Isle of Wight’s County Economic Development, the Isle of Wight-Smithfield-Windsor Chamber of Commerce and the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center will host a retail business workshop from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Luter Family YMCA, 259 James St., Smithfield.

This free workshop, “From ‘Bah Humbug’ to Booming Holiday Sales,” is presented by Marc Willson, retail and restaurant consultant for the Virginia Small Business Development Center. He will address how to maximize holiday sales by showing how to:

Identify the most important eight weeks of the year;

Implement seven simple strategies;

Educate the community;

Create your ideal strategy;

Dress up your windows;

Merchandise for the holidays;

Personalize the experience;

Focus on customer service;

Market your brand;

And retain new customers.

To register for the event, visit https://theisle.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/11441.

Business owners also can register for a free, one-on-one consultation with Marc Willson at their place of business following the workshop. Appointments are limited.

Contact Kelly Amiss at 357-3502 or chamber@theisle.org for more info or to schedule your appointment.

Willson has 35 years of experience helping retail, restaurant and tourism-related small businesses refine and promote their concepts to the public.

In 1975, he started his retail career as co-owner of the largest distributor of Earth Shoes in the U.S.

Since then he has held executive positions with retailers such as Britches of Georgetowne, Crown Books, Circuit City, The Bicycle Exchange, Ecampus.com and Storetrax Inc.

Most recently, he opened an energy efficiency store in Dallas for Current Energy LLC, a company funded by Ross Perot Jr.

Willson joined the Virginia SBDC Network in 2009 as a retail industry consultant. He delivers seminars and assists retailers throughout Virginia and across the United States.