November's Workshops at the Small Business Assistance Center

	Trouble viewing this email? Click here to view it online.
	Upcoming Workshops November Calendar Don't Delay! Sign up today for workshops on the following topics: Social Media Legal Issues Unlocking Profitablity with Accounting Learn how to get access to capital to grow your business How to network to your advantage Drive sales with specific and useful follow-up sales systems Increase the number of customers by selling to the government Learn time management skills to improve your business Read below to learn more about each workshop. Please remember to RSVP 2 days before each workshop.       Presiona aqui para el taller de entrenamiento en espanol.   ******************** Legal Clinic Monday, November 7, 2011 / 6:00 -8:00 pm This clinic is offered in partnership with the Economic Justice Project.This clinic is a 30-minute, face-to-face consultation with a business law attorney to discuss any legal issues you face as a small business. Space is limited, so please RSVP as soon as possible. There is a short intake process to determine your exact legal needs and concerns, so an attorney can prepare properly.   COST: no fee LOCATION:  The Center, 88 Middle St., 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852  RSVP: shargis@comteam.org, 978-322-8400   ******************** Social Media Wednesday, November 9, 2011 / 1:00 -3:00 pm This workshop is offered in partnership with the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce and Lowell Telecommunications Corporation.“The Times, They Are A-Changin”, and we know that social media marketing now plays a vital role in the success of businesses and organizations. This seminar provides an overview of various online marketing tools including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. If you are a beginner or intermediate user, you will benefit from this workshop taught by Danielle Bergeron, President and CEO of the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, who has years of experience promoting her own business through social media.   COST: no fee LOCATION:  Lowell Telecommunications Corporation (LTC) studios, 246 Market Street, Lowell, MA 01852  RSVP: shargis@comteam.org, 978-322-8400   ******************** Unlocking Profitability with Accounting Comprehensive 2-night Workshop Offered the following dates: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 & Thursday, November 10 / 6:00 -9:00 pm  There are some basic business metrics that every business person should know by heart when discussing their business. Here's a list: What are my sales?  What are my goals and budgets? What are my fixed costs? What are my variable costs? What is my breakeven point? What is the ageing of my receivables? What is the cost of goods sold percentage? What are my top 10 best sellers? How much do I have tied up in inventory? What does my cash flow look like for the next three months? Don’t know these numbers? Then this 2-night workshop will help you transform from running a business to managing a business and getting the most profit out of it. In this workshop, you will learn how to: Increase profitability by monitoring and managing your cost of goods sold; Increase sales and profits through effective inventory management; How to reduce inventory while increasing customer satisfaction and sales; How to make your business more resilient in challenging economies; How to survive and, perhaps,  even prosper in difficult times; Learn how to get ready to borrow.   COST: $20 for both nights LOCATION:  The Center, 88 Middle St., 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852  RSVP: shargis@comteam.org, 978-322-8400 ******************** Driving Sales Growth with Follow-up Systems Monday, November 14, 2011 / 6:00 -8:00 pm Create a successful sales support system with inexpensive tools - a systematic way of networking, handling leads, and organizing contacts is key to driving sales to your business. The system does not need to be costly and complex, just effective. In this workshop attendees will learn how to: Develop a systematic approach to managing your sales follow-up activities; Transform business cards into a professional network of organized contacts; Plan follow-up activities that will lead to success; Create and implement a simple yet successful sales support system using common tools you may all ready have such as Google, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Business Contact Manager, and LinkedIn; Learn effective ways to increase sales by improving how you manage and store contact information; Track the key data needed to build relationships that create value; Simplify and integrate the data base function of your software tools, to support your sales efforts.   This workshop is taught by Paul R. Hutchinson, consultant to business owners, new entrepreneurs, non-profits and professional associations and individuals for over 20 years.  Paul specializes in sales strategy, sales training/coaching and sales process improvement.  A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Paul currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce.   COST: $10  LOCATION:  The Center, 88 Middle St., 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852  RSVP: shargis@comteam.org, 978-322-8400   ******************** Networking Made Easy To Grow Your Business Wednesday, November 16, 2011 / 8:00 -10:00 am   Have you ever attended a networking event and felt like it was a waste of time?  Do you feel like everyone is better at networking than you are? Then this is the class for you!  Join Kevin Willett, founder of the Friends of Kevin, and learn how to build trust in relationships, set networking goals, start and end conversations, and develop a thirty second commercial. This workshop is designed to offer tips to people who are new to networking as well as people who are experienced networkers.   