Yesterday was like the perfect Bend weather day. (sorry, bend sux.)
I wanted to head the opposite direction from work...
This morning was supposed to be cold and nasty, but the weatherman is wrong again, and it's beautiful. I'm going to try to get out in the woods with a notebook and a pencil.
***********
Had a big day at the store yesterday, so didn't feel the slightest twinge of regret as I locked the doors at 6:00 as usual, and turned around to see the huge crowds milling around the sidewalks.
In the last hour, I had about 4 couples come in from the Art Hop, and they looked at the books and left, and I just didn't feel like staying around for a few more hours to watch more of that.
Not sure why I think these events are great for the browsers, but not so great from my store, but there it is....
What do I know?
**********
There are a million metrics for economic performance, and you can always pick and choose.
But....I've noticed less bank closures, the stock market is still going strong, and the employment rate -- at least nationally -- does seem to be coming down.
So...I'm cautiously optimistic that we are beginning to see the start of a possible tiny little uptick.
I know in my store, I'm rolling over last year's downturn over the next few months. Looking at last summer's sales, it's hard to believe I won't beat those numbers...
**********
Meanwhile, in Bend, we don't have the money to fix potholes.
Which is pretty much what all us bubble bloggers were saying as the City of Bend was throwing millions at Juniper Ridge and a new bus system.
Oh,well. What did we know?
**********
It does seem to me that a whole lot of businesses position themselves -- or market themselves -- as "public"; almost as non-profit institutions.
Of course, the public loves it. What's not to love? It's all about them, and all the entertaining and comforts and cheapness and --
But is it business? Is it the buying and selling of product?
And does it work? Does it create enough good will to help your business?
Why doesn't just being steadily open regular hours, selling product, knowing and displaying your product, and doing all those storelike things -- why isn't that enough?
I guess what I'm saying is -- it would be nice to see a small percentage of those "hordes" coming in during regular hours and, you know, like buying stuff. Instead of milling around once a month on Friday, knocking back the wine.
I know. I know. They're supposed to come back later. But that's kind of the point. Why are they coming back "later?"
I don't have the answers. But I know that I feel like being the old steady storekeeper, open every day, doing every day things, is the way to go. Believe me, if you do it long enough, it's quite enough work.
Promotions are the tail, not the dog.
***********
Looks like our local legal community is going through it's version of The Good Wife. heh.
All that unseemly high schoolish rangling. Probably always there, but we're just seeing it played out in public...
I wanted to head the opposite direction from work...
This morning was supposed to be cold and nasty, but the weatherman is wrong again, and it's beautiful. I'm going to try to get out in the woods with a notebook and a pencil.
***********
Had a big day at the store yesterday, so didn't feel the slightest twinge of regret as I locked the doors at 6:00 as usual, and turned around to see the huge crowds milling around the sidewalks.
In the last hour, I had about 4 couples come in from the Art Hop, and they looked at the books and left, and I just didn't feel like staying around for a few more hours to watch more of that.
Not sure why I think these events are great for the browsers, but not so great from my store, but there it is....
What do I know?
**********
There are a million metrics for economic performance, and you can always pick and choose.
But....I've noticed less bank closures, the stock market is still going strong, and the employment rate -- at least nationally -- does seem to be coming down.
So...I'm cautiously optimistic that we are beginning to see the start of a possible tiny little uptick.
I know in my store, I'm rolling over last year's downturn over the next few months. Looking at last summer's sales, it's hard to believe I won't beat those numbers...
**********
Meanwhile, in Bend, we don't have the money to fix potholes.
Which is pretty much what all us bubble bloggers were saying as the City of Bend was throwing millions at Juniper Ridge and a new bus system.
Oh,well. What did we know?
**********
It does seem to me that a whole lot of businesses position themselves -- or market themselves -- as "public"; almost as non-profit institutions.
Of course, the public loves it. What's not to love? It's all about them, and all the entertaining and comforts and cheapness and --
But is it business? Is it the buying and selling of product?
And does it work? Does it create enough good will to help your business?
Why doesn't just being steadily open regular hours, selling product, knowing and displaying your product, and doing all those storelike things -- why isn't that enough?
I guess what I'm saying is -- it would be nice to see a small percentage of those "hordes" coming in during regular hours and, you know, like buying stuff. Instead of milling around once a month on Friday, knocking back the wine.
I know. I know. They're supposed to come back later. But that's kind of the point. Why are they coming back "later?"
I don't have the answers. But I know that I feel like being the old steady storekeeper, open every day, doing every day things, is the way to go. Believe me, if you do it long enough, it's quite enough work.
Promotions are the tail, not the dog.
***********
Looks like our local legal community is going through it's version of The Good Wife. heh.
All that unseemly high schoolish rangling. Probably always there, but we're just seeing it played out in public...