Retail Small Business Management

The Retail Small Business Management Program features Oregon experts with deep roots in the retail industry. The program has been engineered from the ground up to deliver relevant, robust content specifically for retail store owners in the Columbia Gorge, Lincoln County, and smaller Oregon communities. The program is nine powerful workshops, plus five or more one-on-one advising sessions — all geared to make your store, both on-line and in-person, as successful as possible, and to make your work more enjoyable and rewarding.

The Retail Program is for people already in business and looking to grow, either by improving their operation or making significant changes to their business model. For example, you may want to move from online only to a combination of online and brick & mortar. Or, by building upon one success, add a second location. Most often, people in the program want to improve their current business so they can have a better work/life balance and increase their income.

Starting Nov. 19th, this 30-hour program meets for a three-hour class on Tuesdays, 10 am to 1pm held once a month, for nine months. Designed as a remote class held via Zoom, the format creates a classroom cohort of peers who encourage and learn from each other as well as from our guest speakers; creating a rich opportunity for Q&A and networking.

Enroll now. Tuition is $900. Scholarships of $700 are available to qualified businesses.

If you have questions, want more information about our scholarships, or are in the start-up phase, contact our Program Manager, Leslie Hildula. Lhildula@cgcc.edu 503-939-8648

Program Schedule & Speakers

November 19, 2024, Session 1: A Strong Brand Attracts Customers & Repeat Business Instructor: Leslie Hildula, Program Manager

December 17, 2024, Session 2: Essential Digital Marketing via Websites, Email, and Social Media. Instructor: Jen McFarland, Consultant, Jen McFarland Consulting

January 21, 2025, Session 3: Online Sales & Seasonal Marketing. Creating a Strategy & the Budget to Implement It. Instructors: Kellianne Parker, SBDC Advisor & Celeste Sipes, Owner, Thunderpants USA

February 18, 2025, Session 4: Where the Eyes Go the Feet Will Follow
Instructor: Linda Cahan, Consultant

March 18 ,2025, Session 5: Financial Statements for Planning and Budgeting
Instructor: Natalie Bronson, SBDC Advisor

April 22, 2025, Session 6: Inventory Management & Purchasing Instructor: Spencer Crandall Consultant, Small Biz Pathfinders

May 20, 2025, Session 7: Training Your Staff for Exceptional In-house Sales & Customer Service Instructor: Sarah Shaoul, Consultant, Bricks Need Mortar

June 17, 2025, Session 8: Best Practices in Hiring and Managing Employees Instructor: Jill Critchfield, Consultant, Pacific HR

July 22, 2025, Session 9: Retail is a Team Sport. Strengthening leadership and Work/life Balance. Instructor: Leslie Hildula, Program Manager