Subscribe!
Networking Pick of the Week: Hobby to Business – TODAY
Join this different opportunity today – Monday, January 27th, starting at 3:30pm at the Warwick Public Library for an afternoon packed with information on how to take a hobby or a passion and turn it into a profitable business.
You will be able to “meet the mentors” and book confidential one-on-one counseling sessions with industry experts from SBA, SCORE, the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, the Center for Women & Enterprise, the Veterans Business Outreach Center of New England, RI Secretary of State’s Corporations Division, Grow With Google, and others.
There will also be a panel discussion with local entrepreneurs who took their passion and hobbies and created successful small businesses, as well as 4 separate workshops that you won’t want to miss!
DETAILS:
Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea and the Warwick Public Library invite you to the “From Passion to Profits: Transforming Your Hobby into a Business” Summit celebrating National Hobby Month in January. Attendees can network with our Business Services Division and other local resources, meet current small business owners, and attend breakout sessions on the ins and outs of developing your hobby into a local business.
The event is free, and the Meet the Mentors resource fair is open to the public. As space is limited, all other portions of the event require pre-registration. Please note: attendees should register for only one breakout session per time slot. A full schedule is posted below.
Agenda
3:30-5:30 p.m. Meet the Mentors
January is also National Mentoring month! Let us help you find a mentor and start your transformation from a maker to a business owner. During this “speed networking” session, you will have the opportunity to ask questions, get advice, and set up future appointments with a specialist from one or more of our partner organizations.
The mentoring organizations available include: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Rhode Island SCORE, Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE), Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) and Grow with Google. Mentoring time is also available with Everett Petronio, Jr., Esq. and Judy Heatherman, CPA, CHBC, who can help with your legal and accounting questions.
Other available resources include: The Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, The Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA).
5:30-5:45 p.m. Opening Remarks
5:45-6:45 p.m. Panel Discussion: Where do I start? Things to consider.
This session brings together local entrepreneurs who have successfully made the transition from passion to business. Learn from their collective experiences: What strategies worked, when they needed professional assistance, and what things they would have done differently.
6:45- 7:15 p.m. Breakout Session 1 (Please register for one)
- 1A Selling Online-There are so many platforms and marketplaces for you to use to sell your products online. Which one is best for your business? This session will provide an overview of how to sell your product online.
- 1B Building an Online Presence-Learn about Google My Business, a free tool for local businesses who want to connect with customers on Google Search and Maps. Get hands-on help creating or updating your business profile or a simple website.
7:15- 7:45 p.m. Breakout Session 2 (Please register for one)
- 2A Getting Your Product to Market-You are a maker, not a pricing consultant! How do you price your product? How do you meet the product demand you have created? This session will focus on strategies to ensure you are competitively priced in the marketplace and how to scale your product effectively.
- 2B Getting the Money You Need to Make Money -From $1,000 to $10,000,000…almost every new business needs some form of capital to help start, grow and succeed. With so many options available, what is the best avenue for YOU and YOUR BUSINESS? From cracking open your personal piggy bank, to bank loans and crowdfunding, there is no shortage of ways to get access to the funds your business needs to grow. Let us help you navigate them and find a solution that will work best for you.
7:45- 8:00 p.m. What Comes Next?
So you’re ready to turn your hobby into a small business of your own. Now what? The RI Department of State is here to help! Learn more about the resources available to get you started on your entrepreneurial journey.
