Brick-by-Brick: Retail Startup Program
The Brick-by-Brick Retail Start-up program is for entrepreneurs looking to open a brick and mortar business. Over a six-week period, participants will be guided through building a retail growth/launch plan to propel them into their business. The program will cover key concepts such as lease negotiations, projections, creating a unique customer experience, building a digital presence, utilizing paid and non-paid advertising, hiring employees and creating key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive the business. The program will help each participant to build a concrete plan in opening, driving sales, and creating processes to manage the business.
Brick-by-Brick is a California Dream Fund approved program available only for businesses registered in Orange County and the Inland Empire. As a California Dream Fund program, your business will be eligible to receive a grant of up to $10,000.
- Have started on or after July 1, 2019
- Have no more than 5 full-time-employees
- Have no more than $1M in revenue
Learn more about the California Dream Fund and its requirements here.
Class 1 ( Aug 10)– Developing a Brick-and-Mortar Growth/Launch Plan
- Key aspects of owning your business
- Introducing the growth/launch plan
- Developing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Using Market Research to grow the business
- Competition Analysis – What are your competitors doing?
- Components of a solid growth/launch plan
Class 2 (Aug 17) – Understanding your Cash
- Projecting (Cash Projections) out the launch and future of your business
- Understanding financial benchmarking and comparing your business to the industry
- What types of financing are available to your business?
Class 3 (Aug 24) – Who are my Customers?
- Building a marketing plan for your business
- Where are your customers and how do your reach them?
- Creating a unique customer experience
- Understanding your sales channels/cycles
- Using your Point of Sale (POS) for marketing
Class 4 (Aug 31)– Building a Successful Digital Presence
- How will customers find you?
- Everything you need to know about:
– Social Media
– Digital Marketing
– Your Website
– E-mail Marketing
– Online Directories
- What type of content works for your business
- Building a content calendar
Class 5 (Sept 7)– Utilizing Paid and Non-Paid Advertising to Drive Sales
- Everything you need to know about digital – Continued
- How do you pay for successful advertising?
- What are the right channels for your business?
- How do you measure success?
Class 6 (Sep 14)– Putting all the Pieces Together
- Lease and Lease Negotiations
- Identifying gaps and opportunities within your workforce
- Hiring employees/Hiring Subsidies Available to you
- Finalizing the growth/launch plan