Main Street News: October 17th

At Main Street, we are always planning ahead and this month is no different. It is the time of year when the Main Street Program reaches out to organizations for information about their group to help put together the Barney Board for 2016.

Now thinking that far ahead is interesting when most of us are trying to function with today’s issues let alone next year! But nevertheless, requests for dates of events and regular monthly meeting schedules were mailed recently to many organizations and groups. Be sure to take a moment to fill them out and return to my office. We want to include as much as we can on this publication. So many groups use it all year long to assist in planning those sudden things that come up or when looking at proposing a date for meetings. 

The Barney Board is distributed free of charge. We deliver to businesses and organizations in January and many do post them. Barney Boards are added to the Welcome Bags for new residents and we always keep some in the office for anyone to pick up.  It is also posted on the City of Barnesville’s website.

We are a small community that depends on each other for support and civic groups are no exception.  Often times those that volunteer and conduct their group’s efforts are also volunteering for other organizations. Try as hard as I have, I haven’t found a way to split myself in 2 or 3 parts to be able to attend and participate in multiple events. I don’t think anyone else has mastered this. If you have, please let me in on your secret! The Barney Board can certainly help with doubling up on schedules for those who are planning events.

Like all things, information put out is only as good as the information being put in. That means we appreciate those of you in organizations that do utilize the Barney Board. We need your input! If you are a member of an organization that received a letter, don’t forget to send it back. If you were missed or are a newly formed group wanting to list something, just give me a call at 354-2479 and share that with me.  We would love to fill the Barney Board up again this year.

Main Street News: October 10

This week is National Home-Based Business Week. It is a week to recognize and celebrate the entrepreneurship that we can see evident in small town America. More than 20 million people nationwide operate a home based business. Although started for a variety of reasons, all play a large role in today’s economy. Some businesses may be the sole occupation for the owners and others may be an additional income for them. Perhaps they have wanted to be “their own boss”, or saw a niche that they could fill. Perhaps those owners have a talent that they can turn into a business. It is however a form of business that is not for everyone. One must be self-disciplined, creative, resourceful, and knowledgeable in their field while possessing business savvy. As in anything, those individuals wishing to be successful with their home-based business must work hard at it.

Locally, we have a number of home-based businesses that we have come to rely on. Please take a moment to thank them for the services and products they offer. Many of these people have chosen to invest in the Main Street Program with their membership dollars and by participating in some of our events throughout the year. As I think about those home-based businesses and their efforts to remain a viable part of our economy, I too think of our many local businesses owners and ask you as a consumer to consider this:

When you buy from a Mom or Pop business, you are not helping a CEO buy a third vacation home. You are helping a little girl get dance lessons, a little boy get his team jersey, a mom or dad put food on the table, a family pay a mortgage or a student pay for college. You are that company’s shareholders and they strive to make you happy. 

Thank you for supporting small businesses in Barnesville and the effort of entrepreneurship that they represent. Don’t hesitate to contact one of our Main Street Program’s Home-Based business members.  They welcome your patronage.

Main Street News: October 3rd

It is inevitable. We have all had the experience of both good and bad service. Whether it’s checking out at a retail store or maybe sitting at a restaurant. A specific experience is probably replaying through your head right now, because it is something many don’t forget. It is hard for us to forget how people or businesses make us feel. Those feelings also get expressed to many others, like our family and friends. You also can’t forget about the internet these days! A simple post online can reach thousands of people, good or bad! A general rule of thumb in the business community is that when something bad happens, 10 people get told; when a good thing happens, 1 person gets told. Also, it never fails that some people like to complain or find fault.

Customers value good service. If a store sells their product for a few more dollars, but goes the extra mile to provide the buyer with the best customer experience they can. It is very likely that the customer will pay the extra few dollars instead of walking into the stores competitor to get a bargain. And when they are faced with choosing what store to go to next time, you can bet they will remember the great experience they had before.

