Overview
Join seasoned retail consultants Suzanne Rafenstein and Julia Killian for a three-part, no-cost webinar series in Spring 2025, presented by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Speaker’s Bureau. This series covers essential topics for retail success, including considerations for opening a brick-and-mortar store, effective merchandising techniques to drive purchases, and creating impactful in-store signage. Each 30-minute session, followed by a 15-minute Q&A, will be held online with registration required in advance.
All webinars are presented by Suzanne Rafenstein (Director of Display and Retail Consultant) and Julia Killian (Visual Merchandiser and Retail Consultant)
Webinars
Opening your First Retail Location |
Merchandising Techniques that Drive Purchasing Behavior |
Creating Signs Customers Will Actually Read |
| What to consider when opening your bricks and mortar store | Best display practices to enhance your products and attract attention | Using your brand to establish guidelines for signage in your shop to enhance your products and attract attention |
| 2/25/25
10:30 am- 11:15 am |
4/15/2025
10:30 am- 11:15 am |
4/24/2025
10:30 am- 11:15 am |
| Fee: WEDC and the Mainstreet Bounceback Program are covering the $99 cost of this webinar for operating, for-profit businesses under 500 employees. These businesses should register here:
Businesses <500 employees, Register here for Spring 2025 Fee: We have limited seats available for nonprofits, pre-venture (not yet started) businesses, and those participants from a company of over 500 employees thanks to the generosity of UW-Madison SBDC’s supporters. These organizations should use the link below to register. |
Fee: WEDC and the Mainstreet Bounceback Program are covering the $99 cost of this webinar for operating, for-profit businesses under 500 employees. These businesses should register here:
Businesses <500 employees, Register here for Spring 2025 Fee: We have limited seats available for nonprofits, pre-venture (not yet started) businesses, and those participants from a company of over 500 employees thanks to the generosity of UW-Madison SBDC’s supporters. These organizations should use the link below to register. |
Fee: WEDC and the Mainstreet Bounceback Program are covering the $99 cost of this webinar for operating, for-profit businesses under 500 employees. These businesses should register here:
Businesses <500 employees, Register here for Spring 2025 Fee: We have limited seats available for nonprofits, pre-venture (not yet started) businesses, and those participants from a company of over 500 employees thanks to the generosity of UW-Madison SBDC’s supporters. These organizations should use the link below to register.
|
Note: Participants must register for each of the three sessions individually.
Location: Online (link will be sent to participants shortly before the session date)
Cancellation Policy: Due to program costs and space limitations for these programs, participants are expected to cancel their registration at least 24 hours ahead of the program. Cancellations that occur less than 24 hours prior to the start of the program will be considered no-shows and may be removed from future programming and/or charged a course fee.
Disability Statement: Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UW-Madison SBDC office at sbdc@bus.wisc.edu to request accommodations or to ask general questions about the SBDC, classes and consulting.
Instructors
Suzanne Rafenstein
Suzanne Rafenstein has 35 years of experience in retail from small independent businesses to corporate settings. As an owner, buyer, manager and merchandiser, she has worked in many facets of the industry with companies like Neiman Marcus and Material Possessions in Chicago, Kauffman’s in Pittsburgh and her own home-furnishing shop, Embelezar in both Chicago and Milwaukee. As a the Director of Display and consultant with Retailworks Inc., Suzanne works with clients to review current and projected inventory plans, source products, brand identity and help with visual merchandising and in-store product displays.
Julia Killian
Julia Killian brings four decades of retail buying, merchandising, display and management skills to Retailworks. From her work with independent boutiques to national department stores, Julia keeps her finger on the pulse of retail trends. She owned her own successful boutique, B’tween Friends, for over 10 years and is the buyer/manager of Lela Boutique, a women’s clothing store in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. Julia’s experience has given her insights into the challenges faced by small business owners. She is able to help with many aspects of our clients’ retail needs including buy plans, inventory control, merchandising and display techniques.
About Retailworks
Retailworks, Inc. is an award-winning commercial interior design, display, branding, and consulting firm headquartered in Milwaukee, WI. We create engaging, branded environments, thought-provoking and intentional art, and display installations to positively influence the customer experience.
Retailworks, Inc. is 100% woman owned, and is the parent company of LMF Studios.
The Wisconsin SBDC Network is a proud part of the Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship in the University of Wisconsin System.
It is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact us at sbdc@bus.wisc.edu or call (608) 263-2221.