Customer acquisition topic of Bakersville Business Breakfast
BAKERSVILLE – Nearly 20 business owners, elected officials and community leaders attended the first “Who is your customer, 28705?” Business Breakfast Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Mitchell County Administration Building in Bakersville.
The purpose of the merchants’ workshop was helping Bakersville businesses get new and retain existing customers. The seminar was led by Allen Cook of Mayland Community College’s Small Business Center. Cook said the goals of the workshop were analyzing customers’ demographics and psychographics (habits and tendencies of a buyer), developing a customer profile that identifies paying customers, using that profile to build a marketing plan, and group collaboration to attract new customers.
“Allen Cook with Mayland Community College Business Center did an outstanding job leading this seminar with great and pertinent information to help small businesses in the 28705 zip code identify, attract and service their customer bases,” said Mickey Duvall, Mitchell County Economic Development Commission director. “(The EDC) is here to help these businesses any way we can.”
Cook told the group the best way to grow is together.
The goals should be organic,” he said. “We need to focus on your merchant bases and scaling sales.”
Bowditch Antiques & Collectibles co-owner Sharon Rowland said the growth taking place in Burnsville inspired her.
“I asked myself, ‘Why can’t we have that in Bakersville,’” Rowland said. “We have to ask for things if we want them.”
Cook presented a PowerPoint that outlined potential projects for the 28705 zip code, such as a promotional map, microgrants for startups, and collaborative marketing projects. The presentation also detailed traffic counts and shoppers’ habits, among other things.
“We have a good business climate here,” Cook said. “If you’re starting a business, there’s good soil here to do it.
A second seminar is scheduled for January 2020.