Photo by Mary Rose Vallarta

Unleash your Inner ARTrepreneur with Sherri Cairns. Cairns is a Certified Small Business Counsellor with over 20 years of experience working with creative entrepreneurs. She has helped many artists, creators and musicians put their creative visions into a traditional business plan. Sherri has an extensive background in workshop development, facilitation and coaching in the areas of business planning, marketing, market research and customer profiles. She is passionate about helping people see the best in themselves and put out their best work.

Business Planning 101
Thursday, September 12, 2019
5:30-8:30pm
Whether you are starting a full-time business or a side-hustle, work from home or have a storefront, writing a business plan is a big step forward in putting your business on the map. If you are looking for financing for your business, you can expect a business plan to be a requirement. But even if you don’t need funding, an informal business plan can improve the chances that your business will succeed. A business plan is a blueprint for growing your business. This 3-hour session will give you a start on what information is required when writing a business plan.

Participants will learn the following:

1. Basic components of a business plan
2. Identifying your competition and getting to know your customer
3. Getting the word out and knowing your numbers

Business Tips for Creative Entrepreneurs
Thursday, September 26, 2019
5:30-8:30pm
Have you ever wondered how most successful creative entrepreneurs structure their day and support their business? This 3-hour session will give you helpful tips for bridging the creative and business gap.

Participants will learn the following:

1. Planning your success (setting goals, making a business plan, etc.)
2. Establishing your personal brand
3. Understanding the financial aspects of your business (budgeting, taxes, etc.)

Personal Branding for Creative Entrepreneurs
Thursday, October 10, 2019
5:30-8:30pm
Your brand reflects who you are and who your audience perceives you to be. As a Creative Entrepreneur, you are your unique brand and you need to communicate that to potential customers and create buzz around you and your business. This 3-hour session will help you understand you and your brand, and how to use that knowledge to propel your business forward.

Participants will learn the following:

1. What makes up your personal brand?
2. What is your niche?
3. What is the unique message you want to put out to your target audience?

Creating Your Ideal Customer Profile
Monday, October 28, 2019
5:30-8:30pm
Do you have a clear picture of the type of customers your business has, or should be targeting? Do you know what motivates them? Creating customer profiles that describe specific segments of your target audience will help you avoid wasting time and money on unsuccessful marketing efforts. This 3-hour session will help you focus your message on the people that need to hear it.

Participants will learn the following:

1. Identify your ideal customers through market segmentation
2. Describe your ideal customers in written profiles that are tangible
3. Create specific profiles for each identifiable target group