Shop Local This Small Business Saturday

Posted on | November 22, 2011 | No Comments

Holiday season is ramping up, with stores hauling out their seasonal displays and people brushing off their credit cards in anticipation – or dread – of Christmas shopping excursions.

This year, American Express is once again leading the promotion of the Small Business Saturday initiative, encouraging people to focus on supporting their local small businesses which, in turn, support their local economy.

Small businesses are the economic engines that drive our neighbourhoods. Our communities. Our countries. And, if only for one day, this campaign calls folks to task and demands that they be aware of where they are spending their dollars. At the end of the day, did what you purchase help your community in any way?

As it did last year, American Express is offering a $25 credit to consumers who pre-register their credit cards and then buy products at independent merchants on November 26.

The first 10,000 businesses who sign up can receive $100 worth of Facebook ads to build buzz about their Small Business Saturday promotions.

More tools to help small business owners promote the event can also be found here.

Here’s to shopping locally this Small Business Saturday … I know I will.

Will you?

Forget Whiz Bang, Focus on Small Bang

Posted on | November 15, 2011 | 2 Comments

In public meetings across the country, many folks are desperately trying to come up with the next “whiz bang” idea to help small communities maintain their local economies.

It’s tough out there … and it’s bound to get tougher before it gets better.

But wouldn’t it be great if people weren’t encouraged to go down the path of searching for a big bonanza answer to local small business woes? Does anyone remember the monorail episode on The Simpsons? Unfortunately, that, too, was a dead end (although with catchier music).

The idea that a “whiz bang” attraction will solve all your woes is idealistic, at best, and stupid, at worst.

It doesn’t take a Ph.D. to realize the only way for communities to increase chances for local business success is to help them increase the number of customers who walk in and out of their front doors. While it’s tempting to make the leap that big attractions are needed in order to attract those customers, it’s simply not a practical answer for many small towns.

But neither does it mean that all is doom and gloom.

Many towns, in fact, are already doing many of the smaller, less glamorous things that make up 90% of the work required to build a realistic and sustainable local economy. Things like infrastructure improvements, building demolition, and facade upgrades, for instance, are all “small bang” activities. Alongside other community-initiated projects, these are exactly the types of improvements that help make any small community a good place to live and work.

People don’t need to chase “whiz bang,” they just need to continue to do what they’re already doing … concentrate on becoming a successful, attractive town that is a nice place to live. With a little explanation and encouragement, the folks who do live there will happily provide the support necessary to keep a local economy thriving, as long as it’s realistically scaled to its means.

A monorail, you say? Thanks, but no thanks.

Category: Economy
Tags: Economy > monorail > rural > rurban > small bang > small business > small communities > The Simpsons

Reap the Benefits of a Corn Maze

Posted on | November 8, 2011 | 2 Comments

In many rural areas, pumpkin-picking, corn-mazing and hayriding across crisp fields define the fall months - by far the busiest season for agritourism businesses.

A growing number of tourists – largely urban and suburban families with children - are taking the time to explore such local attractions, broadening the potential for agritourism to provide additional income to support family farms … as well as boost local economies.

One trend that’s taken off in many areas is the corn maze. So much so in my neck of the woods, in fact, that Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development has just released a free Corn Maze Decision Making Tool, discussing types of mazes, value-added products, design recommendations, along with many other critical factors farmers need to consider.

The Canadian Farm B usiness Management Council also offers a publication that offers detailed information, tools and resources for those considering agritourism. Cultivating Agritourism: Tools and Techniques for Building Success can be purchased here.

As a seasonal venture, corn mazes and other fall farm activities can help diversify and supplement farm income … but only with the right planning, preparation and marketing.

Category: Agriculture
Tags: agritourism > corn maze > farm > income > rural > rurban

Transport Canada Wanting Input for Road Safety Survey

Posted on | November 3, 2011 | No Comments

Canadian municipalities play a pivotal role in road safety.

Transport Canada wants to know about your municipality’s road safety initiatives, including key goals, programs and stakeholders – as well as safety gains you’ve achieved.

This information will be used to help Transport Canada determine municipalities’ level of road safety engagement across Canada. Aggregate information that highlights road safety best practices and lessons learned with then be shared.

The goal is to help municipalities develop or enhance road safety strategies. No information about individual cities will be shared or published.

Click here to complete the survey.

Category: Infrastructure
Tags: best practices > road safety > rural > rurban > survey > Transport Canada