Annual Benefit

Once a year we celebrate the success of Renaissance’s current and former students at our Annual Benefit. Complete with food, dancing and live music, this exciting fundraising event provides a direct sales marketplace for over 15 Renaissance graduates. Our Annual Benefit, which takes place during the month of September, is a great networking opportunity for the business professionals, community leaders and entrepreneurs in attendance and we also recognize local business leaders with awards at the event. This is also an opportunity for the community to show its support for Renaissance by making donations and to patronize local small businesses by buying from our graduates in the marketplace.

Annual Holiday Sale

Our annual Holiday Sale, during the month of December, provides a great networking and direct sales opportunity for Renaissance graduates. Open to the public, the Holiday Sale allows our graduates showcase their products and gives the local community a chance to pick up some unique holiday gifts.  In past years, Renaissance has hosted the Holiday Sale in the lobby of Citibank at Market in 1st and at the Renaissance head-quarters on 5th Street in SOMA and on the top floor of First Bank at 550 Montgomery Street. Business Planning graduates offering products for sale are welcome to apply to be a vendor.

Business Planning Graduations

Graduations for our Business Planning Class occur four times a year. These events feature prominent guest speakers from the business world and celebrate the success of our graduating entrepreneurs. Graduations also serve as a great networking opportunity and are often attended by local business and community leaders

Business Networking

Renaissance also offers a number of unique networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Several times a year we host speaking engagements by renowned business leaders who offer their success stories as well as valuable advice to those in attendance. These engagements offer attendees an opportunity to learn from the best as well as a chance to network with leading business owners.

Learn More

If you are interested in learning more about Renaissance events please fill out this form and we will contact you shortly with more information.

SMALL BUSINESS CLASSES YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS!

Last Business Planning Class of the year starts next week! It's not too late to sign-up!

The Business Planning class is an intensive, 14-week program that will help you create a practical, effective business plan while addressing every aspect of starting and developing a small business.  Individual consultations are included! 

Our next Business Planning Class begins on Tuesday, September 14th and will meet every Tuesday and Thursday for 14 weeks from 6-9pm.  Download an application from our website. Deadline to apply is Sept. 7th, however we still have spots in the class so call us and let us know that your application is coming if you are going to miss the deadline. 415-348-6248 Antoinette Sanchez.

Ritual Coffee Roasters founder, Eileen Hassi, speaking engagement

Wednesday, September 22nd
6:30pm – 8:00pm

Learn how Eileen Hassi built a nationally recognized brand that revolutionized the specialty coffee market!

When Eileen Hassi founded the first Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco in 2004 on Valencia Street in the Mission District, her goal was to introduce the light roasting technique that plays up the flavor of the coffee beans.  Detractors said that San Francisco coffee drinkers would never give up their dark roasts but it was only a matter of weeks, or maybe just one, before Ritual had a line out the door.  Ritual is now one of San Francisco's most recognizable local brands and can be found in cafes, restaurants and grocery stores throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
*Light hors d'oeuvres are included

Cost: $10

Fashion Industry Network Roundtable

Monthly Fashion Meetings with Julie Arvan
2nd Monday of every month
6:30pm – 8:30 pm

Our Fashion Industry Network Roundtable surrounds you with other apparel and accessory business owners, and helps you get your business going and growing! This monthly meeting will give you the opportunity to break through obstacles, avoid pitfalls and generate successful solutions, accountability and a network of support.

More specifically, the Fashion Industry Network Roundtable can help you with:

•    Expanding and growing your business
•    Accountability, support and business guidance
•    Making critical decisions
•    Staying focused and on task
•    Building a great network!

Facilitator: Julie Arvan’s business experience includes her position as VP of Merchandising for the Gymboree Stores during its start-up years, owning her own retail business, and consulting to a large cross section of fashion and accessory businesses through her business, New Planet Consulting. Her unique breath of knowledge, entrepreneurial experiences, love for new ideas and products, and respect for the ‘beginner’s mind’, have made her a sought after consultant to creative fashion businesses, large and small.

2010 Meeting Dates:
September 13
October 11
November 8
December 13

Register now at: www.acteva.com/go/rec

$15

QuickBooks Made Easy!
Monday, September 13th, 20th & 27th
6:00pm – 9:00pm

This 3 session course is designed to educate small business owners about how to set-up a company file in QuickBooks and manage the day to day tasks required to successfully run a business.

Topics covered include:
•    Selecting the ideal version of QuickBooks for your business
•    Setting up your chart of accounts
•    Invoicing and tracking customers
•    Entering and paying bills
•    An overview of reports
•    Customizing invoices
•    Creating budgets to track performance
•    Backing up your data and more!

*Laptops are required for this class.  Renaissance has a limited number of laptops available for students on a first come-first served basis.  Each participant who uses their own computer will be provided with a link to a free 30 day trial of QuickBooks to use for the duration of the class.

Instructor:   Melinda Phillips Zumski is the owner of Phillips Consulting Services, providing practical experience and a strong theoretical background in accounting and financial issues. She is an expert in financial analysis and the use of QuickBooks Pro as a management tool.

Cost: $60

Register now at: www.acteva.com/go/rec

Start Your Own Fashion Business!
Wednesday, October 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th and November 3rd.
6:00pm – 9:00pm

Do you wish you could try your business on "for size", make "alterations", and then "wear" it with confidence?  You can!  Good business, like good design, meets specific design criteria.  This new 5-part class is designed to help you tackle the business side of the fashion industry.

In this new 5-part class you will:

• Refine your the vision and outline a big picture plan for the future
• Test and troubleshoot your business assumptions (SWOT Analysis)
• Estimate and research costs, and explore funding options
• Lay out what you’ve learned in the form of a mini business plan

Taught by former VP of Merchanidizing at Gymboree, Julie Arvan.

Cost: $120 for 5 weeks

Register now at: www.acteva.com/go/rec