Dan Gordon and meOriginal photo by Scott TownsendEdited by James Shewmaker Dan Gordon is the fourth generation of his family at Samuel Gordon’s Jewelers, a business that has survived for over 100 years. Although based in Oklahoma City, we found plenty of similarities with small town business and traditions. Dan shared his approach to social…
South by Southwest allows the public to offer input on the choice of topics for the Interactive Festival, coming up in March 2011. (Yest, that’s far away, but SXSW likes to plan ahead.) Any person may register and vote, whether or not they plan to attend the festival. Comments are especially welcome. I cooperated with…
We love your comments. Frequently, you add much more value than I do. I don’t want anything to change that. Here’s what is changing. Please do NOT enter a keyword phrase, business, product or service name as your name in the comment section. Doing so will get your comment deleted. Use YOUR name. I should…
Even though I call this the Brag Basket, it’s not really about bragging. It’s about sharing. I started this so you can introduce yourself, share some good news, or congratulate a friend. The basket is open all weekend, from August 13-15, 2010. Speak up and add yourself or another deserving soul in the comments. We…
By Jon Swanson Being individually responsive can be challenging. We talk about the idea, but how do you specifically customize things that are not part of your core service but help create the environment? Let me give you a very concrete example. I drink coffee. Often. I like when businesses provide coffee, but shudder when…
A “fam” tour, or familiarization tour, is a common tool in the tourism industry, but almost no one takes time to explain the idea. Let’s go through the basics of fam tours for small business. Bloggers on a fam tour in Hutchinson, KS.That’s me and Jeanne on the left. Tourism expert Sarah Page explained that…
One reality of software is that sometimes it goes away. Microsoft Office Accounting was discontinued in November of 2009. Microsoft Money (for personal accounting) was also discontinued. I have no idea how many small businesses were using MS Accounting or MS Money, but Sage Accounting just sent out a press release about their options for “where…
On November 1, 2010, a group of small town advocates and technology geeks will convene at the Fox Theater in Hutchinson, Kansas, for the first 140 Characters Conference Small Town. Entrepreneur Jeff Pulver is the driving force behind the 140 Character Conference, or 140Conf for short. It’s not about Twitter. It’s about the ways real time online communication is…
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