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2015 Emporia Main Street Annual Meeting
The Emporia Main Street Annual Meeting tends to emulate the organization itself. We have a group of super busy people that get together to honor productivity and offer thanks to those...
New Tech Tools
Some simple technology can improve your customer communications, recruit help and dress up your data! One of my favorite parts about the National Main Street conference is learning about all...
Who Actually Owns The Road?
Emporia Main Street recently conducted a survey on behalf of a local alternative transportation group. I'm sure they will reference the results of the survey as they move forward with...
Tech Time Savers
Time is a precious commodity for most entrepreneurs. Taking advantage of a few time saving strategies can help free you up for the other 1,000 things you have to do...
Emporia Main Street Data For 2014
Each quarter, Emporia Main Street collects data for an area roughly identified as "downtown". We conduct business outside of this area, but our original state reporting requirements that were tied...
New Data Highlights Impact of Emporia Downtown Historic District
In May of 2012, Emporia Main Street was notified that our request for the development of a Federal and State recognized historic district was granted. For more than three years,...
Is Your Business Too Tech-Dependent?
Many of us are more technology dependent than we would like to admit. If our phones break or we get the "blue screen of death" on a home computer, we...
2014 In Review At Emporia Main Street
Emporia Main Street is a results oriented organization. The culture of measurable activities that push for community growth has been fostered by you, our membership, since the inception of the...
‘Tis the Season For Change
The recognition of fear with the very concept of change is something that all businesses, organizations and communities need to be acutely aware of. Abhorring change in all of its...
New Lyon County Data
The University of Kansas Institute for Policy and Research releases data on the relative standing of Kansas counties. Included in this fifty-one page report are a series of different statistical...
Understanding Millennials & Their Impact On Your Business
Millennials - They have a different way of life, they value different things, and their priorities are different than those of the previous generations. But why should we care to...
Holiday Continuity
Emporia Main Street has the ability to communicate "best practices" or "generally agreed upon traditions" with the local area without saying "you MUST do this." We don't have the power...
Collecting Relevant Sales Information
How are your sales? That's the question that everyone in the business world wants to know! In the non-profit world, you might replace the word "sales" with "donations", or "event...
How Failure To Do One “Little Thing” Can Cost Your Business Big
Most of our business advice columns are specific to a certain industry or category type. Businesses have become more "niche" over the past decade, and those individual nuances mean we...
Is Your Store Visually Appealing?
The Holidays are right around the corner (only 92 days until Christmas, can you believe it?). Is your store ready for 4th quarter? There are some very simple steps you...
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. ...
