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New sidewalk sales idea: Sell through the fence

By Becky McCray

In a downtown, three people are standing on a sidewalk next to a yellow painted board fence. There are two small windows in the board fence that can open outward.

  In the small town of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, Marilyn Pope Francis ran a restaurant with a fenced patio for tables and chairs. She set up hot serving dishes and a cold drinks station in the gazebo to serve customers. Here’s the part where we learn that Marilyn is a low-key business genius. Next to […]

September 2, 2024 Filed Under: customer service, entrepreneurship, marketing, rural Tagged With: food business, restaurant, service businesses

Rural marketing tip: the name is the claim

By Small Biz Survival

The front of a restaurant features a neon style sign that says "Hobo's House of Burgers and Booze."

Guest post and photo by Debbie Saviano   NO GUESSWORK Here! You know exactly what you’re getting! Great burgers and a relaxed boozy atmosphere. Small town businesses have a way of getting to the point. The name is the claim. About the author Debbie Saviano helps people learn how to use LinkedIn, online courses and social […]

May 22, 2024 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, marketing, rural Tagged With: marketing, restaurant, rural, signage

Pet friendly business opportunities

By Becky McCray

In front of a downtown building, a small rectangle of turf grass provides a pet relief area. A bag dispenser is mounted on a pole nearby.

Any business can offer pet friendly amenities In 2023, SaveYour.Town identified pet friendly communities as a Top Topic. Here’s an example of a business offering a pet friendly amenity. In Palouse, Washington, a local veterinarian has an office in the downtown. Out front, they’ve installed a small patch of artificial turf as a pet relief […]

April 29, 2024 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, marketing, rural, trends Tagged With: pet grooming

Seasonal businesses: post signs year-round

By Becky McCray

Two people are pointing to features on a brick building in a small town downtown

Marketing tip: keep signs up year-round even if you’re a seasonal business. When I toured several small towns in Washington and Idaho with the Inland Northwest Partners, I noticed many part-time and seasonal businesses did not have signs up during their off season. In the town of Deary, Idaho, (population 500) there is a wine […]

April 22, 2024 Filed Under: economic development, entrepreneurship, marketing, mistakes, rural Tagged With: effective marketing, entrepreneurship, retail, seasonal business, service businesses, signage, small business marketing

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