Pub Crawl Tickets are HERE!!!

Come by the shop to get your passports for tomorrows pub crawl.
Single $10 and 2 for $15--you can't beat that. You get a HARTride complimentary 1-day unlimited ride (public transportation means no driving). Help support the green effort and have a great time!

Perk Up!

When I talk about brand image, I tell you to 'tell your story' through the use of coordinated visual presentation. I've gone so far as to say don't be kitschy or cute. However, in some cases, that is exactly what you should do. Case in point: This espresso stand near Seattle.

There is a sea of thousands of shed-like boxes sitting roadside in our state, all espresso stands advertising 'the best mocha' or '$2.00 lattes everyday' or even bikini-clad baristas (don't get me started as to what story THAT is telling....).

This one certainly stands out from the crowd, don't you think? The coffee pot shape, art-deco style and retro vibe (not to mention bright neon lights at 5 AM) are impossible to ignore. There is no doubt as to their product, or that they tend to details in their business. I've never seen this place without a huge lineup of cars in the drive thru - it's busy all day long, even though it is not located in a high-traffic area.

I can't think of a more perfect example of how having an engaging visual presence & personality is of benefit to your business... or of how sometimes, whimsy and kitsch are just the thing your business needs for a little perk up!

Window Display Grafitti

Have you seen the new ad campaign for K&G Fashion stores? It literally cracks me up everytime I see it. I've searched everywhere online for a photo still of the final frame from that commercial, with no luck.

Please understand that I'm not condoning this kind of thing, nor am I suggesting that you DO this to a competitor's windows. You have to admit, though, that in the face of ripoff artists, copycats, and absurdly overpriced merchandise, it is an almost understandable approach: If your artwork or window displays or web site has ever been copied by a competitor, isn't this the kind of revenge you'd like to get?!

You could, of course, grafitti up your OWN store windows. If you sell fashion, maybe you could try a version of 'What Not to Wear' and show two mannequins: one dressed WRONG, then paint the 'big red circle with slash mark' over it. Have a second mannequin dressed in the latest style - and maybe that one has a big yellow smiley face painted over it. Just do the paint on the INSIDE of your windows, using a sponge-tip paint pen (the kind they make for school pep rallies and post-wedding car decorating).

Display ideas are everywhere, aren't they?! Or, is it just me?

Paint the Town Green and Back in the Day Events

Upcoming events for Tampa Street Market...

Friday Night May 1st - Paint the Town Green hosted by The Urban Charette -
We are putting together our own crew of mass transit minded partiers. If you love a good pub crawl and like to chat green, join us for a fun night out in Tampa. We are hoping to get a group on the bus in Seminole Heights and head downtown. We haven't picked a meeting place yet, options are Fly Bar, Cafe Hey, or the new Columbia Cafe at The History Center. You can email us with ideas at amy@tampastreetmarket.com Definitely we want to make it to the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts downtown as they are part of the event. Get more details at http://www.ecolutiontampa.com/



Before we start the crawl on Friday, we will be attending an art opening for Lynn Manos at Clayton Galleries at 4105 S. MacDill Ave. from 7-9 pm. If you're interested in seeing an extremely talented artist that currently calls Tampa home, check it out.

Friday Night May 15th, 7-9:30 pm - Back in the Day Bazaar at Tampa Street Market and Seminole Heights Antiques -

Don't miss our first night time event at our new location. Long overdue for a party, Loko Cuisine has put together a delicious menu and drinks so you can chat and shop while you cool down from the week. $15 covers food and drinks with special discounts up to 20% for the night only. See the awesome menu below or learn more at http://www.lokocuisine.com/

$15 Old School Menu with a Twist Includes:

Lipton's French onion dip with balsamic and rosemary, fresh veggies and Ruffles

Country fried chicken salad, green onion, celery, Frank's Red Hot Dressing

Pimento goat cheese sandwich on Wonder bread

Southern style potato salad with curry

Meat loaf, chipotle ketchup, fried onions

Deviled ham, sesame chili mayo

Iceberg wedge, tarragon caper thousand island

Beer, Wine, Soda

Online Merchandising Tips

I've just recently become involved as part of a committee handling the planning of an event. This isn't my normal 'design' work, it's long-distance communication and research. As part of that, I am building a blog that will be used to inform attendees of event plans as they develop. I'm adding some links to that blog - providing contact options that readers can utilize to connect with one another, and also merchandise sales to help raise funds. So, I headed over to Cafe' Press - to do some research as I prepare to create custom graphics for the merchandise and set up a shop for the organization to sell it from.