Customers deserve good service. Without their support, a business certainly wouldn’t remain open for long. While I certainly have received bad service, I choose to focus on the good service.  It is so enjoyable to hear a sales clerk say “Thank You for Your Business” or “Have a Nice Day”.  But when they go further beyond politeness, it is really a treat.  I appreciate the extra help or advice or the follow through that I receive.  It is kind of like TLC not just from the employee, but the business itself.  Knowing that they think I’m more than a sale to them is important to me.

The first week of October marks National Customer Service Week.  It’s a week designated to celebrate Customer Service at its finest.  If you are an employer or an employee, think of ways that you can improve the service you give to your customers.  It could be as easy as a few words or as large as a change in your product line, service line or an arrangement of the physical space.  You have the power to improve the experience your customers have, and they will return again and again to do business with you.  If you are a customer, take a moment to let them know you appreciate a particular item or service that you received.   A regular customer means so much to the business owner. It strengthens not only their business, but the Barnesville business community here as a whole.

We have an advantage here in Barnesville. We know the people we are doing business with and know we are helping, not only them, but our local economy as well. Our businesses here in Barnesville are your neighbors and friends. They live here, work here, play here and do business here too.  We depend on each other to make our community thrive.

Main Street News: September 26th

As the seasons begin to change, some of us feel the itch to make a change as well.  To move on to the next activity, event and project.  Children are back in the fall school routines, student/athletes are into a regular practice schedule and parents are into a new routine.  For many households, homeowners are thinking about the fall “To Do” list.  Finish harvesting the gardens, winterize the house or cabin, clean up the yard or do some fall landscaping and get the carpets cleaned are just a few of the projects that may be on that list. 

As you draft your list of projects and work on crossing the items off, don’t forget to consider the businesses here in Barnesville that can help you – and in some cases do it for you!  Lawn care, carpentry, furnace servicing, indoor or outdoor painting needs, and the do-it-yourself supplies like paint, varnish, tools and equipment are all right here locally.  While we don’t want to rush the fall season, it is a good idea to plan ahead and prepare.  Don’t wait to get these items scheduled with your local service provider or wait until the last minute to buy your repair items and get the job done.

Although I know that many of us don’t want it to arrive anytime soon, we all know that it is imminent.  It will snow.  Now is also the time of year to get prepared for that first snowfall.  We have businesses right here that will sell or service a snow blower.  Call them with your snow blower needs.  Or if you need to make arrangements for that snow removal service, we have those businesses too.  Don’t hesitate to contact them for an estimate or get on their service list for the upcoming winter.

Our local businesses need your business all year long - every year.  They are here to provide you with a number of products and services that you need.  Commuting to work out of town?  Many businesses are happy to meet with you after their ‘normal’ hours too.  Don’t just assume it’s easier to get something from out of town, that’s not necessarily true. Put this on your to do list…Think locally first. Your business is important to each Barnesville business. Your local managers, staff and owners care more about your personal needs and keeping your business than a store out of town does.    

We choose to live here enjoying a healthy community life and a healthy school. It is important to each of us to ensure that this continues to be a great place to raise children, build lives and enjoy our time.  A healthy community will be a growing community.  We need to support our businesses in order to keep our community financially healthy too.  

Main Street News: September 19th

This month will be the last for the Main Street Program’s Yard of the Week.  It started in June and has shined a spotlight on some of Barnesville’s talented green thumb residents. 

The Main Street Design Committee endorsed the prestigious award which was given weekly all summer long. Nominations were taken at Barnesville Drug & Hardware and Thompson Greenery or at the Main Street office. Special thanks to them for their willingness to display the drop boxes and for their support of this program. The Barnesville Record Review was kind enough to feature this in color each week.

There was never a shortage of nominations. Some homes were nominated numerous times! There were many more nominations than weeks in the season. And each yard was deserving in its own way. There was a great deal of variety including simply decorated yards or ones with many flowers, ornately landscaped, big and small yards, yards in newer and older parts of town and much more. Some nominations were duplicates from last year’s awards. For the most part, we tried to pick ‘new’ yards this year.

