Happy Memorial Day!!

On this day In 1868, two women simultaneously placed two wreaths on the graves of a Confederate soldier and a Union soldier celebrating the very first Memorial Day.  A day to remember those who fought so bravely and who sacrificed their lives for an ideal that all men could be free, equal, and pursue happiness in their own way, how they saw fit.

Today, Memorial day is celebrated with friends, family, neighbors.  Community is what is important as each township or borough share the day with parades, fireworks, and cookouts.  It also is the unofficial start of the summer as many travel to the shore for the first time in the year.

Enjoy your time with your loved ones.  Play horseshoes, have a wiffle ball game, horse around in the pool, or on the beach.  Just remember to think about, and honor those that gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we could enjoy this way of life.

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

 

Home Improvement!

One of the best things about living in this area is the amount of qualified tradesmen who reside and work here.  You'll have a hard time finding someone who grew up in this area and doesn't have someone in their close group of friends or family who isn't a home improvement pro.

This area is home to a bunch of local and national developers, as well as those family businesses that have served our communities and have thrived over the decades.  We trust them, we count on them, we look to them for help and advice.

Some donate their time  and materials to local churches, charitable groups, schools, and communities to help build parks and picnic areas.  They own an integral piece of the community having built the homes and the facilities with their own hands.

What I love to see the most is how this industry has grown with the younger generations.  The two friends in high school who started out cutting lawns for extra money a few years ago now operate a successful landscaping business.  The ones who opted for vo-tech school and learned carpentry or mechanics and went on to work for an uncle or friend of the family doing oil changes or framing houses learning  a skill and eventually building their own business.

DIY has become it's own industry in the last decade mainly because of cable TV shows and the internet.  Folks like doing jobs on their own and gain more confidence from these two media outlets.  They take on jobs from planting trees to renovating a whole kitchen.  The real pros have adapted to this and have put together offerings to not only stay competitive, but to be there in times of trouble so that you, as the homeowner, don't risk your single largest investment.


Some of the guys I depend on specifically are guys I met through family, and will always call on when I have the need.  Jimmy Fazio is a plumber who grew up in this area and had raised a family of his own.  Jimmy is always available with at least sage advice before he gets there.  He's not one to make a house call, just because you called.  His experience is impressive and always gets the job done. 

Paul Pisano is Contractor from Norristown who has served this area for close to 50 years.  Now ran by his son Joe, they specialize in masonry and concrete.  The Pisano's recently rebuilt the stone wall for Holy Saviors Church in Norristown, and have worked hard for their reputation in  our area.

Since 1975 Dan Moore tree service has been servicing the area when it comes to storm damage, removal of trees, and complete tree care.  He has all the necessary equipment to handle the largest jobs and has been a fixture in the community.

These are local guys who I have used and have had experience with but there are so many more from Abington to Lansdale to Lafayette Hills.   If you know of others, leave a comment.  There are many companies out there that do a fantastic job and since this is what this blog is about, let people know.

Leave a comment or email me if you know of a company that does great work and you think they should have the spotlight on them.  This is what this space is for!

Pizza BABY!

It's time for my favorite subject.  Pizza!  I mean, c'mon.  If there is one thing this area has is awesome pizza.  The types differ as well.  See this is why no one ever has the best Pizza contest either because there isn't exactly one best pizza.  The tastes and textures and varieties are so different that it's really hard to pinpoint one Best Ever!

Well, I am going to give you mine.  Oddly enough they are all from this area as well.  See, when I was younger I traveled all over the US.  Yes, I have literally stepped foot in every state in the nation with the exception of Hawaii and Alaska.  And in all of those states I ate pizza.

I have arguments from friends about this as well.  Whether we are sitting around the poker table, or stopping home from playing golf, the question always is, Where's the best?  So I am going to give you some categories and then report with my favorites.

