The Womens Business Center (WBC) of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) has taken some of its training on the road including a trip to the Dallas Market Center, the largest wholesale resource in the world encompassing four buildings totaling more than five million square feet. Over 400,000 people visit the Dallas Market each year including more than 200,000 buyers from all 50 states and 84 countries.
Forty-five people participated in the Dallas Market (DMC) bus trip which started in Sulphur, OK and included a stop in Ardmore, OK before heading down to Dallas. Time on the bus wasnt wasted. Training started right away with Dr. Glenn Muske, Oklahoma State University, providing a marketing presentation and Dr. Barbara Rackley, WBC coordinator in Durant, making a business plan presentation.
Upon arrival, lunch was provided by the Dallas Market Center and Jill Robinson, vice president for Retail Sales at DMC welcomed the group. On the first day, the group became acquainted with the DMC, its mission and where to find specific inventory. Ten of the women business owners registered to be able to make purchases at Market and will return to do business there.
The day concluded with a visit to the Dallas Galleria for dinner, to shop and to work on an assignment of identifying different types of marketing displays.
Day two started at Neiman Marcus with a welcome from the public relations director and an opportunity for participants to check out ideas for displays that might be adaptable to their own business. An afternoon bus tour included a fixture and display company providing participants with another resource to purchase items for their businesses.
The Dallas Market trip was worth every minute I invested away from my business, said Jill Reyna, owner of J J Mundi, a womens dress shop in downtown Durant. Both days were jam packed with resources and information that I can use in my business, and it was also a lot of fun.
Dr. Rackley, WBC coordinator says more Dallas Market trips are planned for the coming year because of the high demand for this type of hands-on training and experience.
The Dallas Market trip was made possible with a grant from the Marilyn Burns Endowment Fund and coordinated by Oklahoma State University Extension Centers in partnership with REIs Womens Business Center.
Womens Business Center services are available from two locations, Durant and Oklahoma City. For a WBC event or workshop in your area, visit www.ruralenterprises.com and click on Upcoming Events.
The WBC is sponsored in part by the U. S. Small Business Development Administration.