What I found when I was reading through their 'new stores' info was THIS article. An amazing compilation of information on merchandise display, this page contains essential tips for anyone who is selling product online. The last tip on the page is a concise and clear explanation of what the phrase 'Above The Fold' is, and why it's SO important to any online content.

This is such helpful material that I wanted to pass the resource on to all of you. While some of the writing is definitely geared toward the setup of a Cafe Press shop, you don't need to be doing that to benefit from this advice - head over and check it out here.

logo courtesy of Cafe Press.com

A Case Study: Hogue Cellars Winery

You told me you want to see some 'Before & After' shots...
Before Deb's Retail Redesign:

After Deb's Retail Redesign:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

The principles used in this redesign project include using scale, color, space, and organization for maximum visual impact. A basic clear-out and clean up of old product, broken fixtures, useless props, and miscellaneous items that had no place on the retail floor made the place look instantly cleaner, larger, and brighter.

That was followed by rethinking how the space was used, and allocating previously empty floor space to display products. A huge impact was made by simply filling shelves & hooks up with merchandise that was being stored in a stockroom, rather than the previous arrangement of one of each item out on display.

It took one day for me to plan this redesign, and one six-hour evening session of four people working in the shop to accomplish the re-set. No paint, construction, or other large-scale solutions were used in this phase. It was all done by rearranging and adding fixtures & product.

The retail manager reported that within one week, most of the new merchandise had sold out. Even items that had been on the shelves for months were selling - and people thought it was new. Even employees.

It's just that simple!

Give me a shout... I can help you do this, too!

Photo Credits: Debi Ward Kennedy, courtesy of Hogue Cellars Winery, subsidiary of Constellation Wines. All other use prohibited.

You Can Have A 'Designer' Look

Store Design is the equivalent of having a fashion expert give you advice! The process of having a professional redesign your existing business environment can redefine your brand image, update your look, and make you relevant to the lives your customer is leading. And that makes them want to shop in your store and purchase your merchandise.

My Retail Design Services can help you go from this:

To THIS:


VaVaVaVoom!

Want results like that? Email me. I'll swoop in like Stacy & Clinton from TLC's 'What Not To Wear' and get you in style in no time. Yes, even without coming to your store! You'll be thrilled with the results, and even happier with my reasonable fees. And your customers? They'll be raving fans.

(I do not, however, give you a five thousand dollar credit card like Stacy & Clinton do. Sorry!)

Photo Credits: All property of DWK, courtesy of Columbia Winery, subsidiary of Constellation Wines/ICON Estates and Assencia Estates. Any other use expressly prohibited.

Earth Day - This is a Call!

How do you celebrate Earth Day if you are in the Florida House?

Hopefully you voice your opposition to drilling within earshot of our coastline!

From the St. Pete Times -

TALLAHASSEE — In a full-barreled appeal to the House Policy Council, the oil and gas industry persuaded lawmakers to vote, 17-6, along party lines Tuesday for a bill that opens state waters to exploration and taps into new revenues for the state's ailing budget.
The council approved an amendment by Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Orlando, that would lift Florida's ban on oil drilling in state waters and replace it with a plan to allow the governor and Florida Cabinet to seek bidders for exploration and drilling in the Gulf of Mexico between 3 and 10 miles offshore.

Here's the link:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/article994176.ece

For a reference: The Gandy Bridge is almost 3 miles long, and the distance from the tip of St. Pete to the Hillsborough side where the Skyway bridge ends is around 8 miles... Doesn't seem very far to me.

WARNING! - Rant to follow...

I love how if the economy tanks, the environment gets the bill. All of a sudden, the only way to restart our economy in Florida is to build, build, build where we wouldn't allow before by pushing permits through fast track procedures! Wetlands, who cares? Water restrictions? Not on my green grass! And drill baby, as close as you can. We need that revenue! Let's get those coffers full of oil money cause the environment doesn't pay as much or at all. Unless you count things like tourism, farming, and that silly alternative energy. Alternative energy! Sorry no time for that this session. Oh yeah and sales tax exemptions, not this year - no time. We've only got time for fat walleted special interests to buy us lunch and pay for tea parties. The environment can wait for the next session, can't it?!

Now I suppose is the time to recall that Earth Day is for celebration and for activism. As one of my favorite bands would say( the Fighters of Foo) - "This is a Call!" Let 'em know about it!

