Learn how to boost your online business with killer eCommerce strategies that will help you develop your brand and increase your online pres
About this Event

Welcome to the

In this session (eCommerce Strategies: Developing Your Brand & Presence) we’ll build off the foundational questions you’ve worked through from the first class (eCommerce Basics: Where To Start And What To Know).

At this point you have an idea of where you want to go with your eCommerce business but need to identify the various assets you need to create and make key operational decisions for the next steps to bring your business dreams into reality (and continue to fill out your business plan).

Topics we’ll cover include:

Brand persona and identifying your target audience;
Various key assets to consider and what you’ll need (e.g. product photography; website/brand destination);
Initial operational needs (e.g. partners; contracts; licenses; distribution requirements; pricing strategy etc.);
A brief overview of seller-platform options and questions to ask to determine best options for your strategy and pace.

Instructor Bio:

Before creating The Bitter Housewife (https://thebitterhousewife.com), Genevieve Brazelton developed a diverse background, beginning in the restaurant industry at 16 and advancing into the media sector after earning her Masters. She held roles as an Associate Editor at Wine & Spirits Magazine and later, as a PR and Marketing Strategist in the food and beverage industry.
Her extensive experience and instinctive understanding of flavors enable her to produce balanced, accessible bitters using all-natural ingredients. Genevieve excels as a branding and marketing specialist, focusing on simplicity and inclusivity to ensure both her products and messaging are approachable.
Today, Genevieve uses the expertise that fueled The Bitter Housewife's nationwide success to assist early-stage food companies. Her specializations in branding, messaging, and marketing strategy are instrumental in guiding these startups on their growth journeys.

About the GRO Greater eCommerce Education Series:

Industry experts at NASDAQ estimate that 95% of all purchases will be through ecommerce channels by 2040 with over 90% of global internet users having purchased a product online. BigCommerce forecasts a 23% year-over-year growth moving forward and yet 46% of American small businesses still don’t have a website.

Research just completed in Columbia County overwhelmingly points to two challenges retailers say they face: Lack of population density in a rural-to semi-rural place, and aligning store hours and employees with a 73% out-commute rate with residents leaving early morning and returning in the evening, uninterested or unable to then go out shopping near home. Commerce is being done elsewhere; they’re buying someone else’s stuff.

E-commerce expands your customer base worldwide, 24 hours a day, vastly improving business opportunity, market size, and revenue capture.

If you’re a small business owner looking to expand into online channels or an artisan looking for new distribution channels to vrtually anywhere in the world – or close to home after hours, then this free online professional development series is for you. Over the course of four sessions we’ll go into the world of e-commerce and what it takes to make it.

We’ll learn from an eCommerce expert who’ve been there done that, look at ecommerce basics as a merchant or wholesaler, dive into the various platforms and offerings, and learn secrets behind ecommerce marketing.

Thanks to our partners:

Xcelerate: Xcelerate is a transformative community that supports Oregon’s women and gender expansive business owners on their journeys to success. Our business advising, peer mentorship,and growth education programs help women increase self-efficacy and overcome internal and external barriers to create economic power, build generational wealth, and positively impact their communities.

SBDC Columbia County: At the Columbia County Small Business Development Center our mission is to help start, grow and retain the best businesses throughout Columbia County, so they can thrive in our local economy. Columbia County SBDC is part of the Oregon SBDC network that connects local businesses to statewide resources. We will listen to your needs and help find you solutions to achieve success.

Columbia Economic Team: Columbia Economic Team is here to connect, support, encourage, and assist small business owners in accessing the market, making B2B and B2C connections, resources and programs, funding, education and training, and advocacy to help generate, sustain, retain and grow small businesses in every corner throughout Columbia County.