This workshop is taught by Kevin Willet, founder of Friends of Kevin, a unique networking group that brings together business, nonprofit, and artist communities.  Kevin serves on the board of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, is Treasurer of the Dracut Library Foundation, and is CEO of KMW Consulting, a business development firm that focuses on website design and computer support and repair. For more information about Friends of Kevin please visit www.friendsofkevin.com.   COST: no fee LOCATION:  The Center, 88 Middle St., 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852  RSVP: shargis@comteam.org, 978-322-8400   ******************** Financing Thursday, November 17, 2011 / 6:00 -8:00 pm This workshop is offered in partnership with the Small Business Administration and Eastern Bank. Are you ready to take that next step and get a loan for your business? Get all your ducks in a row beforehand so that the experience can be as smooth as possible. From soup to nuts, learn how to prepare basic information for a lender, get your business plan together, and hear the lender perspective. This workshop is taught by Charles Smith of Eastern Bank and Lisa Welch of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Learn how the SBA fits into the lending equation.   COST: no fee LOCATION:  Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 305 Essex Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts 01840 RSVP: shargis@comteam.org, 978-322-8400   ******************** Connecting Your Business to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Friday, November 18, 2011 / 10:00 am -12:00 pm This workshop is offered in partnership with Mill Cities Community Investments and the Operational Services Division (OSD) of the Massachusetts state government. OSD administers the procurement process of the Commonwealth.This OSD workshop is designed for businesses who are interested in learning how to do business with the State. This workshop includes: Where to find bidding opportunities, Bidding process for Statewide Contracts, Comm-PASS Overview, Marketing to public entities and OSD programs and services that support the business community.   COST: no fee  LOCATION:  Mill Cities Community Investments at Lawrence CommunityWorks, Our House Campus, 168 Newbury Street, Lawrence, MA 01841 RSVP: shargis@comteam.org, 978-322-8400 ******************** The Importance of Time Management In Your Business PLEASE CONTACT US DIRECTLY FOR MORE INFO Effective time management is a fundamental key to success for business owners and busy professionals.  This workshop will teach you how to develop goals and how to prioritize your activities to achieve those goals.  You will learn to identify and eliminate time wasters and how to focus on your highest value tasks.  Using technology as a time enhancer will also be discussed.  At the end of the session, you will walk away with a specific plan to use your time most effectively, helping you to grow your business. This workshop is taught by Jim “Pouli” Pouliopoulos, The Growth Coach®, a certified Strategic Mindset® business coach with over 25 years experience in a variety of industries including high-tech, medical, government and professional services. He has contributed to the success of large companies including General Electric and IBM as well as a number of successful small businesses as a marketing consultant, product manager, director of marketing and sales, spokesperson, public speaker, trainer, facilitator, market researcher and engineer. Additionally, Jim is an adjunct faculty member at Bentley University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he teaches business and marketing courses.   COST: $10   LOCATION: PLEASE CONTACT US DIRECTLY FOR MORE INFO RSVP: shargis@comteam.org, 978-322-8400 OTHER WORKSHOPS:  ¿Está pensando en iniciar su propio negocio? ¿Ya tiene su propio negoc? Talleres Pequeños de Educación Financiera de Empresas SIN COSTO ALGUNO  La educación financiera y la comprension de los conceptos básicos de contabilidad son la clave para una empresa pequeña exitosa. Este taller es una serie de tres partes de educación financiera la cual tiene como objetivo ayudarte a comprender los estados financieros básicos para su negocio o un plan de negocios. Los empresarios lograran esto a través de un esquema coherente que incorpora los conceptos más importantes de crédito y la contabilidad financiera. Además de las sesiones en vivo, los empresarios también tendrán acceso a servicios bancarios y profesionales de la contabilidad en Sesiones de Q & A. Cuándo: Los Martes, 8, 15, y 22 de noviembre desde las 6:00 pm hasta 8:00 pm Dónde: Metro Financial Solutions, 10 Pemberton Way, 3er piso (en el mismo edificio en que esta Bank of America, 257 Essex St), Lawrence, MA 01840 Espacio disponible limitado. Favor de registrarse llamando a (978) 682-2662 o por correo electrónico @mfs@consultant.com
	The mission of the Lowell Small Business Assistance Center is to provide entrepreneurs from ethnically and economically diverse groups with the education, tools and resources needed to create, sustain or expand viable small businesses. You must RSVP for all workshops and trainings. Fees may apply and will be due at time of class. A fee waiver may be requested, please inquire when signing up. Checks may be made out to the Small Business Assistance Center. The SBAC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a workshop or class due to insufficient enrollment or weather. Registration fees already collected will be returned or credited towards a future program.   Location: 88 Middle St., 2nd Floor, Downtown Lowell, 01852 Phone: 978-322-8400 Website: Visit Facebook: LSBAC on Facebook Template created by Dominique Elkind

Sent to annetics.downtown@blogger.com — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Small Business Assistance Center / Community Teamwork Inc. · 88 Middle St., 2nd Floor · Lowell, Ma 01852