From Showroom to Strategy: How Local Businesses Win Trust Before the Sale

Join Sherri Tafoya, owner of Custom Blinds & Design, for a practical Skill School on how local businesses can build trust before a customer ever makes a purchase. Drawing from her experience leading a successful Lincoln business, Sherri will share how customer experience, reputation, community presence, and clear messaging all work together to drive growth. This session is designed for small business owners, marketers, students, and anyone who wants to better understand how local brands earn attention, build credibility, and turn everyday interactions into long-term business value.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand how trust is built before the sale: Learn how first impressions, clear communication, reviews, referrals, and local reputation influence whether a customer chooses your business.
• Learn how customer experience becomes a marketing strategy: Discover how every touchpoint, from the first phone call to the final follow-up, can strengthen your brand and create word-of-mouth growth.
• Identify practical ways to clarify your message and stand out locally: Walk away with simple strategies to communicate what you do, who you help, and why customers should choose you over bigger or cheaper competitors.

Speaker Bio:

Sherri Tafoya is the Founder and CEO of Custom Blinds & Design, a Lincoln-based business she started in 2000 and has grown into a trusted name in custom window treatments. Known for her people-first leadership style, Sherri has built her business around relationships, service, and doing the little things well. Custom Blinds & Design now serves both Lincoln and Omaha and is recognized as a Hunter Douglas Centurion Gallery. Sherri brings real-world insight into how local businesses can earn trust, create memorable customer experiences, and grow through reputation.

Sponsored By:

University of Nebraska College of Journalism and Mass Communications

Parking Information:

Metered street parking and garage parking are available.