Sicilian Pie - This is my favorite category.  I love this thick square heavy slice of pizza.  I think it goes back to the days of growing up where dad would take me to work with him in the summers and we would hit Via Venetos for a slice of Sicilian at lunch.  That and an RC cola (still my favorite cola!).  Padrinos in the  Fairview Village Shopping Center has a very good Sicilian as well and these two differ very much in taste and texture.  Padrinos is a little lighter and fluffier while Venetos is a heavier, meatier texture to it.  Pizza Mia also has an awesome pie and regardless of how huge their menu is, I always get the Sicilian when I am there.  Usually as an appetizer :)

Neopolitan - This one is your standard triangle slice of heaven.  So many different ways to go with this pie.  extra cheese, meat, you have buffalo chicken, bbq chicken, cheese steak pizza, white pizza, Hawaiian pizza, etc.,  but for this one I am going straight plain neo pie.  Tony and Joes in Conshohocken makes a real nice one.  The sauce is just right, the dough is tender, and it's always cooked to perfection.  Main St pizza has been a real hit lately in the neighborhoods.  With two locations they deliver to a wide area and their pies are very good.  I like their sauce as well and the slices are big.  Angelo's in King of Prussia is another Gem.  Seriously this place is as close to the benchmark as you get. The slice just has that "thing" to it.  That little something that tells you it's more than just sustenance.  It's more than just a snack.

Red Top Pizza - If you don't know what a red top pizza is or haven't taste it...  I want you to stop what you are doing, get in your car, and drive to either East Norriton or Bridgeport now.  Not tomorrow, not after work, NOW!  A red top pizza is a pie that is built like  a regular pizza, only at the end they drizzle on this incredibly dark, sweet sauce, usually concentrically from the center and it is out of this world. Charlies is in East Norriton and Franzone's has a location in Bridgeport.   Both are ridiculous.

My winners are real easy as well.  for Sicilian I'm going with Via Venetos.  Call it nostalgia.  Nah It's the benchmark for all Sicilian pies across the country.  For the best neopolitan slice I'm going with Angelo's.  Seriously, it's that good.  For the best red top  - I can't really say.  It's a toss up in my book.  They both have their own distinct flavor and honestly, it's too close to call.

Now, this is all about me.  What I like the best.  Leave your comments with your own. Add who you want, and suggest others.  State your case, and I'll head out and give it a critique.  Chances are I've already been there, but it would be nice to have an official excuse!

Gift cards aren't just for Home Depot anymore!

Small business has several barriers when it comes to competition.  Some are local companies or shops that cater to a very small geographic area.  After all, there can only be so many dry cleaners competing for the limited number of shirts produced by the demographics.

Another is larger competitors.  For one, national chains can operate cheaper because of their size.  A foot print of 1,000 stores provides them with the buying power to reduce costs to almost half of what the small business man is expecting to pay for supplies.  Another is the use of technology.  Sometimes the small business person just can't compete with the convenience and other advantages that a larger store has in terms of automation, marketing, and logistics.

One of those advantages is the use of gift cards.  Now, in today's technological climate, it may seem real easy for any sandwich shop or pizzeria or dress shop or even auto detailer to run out to their bank or credit card provider and sign up for that special feature of being able to sell gift cards to their customers.  After all, what better way to up sell, or re-sell services to those who don't even know they need it yet.  Gift cards have come a very long way.  You can go to one of those big chain stores and see a wall full of gift cards from all of your favorite places.  Home Depot, Applebee's, TGI Friday's, Barnes and Noble, etc.

The fact that consumers have access to "shopping" and spending money at these stores WHILE in a Walmart is an advantage alone.  Aside from having the convenience to do so, it's also free advertising.   To a small business owner trying to compete with those giants it seems a task almost insurmountable.

It's tempting as a consumer to just grab a card heading to the check out line because it is that convenient.  I've done it more than a few times while pressed for time and ideas  (think EVERY single Christmas Eve :) ).

What can the small business owner do then to compete.  Having the ability to offer  a card is one thing, and not that difficult to do.  Again, any credit card processor can provide ANY merchant that service.  However, when you consider the costs of the service, the plastic itself, and the actual marketing of the campaign, it can be overwhelming and down right cost prohibitive to the business.

