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SCORE workshops help small businesses get started In a four-part workshop series for small businesses and entrepreneurs, Detroit SCORE Chapter 18 presents “The Business Plan” series for September. All workshops start at 8:45 a.m. and end at noon at the Southfield Parks & Recreation facility, 26000 Evergreen Road, second floor, Southfield. “ Business Plan 101: Creating Your Business Plan(s)” will be Sept. 5. This provides the necessary first steps in the organization and research needed for the entrepreneur’s unique business opportunity. “ Business Plan 102: Marketing, Promotion and Sales” will be Sept. 13. The program uses the “four C’s” approach for creating a successful marketing plan. “Business Plan 103: Business Plan Financials and Budgeting” is Sept. 19. Attendees will be introduced to Break-Even analysis and instructed in how to use SCORE’s financials template, using a case study approach to describe startup costs and the three main financial statements. Electronic versions

A “Hired In Detroit” Job Fair sponsored by JobFairGiant.com is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30 at the Doubletree Hotel-Dearborn, 5801 Southfield Service Drive, Dearborn. Participating employers will hire in the following industries: Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales, Finance, Customer Service, Management, Retail, Information Technology, Machining, Restaurant, Medical and many other great industries. The Hired In Detroit job fair is held to promote hiring in Michigan over 50 companies are ready to interview and hire candidates for over 750 positions. For more information, visit www.JobFairGiant.com

Cold calls, or calling strangers, is daunting whether it be to apply for a job or to sell a product or conduct a survey. Everybody that gets telemarketer calls knows how aggravating it is to get calls from someone who wants them to buy or do something. So when you're the caller, how do you approach it? First, know your audience. If you're calling for a job, use Google to find out about the company. If you are calling all homeowners, think about how you would use the product at your house. It may sound corny, but write a short script, and memorize it. Then keep it in front of you, along with notes with responses for typical questions they may ask.  Start out by stating your name, company and why you're calling. Say it slow enough so that they at least can process the reason you're calling. Don't ask questions they can say no to, easily, like "May I take a moment of your time?"  You don't need to ask, "How are you today?'" Try to keep the

Submitted by Dottie DeHart, DeHart & Company Public Relations, DeHartandcompany.com / Every retailer spends a good portion of his day trying to figure out how best to serve his customers. But frankly, customers and their motivations can throw even the best retailers for a loop. Retail expert Chip Averwater lays out a few customer truths that retailers don’t want to admit. —“The customer is always right” is a mantra that business owners hear over and over again. Of course, anyone who has ever worked in retail knows this way of thinking doesn’t always hold water. In fact, sometimes customers are just plain wrong. They misunderstand products, what a store can do, how business is done, what pricing is realistic, and so on. But, says retail expert and author Chip Averwater, if you don’t want your retail store to join the estimated 95 percent of failed ventures, you’d better figure out quickly that even when the customer is wrong, he’s right. 1. Retail doesn’t get rave reviews. Someti

To post your events on The Oakland Press website, visit http://www.theoaklandpress.com/calendar/ Aug. 16 The Madison Heights Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon cutting at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 16 ribbon cutting for Sushi Gallery, 1449 W. 14 Mile Road, Madison Heights, on 14 Mile between Stephenson Hwy and North Campbell Road. The restaurant, which opened recently, serves sushi and traditional Korean dishes such as Korean Barbecue. For more information, call the restaurant at 248-291-5987. Aug. 16 Fundamentals of Writing a Business Plan, 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16 at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford Township. For small business owners who are developing their plan for success. The fee is $40. For registration, visit www.AdvantageOakland.com or call 248-858-0783. Aug. 16 Wayne State University’s School of Business Administration will host a panel discussion, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at MotorCity C

Aug. 7 Automation Alley hosts “speed networking” with “hyper-speed” networking, opening with registration at 8:30 a.m. The event is 9 to 11 a.m. at Automation Alley, 2675 Bellingham, Troy. Chuck Gifford, president of Local Business Network will lead the session. Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event series. The cost is $20 for members and $40 for nonmembers in advance. Register at www.automationalley.com or 800-427-5100. Aug. 7, 9 Steve Case, of Financial Independence of Bloomfield Hills is offering two free seminars for Ford Motor Company Retirees faced with a decision to take or not to take the buyout. The first seminar is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug, 7 at the Westin Hotel in Southfield and the second is 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 9 at the Community House in Birmingham. Case, a financial planner for more than 25 years, said this decision can make the difference between a comfortable retirement and one where the money simply runs out. To join the seminars, r