|
|
|
|
| The Clusters: Small Business Group Netweaving Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts |
| Attention - People from Middletown | Views: 502 |
| May 14, 2007 3:04 am | | Attention - People from Middletown | # |
Scott Wolpow | | If you are part of this network can you please be heard. We are happy to help, but we do not know what you need.
So post, introduce yourself. Tell us what you do. What are your goals?
I think my town is small. We have only 80,000. But I know your town is smaller. So let us know.
Scott Wolpow
http://www.publiccto.com
http://www.myfilm.com
http://www.discountjewelry.com Use Promo ryze to save even morePrivate Reply to Scott Wolpow |
| May 15, 2007 5:34 am | | re: Attention - People from Middletown | # |
Kristin | | Hi Scott,
I'm not from Middletown---and my town isn't nearly as 'intimate' either--53,000, but I've worked in towns the size of Middletown, even managed a few. The difference in the small town I worked in was that the population was a very involved community. A lot of great people and so many committees that I found myself after work attending an average of 8 committee meetings each week. But they were actively trying to make the town the very best place to live in within the Commonwealth. The school system is rated very high--came out on top a few years--and we had a lot of innovative programs. How that all happened is because we had concerned citizens.
I was also brought in to consult with a town that frankly was really very down trodden. It had had its hayday during the boom of the Plastics Industries and they had a large percentage of the nation's business. A bit of an overwhelming task to help revitalize that community! But, I must say, a great deal of fun!
The community had attracted a lot of immigrants. Many without even a high school diploma and all blue collar. They were hard working but lost at the closure of the plastic factories. Downtown was a ghost town with abandoned building after abandoned building. It took a lot of knocking on doors, a lot of public speaking, a lot of articles in the newspaper, just to find the people who would really be willing to work at making the town a great place for the working class to live.
First we needed to bring people in to the town to do business. A whole town Flea Market was held and drew people from all over.
Besides Tupperware, the other major plastic product that they produced were those Gawd awful Pink Flamingoes. Yup. All of them made in this one town. So I had one of my 'signatures' for the town and the other was it was the home of 'Johnny Appleseed.'
We organized a parade (still an annual event). It is the Parade of the Pink Flamingoes. And it is just a fun day where Flamingoes reign. We made floats as tacky as they possibly could have been and flamingo hats, shirts lined the streets. Pink was the color of the day!
We had awards (with lots of PR) for the best float, the best costume, and the best decorated yard---Flamingoes everywhere! We had fun with it!
The town businesses were then encouraged to purchase apple trees to line the streets. Within a year the town was really sprucing up and had some new life in it. Through economic development new business was brought to town to offer jobs to those who lost theirs. Small business also found its way to downtown and empty storefronts filled up. New business owners were encouraged to invest in the town and I asked them to purchase planter boxes that would be placed through out the town. They paid to have the boxes maintained by one of our gardening companies and they got to have a brass plague with their business name on their planter box.
I then went to the vocational school and asked them if they'd make window boxes for all the downtown shops. I got Home Depot to donate the lumber. The kids got excited about the project and the town beautification was well underway.
Downtown streetlights were replaced with gas lantern looking lights that actually spiffed up downtown to the point of it resembling a Norman Rockwell painting!
The town has now become a vibrant community once again. You need to have a vision for Middletown first. And I'm not certain that the town shares the same vision. As I said to Lamar, I was concerned that SETI would find life before Middletown did. Or before you got a response from someone from Middletown, Scott.
I know that Althea loved my planter box idea and she plans on bringing one to Middletown Days. But the town needs businesses to also purchase planters (all the same for a cohesive look!)
And Middletown needs to decide what their 'signature' is and go with it! Perhaps it's wine--or fresh air, maybe it's something all together different. But you need to capitalize on it and have fun!
And if you have the right economic development person you can start filling up those empty storefronts and keep people making purchases in their own backyard rather than heading to the mall. What's Middletown's Strategic Plan? What's your town's history? Their mission statement? What are they trying to attract? Enhance? Preserve? What do you want Middletown Days to do for the town?
So where ARE the people of Middletown????
Kristin
http://impactwriting.netPrivate Reply to Kristin |
| May 15, 2007 1:25 pm | | re: re: Attention - People from Middletown | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Kristin,
Remember yopu are talking about New England and their 'can do' work ethic. "It's a wonderful life" really is a tribute to that.
I think the people of Middletown do not care. They have no industry besides the Earth letting of steam. They jump in the car and drive to the big box. Perhaps they would rather do that, than have the big box in the town.
Scott Wolpow
http://www.publiccto.com
http://www.myfilm.com
http://www.discountjewelry.com Use Promo ryze to save even morePrivate Reply to Scott Wolpow |
| May 16, 2007 1:12 am | | re: re: re: Attention - People from Middletown | # |
Althea Garner | |
I am wondering if anyone has had the idea of selling canned Lake County air?
They've done this all over the world with sand ('take the beach home with you'), so selling cans (could be standard soda-type cans) with clean air inside, could be something that the area becomes known for.
Just a thought!
