Weebly, a web-hosting service based in San Francisco, California, is setting its sights on Savannah as part of its first ever “Like a Boss” Bus Tour. Wednesday, April 13 in Johnson Square, Weebly experts will be leading various workshops and providing one-on-one help on how to start building a website or an online store.
Kim Chappell, manager of PR and community development at Weebly, said the company saw the bus tour as a great opportunity to connect with their existing customers while showing entrepreneurs, small-business owners and students how Weebly can help them.
The goal for the ‘Like a Boss’ tour is to build the existing community of Weebly entrepreneurs, hear customer’s stories and create new partnerships with organizations on the ground throughout the 11 cities they are passing through.
As a company, Weebly believes in people’s ideas and wants to help rising entrepreneurs share them with the world. With their cross-country tour, the company aims to empower people to take that first step in becoming their own boss.
Each stop on the tour will be unique to the city and Weebly’s local partners. In Savannah, Weebly will be partnering up with entrepreneur centers, small business chambers, art museums, shopping centers and even a brewery.
Chappell said, “Helping people of all ages get the confidence and know-how to get started online is really what we’re all about, and if that means we have to drive across the country to come do it, we’re there!”
Chappell also feels Weebly can offer SCAD students an easy yet design-savvy way to showcase their work on a digital platform for free.
“It’s vital in today’s job market to have all of your information link from one place – to be able to show what you can bring to the table beyond the resume,” said Chappell. “A personal website and portfolio is a great way for students to really what they make, who they are and what makes their story different from the hundreds of other up and coming artists. It’s also a great way for them to start on e-commerce and sell the projects and artwork to a new audience online outside of Savannah.”
If a student is applying for an internship, a gallery, or a job, it is almost impossible to showcase all of his or her work through a paper resume with bullet points. She explained that an online portfolio is a visual, interactive, and personal medium that adequately expresses who an entrepreneur or artist is.
“To SCAD students I would say, you obviously got into this prestigious art school because you have an incredible talent and tremendous potential,” Chappell said. “It’s no easy feat. As you continue to develop that talent – whether it’s fashion, design or 3D arts – you should have a place to showcase your work and own your story.”
Chappell encourages students and entrepreneurs of all levels to come sign up when Weebly arrives April 13. Experts will also be giving away $1,000 to one lucky student who signs up during the day.
Written by Emilie Kefalas.