Displays Done Right in Black & White

Take the basic merchandising principles used in those 1920's displays (shown in my previous post, below) and utilize them today, and what do you get?

White House Black Market. Perfection.
Trendy. Stylish. Glamorous. Elegant.

Fashions may change, but some things - like display excellence - NEVER go out of style.

I can't even count how many times I've heard comments about how small independent merchants have nothing in common with and/or nothing to learn from the Big Box stores. Wrong.

Go to the mall. Get online. Open a catalogue or a magazine. Look at how 'the big guys' are displaying products. They pay big bucks to designers and stylists to make those products appeal to their market demographic.... and you don't have to pay a THING to learn from them.

Look at the basics: Color, Scale, Composition, Spacing, Lighting, Contrast, Signage. This is 3-D art, easy to decipher. If it works for Macys or WHBM or Anthro, it will work for you.

Just one thing: Copy the FORMULA, not the display. (As in, use odd numbers of items, use a hot trendy color on the rear wall, make funky props to catch attention, etc. ) Imitation is not flattery. It's laziness. You're all originals - BE original!

Photo Credits: White House, Black Market.

Celebrating Earth Day 2009

Tampa’s biggest Earth Day celebration, Earth Day Tampa Bay, was bigger and better than ever when it took over Lowry Park’s Band Shell area on Sunday, April 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family-friendly festival featured exhibitors offering products, information and demonstrations on ways to help you create a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. There were children’s activity areas, live music, food vendors and fun! Headlining this year’s festival was The Nine Volts (www.theninevolts.com). The Cape Canaveral band performs rollicking feel-good Americana- roots rock music at venues across the state and was selected from nearly 40 applicant bands. Above - Groovy Cats and Dogs represent at the Earth Day Celebration - treat the earth and your animals better!

Below - The maker of our tye-died onesie below - Great folks at Sunshine Dye Dream (also did the WMNF tie dyed shirts this fund drive!)



Above - Seminole Heights Community Garden Table - Can You Dig It?!!!

Below - Shari and Danielle from Chi Chi Amor - dressing our kids with recycled and organic designs from Guatemalan artisans.


It's Our Nature - Awesome company and awesome t-shirts, organic and natural dyes.

Found Cat--Has a home!!!!

We found this cute, grey and white kitty on our back porch a week or so ago. I was going to take it in to the humane society to get it fixed when I noticed that it had already been de-clawed. Who would abandon this sweet cat? She is small and has gained weight since I have been feeding her. She is the sweetest cat in the world and even lets Baci get up close to her. Here are a few pics.



I would keep her, but with a new baby and me being allergic--it is not the best idea.
Please email or call me if you want to adopt her. She is really sweet!!!

Flashback

I found these photos of 1920's clothing store displays in a book I just picked up this weekend. The book isn't about display, it's about the time period, but this look into the past was pretty entertaining! I thought you might enjoy it, as well... seeing how merchants of past decades displayed their products is always educational.

The details of the scalloped top edge on these windows, and the stained glass panels in the top photo, are amazing.

Elegant, demure, graphic, and exceptionally well-lit would be my synopsis of these three windows from the W.W. Bradley & Co. Department Store (location not noted in the book). The last two perfectly illustrate the adage that 'Less is More', don't you think?

Mine. All Mine.

This afternoon I was flipping thru the latest issue of INStyle magazine, and found an interesting ad - I know, that's weird! The ad promotes a very cool way to get 'personalized' magazine content. Hard to explain, actually, but it works like this:

You go here to a special offer from Time Magazine, and choose five magazines from a lineup of about eight. Then you answer a few 'personal preference' questions. And you enter your info (name, email, etc.) and decide if you want this 'thing' in print, or a digital version. Then you click 'submit'.

What happens is that within a few weeks, you'll receive either a print magazine (if you are one of the first 20K to enter) or a digital mgazine (if you are one of the first 200K to enter) delivered right to you! And that magazine will have content that has been chosen according to your magazine choices and personal preferences. So, in a few weeks, I'll receive a magazine with content from INStyle, real simple, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, and Time magazines. And I chose the digital version, because I already have enough stacks of mags and books around here. It's the greener option, and I try to choose that whenever I can.

This is a promotion sponsored by Lexus, so it's a limited time offer and program. However, I think this is a FABulous idea for magazine publishers. Maybe not a print version, but can you imagine a subscription service where users choose content categories, and then a monthly email delivers a digital magazine that is all about their interests? Pubishers could make use of archived content and even defunct titles (ahem - are you listening, publishers of Domino, Oprah Home, MEHC, Country Home?) As digital media goes, it's 'content on demand' - and even the ADS could be tailored to fit. Talk about hitting your market demographic!

