March Classes at the Very Small Business Center

On Sunday, March 21 from 4-6 p.m the Very Small Business Center will host a workshop for artists looking to fine-tune their PhotoShop skills for presentation of their work. The class will be led by UNCA Design Professor Chris McKee. Contact Jennifer Flynn at 649-3444 or email marshallncstep@gmail.com for more information.

The Very Small Business Center in Marshall will host Jonathan Poston of FastPivot.com who will provide a hands on workshop for social media marketing for small business owners and entrepreneurs on March 22 from 6-9 p.m. Attendees should bring a laptop. Some computers will be available Contact Jennifer Flynn at 649-3444 or email marshallncstep@gmail.com for more info.

The Very Small Business Center in Marshall will host Get Discovered - Improve Your Google Rankings on March 29 from 6-9 p.m. Learn how to increase your website's presence on the web to get free traffic and to sell more of your products/services. If available, please bring your laptop so that we can fix your website during the class. Contact Jennifer Flynn at 649-3444 or email marshallncstep@gmail.com for more info.

The Very Small Business Center will host free one-on-one appointments with a representative from the SBTDC for small business owners or those thinking about starting a business.
Appointments are available on April 12th. For more information or to register call Jennifer Flynn 649-3444 or email marshallncstep@gmail.com.

The Very Small Business Center is looking for qualified instructors who would be willing to teach similar classes to those above. In particular, we are looking for individuals with experience in the music business willing to work with local musicians. Please refer anyone who may be interested to Jennifer Flynn for a discussion of possibilities (649-3444 or email marshallncstep@gmail.com) Thank you!

The Very Small Business Center is a local business service center that provides internet, fax, computer, and printing services, as well as classes and consultations for entrepreneurs in the greater Marshall area. Located in Room 101 of Marshall High Studios.

Farmers' Market News - Last Indoor Winter Tailgate Market March 27th!

I’ve spotted daffodils in Asheville…they somehow survived the snow in early March, so maybe you have too. Please stop by Madison County Cooperative Extension/Madison Family Farms on Saturday morning to pick up some goodies for you and yours. If it’s a nice day you may find us vendors outside in the sunshine, but don’t fret: we’re still officially the Indoor Winter Tailgate Market! Meats, lettuce, potatoes, jams/jellies, eggs, crafts, mushrooms, baked goods, hot breakfast, hotter coffee**, and who knows what else…

For your calendar:

Saturday March 27
10am-2pm
Madison County Cooperative Extension
258 Carolina Lane
Marshall, North Carolina

(Madison County Tailgate Market in Mars Hill starts up April 3rd!!!!!!!) - Catherine Walker

The Marshall Sunday Farmers' Market (Sunday afternoons from 12pm - 4pm) is looking for craftspeople to do demonstrations at the market. It could be blacksmiths, weavers, potters, woodworkers, quilters, etc., whose processes would be interesting for the public to watch (and even stimulate interest in purchasing product). The demonstrations would be done outside. The contact person for the market is Paula Buckner.

60 WRITERS / 60 PLACES film screening this weekend at Good Stuff!

At Good Stuff, downtown Marshall
Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 7PM
with live music to follow!
60 WRITERS / 60 PLACES (2010; 50 min), a film by Luca Dipierro (a Marshall resident) and Michael Kimball, is about writers and their writing occupying untraditional spaces, everyday life, everywhere. It begins with the idea of the tableaux vivant, a living picture where the camera never moves, but the writers read a short excerpt of their work instead of silently holding their poses.

The writer and the writing go on no matter what is going on around them.

http://www.littleburnfilms.com

Developing a New Food Business - 2 Day Workshop - Registration Deadline Tuesday 3/16/10

Developing a New Food Business a two day workshop, sponsored by NCSU Cooperative Extension and Blue Ridge Food Ventures; and conducted by the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at NCSU.
http://www.ncsu.edu/foodscience/workshops_training.htm

During this intensive workshop participants will explore how to start a new food business (not a restaurant) by interacting with successful producers and university personnel from across the Southeast. The workshop will focus on food businesses that process, package, and sell a variety of food and agricultural products. Workshop participants will receive reference notebooks and other materials that will help them develop their businesses. In–class exercises, and homework, will make the program even more meaningful.

Some of the topics to be covered:
• What are you getting in to? Overview of Food Business.
• Market Research: How to do it.
• What is Your Market Strategy?
• Analyzing the market
• Setting up a business in North Carolina: Risk, Legal & Insurance issues.
• What is Your Product?
• Advertising & promoting your product.
• Market channels/outlets for small food processors & assistance from NCDA.
• Pricing Your Product.
• Overview of food processing/production techniques
• Rules & Regulations Who will regulate my food product?
• What does a co-packer do?
• Packaging and Labeling?
• What kinds of technical/operational information do I need?
• Obtaining financing & other necessary resources

Dates: March 30-31, 2010
Location: Haynes Building, A-B Tech, Enka Campus
Cost: $95 per person

Registration deadline is March 16th.

Pre-registration is required:
Make check payable to Blue Ridge Food Ventures, but send it to:

Cathy Hohenstein
NC Cooperative Extension
94 Coxe Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801

For more information, contact Cathy at 828-255-5522
cathy_hohenstein@ncsu.edu or mlsurgi@awnc.org

Marshall High Studio Artists Emily Reason & Rob Pulleyn to show in "Containment" - A Group Exhibition of Ceramic Boxes

Crimson Laurel Gallery
Bakersville, NC
April 1 - May 31, 2010
Artist Reception - Sat. April 10 6pm
View the show online at www.crimsonlaurelgallery.com

The idea of an exhibition of boxes is not a new one by any means. It is, however, an important one for the ceramic art collector. It is an opportunity to participate in a collecting tradition that has very deep roots. Ceramic art boxes have been collected and coveted throughout the centuries. From ancient Egypt to modern times the lure of a lidded vessel seems to reach across cultural and geographical boundaries. Their almost seductive nature invites us to question what is concealed, everyday objects, or someone’s most cherished memories.

For this exhibition we have invited select artists from across the country to interpret the box form. Each artist will bring to the project his or her own distinct method of surface design and construction. We invite you to consider the possibilities of this timeless art form and what might be contained within. For more information please visit www.crimsonlaurelgallery.com

Participating artists include Leanne Ash, William Baker, Hayne Bayless, Nicholas Bivins, Jason Burnett, Melisa Cadell, Kyle Carpenter, Julie Covington, David Crane, Susan Fagan, Marty Fielding, Becca Floyd, Erik Haagensen, Kent Harris, Bryan Hopkins, Shawn Ireland, Peter Karner, Ani Kasten, Jennifer Kincaid, Jeff Kleckner, Michael Kline, Eric Knocke, Ryan McKerley, Brooke Noble, Ronan Kyle Peterson, Rob Pulleyn, Emily Reason, Lindsay Rogers, Jenny Lou Sherburne, Liz Summerfield, Joy Tanner and Jerilyn Virden.