Transforming Your Hobby Into A Business – January 27

Have a hobby you think could be a business?
Have a side gig that might have potential to grow into more?
Making a little extra money with something you love to do?

Then this is event is for you.

Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea and the Warwick Public Library invite you to the “From Passion to Profits: Transforming Your Hobby into a Business” Summit celebrating National Hobby Month in January. Attendees can network with our Business Services Division and other local resources, meet current small business owners, and attend breakout sessions on the ins and outs of developing your hobby into a local business.

The event is free, and the Meet the Mentors Resource Fair is open to the public. As space is limited, all other portions of the event require pre-registration. Please note: attendees should register for only one breakout session per time slot. A full schedule is posted on the website if you click the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/transforming-your-hobby-into-a-business-summit-tickets-85541869033

Propsed Agenda
3:30 – 5:30 pm
      Meet the Mentors & Resource Partners

January is National Mentoring month! Let us help you find a mentor and start your transformation from a maker to a business owner. Book a 20-minute one-on-one mentoring session with a specialist from one or more of our partner organizations. Ask questions, get advice, and set up future appointments.

Our mentoring partner organizations include: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Rhode Island SCORE, Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE), Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) and Grow with Google. Mentoring time is also available with Everett Petronio, Jr., Esq., Kalander & Shaw, Ltd and Judy Hetherman, CPA, CHBC, Judy Hetherman & Co, Certified Public Accountants to answer your legal and accounting questions.

Other available resources include: The Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, The Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA)

5:30 – 5:40 pm
      Introductory remarks by Secretary Gorbea

5:40 – 6:40 pm
      Panel Discussion – Where do I start? Things to consider. . .

This session brings together local entrepreneurs who have successfully made the transition from passion to business. Learn from their collective experiences: What strategies worked, when they needed professional assistance, and things they would have done differently.

6:45 – 7:15 pm
      Breakout session #1: Selling online

There are so many platforms and marketplaces for you to use to sell your products online. Which one is best for your business? This session will provide an overview on how to sell your product online.

      Breakout session #2: Marketing

The digital world is full of marketing opportunities! Where do you begin? How much time and money should you be prepared to invest in promoting your product? This session will provide tips and tricks for attracting new customers and advertising your business with a focus on social media marketing.

7:15 – 7:45 p.m.
      Breakout session #1: Getting your product to market

You are a maker, not a pricing consultant! How do you price your product? How do you meet the product demand you have created? This session will focus on the strategies needed to ensure you are competitively priced in the marketplace and how to scale your product effectively.

      Breakout session #2: Getting the money you need to make money

From $1,000 to $10,000,000…almost every new business needs some form of capital to help start, grow and succeed. With so many options available, what is the best avenue for YOU and YOUR BUSINESS? From cracking open your personal piggy bank, to bank loans and crowd funding, there is no shortage of ways to get access to the funds your business needs to grow. Let us help you navigate them and find a solution that will work best for you.

7:45 – 8:00 p.m.
      Closing Remarks/Invitation for Feedback – Secretary Gorbea