The Asheville SCORE Fall Seminar Schedule is Online – Register Today

Fall SCORE Seminars Help Educate Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, and Professionals

Asheville SCORE provides both business counseling for businesses of all sizes and in all industries, and free seminars each spring and fall. Business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals in all stages of business development can learn important, actionable skills covering a wide variety of topics including business growth, legal support, website development, Internet marketing, business models, social media, building a customer base, sales strategies, bookkeeping, and more.

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Learn from Experts Working in the Field

Successful, experienced local experts are always your instructors when you attend an educational seminar offered by Asheville SCORE and every seminar is FREE. When you attend a seminar you will receive a copy of the presentation and many instructors also provide supplemental materials, as well. You can also benefit from free, one-on-one follow-up counseling and business consulting services provided by one of our dedicated volunteers.

Fall Seminar Schedule

All Asheville SCORE seminars take place in Asheville in various locations including the AB Tech Small Business Center and Incubator and AB Tech’s downtown campus. Click the links below to register for any seminar.

SCORE Client Stories: Meet Kristi King of Climb-It Cat

Kristi & Cats

At Asheville SCORE we are humbled and honored to work with many different kinds of clients, business owners, startups, and entrepreneurs in Asheville and throughout WNC. Our clientele are action-oriented, driven, and inspiring. Many of them have successfully owned companies in the past and they are looking for new ways to grow their businesses and organizations. Some of them have had an incredibly lucrative career and are now interested in using their skills and passions to move in a new professional direction.

Kristi King of Climb-It Cat is one of these clients and she was willing to share part of her journey with us. Here is her story told during our interview:

Kristi & DoraWhat is your name?

Kristi King

What is your business name?

Climb-It Cat

What do you do?

Climb-it Cat makes eco-friendly products for cats and their guardians to make their lives easier and healthier.

Where did you grow up?

Marin County, California

When did you start the business?

April 2014

How have SCORE services helped you?

Initially when I came to Asheville SCORE we discussed a possible patent for our first product. They also helped counsel us on marketing and pricing.

What was your greatest business success?

A successful Kickstarter campaign where we raised over $10,000. This was extremely exciting.

What one thing do you wish you had done differently with your business?

I wish we had run the Kickstarter campaign after selling some of our products in order to build a larger fan base.

What one piece of advice would you give to new entrepreneurs?

Make sure you are passionate about your business and don’t be afraid of making mistakes, because the first few years are lots and lots of hard work, usually at very low pay. There will be many obstacles to overcome along the way and your passion and courage will give you the strength to keep moving forward.

What do you like to do when you are not working?

Gardening, reading, binging on Netflix, and, of course, spending time with my cats!

SCORE Client Stories: Kathleen Lewis, Owner of SewLink and Southern Decor

kathleen lewis designs

Meet Kathleen Lewis of Sew Link and Southern Decor

At Asheville SCORE we are honored to work with a wide variety of clients in Western North Carolina. Our entrepreneurs are motivated and inspired. Many of them have had successful careers and companies in the past and they are looking for new ways to grow their businesses and organizations, and in some cases the chance to move in a new professional direction.

Kathleen Lewis, owner of SewLink and Southern Decor, was one of these clients in search of counseling and support as her work and her business evolved with the marketplace. When interviewed here is what she shared with us:

What is your name?

Kathleen Lewis

What is your business name?

My businesses are called SewLink and also Southern Decor.

What do you do?

I provide and manage sewing contracts as SewLink and manufacture products and home décor under Southern Decor.

[Read more…]

Asheville SCORE Sponsors 1 Million Cups Asheville

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Wednesday Morning 1 Million Cups Asheville – The Perfect Way to Start Your Day

1mclogoWhat is 1 Million Cups?

1 Million Cups is a networking and experiential learning opportunity that is part of a larger community where meetings happen each week across the United States. Each event has the same meeting format to create consistency across locations and commits to the same basic principles of support, trust, and respect.

  • Every Wednesday morning one or two early stag startups present their businesses to an audience of peers, mentors, educators, colleagues, advisors, and more.
  • Each week the startup representatives should have prepared for their talk by studying and implementing best practices from the Kauffman Founders School “Powerful Presentation” series.
  • Each startup has 6 minutes to share their ideas, concepts, and work. This is followed by a 20 minute Q & A with the attendees.
  • After the event attendees provide feedback via an audience survey and from the local 1 Million Cups organizers.
  • 1 Million Cups is a national movement that works to provide a supportive, neutral, welcoming space where entrepreneurs can come to be honest, open, and transparent about their challenges, accomplishments, struggles, and successes.

Who Should Attend?

There are two different types of people and organizations that should attend the weekly 1 Million Cups Asheville events.

First, any startup company in Western North Carolina that would like feedback and support for their idea within the local entrepreneurial community.

Second, any business owner, entrepreneur, or professional that would like to network, get to know, and support other movers and shakers in the Asheville region.

When?

Wednesday mornings from 9 AM to 10 AM.

Where?

RISC Networks located in downtown Asheville at: 81 Broadway Suite C Asheville, NC 28801

How to Learn More

Visit the website: 1millionscups.com/asheville.

Why is SCORE a 1 Million Cups Sponsor?

Asheville SCORE exists to support the local entrepreneurial, startup, and business community. Our counseling services and seminars benefit a wide variety of professionals and industries each year. Our goal is to provide all of our clients and students with access to other resources within the community and 1 Million Cups Asheville is one of these resources. When we partner with other organizations and groups focused on building our small business and entrepreneurial network in Asheville, we know we are helping to support and grow the community as a whole.