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