May 4, 2005 -- This symposium will feature engaging workshops and forums built around the 'real life' experiences of business women who 'have been there.'
We are looking for women in business who have grown their businesses in innovative ways, to speak for a few minutes on the following subjects:
Women who have found ways to join with other business for marketing or other opportunities by:
� Partnering with other businesses to take advantage of opportunities that might otherwise have been out of their reach/capability
� Marketing or promoting their products/services in cooperation with those of other businesses in ways that provide advantages for everyone
Women who have developed a strategic edge that has transform an original business concept into something more successful by using innovative ideas. Here are four possible directions:
� Innovative Products or Services - Transforming an original product/service concept into "new/Improved" offerings that have been enthusiastically received by customers. (i.e. Some Home
Hardware stores provide their own "Handyman" who will come and do your home repairs.)
� Innovative Delivery Methods: Tapping into new ways to deliver products/services to customers. (i.e. Dell took the world by storm by selling computers directly to the customer over the
Internet.)
� Innovative Promotion: Finding new ways to attract attention -- sales, marketing, or customer service initiatives that have given businesses a boost in growth and/or set them apart from
similar businesses. (i.e. Labatt's created a "name their new beer" promotion.)
� Innovative Pricing: Finding new ways to bring in revenue or attract customers through pricing strategies, or bringing products/services to customers more effectively. (i.e. Many
computer games are successfully sold by giving away free beta-test versions.)
Following the morning workshops, activities include a lively "Business Unplugged" forum, where participants asked experienced businesswomen questions about their own business
challenges.