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Business Enhancement
10 Free Things You Can Do Right Now To Improve Your Business!
1. Keep it clean. Did you know that consumers determine whether they will enter your business in a 3 second time frame? A clean exterior and attractive windows can make a BIG difference....
Converting Festival Attendees Into Paying Customers
Through the Promotions Point in the Main Street concept, we focus on community marketing, the production of "register ringers" (like Midnight Madness or the Shop Hop) and "gathering" events (like...
Mitigating Your Business’ Energy Costs
"Overhead". "The cost of doing business." "Static costs." Whenever a set or necessary item in business increases in cost, businesses panic a little. How will the business either eat the...
Effective Advocacy for Local Business
Over the past few summers, we've heard from visitors to large Emporia events how much they like the Emporia community, how fantastic the people are and visitors expressed how much they...
Are Your Specials Actually Special?
Retailers, bars, restaurants and service businesses often struggle with "specials". Financial incentives through discounting can draw consumers into a business if conducted correctly, but without a plan they can simply...
What is Emporia’s Trade Market Area?
In business, we talk a lot about "the market". Identification of customers, spending, demand and supply within an area is so important that it has its own discipline within schools...
Why is Earth Day Important for Main Street Supporters?
Earth Day is today, and I thought it was important to share some very interesting information compiled by the National Main Street Center and other entities concerning the environmental impact...
Building Aesthetics & Their Importance For Your Business
Spring is here and people are strolling through the community. As creatures of habit, it is common for business people to become accustomed to their surroundings. So, although customers notice...
Playing to Our Small Town Strengths
Looking ahead to jam packed May full of tremendous events we find ourselves asking two questions: 1. What the heck were we thinking? And, 2. How can we make sure...
Improving your Cash Flow
About 99.99% of all businesses we work with would like to improve their cash flow position. There are several ways to do that, and we cover various strategies that can...
Stimulating Senses Can Lead to Sales
At Emporia Main Street we often talk about creating an inviting atmosphere. In those discussions or articles, the discussion generally revolves around visual aesthetics. How we interact with the world...
New Market Info Gives Glimpse Into Emporia’s Needs
Every consumer has wants and needs. Every business has wants and needs. Therein lies the challenge in development: balancing what the community wants with what businesses can realistically provide. Sometimes...
Net Neutrality & Its Effects On Your Business
Technology is the great equalizer for many businesses. Because tech is based on creative ideas, and it's popularity is supported by the masses, there is something strangely entrepreneurial and democratic...
New Spins on Traditional Promotions
Looking to the past for ideas that can be updated for the present is a solid promotional tactic. Identifying current promotions that can partner with store fronts is another way...
IKE and Its Role in Area Crowdfunding
The word "crowdfunding" has become associated with on-line portals like kickstarter or IndieGoGo which provide people the opportunity to donate to a business start up-sometimes in exchange for basic merchandise. Because...
Dirty Kanza 200 – A “Decade of Dirty” In The Books!
It seems like the organizers of the Dirty Kanza outdo themselves each year. For the now decade old Dirty Kanza, they added hundreds of "lite" ride participants (20 or 50...
Kansas Sales Tax Rates Changing July 1st
The sales tax rate for the City of Emporia is currently 8.15%. The recent state budget bill increased the sales tax rate for the state of Kansas by .35%. The...
Window Displays that POP!
Window Displays That Pop! Your window displays are your first impression. Do they catch your attention?- By Lauren Woolard Windows are your first chance to make an impression...
Sign Language
Sign Language Creating Uniform Signage for Citizens and Visitors Within community circles, a lot has been made of the poor state of existing signage. Most criticism is well deserved. ...
Converting Festival Attendees into Paying Customers
We Have a Bunch of People, Now What? Converting Festival Attendees into Paying Customers Through the Promotions Point in the Main Street concept, we focus on community marketing, the...
Is Your Store Visually Appealing
Is Your Store Visually Appealing? Helpful hints to get your store ready before the 4th Quarter!- by Lauren Woolard The Holidays are right around the corner (only 92 days until...
Energy Efficiency
One future trend that concerns all businesses... How will your business mitigate the increasing costs of energy? "Overhead". "The cost of doing business." "Static costs." Whenever...
