The Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is offering a free, five-week Retail Business Series, which are weekly workshops aimed at helping local retailers get their businesses ready for the holidays.
This is for any entrepreneur who has a retail store, plans for a physical space, or sell at in-person markets or events. The series will go over the five areas most critical to creating a successful retail store and how to build a space that is an authentic and memorable extension of your business’s personality.
The Five-Week Retail Business Series will focus on the following topics:
1. Finding a location: working with a broker and how to identify the best area for your customers using data, site visits, and other forms of free research.
2. Lease negotiation: understanding the basics of lease negotiations, how to find and work with a broker, and how to protect yourself legally.
3. Design and planning: learn basic space planning skills, how to rough budgeting for build-outs, and sourcing materials and furniture
4. Construction + build-out: finding a contractor, creating a timeline, contract negotiation and fulfillment, and staying within your budget
5. Merchandising and Window Signage: how to create an attractive storefront (or event booth) design to draw customers in and how to merchandise your products sell more and create a better customer experience.
This is a free workshop, meets once a week on Thursdays, starting September 19th from 6:30 -9:30 PM at Renaissance Richmond, 1500 MacDonald Ave., Richmond.
Taught by Ari Takata-Vasquez. Ari’s interest lies at the intersection of design, human interaction, and economic development. As the owner & creative director of Viscera, a brick and mortar shop in Downtown Oakland, she has first-hand experience developing and building a brand in numerous settings. As creative director, Ari has directed numerous product launches, photo shoots, marketing campaigns and the production of a magazine. Ari’s undergraduate degree is in Architecture from the University of San Francisco and has a Master’s in City Planning with an emphasis in Urban Design from UC Berkeley.
Register here.
