Business & Tech
Where to Get SCORE's Free & Low-Cost Small-Business Workshops in Fairfield Co.
In September alone, SCORE has various seminars in Danbury, Westport, Norwalk, Darien, Wilton, Weston, Stamford, New Canaan and Greenwich.
Score Fairfield County has lots of free and low-cost seminars and workshops for small-business entrepreneurs in area towns. Here’s a list of their workshops for just September (from this Web page), with some information on each, but go to the SCORE Fairfield County website for more information:
Simple Steps for Starting Your Business (New Cycle)
Danbury Innovation Center 158 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810 - (please use the center’s main entrance)
Workshop times -6:00 pm - 8:30pm
If you have any questions please contact SCORE Fairfield County at 203-831-0065 or by email at: score.fairfieldcounty@gmail.com
Want to start a business but do not know where to start? This workshop series, conducted by a team of professionals from the SCORE Norwalk Chapter, will give you the boost to get you on your way!
Monday, September 8 - Self-Assessment/Business Plan
Monday, September 15 - Marketing Strategy & Research
Monday, September 22 - Marketing Execution
Monday, September 29 - Financial Reporting & Planning
Monday, October 6 - Funding Sources/Conversation with Entrepreneurs
Seating is limited. Registration is required.
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the program.
Find out what's happening in New Canaanfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Social Media B2B for Small Business
Westport Library 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880
Tuesday, September 2, 2014 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm | check-in starts at 5:30 pm
The sixth in a series of eight presentations on internet marketing, this program will show small business owners how to make the best use of the Social Media platforms oriented towards B2B (Business-to-Business) - LinkedIn and Google Plus - as key parts of an overall internet marketing strategy.
You will learn how to craft and implement your message and utilize the technologies so that your presences on LinkedIn and Google+ can create genuine connections that convert strangers into leads, leads into customers and customers into evangelists for your brand, and how to integrate these efforts in ways that will enhance your business’s website, search engine positioning and overall marketing effort.
Find out what's happening in New Canaanfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Affordable Care Act 2014 - 2015 - Making Sense of the ACA for Small and Medium Businesses
Norwalk City Hall 125 East Avenue, Norwalk 06851
Wednesday, September 3 from 9 am to noon
Refreshments and Networking, 8:30 to 9 am
FREE workshop
A workshop sponsored by Fairfield County Chapter of SCORE and the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce
This workshop will address some key questions of concern to small businesses:
• Who is covered under the law and how?
• What insurance plans can you expect?
• How will this affect health care delivery?
• What options do small and medium businesses have?
• What health care policies make the most sense and for whom?
• How can employers, employees, and doctors work together to effect real change?
Discussing these questions will be a panel of experts:
Strategies for Buying/Selling a Business
Darien Library 1441 Post Road, Darien CT 06820
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
6:00 pm to 9:00pm Check in at 5:30pm
This is a FREE workshop
This workshop covers how someone can prepare to buy and sell a business and what goes into valuing the business.
You will learn:
• The players in buying or selling a business: brokers, bankers, attorneys, etc.
• The process of putting a business up for sale
• How to value a business: what buyers and sellers should be looking for
• How to prepare your business for sale; what you should do and not do
Download Flyer
Making the Break from Employee to Consulting
Wilton Library 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton, CT 06897
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Check In at 5:30 p.m.
FREE workshop
Learn the 8 P’s of consulting success: Prepare, Phantasize, Plan, Productize, Promote, Perform, Persist, re-Phantasize.
This workshop will cover:
• Assessing if you are ready to be an independant consultant
• Describing your consulting practice
• Detailing key elements of a marketing plan
• Valuable Tips from Management consulting for those choosing to stay with corporate employment
Our Speaker: Zuhair Suidan is the principle of Suidan Associates, a marketing, strategic planning and business development management consultancy. After a 23 year career with IBM, he decided to go on his own. His extensive and widely varied experience in marketing planning, strategy development, and the analysis of new market opportunities while at IBM helped assure his success as an independent consultant. He has also taught Strategic Marketing and Strategic Management courses at University of Connecticut and Fairfield University at the graduate level.
Influencer Marketing: How Businesses Can Work With Bloggers and Generate ‘Earned Media’ for Your Brand
Weston Library 56 Norfield Road, Weston, CT 06883
Thursday, September 11, 2014
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Check In at 5:30 p.m.