Although this ‘award’ didn’t come with the big money, we do hope that we were able to recognize those hard-working, dedicated homeowners that enjoy their yard and put so much time into creating a beautiful yard. We hope to have helped them share with the entire community. Have a last minute nomination? Call my office at 354-2479!

Make sure you keep an eye out for all of these wonderful looking yards as you look for deals during the Area-Wide Rummage Sales this weekend! 

Main Street News: September 12th

The final Show ‘n Shine car night of the year was held on Thursday, September 8^th. The weather finally cooperated and the cars flooded Front Street. Many thanks to Jon Braton, Jerry & Gina Stanford, Carolyn Peloubet, Shannon Jablonsky, Mayor Gene Prim, Vice Mayor Jason Rick, Barnesville Public Works, Guy Swenson and our event sponsors – Barnesville Record-Review, Dean’s Bulk Service, Berg Auto Body, Cenex, State Farm Insurance, Ratzo’s Pool Hall, Stoneridge Software, Jeanette Tools and Houston Engineering. Without these great sponsors, this event wouldn’t be possible every month! We also want to thank the Barnesville Booster Club, VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Debbie’s Doughnuts and the Country Chuckwagon for providing food on the streets! It was great not only to see these organizations make some profits, but also packed houses at many of the local restaurants as well! We will see you on Front Street again next year!

 

This is also your last week to sign up for the Fall Rummage Sales on Saturday, September 24^th! Make sure you register with the Record Review before Wednesday, September 14^th. This event will again prove to be an opportunity for some to clear out their ’stuff’ and for others a chance to find that bargain on an item they’ve been looking for. Plan to spend a few hours out and about hunting for treasure. Who knows what kind of deals you could find! A number of businesses are offering special deals too. Extend your day and hit the stores and restaurants too!

Many visitors will be in town for the annual Fall Rummage Sales. Be sure to welcome them to our community. This is a chance to put on our smiles and let them see just how friendly Barnesville can be. They are spending dollars in several locations in town, helping our economy and families when doing so.

 

All the information you need about the sales is located in today’s Record-Review and will be in brochure style and located at a number of local businesses or online at www.barnesvillemainstreet.com and www.barnesvillemn/com beginning Sept. 22 for all those from out of town.

Special thanks to the staff at the Record Review for their extra work and cooperation with the Main Street Program on this joint venture.  I couldn’t do it without you!  

Main Street News: September 5th

This last week, my family and I made our annual trip down to the Minnesota State Fair. Although it is usually called the “Great Minnesota Get-Together”, it seemed more like the “Great American Sweat-Together.” The weather was 80 degrees, humid, and there was hardly a breeze. There was almost 120,000 people all looking for their favorite exhibits, booths, and animals. I don’t want to wish the summer away, but the weather could have been a little cooler! Other than that, the crowds didn’t seem to bother us who were just at Potato Days and Bison home opener! The Minnesota State Fair has always been one of my favorite places to visit, but it always meant school was about to start and fall was around the corner. Ever since I can remember, falls has been a bitter sweet time for me. I love summer, the lakes and everything about the season. Then we move into cooler nights, shorter days, fall sports and beautiful autumn colors. Oh… and you can’t forget about football season!

Now that summer is coming to a close, it’s time to start looking forward to the upcoming events for the fall months. This Thursday, September 8^th we have our last Show ‘n Shine Car Cruise for the year. We look forward to everyone coming out for one more night! Many organizations will be selling food and local businesses running specials! Between the great food, DJ playing classic tunes, and the fascinating cars, it is guaranteed to be a good time! Then next on the calendar is our Fall Area-Wide Rummage Sales on Saturday, September 24^th. This is a great time to either sell those kids clothes that don’t fit anymore, or find some deals on some new ones! We also are looking for vendors for the farmer’s market! If you know anyone, have them give me a call at 354-2479.