Small Business Week Offers Sessions on Lāna‘i May 12

For the first time ever, Lāna‘i, Moloka’i and Hāna will host Small Business Week events during Maui’s Small Business Week.

Free Maui SBW events are scheduled from May 9 to 13, 2016, at locations across Maui County, including two sessions on Lāna‘i on Thursday, May 12, at the ILWU Hall in Lāna‘i City.

Pulama Lāna‘i is offering complimentary breakfast to attendees at 8 a.m. before the morning program begins.

Following the leadership of the Lāna‘i Chamber, additional sponsors and supporters on Lāna‘i include ILWU Lana’i, and Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center, making the free admission possible.

“The Lāna’i Chamber of Commerce is a proud supporter of local businesses and glad to aid Small Business Week on Lāna‘i,” said Bradley Bunn.

Social and Online Marketing for Lāna’i Businesses with Monty Agcaoili and Crimson Soberano

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the ILWU Hall in Lāna‘i City, Monty Agcaoili and Crimson Soberano will present tips and techniques for social and online marketing, specific to their experiences with a variety of Lāna’i-based businesses. Social media can be especially critical to the success of brick-and-mortar businesses in a remote locale, using online marketing sources to tap into markets likely to generate customers and visits. This session will give attendees practical guidance on how to effectively apply virtual marketing for business results.

A long-time resident of Lāna‘i, Agcaoili is currently the assistant manager of Richard’s Market. Prior to Richard’s, he worked in finance with Pūlama Lāna‘i and with the Four Seasons Resorts Lāna’i. He is the lead in the marketing efforts for Richard’s Market and sister properties Hale Keaka and Lāna‘i City Grille.

He recently completed the Ka Ipu Kukui Fellowship program, a Maui County development program designed to develop young professionals into future leaders through comprehensive community based programs, to address the planning of the future of Maui Nui.

Originally from Kalihi, Soberano made her move to Lāna’i 10 years ago. While working as a medical assistant for over 10 years, she also took a part-time position at the Lāna’i Theater and then stepped into a full-time role as retail coordinator for Lāna’i Theater, Lāna’i City Grille and Richard’s Market.

She was recently promoted to Lāna’i Theater Entertainment supervisor. Along with fellow co-worker Agcaoili, she helps with marketing for Lāna’i Theater and Lāna’i City Grille.

Production Mapping with Alton S. Arakaki

From 4 to 5:30 p.m., Alton S. Arakaki will discuss “Production Mapping: Rolling Out Your Production Idea On Paper First.”

In this workshop, attendees will be introduced to production mapping, a very effective tool developed by Arakaki to support his work with professional farmers. Production mapping has helped professional farmers see the production flow of their farm business on paper. Attendees will also learn how production mapping can be used to guide efforts in developing and executing a production business plan.

Arakaki has been conducting educational programs in agriculture production and business for over 30 years with the University of Hawai‘i’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’ Cooperative Extension Service.

Arakaki’s clientele includes professional farmers growing crops in Hawai‘i.

With expertise in the business of growing fruit and vegetable crops in various production models, Arakaki has conducted projects in multi-cropping agroforestry systems for native Hawaiian wood trees, as well as workshops and demonstrations—in both the field and classroom settings—in the disciplines of crop sciences and the business management of farming production enterprises.

Register for the Lāna‘i events online.

The full week-long program of free educational sessions at all locations is available online; registration is open.

The full program includes prominent speakers from California, O‘ahu and the Maui business community. Topics include: pricing strategies and the role of pricing in your marketing mix; six different kinds of crowdfunding and how each one works; honing marketing techniques such as use of effective tag lines and a polished elevator pitch; an introduction to lean techniques for product and service businesses; and improving operations and expanding a small business through focus on your business plan.