Marketing with bloggers is big business and is called “influencer marketing”. It’s a way for brands to identify, reach, and connect with bloggers and blogging sites that will promote their business and in effect - create earned media (free media marketing).
You will learn about:
• Working with Influencers: How working content creators can grow your business.
• How to properly approach editors, bloggers and content creators.
• Vital Visuals - Why using Instagram and YouTube are a must for exposure.
Nancy Kenney is a digital marketing and social media professional who enjoys blogging on emerging media trends and new technology. As a guest blogger she has focused on eco-friendly and healthy living. Ms. Kenney’s writing have been featured in Champlain College Alumni Newsletter, Planet Media, LLC, Fair Trade USA, and Bambootility, Denver Green Streets, Colorado Green Channel, Mountain Town Magazine, and Futures Furniture, LLC, and she is published on LinkedIn.
Gina Zammit is a writer, blogger, video host, and editor of Norwalk Hamlet Hub. Ms. Zammit’s writing has appeared in numerous publications including The Huffington Post, AAA Traveler Magazine, and Buzzfeed, and her brand partnerships include the Seoul City Government, Gerolsteiner Water, Concepts Korea, Austria Tourism Board, and the U.S. Open.
How Well Does Your Business Run: An Assessment Tool
Ferguson Library 96 Broad Street, Stamford, CT 06901
Monday, September 15, 2014
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm | check-in starts at 5:30 pm
During this workshop, you will learn how to measure “how well your business runs” using a SCORE assessment tools.
You will learn:
• How the assessment tools work: Structure, scoring and results
• The assessment results for 40 businesses that have undergone this assessment
• How you can apply this tool to your business
• How SCORE can help you utilize this tool
• How you can improve your business using the tool
Our Speaker: John Harmon is Managing Director of Adulant Consulting Services which advises small and medium size businesses on strategies for growth and operating excellence. John has held senior leadership and executive positions in sales marketing, quality management, strategic planning, and new business development at Eastman Kodak, The Gartner Group, and Pitney Bowes. He is also a SCORE business counselor.Register directly at www.scorenorwalk.org
Effective, No Fumbles, Team Development
The New Canaan Library 151 Main St, New Canaan, CT 06840
Thursday, September 18, 2014
6:00pm to 8:00pm Registration and Networking at 5:30 pm
Small Business Success Depends On Successful Teams!
You will learn in this workshop:
• How personal development affects team performance
• How to develop high performance teamwork
• How to handle challenges through team communication
• About creating mutual support, trust and collaboration
• How to work together to achieve team goals
Download Flyer
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW about Patent, Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secret Law
Greenwich Library 101 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830
Monday, September 29, 2014
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm | check-in starts at 5:30 pm
Intellectual Property is the foundation of many successful businesses, and it is important to develop a strategy early on. Proper protection of IP can increase valuation when searching for investors and can protect your position in the market. This workshop will provide an introduction to:
• Trademarks
• Copyrights
• Patents
• Trade Secrets
Download Flyer
2014 SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
The Norwalk Inn & Conference Center 99 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851
All sessions will be 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (with a break midway)
LEARN HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN YOUR OWN BUSINESS WITH THIS FREE PROGRAM, ADDRESSING TOPICS ESSENTIAL TO RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS - PRESENTED BY EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS.
Sessions:
Tuesday, September 30: “Kickoff” - Inspiration and valuable wisdom from kickoff speaker, Jim Cain
Tuesday, October 7: “Having a Plan” - Learn the elements of a realistic and effective business plan
Tuesday, October 14: “Getting the Money” - Realize various ways and means of acquiring financing
Tuesday, October 21: “Planning for a Profit” - Find out the basics of financials, taxes and insurance
Tuesday, October 28: “Employing Technology” - Discover how technology can strengthen your business
Tuesday, November 4: “Spreading the Word” - Learn about marketing, advertising and communications
Tuesday, November 11: “Keeping Customers” - Understanding the importance of sales, customer service and discover great resources and reference materials for business
Tuesday, November 18: Graduation Reception - Certifications are presented to program graduates
Editor’s note: The schedule continues past September. Go to the schedule page on the SCORE Fairfield County website for more information.
Photo credit: SCORE Fairfield County website
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