by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Fine tuning a business is more than just reviewing the books.
Small business owners will have a chance to step back and work on their business instead of in their business for a change Tuesday when a free touring workshop makes a stop in town to assist local small business leaders grow their business.
The “Committed to Growing Small Business Tour” will be at Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business with speaker and author Carissa Reiniger, who will lead a three-hour session to help small business owners create and implement strategies and steps to have success and sustainability in the current tough economic times.
“One of the things business owners are saying to us this past year is ‘How do we survive in these times?’” said Sandy Bartow, executive director of the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center, which, along with the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Center, is offering the workshop. “Workshops like these are just one way and I think small business owners and entrepreneurs will learn a lot from Carissa.”
Reiniger, CEO and president of business development company Silver Lining, said small business owners will learn tangible growth plans through a three-step process that helps them create “action plans” instead of “business plans” that are discussed at other seminars.
That change is a tangible goal and the thought process is important, said Reiniger, as business owners who attend will realize it’s not just them who are feeling a pinch.
“A small business owner can expect to come and realize they’re not alone,” said Reiniger. “People can come feeling unsure about how to get their business to the next level and leave with a plan that is achievable.”
The small business workshop tour will take Reiniger to numerous U.S. cities such as Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. She’s already traveled through Canada on a 23-day, 10-city trip, but is excited to come to Jacksonville, as it could be the largest workshop on the tour. More than 100 small business owners have already registered.
Tanya Douglas, owner of Alliance Business Consultants, is one of those who registered and is looking forward to learning a little.
“Like many other small business owners, I find myself on the production end and don’t spend a lot of time strategizing for the future,” said Douglas, who doesn’t attend many workshops due to a busy schedule. “I like that it’s someone new and the topic was different ... it’s nice to get an outside (of Jacksonville) perspective.”
Others shared Douglas’ enthusiasm to learn and have signed up.
“I think one of the first things it seemed was that it was information I’d be able to incorporate immediately,” said Felicia Wright, owner of Mygani Design Studio. “With this economy, you have to reinvent the way you do things ... I’m basically looking for ways to grow because the things that worked last year aren’t necessarily going to work this year.”
Mike Barile opened Amarcord, a marketing communications company, last year after working for advertising agencies for more than 15 years. He needs to learn some new tricks, he said, as the balancing act of keeping clients happy while managing contractors and working himself — in and behind the scenes — can be frustrating at times.
He credits the Chamber for making the workshop available to small business owners and is looking forward to attending and picking up some tips on how to further adapt.
“I always pick up at least one big ‘Aha!’ idea out of these types of workshops,” said Barile. “I think this can help other business owners and I’m looking forward to it.”
Bartow said the workshop is limited to around 200 guests and more than 100 small business owners have already registered. While the amount of feedback thus far has been encouraging, she said, others who wish to attend must fill out an application by Monday.
For those small business owners unable to attend, Reiniger does have some business advice. Passion and perseverance — more so than experience, education, economic status, age, gender and other — are the two factors that contribute most to success.
“Work hard,” said Reiniger. “Understand that in a tough or great economy, there are opportunities — it’s an entrepreneur’s job to figure out the needs of their target market and fill them.
“This can be done in a downturn or upturn in the economy ... with that mindset, success is possible.”
The seminar is from 1:30– 4:30 p.m. For information and registration, call Kathy Bolesworth at 366-6633.
356-2466