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Hotter Than Hell Night

By Becky McCray

Collect great ideas everywhere you go. At SXSW, Jim Storer told me about a restaurant that does a Hotter Than Hell Night.

It’s the East Coast Grill in Cambridge, MA. They do a whole menu of torturous treats, from cocktails through entrees. Read through their creative names, recipes and descriptions. They do offer a bit of “food for wimps” and even an antidote, for a small wimp charge. (See page 2 of the menu.)

The whole night is eagerly awaited. Crowds form. People drive for miles and miles to get there. Servers dress up in firefighter gear. The whole staff gets into it. It is an experience.

That’s what you want to build with your business: experiences.What great ideas have you collected lately?

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Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.

www.beckymccray.com
  • Should I ask competitors before I start a business in a small town?
  • Will trendy axe throwing and escape room businesses last? More experience-based retail: the Hat Bar
  • Create customer experiences online like Open the Shop With Me videos, and in person, like Silent Book Club

April 9, 2009 Filed Under: customer service, ideas

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  1. Tim Bursch says

    April 9, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    Local brewer Surly is doing a Firkin party tonight. I get to meet the brewer (personal), taste the beer (experience), and hang out with like minded people (community). Smart! Thanks for sharing the ideas here.

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  2. Becky McCray says

    April 9, 2009 at 9:52 pm

    Terrific example, Tim!

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