social-expedition to add your name to the list.
Also on Wednesday is “Staying Ahead of the Curve,” a professional development workshop for small business owners from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce, 2969 Elmore Park Road. Featured presenter will be Nathan Green, a performance consultant at Dale Carnegie Training of the Mid-South.
Admission is free for Bartlett Chamber members, $25 for guests and registration is requested. To learn more, call 901372-9457.
On Thursday, head over to the annual Bartlett Business Expo from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bartlett Recreation Center, 7700 Flaherty Place.
This come- and- go event, which will feature nearly 100 small businesses and companies, is sponsored by the city of Bartlett and Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett. There’ll be lots of exhibits, door prizes and best of all, it’s completely free. No registration necessary, just drop by for as long as you’re able to stay and support some of the community’s finest businesses.
Later on Thursday is “More Than Blogging: WordPress From the Inside Out” sponsored by WordPress Memphis. The group will meet at 6 p.m. Downtown in the EmergeMemphis building, 516 Tennessee.
If you’re a personal or business blogger, or if you’re considering becoming one, then you’ll want to take advantage of this workshop. There’s no cost to attend, but organizers would like to get a head count, so do them a favor and reserve your seat by visiting meetup.com/ WordPress-Memphis.
And for a healthy, delicious way to wrap up your workweek — as part of the deal you’ll help support an area entrepreneur who’s working to create a sustainable endeavor — check out the free taste test offered by Lilee’s Gourmet Bakery from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Miss Cordelia’s Grocery, 737 Harbor Bend Road at Harbor Town. Entrepreneur Samantha Green uses zucchini squash from her family’s local five-generation farm to produce breads and muffins that are free of artificial preservatives and contain no pork byproducts. She’s expanding her operation and using feedback from the public to help determine the most popular products, so take a few minutes to sample a few bites and contribute to this tasty market research project.