Customer Service Reimagined – Orange County

With spring on the horizon, local tourist season will be in full swing before you know it!  Are you ready?   

Being a local specialty business has always been tough, but these days it’s getting increasingly tougher.  How do smaller businesses keep up with the big boys like Target, Walmart and a whole host of other chain stores…..not to mention Google, Amazon, Etsy and all the e-commerce competitors?  How do small businesses find and keep high quality employees?  And how do smaller operations focus their social media efforts for the best return on investment?

The Central Virginia Small Business Development Center in partnership with Orange County Tourism is offering this free workshop to help local retailers and restaurants make the most of the 2020 tourist season.  The workshop will feature Marc Willson, Retail and Restaurant Strategist for the Virginia SBDC.  Marc brings 35 years of retail experience to bear in helping retail, restaurant, and tourism-related small businesses refine and promote their concepts to the public through his Small Town and Merchant Program (STAMP).

Topics to be discussed include:

• Review of industry trends
• Discussion on how to more effectively compete in a changing world
• Best TIPS to get customers in the door – and keep them coming back
• TIPS on how to retain good employees
• How to best focus marketing efforts and best use Google My Business, Yelp and Trip Advisor

Mr. Willson will speak for an hour, then leave plenty of time for Q & A and audience discussion.  The event will take place in the Council Chambers on the second floor (elevator available).

We are also offering free one-on-one consultations with Marc on Wednesday before the workshop and all day Thursday, March 5 at your business location.  Please call our office today at (434) 295-8198 – if interested in a visit, as space is limited.

Registration