Seminar on Wal-Mart shaping up

The possibility of Wal-Mart opening up shop in Fort Frances has a good number of local business trying to figure out how it will affect them.
And in fact, a seminar slated here next Tuesday, entitled “How to do business in a Wal-Mart environment,” already has attracted more than 60 registrants.
“Everything is going really well,” said Dawn Booth, co-ordinator of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce. “Yesterday [Monday] we had a big influx of registrations.
The seminar, to be held April 15 from 7:30 -10 a.m. at La Place Rendez-Vous, will show people what kind of impact a large “big box” retailer can have on a community.
“I think this will be very valuable,” said Booth, adding the seminar will teach registrants good business practices whether Wal-Mart or any other so-called “big box” retailer comes to town or not.
“There’s no loss in anyone attending the seminar,” she noted. “There’s information you can use if Wal-Mart comes or not. I encourage everyone to come out.”
The seminar will be conducted by John C. Williams of the J.C. Williams Group—a leading retail, consulting, marketing, and research firm in Canada and North America.
He will teach business owners skills in merchandising, staffing, service, promotion, and marketing based on information from recent research by the Centre for Study of Retail Activity.
Booth hopes the seminar will help people voice any concerns they may have about the possibility of a “big box” retailer coming to town.
The Chamber sent a letter to its members earlier this year with little response. A public forum to discuss the issues surrounding Wal-Mart also was planned, but it may not go forward if next Tuesday’s seminar alleviates concerns.
“We’ll see what comes out of the seminar,” said Booth. “Nothing else is planned [right now].”
Booth indicated if the need for more public debate on the subject arises out of the seminar, then something else may be planned.
The cost to register for the seminar is $50 per business (with a maximum of two participants per business). Registration includes a continental breakfast.
Registrations are being taken until the end of the week by calling either the Chamber office (274-5773) or the Fort Frances Times (274-5373).