Local
Weed Whackers and Windex
Ninjas Needed I visited Roscommon County, Michigan and toured a few empty buildings. On one corner, a major intersection into town, there was an empty building on each corner. We talked about building possibility, working with the county and the town and hosting a tour. Next to one of the buildings that needed to be…
Read MoreWhat is Showrooming?
You see something on tv, or online. You go to your local store to actually look at the item. Then you go online, often on your phone while you’re in the store, to find it somewhere else cheaper. That is showrooming. We live in a small town. Small towns need local jobs, sales tax revenue,…
Read MoreGeneva Church Ladies Cook Book On Sale Now
These recipes are tried, tested and true. They are from women who are known across the state for the best church dinners ever known to man, at least in the state of Iowa. Now you may think I’m exaggerating, but I’m here to tell you that I am not. The Geneva Church Ladies host a…
Read MoreOverheard: Corporate Speak
I was in Des Moines this week and while in Casey’s standing in line I overheard two staff members talking. “Did you read that email from corporate?” “The one about not using the elevators at work? And we should use the stairs? Get our exercise, stay committed to wellness?” “Have they ever been in a…
Read MoreSunday Update: Bicycle
I had a good week – I spent a lot of it driving to and from Michigan where I spoke at the Small Town and Rural Conference. I also spent a lot of time in the car – and I have it in my head that I can eat junk food when I’m on a…
Read MoreNo Foolin’ – Google Places for Your Business
Chamber Nation handles our CRM at the Webster City Area Chamber. In their newsletter this week they shared exactly how to put your business on Google places. If you haven’t done so .. time to get with it! It will allow you to show up on Google map results, on Google search results TWO…
Read MoreAre Rural Needs Being Met?
36% of Iowa is rural. 51% of Hamilton County is rural. I found these numbers on a newsletter I get from SmallBizSurvival.com (click here to subscribe, email me at deb at debworks dot come and I’ll forward you the newsletter article that prompted this blog post.) Becky McCray talked about how state and city conferences are…
Read MoreWhy I Shop at Wal-Mart
A reader of this blog sent me an email. She wanted to explain why she went to Wal-Mart. Now, she’s a local small business supporter. The lesson is: just because you are a small business, you don’t always deserve the business. Customer Service is VITAL. Here’s her story: The house I recently moved into…
Read MoreThink Global, Buy Local
It’s been repeated a lot — buy local. The holidays are coming and your local businesses count on you to shop where you live. Why should you? Here’s a good infographic that might help answer that question. by daSantosh.
Read MoreBrookings, SD 1 Million Cups
I’ll be headed to Brookings, SD this afternoon to speak at the 1 Million Cups event on Wednesday at 9 am. 1 Million Cups is a national weekly event. You can read more at their website here. They say it best: 1 Million Cups (1MC) is a simple way to engage entrepreneurs in communities around…
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