Suzy and Tracie make bread in a little strip mall in Mishawaka, Indiana. They have a franchise with Great Harvest Bread Company. They give you free slices to sample. (Apple Scrapple is very good.) They are like lots of bread stores in lots of towns.
Their store/bakery is only a couple miles from our daughter’s college, but I never would have noticed it. It’s one of many stores in that mall, and there are many strip malls along Grape Road.
So how did Suzy sell me a muffin and a coffee mug?
- Debbie Huber reads my blog. I wrote a series of 5 question interviews, (including one with Becky). Debbie liked the idea and decided to write her own version. (Lesson 1: steal ideas wherever you can. Lesson 2: have a corporate blog.)
- I found out about the post because I have a google alert to search for my blog (Lesson 3: link out from your blog.)
- I noticed they have a location in Mishawaka. I commented on the post and told Debbie I’d check out Great Harvest. (Lesson 4: have your locations on your website.)
- Debbie commented back and said she’d tell the franchise owners Suzy and Tracie that a social media chaplain would be coming in. (Lesson 5: interact with your readers.)
- We stopped by the bakery. I asked for Suzy and introduced myself. She said, “Are you the social media, what, guru?” (Lesson 6: follow through when you say you will do something.)
The muffin was good. Suzy was friendly.
And Great Harvest has a new fan.
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Jon has been a regular reader and occasional contributor around here since 2006. Jon works as a pastor, but he understands business better than many so-called business people. He gets that it is about people, relationships, service, and yes, even love.
Love this post. Went through the list, checked off what we do, added what we don’t. Thanks.
Thanks for the post Jon! I’m blushing:-) I’m also off this weekend to a convention we host for our bakery owners (like Suzy!) annually where I’m giving a presentation about how these small business owners (big and small towns) can also use social media to enhance what they’re doing everyday in their bakeries. Thanks for the validation!
Cynthia – thanks for stopping by and the feedback.
Debbie – there is a perfectness about your comment that is delightful. Cheer them on. Tell them they make good bread.