The Kosciusko Attala Partnership “Small Business Retail Symposium: Choosing to be Here,” focused on a single message, according to KAP Executive Director Darrin Milner: Here, as a county, we all have an investment.
The 19 attendees of Thursday’s after-hours seminar networked, received a clear-cut list of social media marketing do’s and don’ts, and were briefed on the benefits of small-town businesses as community-promoters.
The momentum generated at what presenter Steve Wilkerson referred to as a rally, of sorts, is likely to produce future symposiums hosted by the KAP.
“We’re looking to do a full hour and a half conference that focuses only on social media,” Milner said.
Wilkerson, owner of Philadelphia’s “Steve’s on the Square,” was also there as a representative of the Neshoba County Chamber of Commerce, as was the chamber’s Executive Director Tim Moore. The KAP and Moore’s office have worked together in the past and have plans to deepen what Milner described as a mutually-beneficial relationship.
In addition, Milner said the KAP and representatives of Mississippi State University Extension Service have had discussions regarding resources that may available to the KAP in the future. The symposium was held at the MSU Extension building in Attala County.
Milner’s material bookended the conference, and focused on the collective responsibility held by all members of a small-town business community and what practices are effective in promoting a region’s economic health.
In between, Wilkerson’s presentation emphasized the importance of customer service, and MSU Extension Instructor Andy Collins itemized effective social media marketing practices, which triggered a flurry of note taking. Though the two presenters appeared to be speaking from divergent perspectives, the underlying principle was the same — a positive, pleasurable encounter with a business, whether in-person or online, is key.
Believing in the ability of a small-town businesses to thrive despite competition from retail behomoths is essential as well, according to Milner.
“My role is to help (Attala county businesses) to succeed,” he said.
For more information about future seminars and resources offered by the Kosiusko Attala Partnership, visit kapartnership.org, or call 662-289-2981.