I am still unsuccessful at sourcing a HD flat screen and am certainly not going to rent one at $450/day!
We are also trying to source an 'Easy-Up' tent for the garden expo ... any offers there?
I am toying with the idea of raffling off a 5 day cruise for two in the Mexican Riviera........ (the winner would only have to get to the port and pay port duties) - what are your thoughts?
:)
Althea Garner
Realtor
Star Real Estate
(714) 264-3458
www.ocstaarz.com
Remember.... we are NEVER too busy for your referrals!
Private Reply to Althea Garner |
| May 16, 2007 10:17 am | | re: re: re: re: Attention - People from Middletown | # |
Kathleen Smart | | I am curious to know how the internet training is coming along. Has it started yet? I know Lamar mentioned they were going to be offering these classes so people will understand and learn how to use Ryze and other online tools.
Perhaps at the event this year someone could show the townspeople just how many folks were here and ready to communicate with them about their town and their particular issues or needs etc.
You guys could print out a collage of Ryze posts and photos to share with the town and hand out a small business card with the Ryze address and log in information and encourage folks to jump online and communicate back to the board.
Then if after that we don't hear or see anyone we can just assume they don't wish to talk back to us or want this technology?
It's kind of like some people who believe there are other life forms on other planets so they send out signals and try to communicate but no one answers? :)
So Middletown, we are here and willing to speak with you about your town and lend our support and friendship if you wish!
Happy Wednesday- Kathleen
Kathleen R. Smart, CEO SmarterIdeas Inc.
Living Life by Design not Default
http://www.smarterideas.com
http://www.smarterideas.com/radio Private Reply to Kathleen Smart |
| May 16, 2007 3:44 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Attention - People from Middletown | # |
Althea Garner | |
Kathleen,
Lamar and I will be educating the people of Middletown on the existence of this network, at the Expo in June.
I undertook to book a space for this event with the intention of promoting property investment, however, I chatted to Lamar about the possibility of him sharing my space to promote Project Middletown. I think that this would be an ideal opportunity to demostrate the ease of use of Ryze and the fanstatic networking and advertising opportunities.
I believe that the parade and expo will afford me the chance to chat to people to see if there is any interest in this regard.
We are dealing with a very small community but I agree that it is pointless supporting a town that has no interest in the platform that we have provided.
I would like to assess this situation after the expo. Certainly if there is not sufficient interest, there will be no further reason for me to visit Middletown or to continue this network.
If however, people ARE interested, then we will proceed.
I guess it's all up to the people of Middletown.
What WOULD help, is if members of this network can give us an idea of how much your Ryze presence has contributed to your bottom line - a percentage would give Middletown an idea of whether the increase in business would justify their time on Ryze.
:)
Althea Garner
Realtor
Star Real Estate
(714) 264-3458
www.ocstaarz.com
Remember.... we are NEVER too busy for your referrals!
Private Reply to Althea Garner |
| May 16, 2007 4:12 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Attention - People from Middletown | # |
Reg Charie | | >>What WOULD help, is if members of this network can give us an idea of how much your Ryze presence has contributed to your bottom line - a percentage would give Middletown an idea of whether the increase in business would justify their time on Ryze.
Absolute percentages are difficult/time consuming to calculate depending on the segment of my business, but I can give you some ballpark figures.
Hosting - 80% increase due to Ryze
Web Design - 30%
SEO - 40%
Digital Product Sales - 10%
Other (EG Affiliate Sales) - 60%
Reg
http://DotCom-Productions.com Private Reply to Reg Charie |
| May 16, 2007 4:42 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Attention - People from Middletown | # |
Althea Garner | |
Reg,
That is fantastic ~ thank you!
:)
Althea Garner
Realtor
Star Real Estate
(714) 264-3458
www.ocstaarz.com
Remember.... we are NEVER too busy for your referrals!
Private Reply to Althea Garner |
| May 19, 2007 2:29 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Attention - People from Middletown | # |
Kathleen Smart | | Hi Althea,
I was hoping to be able to travel to Middletown myself this year. I am originally from the bay area and have family living in San Mateo. My son and his family recently moved to Studio City California and I had hoped to plan a trip to sweep through, but my business is going to force me to delay my trip.
Regarding how Ryze gas helped my bottom line. My reason for joining this network and others like it is to expand my knowledge and gain relationships. I have been a member of Ryze since 2004 and have not intentionally atempted to gain clients or do business here other than promote my radio programs. I certainly wouldn't turn business away but I like working with clients face to face and also provide training programs for companies and teams. I know some people like to provide phone coaching and will work with people over the phone also.
What I have been able to do is develop relationships for larger purposes and connecting world wide with others.
I think people everywhere have different intentions and reasons for online activity such as Ryze. My belief is that we are all part of a large family and the fun is getting to meet them all!
Cheers-Kathleen
Kathleen R. Smart, CEO SmarterIdeas Inc.
Living Life by Design not Default
http://www.smarterideas.com
http://www.smarterideas.com/radio Private Reply to Kathleen Smart |
 |
|
|
