just some more info about these free courses from their website..
Want to run a home business? - Free business courses running soon
Transition towns Donabate Portrane have organised two FREE business courses aimed at helping people set up, run and market their own home business.
How to set up your home business to sell produce at markets.
Introduction
The following proposal sets out the content of a training program designed to enhance the skill set of those involved in running and selling at Donabate market. The program is designed as a series of 3 evening workshops (6pm to 9pm) which will be broken into distinct and clear modules to be covered. Each session will be structured as an interactive and lively program and will involve both theory and practice to vary the presentation tools.
Relevant Skill Set
James Burke has spent over twenty years working in the food sector, the first ten of which were at the operational side of retail selling directly to consumers and the second ten were in the purchasing department working with suppliers to maximize sales. More recently, in his own consultancy business James has worked extensively with Artisan producers both as private clients to develop their own business and through group workshops in conjunction with Bord Bia and The LEADER Network.
James has just completed a best practice guide for alternative routes to market which includes farmers markets, box schemes and farm shops and sets out for each sector an A to Z of best practice tips to ensure the chances of success are maximized.
James is a member of the TASTE Council which means that he is fully aware of the needs of the stall holder community and the issues and challenges that surround their daily business.
The proposal scope is as follows: The training program will be conducted over 3 evenings which will contain four distinct modules, market management, stall presentation, publicizing the market and the running of the committee. The topic of running your own small business will be covered also. The venue for each session will be held in the local community .
The content of the 3 evenings will include the following :
Consumer Trends
This section will take a broad overview of consumer trends and will allow the participants to focus on what are consumers looking for and why do they shop at markets.
Business Strategy
A brief overview which forces the attendees to take a hard look at their own business and ask the key question - What is my business plan and what direction am I moving in?.
Finance
This section will consider the financial implications of running any business no matter how small and covers issues such as funding, cash flow, etc.
Managing Your Business
During this session the participants will be encouraged to look at their own skill set, in terms of managing other people, delegation, dealing with other stake holders, etc.
Case Study
A written case study which will be sent to the participants in advance of the workshop will be used on the day to demonstrate how easily they can become bogged down in the day to day business and loose site of the bigger picture and the direction of where they are going. It will also give an incite as to how they might progress from having one stall at one market to covering a number of markets.
Meeting Management
This section will set out practical guidelines for running a meeting from suitability of venue, setting out agendas, planning in advance the objective for the meeting, influencing others to gain your objectives, etc.
Practical Tips for Selling at the Market
This section will commence with an overview of the history of markets in Ireland and will move onto a pre start up section which will walk through issues that any producer should address before they even commence trading. From there the producers will be taken through a practical A to Z guide of actually trading at the market which will cover the minimum kit required that you should have, as to how to sell to consumers and right through how to market your business and product.
Pricing Module
Incorrect pricing by many producers is a common feature and a step by step guide on how to price your product will be included in this session.
Market Management
This section will move to the broader level of how to manage the market and how stall holders can combine to ensure they have a professional market which is run in conjunction with the local community to enhance their town. It will explore the roles and responsibilities of store holders and the selection and criteria for new stall holders. It will also debate the issue of whether stall holders should be selling 100 percent locally produced food only, whether traders are allowed to sell at the market or indeed whether wider product categories should also be included e.g. crafts and clothing.
Publicising the Market
Small producers rarely recognize that they are probably the most friendly PR group to any journalist and therefore fail to exploit the opportunity that presents. This section will explore how to get PR, how to structure PR releases and how to deal with journalists, radio stations, etc. It will also explore how themeing and tying in with other local events can enhance the market in a big way.
How a Stall Should Look
This will be a practical review of images of markets from around the world and tips on how best to create best practice displays
Spaces are limited per class and we have already had a lot of interest in the course. If you have ever thought of starting your own food production or home business these courses would be a great start. Participants will be given help in selling through the community market that will be set up shortly.
------------
Want to start a home food production business?
Are your cakes, jams or pickles in demand?! Fancy finding a wider audience for them, and making money as well?
Primary Course in Food Hygiene & Introduction to Food Labelling
Course duration
The course is run over 4 evenings x 3 hours (including 1 hour exam) = 12 hours
Course content
The objective of the Primary Course in Food Safety is to create an awareness and knowledge of the reasons for the importance of good food safety practices. It is a legal requirement for food business operators to ensure their staff have training in food safety.
This course aims to give those involved in Food Labelling an understanding of all the current legislation surrounding this extremely important issue. Participants are taken through the various stages in labelling and legislation to help focus their efforts and improve the likelihood of success.
Spaces are limited per class and we have already had a lot of interest in the course. If you have ever thought of starting your own food production or home business these courses would be a great start. Participants will be given help in selling through the community market that will be set up shortly.
For more information go to
www.ttdp.ie
Spaces are limited per class and we have already had a lot of interest in the course. If you have ever thought of starting your own food production or home business these courses would be a great start. Participants will be given help in selling through the community market that will be set up shortly.