Do You Want a Better Store?

The Retail Small Business Management Program is for people already in business and looking to grow, either by improving their operation or by 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.

The Retail SBM 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, Clatsop 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.

This 30-hour program meets for a three-hour class on Tuesdays, 10 am to 1pm, twice a month, for five 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.

Tuition is $600. Limited scholarships of $400 are available.

If you have questions or are in the start-up phase, contact our program manager, Leslie Hildula. Lhildula@cgcc.edu 503-939-8648

Program Schedule

October 15, 2024, Session 1: A Strong Brand Attracts Customers & Repeat Business Instructor: Leslie Hildula, Program Manager & Jim Beriault, Consultant

October 29, 2024, Session 2: Essential Digital Marketing via Websites, Email, and Social Media. Instructor: Jen McFarland, Consultant, Jen McFarland Consulting

November 12, 2024, Session 3: Online Sales & Seasonal Marketing. Creating a Strategy & the Budget to Implement It. Instructor: Celeste Sipes, Owner, Thunderpants USA

December 10, 2024, Session 4: Where the Eyes Go the Feet Will Follow
Instructor: Kellianne Parker, SBDC Advisor

January 14, 2025, Session 5: Financial Statements for Planning and Budgeting Instructor: Natalie Bronson, SBDC Advisor

January 28, 2025, Session 6: Inventory Management & Purchasing Instructor: Spencer Crandall Consultant, Small Biz Pathfinders

February 11, 2025, Session 7: Training Your Staff for Exceptional In-house Sales & Customer Service Instructor: Sarah Shaoul, Consultant, Bricks Need Mortar

February 25, 2025, Session 8: Best Practices in Hiring and Managing Employees Instructor: Jill Critchfield, Consultant, Pacific HR

March 11, Session 9: Retail is a Team Sport. Strengthening leadership and Work/life Balance. Instructor: Leslie Hildula, Program Manager

March 25, 2025, Session 10: Graduation. Location TBD

Request more information and speak with our team at the link: https://form.jotform.com/241584789816070