Retail Training Class A Success

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., -- May 14, 2003 -- The Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the College of Southern Maryland announced that the May 9, 2003 informational seminar Driving Sales from the Floor! presented by Casey Willson of the Maryland SBDC was a great success. "There's no harder working people anywhere than the independent merchants of Calvert County. They're the salesperson, bookkeeper, marketer, buyer, display department, personnel manager, security officer, and window washer for their businesses. The Maryland SBDC will do anything we can to give them a hand in managing their small businesses," said Casey Willson, Maryland SBDC Network Retail Specialist.

The seminar was open to all retail businesses and focused on retail owners who wanted to improve their bottom line. Attendees learned how to develop tactics for their businesses that will increase sales. In addition, they learned how inventory, vendors, merchandising, sales associates, customers, and information systems can help businesses prosper. The seminar is part of a continuing effort by the DED to provide services to the Calvert County business community.

Additionally, the SBDC sponsors workshops, provides a business resource library, and offers access to worldwide databases. SBDC services are provided twice a week at the Business Incubator in Prince Frederick. "The expertise that's available through the SBDC can be extremely helpful to small business owners. With experts in finance, management, advertising, technology and the retail/restaurant industries, we have many ways of assisting businesses," said Danita Boonchaisri, Director of the Small Business Development Center for Southern Maryland.

For additional information please call the Department of Economic Development 410.535.4583 or the SBDC at 1.800.762.7232 or access their web site at www.sbdchelp.com

For more information on the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development, our visitor sites and attractions and the services available to assist County businesses, call 410.535.4583, 800.331.9771 or 301.855.1880; or send an e-mail to info@ecalvert.com