Published: October 05, 2009 12:12 pm      

Sulphur to host Women’s Biz Workshop

The Women’s Business Center (WBC) of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) announces a free workshop titled “Strengthen Your Business with ‘Experiential’ Techniques and Website Promotions.”

The workshop is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. until noon, Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Computer Lab, Murray County Expo Center, 4000 W. Highway 7, in Sulphur. Deadline for registration is Wednesday, Oct. 7.

The workshop is presented by Dr. Brian Whitacre, assistant professor and extension economist in the agricultural economics department at Oklahoma State University.

Many successful businesses have noted the difference between simply providing a “service” and providing a memorable, engaging experience. Offering these types of activities can build loyal customers, encourage positive word of mouth, and differentiate one business from its competitors.

This workshop will discuss the basics of “experience” based businesses, and will review numerous examples of successful business practices. It will also show how to use the Internet to improve the experiences you are offering. Some of the topics covered are: Offering educational opportunities (such as a restaurant offering hands-on cooking classes); how to promote the landscape / interior design of a business; incorporating color schemes and audio into a business as well as website and organizing events to share demonstrations of products.

Workshop co-sponsors are Sulphur Chamber of Commerce, Sulphur Main Street, Davis Chamber of Commerce, OSU Cooperative Extension, and REI’s Women’s Business Center, which is sponsored in part by the US Small Business Administration.

For more information or to register online, visit REI’s website at www.ruralenterprises.com or contact Dr. Barbara Rackley at 800-658-2823 or 580-924-5094.