Restaurants and retail businesses in Paris may seek the help of a retail consultant for free on August 20-21 courtesy of the Paris Junior College Small Business Development Center and the Red River Region Business Incubator. The presenter is Marc Willson, Director of Merchant Performance Strategies, who brings more than 35 years of experience refining and promoting retail businesses and restaurants to the public.

“We are so pleased to be able to present Mr. Willson’s services free to the Paris community,” said SBDC Director Bradley Gottshalk. “He is known as an operations expert and has counseled over 500 clients in best practices, marketing and customer service. His seminars and presentations help keep entrepreneurs relevant in an extremely competitive and changing environment.”

The seminar will be held at the Red River Region Business Incubator from 8:30-10:30 a.m. on August 20 at 1445 Clarksville Street in Paris. The workshop will address today’s economic climate, consumers buying habits in a recession, defining customers, marketing and social media, store layout and merchandising, market analysis, experience is more important than the food, restaurant statistics and financials and restaurant math.

Willson is a graduate of George Mason University’s School of Public Policy and the University of Delaware. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. Wilson’s services are made possible in part through support from Paris Junior College and the U.S. Small Business Administration. A very few businesses will be able to book consultations after the seminar on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For more information or to register contact the Paris SBDC at 903-782-0224.