Success only runs one direction....
A huge thanks to WWAY-TV (ABC) for the great news piece about The 3/50 Project and how it’s been embraced by Southport, North Carolina. Well done, folks!
Now…any chance you could share the good news with the fine folks at Good Morning America? Sure would love to see some sweet national air time in the a.m.
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From a recent Accenture Consumer survey:
“Do you consciously pay more for a luxury item
at a brand store than a discount store?”
Yes – 59%
No – 41%
Granted, it’s close, and they’re talking about brand stores (ex: Coach), but…the key word here is “consciously.” Consumers seeking luxury goods are willing to bypass discount outlets in favor of quality, even though they know it will cost a bit more. For upscale retailers, that’s good news, regardless of whether they’re a national brand or an independent, locally owned boutique.
Bottom line? If you have the goods, and can back it up with top notch service and an equally matched environment, your customers are willing to skip T.J. Maxx and head your way. Just need to be sure (a) they know you’re there, and (b) you’re worth the trip.
Source: Accenture Consumer Luxury survey of adults 18 or older who purchased luxury items during the 2009 holiday season{ 2 comments }
Thanks to News 14 in Southport, North Carolina for enlightening their viewers about The 3/50 Project. Southport is unique, in that it relies heavily on independent brick and mortars for not only revenue, but for the charm the town is known for. Just try to image these serene streets lined with national chains…or worse, dark.
As for The Provision Company, well…sounds like you’re “doing it right,” given the loyalty voiced by your customer. Determination to become a necessary part of consumers’ lives, combined with educating them about the impact their choice of storefront makes, is the one-two punch necessary to have a positive impact. No question.
All the flyers and posters in the world won’t do the trick. Gotta do the hard work too if you want to still be standing this time next year.
Well done, everybody…well done.
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Now that the new federal laws governing rate hikes, notifications, and fees on credit cards are about to take effect, many small business owners have begun to ponder a move from their current business card to a personal one, in hopes of limiting their financial downside. After all, the new guidelines only extend that far, making the resulting predictability pretty attractive and fiscally responsible.
Seems like a logical move, right?
Well…maybe not. Turns out that bumping everything onto a personal card could put your credit rating in a precarious position (read: an even more precarious position than is already the case if you’re a sole proprietor).
An article that ran on the Wall Street Journal website sums the pros and cons up well. Take a moment and take a peek. You’ll be glad you did.
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Yes, this post coulda/shoulda run on Monday when a featured story appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, but Yours Truly was still wrapping her head around the delicate balance between the appearance of self promotion and the reality of seriously great placement on the front page of the business section. In the end, The 3/50 Project won out, having received glorious face time with a whole lot of readers throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Thanks to writer Jackie Crosby and photographer Glen Stubbe for telling our story. You guys rock.
Click here to read it, and if you’re a fan of locally owned, independent brick and mortars, chime in on the comments to share the love.
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Those of you who own a registered trademark, brand, or business name know how important it is to protect it, assuring that a third party doesn’t use it without permission, then twist your hard work into something unintended. Thankfully, social sites like Facebook and Twitter understand the inherent risks, and uphold the law, doing a fine job of quickly pulling down unauthorized use of trademarks and copyright protected materials (upon confirmation of legal ownership).
Blogger, on the other hand, chooses to protect the scammers.
That’s right. I said scammers. And in case there’s any doubt, I’m seriously ticked off (more accurately, I’m seriously p***ed off, but my Mom reads this, so gotta keep it clean). [click here to continue…]
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Okay, this one’s a personal rant, so please take it as such. [click here to continue…]
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How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth
and height of that pile on your desk,
which seems to be ever growing.
For the ends of long weeks
and the ideal of big numbers.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
most harried moments,
by neon and track light glow. [click here to continue…]
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