By Portia Williams
Main Street Portsmouth will host Coffee Networking, Wednesday, June 24, at Coffee at the Lofts, located at 840 Gallia Street in Portsmouth from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. A presentation will be given by Zach Jenkins and Joey Boggs of Portsmouth Cement and Lime Company.
Sarah Surina, executive director of Main Street Portsmouth, said they want to provide a networking opportunity for local merchants.
“This is something that we are trying for the first time. It will be our first networking event,” Surina said. “Our mission for Coffee Networking is to provide a networking atmosphere for local merchants to get together to work with local businesses that are in the area.”
The guest speakers for the networking event will be Zach Jenkins and Joey Boggs of Portsmouth Cement and Lime. ‘Advancing your Business to the 21st Century’ is the topic of discussion.
According to Main Street Portsmouth, 60 percent of adults have smart phones and with limitless information at their fingertips, potential customers are being lost to big chain stores due to apps and websites which makes shopping easily accessible. Main Street Portsmouth wants to ensure that small businesses are not left behind due to the new technologies, and suggest that with little money, small businesses can create attractive and accessible websites for their customers.
Coffee Networking is free and open to the public. The public is encouraged to come out and learn how local merchants have advanced their business to the 21st century.
Surina said they plan to host Coffee Networking events on a quarterly basis.
“Right now we have 16 confirmed attendees, and we are grateful for those,” she said. “If we find that it is a need, and it is something that people want, then it will be something that we can certainly help to provide to local businesses every quarter.”
Reach Portia Williams at 740-353-3101, ext. 1929, or on Twitter @PortiaWillPDT.
