07.27.08
Posted in Profiles at 4:49 pm by Administrator
Each month the Frankfort-Elberta Area Chamber of Commerce does a profile on one of their members in their newsletter. The Bay View Party Store was featured in the May 2008 issue.
“This is a long story that I’ll make short. We were going to buy the Gambles Hardware Store,” says Bob McNeal. “First, we bought this (building), as we were going to use it to repair lawn mowers and stuff that we could sell through the hardware store. After we bought this, the hardware deal fell through. So, we decided to start out as a gas station instead. We were the first cut-rate gas station in the area.”
Bob and Sue McNeal, and Harry and Mary Putney opened Bayview Party Store on May 20, 1968. To stay competitive, they met the needs of their customers by adding products to their inventory. Their business grew and evolved. In 1972, they built the addition onto the back of the building, developing into a convenient store. The McNeal’s bought out the Putney’s portion of the business in 1986.
Harry Putney and Bob McNeal worked together as maintenance foremen at GM. One weekend, they and their wives decided to come up to this area for the weekend. Harry and Mary grew up in Benzie County, and knew the region well. When Bob and Sue, both from downstate, came to the area, they fell in love with Frankfort like so many others. Eventually, the two couples relocated to Frankfort with the intention of starting a business together.
As a way to say “thank you” to the community for their continued support, Bayview Party Store is doing a drawing that is sure to catch everyone’s attention. Anyone over the age of 18, may enter to win one of four Marathon gas cards. 1st prize is a $250 gas card, 2nd prize is a $125 gas card, 3rd prize is a $75 gas card and 4th prize is a $50 gas card. Be sure to ask about the rules and regulations for these generous prizes prior to entering. On Saturday, May 17th, the McNeal’s are celebrating Bayview Party Store’s 40th Anniversary with their friends and family. Everyone is welcome to join in the festivity at the Mineral Springs Park (rain or shine). From noon till three o’clock, they will be serving free hot dogs, potato chips, and soda.
Bayview Party Store is located at 531 Main Street in downtown Frankfort. To reach them by phone, please dial 352-9493.
To read the May 2008 Frankfort-Elberta Area Chamber of Commerce newsletter click here.
To read additional Frankfort-Elberta Area Chamber of Commerce newsletters, go to the Creative Counsel web site.
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04.11.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 2:26 am by Administrator
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06.12.07
Posted in Marketing at 9:28 pm by Administrator
So, are you telling potential clients “I’m too busy for you?” Seriously. A couple of days ago, I was scanning through miscellaneous web sites and found one that said - “We’re too busy…” This particular web site was bright, cheery, professional, and inviting. It had a flowing layout that caused my interest to come to a screeching halt with these simple words, “We’re so busy producing creative campaigns for our clients that our website has temporarily been put on ice…”Before your site is published, look at it from your client’s point of view. Are you saying to them:
1. We don’t have time to take on new clients
2. We don’t have time to complete the work on our desks
3. We need to hire more staff
4. We didn’t plan ahead
5. Our web designer has flown the coop
Do yourself a favor, a good marketing strategy, either take the time to complete the project everyone is looking at on the internet or wait to publish it.
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04.09.07
Posted in Organizating at 3:30 pm by Administrator
The question that’ll seize all momentum. Today, let’s work on your office. What part of it needs the most attention? The desk? The filing cabinet? Or the pile on the floor that’s accumulated with the added phrase, “I’ll get to this another day.”
It can be overwhelming. Start small. Okay, let’s begin with the top of your desk. This should be easy enough. Remove all the items and set aside. Use spray cleaner and paper towel to remove the remnants of food left behind, coffee mug rings, dust and etc. Look at the empty desk top. Nice, isn’t it? Things to consider before returning your items: how can you make the desk more efficient; what hand do you use to reach for certain items; do you have enough work space; how can you make more room; where should the computer monitor and phone go. Set on your desk only the things that you use consistently throughout your work day. The rest, place within reach and out of sight - the desk drawers for example. File the paperwork in it’s proper place. Take the necessary time to put items where they belong.
Now that you’ve organized the top of your desk, let’s work on the drawers. Remove all the contents and place on your freshly cleaned desktop. Look at it as a bit of motivation to keep you going. After all, you worked hard to clean that area and you want it to stay that way. Wipe away the dust bunnies that have multiplied since the last cleaning. Now begin returning only the items you will use. Throw away things that are old, broken and you haven’t used in the past year. Repeat till you’ve sorted through each one.
There is nothing like coming to work with a desk that is clean. It lessens the inital stress level. You are not faced with a maddening cluster of stuff to overwhelm your senses before you even begin your day. It’s also important to spend the last five minutes of each day cleaning off, putting away, and leaving one pile of paperwork off the center of your desk to set the momentum for tomorrow.
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03.23.07
Posted in Organizating at 9:52 pm by Administrator
One of the biggest reasons we procrastinate in getting organized is due to a lack of time. Start small. Work for hour today, and plan to do the same tomorrow. Organization begins when you pick a pile of stuff, and sort through it.
Taming the Cluster Monster. “I might need that someday.” Now ask - “Why? When? How?” If there’s any hesitation, pitch it. Be realistic, are your going to read the magazine that you’ve intended to for the past six months? I didn’t think so.
Purchase to Motivate. To get excited about sorting the mounds of paperwork, some people find that if they buy a box of colorful file folders it’ll get them motivated. If you don’t have a filing cabinet, get one. Other supplies you’ll need include hanging files, manila folders, and a pen.
What works? Now that you have been inspired to tackle the clutter, take a look at what already works. If there’s a functional filing system in your office/home, don’t change it. Add to it. The goal is to file items and be the ability to retrieve the information.
Organizing is not a “one-time” task; it’s the process of maintaining. Set short term and long term goals. Decide what task should be completed first - start there.
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Posted in Selling at 4:12 pm by Administrator
Do you know what your goals are? Are you willing to take the risks - inspite of your fears?
These are only a two of the questions you have to ask yourself before you attempt to sell, well, anything. Some people find it easy to sell their products and services; others would rather have their wisdom teeth pulled while planning a party with their in-laws over the holiday season.
Selling is about building relationships; allowing others to see what you represent, what you have to offer. Sounds simple, right? It can be. The most important word in a saleperson’s vocabulary is “Believe”. First, you have to believe in yourself. Second, you must believe in the products and services that you provide to your customers. Thirdly, you have to believe that you have much more to learn - trust me, you don’t know everything.
The saleperson that feels that they know all there is to know, is one that will be sadly disappointed when they cannot reach their sales quotas. Here’s a true story for you to learn from. I was the director of a local Chamber of Commerce when one day this salesman barges in. He was dressed in blue jeans and a filthy sweatshirt with a bit of his lunch still clinging to his scruffy beard. He walks up to my desk and announces that he wants to speak to the other gal (believing that she was the decision maker) that works in the office. Well, I explained to him that she had the day off and that I would be happy to jot down the information and give it to the person who is now making the adervitising decisions. He was reluctant to offer me any of the information that I would need to pass along. Oh, like, the quantity of flyers printed, where, when… the usual stuff one needs to know before spending money. It literally took me ten minutes to extract this from him. I must say, I was so tempted to stand up (after he was done ignoring my questions, of course), extend my right hand and introduce myself as the Chamber Director and politely tell him to leave the office. No client should be bullied by a salesperson, especially one that doesn’t know everything.
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