Is Your Business Student Friendly?
Making your business more "student" friendly With back to school right around the corner, here are some tips you might want to think about Growing enrollments at Flint Hills...
ADA Compliance
ADA- The Americans with Disabilities Act What it means for building owners and businesses, from a meeting with an ADA official. It is the responsibility...
Get Noticed
Get Noticed (in a positive way) Businesses never ask "how can I blend in so no one notices me". Businesses want to stand out, get noticed,...
Does Pinterest Spark Your Interest?
Does spark your interest? A new type of social media is generating marketing buzz for savvy small businesses... Product heavy and full of testimonials, Pinterest lets people "pin" their "interests" within...
Mobility in Card Processing
Mobility in Card Processing Flexible Payment Solutions Help Small Businesses Thrive Most of us are beyond the debate of "if" we need credit card...
Situational Advertising
Situational Advertising Create brand awareness by responding to the world around you. It was the biggest football game of the year, (a game that can't be named...
Organic Leadership
Organic Leadership It's the choice for a new generation In a recent meeting of Flint Hills Region professionals that were in their 20's and 30's a curious...
An Environment for Growth
An Environment for Growth How can we push the community into a more positive (and sustainable) trajectory? "I'm pro-growth", "we need to grow", "the only...
Does your Business Shine?
Does your business shine? Implementing lighting strategies can help attract customers, promote services and highlight products. We have all been to a theatrical performance where...
Avoiding Decision Making Paralysis
Avoiding Decision Making Paralysis Improving your organization starts with direction. We often are asked if we record feedback from Entrepreneurs starting or expanding a business,...
Stress Management for Businesses
Stress Management for Businesses Because stress happens... Stress is a topic on most people's mind, but it is still considered a taboo subject for many. ...
Bringing it all Together: The 4 Point Approach
Bringing it all Together Different points provide better results Every business or organization has to ask themselves a series of tough questions to achieve success. ...
New Development in Crowd Sourcing
New Development in Crowd Sourcing Growing Communities are Investing in Their Businesses Businesses typically need a few things to achieve success. They need a...
Experience Based Interaction Leads to Profits
Experience Based Interaction Leads to Profits No matter your business type, when you can connect with your customers in a unique way, you win. ...
How Well Do you Actually Know Emporia?
How Well do you Actually Know Emporia? A little E-Town Trivia for your Tuesday... Town Crier Bookstore celebrated National Historic Preservation Month in May by putting together a...
Working to Make Things Better
Working to Make Things Better A Design Team Project and a Business Enhancement Program work to improve Emporia! Successful and positive changes are generally achieved in...
Social Media Time Savers
Social Media Time Savers Because no one has time to check everything... There are a ton of social media sites on-line. I think everyone is aware of...
What is your 4th Quarter Plan?
What is your 4th Quarter Plan? Yes, it's summer, but remember past years when you were overwhelmed? Once we hit mid-August, it seems like...
Do You Want a More Successful Business?
Hit them where they aren't! The basis of entrepreneurism is fairly simple: find a market demand and provide the market a supply. However, we know that...
Growing a Business through Celebrity
Growing a Business through Celebrity Is it right for your concept? We live in a society obsessed with celebrity. Reality TV shows are numerous, and...
How to Boost Sales 10%+
One simple thing that can boost your sales by 10% or more... Train yourself and your staff to stand out in the...
You Need Positive Exposure for your Business, but Where do you Start?
During a recent Kansas Main Street, Inc. Quarterly Training, the subject of business exposure was talked about extensively. Why? With mass media the amount of exposure a business needs...
Why Shop Local
The Real Reasons Your Spending Matters We usually hear what we "should do" from a variety of different people every day. One of the "should do" categories we hear about...
The Final Countdown
The Final Countdown As Christmas approaches, store owners (and employees) get tired (and cranky)... Here are a few tips to make that final push to Christmas!...
The Type of Change No One Wants to Talk About
The Type of Change No One Wants to Talk About Substance Over Style I received an e-mail from a local acquaintance that talked...
New Spins on Traditional Promotions
New Spins on Traditional Promotions Draw new people to your business destination Looking to the past for ideas that can be...
