Local Business Takes on the Supply Chain Crisis

The troubles with the supply chain are daunting. Weโ€™re seeing predictions that the holiday shopping season will be marred by empty shelves and disappointed children. While the problems are serious, there are some businesses that will triumph in the face of adversity, and this very well could be the best holiday season for them yet. If you are one of those fortunate businesses, itโ€™s time you market the benefits of shopping with you for the holidays.

The supply chain issues are affecting restaurants, stores, and other merchants who rely on pieces and parts from other vendors and manufacturers from across the country and the world. But local artisans or restaurants that rely on locally grown food may have a significant advantage this holiday season.… Read the rest

How to Make Your Video Calls and Meetings More Appealing

Are you tired of video calls yet? There was something new and fun about them when we were all locked down for COVID, but now theyโ€™ve lost a lot of their sparkle. 

For some of us who work from home, video calls can feel like an unnecessary intrusion where we need to worry about what we look like, what weโ€™re wearing, what our home office looks like, and having to run interference with kids and pets with the possibility of them entering the screen view at any moment. It adds more work and more stress to something that used to be functional communication tool.

But it doesnโ€™t have to be that way. You can bring back the novelty and enjoyment behind seeing a face and gauging a reaction.… Read the rest

SpringRidge at Charbonneau

A luxurious senior living community in Wilsonville, OR

SpringRidge is only a hop, a skip, and a jump from Portland, but seemingly a world away. Situated on ten acres of the natural beauty, greenery and serenity that is the residential neighborhood of Charbonneau, SpringRidge, with its manicured garden courtyards and rich architectural detailing, seems reminiscent of a French Country manorโ€”Portland style.

Read the rest

Hey Guys!! Lessons from Influencers

When my friendโ€™s thirteen-year-old daughter was approached by a major brand to be an influencer for them, I knew things were changing. Cynically, I wondered what did a thirteen-year-old or any kid have that a brand wanted? The obvious answer is a young following that can easily be led to make purchases. But just what are these influencers doing to build their audiences and how can we get a little of that for our own businesses without directly hiring them?

5.5 Epic Lessons from Influencers

No, theyโ€™re not really epic but that is your first half lesson from influencersโ€”everything is amazing, epic, awesome, fantabulous, extreme, thick, or whatever other word describes something in a totally over the top way. Our English teachers used to call it hyperbole and influencers use it A LOT!!!!!… Read the rest

How to Revive Connections with Former Customers Blog Header Template 2

It happens. People buy from you and they love you. Then life gets in the way, and they donโ€™t return. Sometimes itโ€™s because they no longer have use for your products or services like when you sell gourmet dog biscuits, and they no longer have a pet. Sometimes they moved out of your area, and you donโ€™t offer e-commerce options. Most often though, your business has simply slipped their minds. Itโ€™s no longer on their radar or part of their buying habit. It wasnโ€™t something you did. They just have other things going on. 

In these cases, you need to reengage them and bring yourself back to top of mind. Here are a few ideas on how you can do that.… Read the rest