As part of efforts to enhance entrepreneurship development among women in small and medium enterprises, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has trained 40 women in marketing, digital sales, and business networking to help improve their brands.
The one-day ‘Women in SMEs Workshop’ organised by ACCI-BEST Centre was geared toward exposing women in business to strategies that would help them expand their business and also garner knowledge in promoting their businesses online.
In her opening remarks, the vice president, women development, Barr. Roseline Nwosu, who was represented by the director, ACCI-BEST Centre, Mrs. Tinuke Temitope, said the training was aimed at enlightening women in SMEs on how to promote and sell their products and services to consumers through physical and digital channels.
She said the targeted businesses cut across catering, fashion designing, selling of local products, agriculture, farming, poultry and others.
She stated that the chamber was interested in promoting its local business community and providing access to valuable resources, discounts and relationship that help businesses save money and market their products and urged the participants to join the chamber to help boost their businesses.
One of the resource persons and a member of ACCI’s Young CEO Club, Mr. Fife Banks, while speaking on business expansion and branding enlightened the women on ways and methods to grow their businesses through various platforms.
He introduced them to the concept of branding as an entire process of the goods and not just a one size-fit production or focusing on the external, describing branding as the sum total of the perception of value, adding “branding does not just end on the physical but the real action is online.”
He emphasised that branding attracts strangers, visitors, customers, promoters to business.
Another resource person, Mr. Tobi Huseni who facilitated the session on digital sales and marketing described social media as an effective business tool participant could leverage on to advance their businesses.
He explained that exploring these tools could get clients inclined to making buying decisions on goods and services.
He also encouraged participants to always listen to their customers and competitors and also make smarter decisions to grow their audience.
One of the participants, Mrs. Umoh Ekaette, who shared her experience revealed that to attain success in various business and endeavors, participants must always keep records of profits and losses of their business venture.
She also emphasized the importance of setting goals in business and continuous improvement in revenue (profit) and staff strength.
A statement by the ACCI media/strategy officer, Olayemi John-Mensah, said the participants appreciated the opportunity to be part of the workshop and expressed their gratitude to the chamber for organizing an innovative session for women in SMEs.