Well along comes W3Giftcards.  W3 is the product of Brad Oyler and his gang of tech junkies who started out building websites and databases.  "We started out a small company just building websites for local businesses.  I quickly realized that they needed so much more in terms of help in marketing and utilizing technology to do so.  Out of that spawned W3Giftcards and we have a vision to not only offer the service, but to help facilitate the marketing for the businesses that use it." said Brad.

The service is an end to end turn key solution, and once it's up, the client can offer consumers the ability to purchase gift cards directly off of their site.  The consumer can even choose different card designs to personalize their gift.  They also provide a Facebook application where you can sell your cards directly off of your Facebook group or fan page so that clients can optimize their marketing efforts and maximize their sales.

From the merchants side, the product is efficient to use in that it allows you to access all of your orders.  You can track sales, those that have been redeemed, and where you get the most traction.   There is also a mobile phone app so that clients can validate and redeem gift cards in case there is no computer or internet connection (think pizza delivery drivers!)

Aside from the product itself, W3 has in place a marketing program to help the client maximize the delivery of the cards into the consumers hands.  Guerrilla Marketing techniques are employed and they will show you how to best market the product so you can get as many in the hands of consumers as possible.  The cost for this service?  How about Zero!  Zilch!  Setting up is free, and W3 doesn't make any money until you start selling cards.  They take a transaction fee per card and is considerably less than your standard bank card.

What excites me the most about these guys is that they themselves are local.  They understand the local economy, and the local community.  For consumers, it's another convenience to them allowing for easy purchases to their favorite local retailers.

For more info on W3Giftcards contact bradoyler@gmail.com 

Summer Kick-off!

With Memorial Day Festivities kicking off this coming weekend, I thought it would be nice to write about some memories.  Having grown up in this area I can be pretty confident that some of you share those same memories, or at least some semblance of them. 

I specifically remember mom and dad hitting up Suburbia Seafood in Bridgeport for some clams, shrimp, shark or tuna steaks, and in really good years, lobster!  We would also every so often grab a bushel of crabs if we had everyone coming.  In the back yard my older brother would hook up some really cool cooking stations to handle the seafood steaming and grilling and we would have a blast just sitting around playing and talking while he cooked.

Dad would also head over to Reds Barbones for the kegs (both miller and Birch Beer) and other cases of soda (usually A-Treat) in returnable bottles.  I was always excited to bring the cases back and put them up on the steel rollers and slide them into the back.

We'd get hot dogs and hamburgers from DiRenzo's and Mr. D was always there to throw some candy at us.  The rolls and lunch meat and Tomato Pie always came from Corropolese and I can recall the amount of times my dad looked at his watch to be sure to time the arrival at Corropolese just right as to miss the crowd (there were set times to pick up your pies!), yet he never got it right.  


See back then, everything could be had from a local purveyor specialized in what they do..  Today you think of the big supermarket chains, or you think of Walmart, Target, or some other huge mass-merch store (the industry term for that specific channel of stores).

The funny thing is...  Every one of those locations I mentioned above still exist today (with the exception of DiRenzo's).  You can still go and shop at these locations that are so rich in our communities history. 

So this coming weekend, look towards those local businesses for all your needs.  The food, the decorations, the drinks, the desserts.  You might just start creating more memories of your own.

Technology and Small Business

I don't know, I'm an old head and always thought about hardware when people spoke of technology.  Today however, the word, or as it seems to be used more often as, the phrase is indicative of software.  More to the point, opportunity in such things as social media, streaming video, and podcasts.

I recently spoke to Brad Oyler, owner of W3portals and W3giftcards, based out of Phoenixville about today's local business owners and their take on technology.  "In 2000 everybody wanted a website. That's how we started the commpany and that's how we grew.  Today, everyone wants a Facebook page because it's what's on everyones minds and lips.  The issue for small business owners is that they rarely get how to utilize it in a productive manner."

