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Creativity, customer service focus of seminar
By Jack Ryan | Enterprise-Journal
Posted: 11/06/09 - 01:06:27 pm CST
Billy Neville, who credits his upbringing in McComb for his success with a popular men’s clothing store in Jackson, believes this is a great time for imaginative people to go into business for themselves.
Even if they’ve got a job, people are afraid they’re going to be fired,” Neville said. Though the economy is struggling, he added, “There’s never been a better time to go into business for yourself and be in control of your own life.”
But he knows anybody considering such a move needs some ideas — as do owners of many existing retail and service businesses. So he’ll lead “The Main Event,” a seminar in McComb the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 17, designed to help both existing businesses and potential startups.
Sponsored by the Enterprise-Journal, the event begins at 6 p.m. at the Days Inn. Seating is limited and advance registration is requested. There is no admission charge.
Neville said he learned merchandising by working at the old Denman-Alford store, a staple of downtown McComb for decades.
In 1967, he opened his clothing store, The Rogue, in a 200-square foot space in Jackson. By the time he sold the business three years ago, the store had 10,000 square feet.
“There were 31 men’s stores in Jackson when I opened up, and it got down to three,” Neville said. “And the other two had worked for me.”
Since selling The Rogue, Neville has worked with other businesses as an advertising, branding and marketing consultant.
He said “The Main Event” will be all about how a person or a business can separate themselves from the competition.
“If you’re like everybody else, there’s no reason for them to come shop with you, buy insurance from you, let you drill on their teeth,” he said. “This will be a rapid-fire course on differentiation, how you can make your business different from anyone else’s.”
Neville believes the tough economy emphasizes the point that “business as usual” has changed, and the survivors will be those who believe in themselves, who are imaginative and who focus on issues such as customer service.
He cited Bellingham, Wash., a town of 71,000 people with an active business coalition whose members run a “Think Local First” campaign to encourage people to shop at locally owned businesses.
“There are 500 people that belong to this dynamic organization,” Neville said. “Everybody has banded together and promoted local; that when you get together, you can actually beat the big boys.
“It’s not hard. We have a tendency to turn it into brain surgery, and it’s not. It can happen, and McComb is as good a place as any to make it happen.”
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the seminar begins at 6:30. Neville said the program will last about 90 minutes, including a “30 ideas in 30 minutes” session to give people suggestions about improving their business.Those interested in attending should call the Enterprise-Journal at 684-2421 by Monday, Nov. 16, or come by the newspaper office on Oliver Emmerich Drive to register.
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