My friend Deb Brown has a serendipity story for us. She is the director of the chamber of commerce in Webster City, Iowa. She’s going to tell you how she makes serendipity happen. –Becky By Deb Brown Last Tuesday I was in Kansas City and talking to a fellow about maker spaces. Maker spaces…
I operate with a set of assumptions about rural places and small towns. I want to share them with you so you’ll know what I’m assuming whenever I talk with you. (Yes, I know what happens when you assume. Call them basic beliefs instead of assumptions, if you prefer.) When I tell you that…
Twice recently, the question has come up: who is going to buy the stores in my town when their owners retire in a few years? The answer is no one, unless you start growing your people. In small towns, this is a pressing question. If you lose a key business because the owner can’t…
Beauty salons. Even really small towns probably have one. But when was the last time an economic developer considered them as important business development tools? I was speaking to the Northwest Oklahoma Workforce Board about the 8 Innovative Rural Business Models. When I got to the Business Inside a Business model, my own local…
I’m a fan of business fairs, business expos and all kinds of business showcases. These are the kind of event where different businesses come together in one place and set up booths or displays. Good fairs bring together business people with new customers and with each other. It’s good for everyone. In my…
Glenn Muske just reminded us that we should listen to other business owners: “Want to improve the operation of your business? One simple tip is to listen to and watch what other business owners are doing. This simple piece of advice can save you a great deal of time, effort and money.” This is…
Another reader emailed me last week to say they had formed a revitalization group for their town and asked for tips to attract businesses to their town. I don’t have any. Revitalizing a town is less about what you can attract from outside and more about what you can grow yourself. Experiment, try, fail,…
A reader asked me about outside food trucks invading a town of about 2,500 people. It’s a good question, and I’m glad to have a chance to share it with you. I am having a hard time in our small town with food trucks wanting to set up for a couple days of the week? I…
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