Now more than ever our local economy will benefit from the coming few weeks. We're entering a time frame when many retailers realize 40-50% of their annual revenues between now and December 24th. Some stores will be able to weather the economic storm and some will not.
The traditional Friday after Thanksgiving kickoff to holiday shopping is about to arrive. Lines begin to form early on Friday morning and will continue throughout the weekend as early bird shoppers vie for the great deals. If you believe what is being said nationally, this will be just the beginning of the sale spectacular. Great prices will continue for the next month or more as retailers work hard to move inventory.
What's that mean locally? For every dollar local shoppers spend in our community, it's one more step toward keeping our local stores viable and open. When shoppers choose to spend money out of town or via the Internet, it's reason for concern.
One way local retailers can be more successful is to work on customer service training. Several weeks ago I happened to be in a local store with relatives. My sister was having trouble getting through the checkout line. A sales clerk was less than cordial in trying to help. My sister will think twice about returning to that store. Latter that evening we went out to dinner and the waitress we had did an outstanding job. My sister can't wait to go back there the next time she's in town.
Good customer service needs to be recognized in my opinion. Each week I'll try to recognize someone who in my opinion demonstrates exceptional customer service.
This week it's Roxanne at the Deli Counter at County Fair. Her follow-up and enthusiasm for taking and filling our lunch order was outstanding. Way to go Roxanne!
That's my opinion. What's yours?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tasty Monday vs. Black Friday
Last night's Taste of Marshall event was billed as: "if you leave hungry or thirsty, it's your own darned fault."
True to form, lots of great food, beverages, door prizes, and conversation were exchanged. The 200+ attendees provided lots of positive feedback. The 17 vendors seemed upbeat about the effort. Hard to believe anyone left with anything close to an appetite.
Plenty of networking and interesting conversation about the economy. It goes without saying that this chamber is always about business. During the good times, the questionable times and the soft times, our focus remains on enhancing and improving the business climate.
With the Holiday shopping season upon us, this is yet another good time to remind folks the best thing that they can do to help the economy is to shop locally. You'll find many wonderful Holiday gift-giving ideas. You don't need to travel far to find what you're looking for.
I'd like to challenge everyone during the upcoming holiday season to buy one or more of your holiday gifts locally, especially when you had planned to make a purchase, out of town, on-line, or out of a catalogue. You just might be pleasantly surprised at the variety, selection, and service found just around the corner.
That's my opinion. What's yours?
True to form, lots of great food, beverages, door prizes, and conversation were exchanged. The 200+ attendees provided lots of positive feedback. The 17 vendors seemed upbeat about the effort. Hard to believe anyone left with anything close to an appetite.
Plenty of networking and interesting conversation about the economy. It goes without saying that this chamber is always about business. During the good times, the questionable times and the soft times, our focus remains on enhancing and improving the business climate.
With the Holiday shopping season upon us, this is yet another good time to remind folks the best thing that they can do to help the economy is to shop locally. You'll find many wonderful Holiday gift-giving ideas. You don't need to travel far to find what you're looking for.
I'd like to challenge everyone during the upcoming holiday season to buy one or more of your holiday gifts locally, especially when you had planned to make a purchase, out of town, on-line, or out of a catalogue. You just might be pleasantly surprised at the variety, selection, and service found just around the corner.
That's my opinion. What's yours?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Called due to Bad Weather
Fast and furious this morning between 6:30 and 9:00. That's the time frame that emails, phone calls and hand wringing took place to decide if the weather would cooperate with bringing some folks from the Minnesota Vikings into town.
Over morning coffee at 5:30 this morning and cruising the usual news sites and weather maps, it was apparent that the drizzle and ice would make it challenging for the Vikings to come to town.
Their front office folks and I began our emails around 6:30 and continued well into the morning.
Regional schools were cancelling and pushing back opening by an hour or two.
When I got to the office shortly after 7, local schools had just announced a 2-hour delay to opening. By 7:30 local organizers began discussing options. Shortly before 8schools were cancelled for the day and Vikings players and executives were on the cell phones discussing options while heading to the Minneapolis airport.
Shortly after 8, we learned that Schwan's had cancelled their corporate flights for the day in and out of Marshall. At best we could hope for a break in the weather that would allow the Viking's corporate plane to leave an hour or so later and still make it for the community luncheon.
By 8:45 a 7-way phone conference call took place where the decision to postpone was made. The weather conditions weren't expected to improve and travel in and out of town on the roads or via the airport were risky, at best! Based on the icy conditions, it was certainly the prudent and correct decision to make.
The good news, is that the Vikings front office has promised a rescheduled visit sometime in the Spring. We'll work hard to make that work too!
In the meantime, if you bought a ticket for today's lunch, give us a call and we'll gladly give you a refund.
Over morning coffee at 5:30 this morning and cruising the usual news sites and weather maps, it was apparent that the drizzle and ice would make it challenging for the Vikings to come to town.
Their front office folks and I began our emails around 6:30 and continued well into the morning.
Regional schools were cancelling and pushing back opening by an hour or two.
When I got to the office shortly after 7, local schools had just announced a 2-hour delay to opening. By 7:30 local organizers began discussing options. Shortly before 8schools were cancelled for the day and Vikings players and executives were on the cell phones discussing options while heading to the Minneapolis airport.
Shortly after 8, we learned that Schwan's had cancelled their corporate flights for the day in and out of Marshall. At best we could hope for a break in the weather that would allow the Viking's corporate plane to leave an hour or so later and still make it for the community luncheon.
By 8:45 a 7-way phone conference call took place where the decision to postpone was made. The weather conditions weren't expected to improve and travel in and out of town on the roads or via the airport were risky, at best! Based on the icy conditions, it was certainly the prudent and correct decision to make.
The good news, is that the Vikings front office has promised a rescheduled visit sometime in the Spring. We'll work hard to make that work too!
In the meantime, if you bought a ticket for today's lunch, give us a call and we'll gladly give you a refund.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I Voted
Got a bit of the run around this morning trying to vote. Went to the polling place three blocks from where I live and was told that I needed to go across town to a different location for my Ward polling location. Must have been some serious gerimandering that took place for my part of town sometime in the past.
Was thinking that this will be the 9th Presidential Election that I've voted in and surprisingly I've voted in 5 different states. Each state does voter registration a bit differently too.
Minnesota voting rules are very simple, all I need to register on the day of is proof that I am a resident. My Minnesota drivers license and my utility bill would suffice. Can you imagine the panic I experienced last night when going through my paid bills file looking for a utility bill and discoverd that both the gas and electric bills didn't have my name on them? The portion that lists my name and address is on the return portion of the bill that gets mailed back along with my payment. Thank goodness my cable statement still had my name on it.
Not sure how things will turnout for the election, but I can assure you that the "I voted" sticker I received gives me the right to complain or brag about the outcome of the election.
Was thinking that this will be the 9th Presidential Election that I've voted in and surprisingly I've voted in 5 different states. Each state does voter registration a bit differently too.
Minnesota voting rules are very simple, all I need to register on the day of is proof that I am a resident. My Minnesota drivers license and my utility bill would suffice. Can you imagine the panic I experienced last night when going through my paid bills file looking for a utility bill and discoverd that both the gas and electric bills didn't have my name on them? The portion that lists my name and address is on the return portion of the bill that gets mailed back along with my payment. Thank goodness my cable statement still had my name on it.
Not sure how things will turnout for the election, but I can assure you that the "I voted" sticker I received gives me the right to complain or brag about the outcome of the election.
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