Oyler makes a great point.  Social Media can be a very succesful marketing tool, especially for local businesses.  The local business person relies heavily on word of mouth advertising.  Think about 20 years ago...  I used to bring my suits to Nick the Tailor down on Markley St across from Logan Sq shopping center.  The only way I knew about Nick was through my neighbors.  Sure, I would see his store front everytime I passed but even back then the buildings looked like houses and I really got the sense that Nick didn't want to be bothered.  I was one person who got a reccomendation from a friend via a live conversation. After being extremely satisfied I probably told another 10 friends over the course of the year.

Now, according to Facebook, the average user has 130 friends, and those users create 70 pieces of content a month.  Most of that content are status updates which could be as simple as "YAY! I'm happy!" or, "does anyone know where I can get a pair of pants altered quickly?!?!?!?  Wedding this sat!"

If Nick had a Facebook page he is now connected and immediately outsourced to not just the 130 friends of the one person who "liked" his page, but all of the friends that THOSE 130 friends have becasue yo can see your friends activity!  So what took Nick about a year to get 10 referals from me would get him possibly thousands in one status update that someone else likes!  Oh and the best part...  It's free!

Facebook isn't your only option either.  Twitter has become increasingly popular as people become more dependant on their mobile devices.  Being on the go and having the ability to access the web, email and such is great technology and allows for a better way of life (some would argue more complex, but that's another post).  Twitter allows you to open and account and in 75 characters or less tell everyone about what you are doing.  How that works is people "follow" you and recieve all of your messages as you put them out there.

Twitter is a very useful tool for small business.  You can communicate and broadcast any information you like to your followers.  If you sell hoagies and are having a slow day and want some more traffic, send out a tweet letting everyone know that you are having a special tonight! Free bag of chips, or half off 4 sandwiches or more, or whatever value prop you can think of.  Things like these were never available before because the lack of ability to communicate in an efficient manner didn't exist.  Today, it does and there should be no excuse for not at least researching the capabilities and opportunities it offers as a marketing tool.

The strains on the local business person are many.  Time, budget, resources, and even know how are stressed at every corner.  There is help out there.  Utilizing facebook is easy and fun.  It may be time consuming and as it gets more popular there are rules that are going to be implemented, but the use of this "technology" (there's that PHRASE again) is tatamount to having been able to hire a corporate marketing company to run a $10,000 ad campaign 15 years ago.

Do your research, find out about what works, and get those fan pages and twitter accounts up.  It will be the most effiecient marketing campaign you have ever done and, when done correctly and utilized to it's fullest, offer the best ROI you will have ever received.

If you have any questions on how to best utilize Facebook or Twitter, go speak to a teenager or college student.  This demographic know the language and understand how it works.  If you still have questions...  email me or leave a comment here.

Jim@riverchasers.com
 

Blooming Affairs Florists is a local favorite!

This story is truly what epitomizes the spirit of the local business person.  How they come to be and how they achieve success.  More importantly, the fact that what defines success is different for everyone.

I remember way back when working at an office, running a sales force and reading the Times Herald.  Every so often they publish a story on the front page of the business section a story about a new business that has opened up locally.  What impressed me was the fact that the owner was a very young woman who had recently graduated from high school and was embarking on her dreams to own a floral store.

The store was called Blooming Affairs and was opened on Sterigere St. in Norristown.  I had a need for some flowers so I stopped there and was pleasantly surprised at the layout of the store and what type of inventory they had for such a small shop.

Well fast forward 9 years later and they're still here.  Plugging away with many different offerings to the community in dealing with everything from birthday parties to weddings.  Their packages are exquisite and are locally known as professional and quick.  Nothing on the service end of the business is ever taken lightly and they continually go out of their way to understand the needs of their customers.  Whether it's a funeral, a new born, a graduation party or a prom, they have solutions, both trendy and formal to fit every customers desires.

They also offer fruit, candy and gourmet baskets for all occasions.  Whatever it is you need, they will find a solution.  You can call them directly for a consultation and the staff is not only friendly, but expert in their field.  They know from experience what works and what doesn't.  Give them a call the next time you are thinking of doing something nice for that special someone.  You'll be surprised how nice your message will come across!

Blooming Affairs Florists
803 Sterigere Street
Norristown, PA 19401
(610) 272-6088