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Brick by Brick

Brick by Brick is a program that focuses on helping aspiring retailers build their retail store. We help you go from conceptual to sustainable!

Program Overview

Orange County Inland Empire SBDC’s Brick by Brick is a six-week long program designed to assist individuals pursuing retail in creating their business model. We work with you to identify and establish the fundamental building blocks to develop a concrete business model preceding the launch.

About the Instructor

Karie Armstrong, SCSM (Senior Shopping Center Manager) spent the last 22 years helping retailers, service providers, restaurants and entrepreneurs successfully launch in retail markets. Armstrong worked for some of the nation’s leading shopping center developers in California including Simon Property Group, The Mills Corp., and Centremark, managing financial operations, marketing, finance and leasing. She focuses on empowering business owners to take the right risks, stack the right skills and actions, and get results.

How it Works

By the end of the Brick by Brick Program, you will have:

  • identified your market share;
  • created marketing strategies and tactics;
  • learned how to integrate e-commerce technology into a static store;
  • created your financial projections, COGS and pricing models;
  • acquired useful knowledge of the leasing process;
  • identified the permits and licenses to build-out and operate your store;
  • a better understanding of how to hire and train employees;
  • learned best practices to operate efficiently;
  • and, learn how to access an appropriate amount of capital in order the sustain past breakeven and into profit.

What You'll Learn

Week 1 - The Blueprint: Building Your Retail Business

  • Defining the types of Retail Opportunities
  • Basic Business Formation
  • Competitive Analysis
  • Etsy Speaker
  • Lunch Panel

Week 2 - The Blueprint: Building Your Retail Business Part 2

  • Planning
  • Customer Identification

Week 3 - Building the Model

  • Sourcing
  • Costing
  • Pricing

Week 4 - Building the Model Part 2

  • Retail Site Selection Criteria
  • Lease Agreements

Week 5 - Laying the Foundation with Budgets and Projections

  • Budgeting
  • Projections
  • Funding

Week 6 - Laying the Foundation: Infrastructure, Team, and Budget

  • Infrastructure
  • Building Your Team
  • Marketing Plan

FAQs

No, there’s so many avenues to explore with retail. You can participate in this program regardless of where you are in the process whether you’re just exploring, looking to grow your current business or looking to start a new shop! We’ll explore trends in pop up shops, kiosks, mobile shops, brick and mortars and more. If you do choose to lease a space or open a physical store front, the SBDC is here to help! We can help you negotiate your lease, start your shop and be a resource for you every step of the way.
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Yes! We’ll review sample leases and provide participants with no cost research and benchmarking reports. You’ll learn about changes in the retail environment, how shopping centers are reshaping their tenant mix and where you might fit in.

About Brick by Brick

Our Brick by Brick program provides assistance in transforming a retail idea into a tangible location. During this six week program, we assist you in determining your customer market and building a well-grounded basis for your startup. We also share the essentials to successfully grow your business with a strong following. So what are you waiting for? Register now to begin your business!

Stay Updated

Receive updates in your inbox on when the next Brick by Brick program will be happening. 

Ways We Can Help

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More Programs

Our suite of programs are designed to guide businesses in the early stages to receive the information, resources, and assistance necessary to enter their given market in just a few weeks.

Coworkers discussing business ideas.

Services

At OCIE SBDC Network, our team of qualified consultants provide high-quality expertise to help your business succeed in both the short-term and long-term. We are a well-known provider of small business consulting, education, and resources.

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Resources

Find the tools you need to get your business up and running, with government resources, guides, templates, and more.

Let's Get Started.

Make an Appointment

Network Stakeholders

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Funding is not an endorsement of any product, opinion, or service. All programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Funded in part through a Grant with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

© 2024
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