Success only runs one direction....
Here’s an example of when doing business can do even greater good. Are you a vendor, rep, or showroom principal who doesn’t want to be left off the Good Guys list? Check out Change for Life (your competitors already have).
And retailers, you can get in on the positive buzz too…and it won’t cost you a dime.
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Of all the terrific stories that have made it to local news broadcasts, this one deserves an award. Talk about hittin’ all the bases, including Eat Down the Street, The 3/50 Project’s way of supporting local eateries.
Big thanks to Melissa Hankins, the reporter who nailed the story perfectly. And huuuuuge thanks to Courtney Burns at The Bag Lady for doing such a great job of giving the Project its voice. Well done!
As for that gentleman in the plaid shirt and glasses? Give him a hug for me, someone. He’s a hero in my book.
Note: If you don’t see the video player beneath the headline of this entry, simply approve the cookie for WBTV in your browser and it will appear.
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Stories like this one light my heart up, big time. Congrats to Ken, Katie, Meg, and Jim of Capannari’s Ice Cream in Mount Prospect, Illinois for being a shining example of what sets local independent brick and mortars apart from their chain and franchise competitors. The “anything is possible” approach comes through loud and clear, and is an inspiration to us all.
Bonus points: Did you catch the poster in the window behind Ken? Yup. That’s right. The 3/50 Project, in all its glory. When I called to congratulate him on the story, he laughed. “Katie said you’d be happy.” He was right.
He was also preparing for Lee Dewyze (American Idol finalist) to hit town, which had just about everyone in Mount Prospect spinning like a whirling dervish…which, undoubtedly, means a whole lot of ice cream cones about to go out the door.
Thanks to everyone at Capannari’s for sharing the smiles, across the miles. I promise to pop in next time I’m in your neck of the woods (says the self-admitted ice cream addict).
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Next stop on The 3/50 Project road tour? Oswego, New York, where they’re celebrating Small Business Week!
Today’s the last day you can buy tickets—be sure to give the Chamber a call ASAP, at the number shown below. See you there….
The 3/50 Project in Oswego, New York
Date: Friday, May 21, 2010
Time: 8:00am – 9:30am
Location: SUNY Oswego-Hewitt Union Ballroom
Washington Boulevard, on the SUNY Oswego Campus
Open to all area business owners
Tickets: $10 Chamber members / $15 non-members
Includes: Breakfast and program
Please purchase before May 17, 2010
To purchase: oswegofultonchamber.com or (315) 343-7681
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From the CBS Evening News tonight:
In Washington, financial reform is working its way through Congress. and in a victory for consumers, the Senate voted to reduce the fees banks charge merchants for debit card transactions. Stores could pass those savings on to you.
Now we all know that per run-of-the-mill transaction, that doesn’t amount to anything close to what consumers will expect in the way of cost reduction (remember the fees aren’t going away, they’re just being reduced, per swipe). Cumulatively, however, the savings per monthly merchant statement could be significant, depending on just how large a reduction we’re talking about.
Time will tell…not to mention the fact this is only the Senate. Until both houses pass a bill, then the Oval Office signs it, well…it’s just talk.
Still, it’s good talk, in the right direction. At last.
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Confused by the moving target known as Facebook privacy settings? Join the club. Seems every other week, there’s yet another set of new changes (theoretically) designed to allow users better control over who has access to what on their personal profile pages. The problem, however, is that in spite of the added settings, more of our Facebook info continues to find its way to public eyeballs, including posts that pop up in Google searches, depending on whether or not you’ve discovered the Holy Grail of FB privacy settings.
Which appears to be a fairly short list of folks.
As opposed to the long list of folks who have had it with the confusion.
Earlier this week, Facebook tried to address the problem by breaking down how the myriad of privacy settings work in tandem with one another. [click here to continue…]
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If you’re a retailer, the headline alone was all you needed to sit up and pay attention. There’s no greater frustration (well, maybe a small few greater frustrations) than sorting through your monthly merchant account statement, then realizing just how much all those nickle and dime fees add up to each month. Even more unnerving are the fees attached to debit cards—a financial tool that doesn’t even require credit extension (read: risk) on the part of banks, since if the money’s there, the transaction goes through. If it’s not, well, according to the new credit card rules, no go, Joe.
Rather than reiterate what’s been written elsewhere, here’s a link to an article that ran on the Home Accents Today website (thanks, Wes Kennedy, for the tip via Twitter). Read up, the grab a pen and write your Senator. This is one of those times retailers’ voices need to be heard, loud and clear.
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Big thanks to Virtu and all the wonderful independent brick and mortars who helped get The 3/50 Project on the radar at Chicago’s Channel 7 (ABC). I love the comment about the domino effect—buying local keeps them going round and round locally, instead of heading out of town. Well put.
I did find it, um…interesting…that the big box and chain response was that their charitable giving isn’t considered in the data regarding how much revenue returns to the community. It is. That’s included in “other business expenditures.” Big boxes and national chains may donate to the national non-profit offices, but rarely (if ever) are their checks made out to non-profits based in the local community; if they are, the amounts are a pittance compared to what they send out of state. Again, the money leaves town….
Here’s to keeping the dollars local. All of ‘em.
As a side note: Sorry the blog’s been static lately. Was in Asia for two weeks, and now in Nebraska for my niece/Goddaughter’s high school graduation. Back in the office tomorrow, then off to the National Stationery Show in New York this weekend. Thanks for patiently awaiting my return.
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