OK OK, I know I'm getting ahead of myself here.... who knows where this will lead? I just love finding new and interesting concepts & ideas. Let me know what YOU think about the possibilities of this one, and if it gives you any ideas for promoting your business!

image credits: Time Magazine

Tired of the News...

In the classic film 'Blazing Saddles', the inimitable Lily von Schtup (played to the hilt as a send-up of Greta Garbo by comedic genius Madeline Kahn) sings 'I'm So Tiiiiiired'. Her annoyed expressions, whining voice, and 'I just don't CARE anymore' attitude turn a silly ditty into a repeatable lament for the ages.

Someone tell me how to join in the backup chorus, please, because I have reached critical overload with the negative, biased, paid-expert-wooing, woe-is-us drivvel that passes for 'news' in today's media. Enough already!

Are you there, too? There is an antidote to the bombardment of doom & gloom: Check out gnn.com. The polar opposite of CNN, the Good News Now Network is an uplifting look at the best side of any given situation, people, and society in general. How very refreshing!

If this kind of news had a song to express the hopefulness it inspires, that song would be 'I Had a Dream', as sung by the amazing Susan Boyle. I'll take more of both, please!

Cool Summer Cash

I read with interest an article that arrived in my email inbox today. The subject? Teens who are turning to entrepreneurship in the wake of a lack of summer jobs. The article is from the Specialty Retail Report, one of many eletters, ezines, and updates I follow. Check it out here:

teens turn to summer startups

The article has some great info in it, but it struck me as funny that the author thought it was a new idea for teens to create their own jobs, build a small business, or start production of a product, to earn summer cash. Um....news flash: this isn't a groundbreaking discovery! Didn't we ALL do that? Babysitting, paper routes, selling lemonade, mowing lawns - whatever it took to get the coin to go roller skating, hang out at the beach or the mall, see a movie, or just go to the local 7/11 and scarf candy? No, our sights weren't always set on it leading to a 'real' business, but we had 'get up and go'!

I know, "Kids are different now!" I agree. Perhaps this early introduction to independent business will create stronger, wiser people to lead business and our country into the future. There is much to be learned about business, and life, that cannot be taught in schools or from books. It's not more or less valuable, but equally so. Real-life experience is priceless.

This subject makes me curious: What summer jobs did YOU have? (Or, rather, what summer jobs did you CREATE?!) I was a babysitter, weed picker, Little League snack shack cashier, church classroom cleaner, decorator to all of my friends (we'd rearrange their bedrooms), and inventory taker/stockperson/gift show schlepper/display stylist at my mom's gift shop across from Disneyland. When I reached 16, I was a retail stockperson & cashier for a large department store, a fast food cashier, an amusement park ride operator, and then a display designer for a chain of major fashion stores. You can see the aptitude was always there! ;0)

A few jobs I didn't get paid for were starting a student newspaper in elementary school, babysitting my siblings!, tutoring other students in reading & handwriting, creating all of the artwork for our junior high yearbook, and working in the school activities office in high school.

Your turn... share your teen summer jobs!

Creative Loafing's Green 100

We made the list! Creative Loafing's Green 100 of Tampa Bay. A picture of our small black shutter cabinet is on the site! Here is the write-up:

Tampa Street Market. Amy and Charles Haynie run this store in Seminole Heights, which sells salvaged finds, recycled goods and other utilitarian green product, as well as artistic, original-design tables and benches. The shop's motto is "Rethink. Recycle. Rebuild." Their website has a blog about green ideas and goings-on.

Gloss, Satin, Flat, Eggshell?

That was just too perfect to pass up, don't you think?!
Happy Easter, everyone!

To Fee or Not To Fee, IS That the Question???

Yesterday, I came across a blog post that I could identify with... it's basically about how much designers charge, and what - exactly - they provide. The writer announced that she would be offering design services from her blog, then proceeded to explain what those services were and the fee structure for them. A bevy of comments ensued, basically split smack down the middle of two opinions:

Opinion A said that anyone who puts their work out there on a blog or website or article or book or video, et al, is basically offering those resources free. So to charge for offering advice or assistance, or even for answering specific questions about the information and photos that have already been shared, is ridiculous. 'How dare you!' was the basic message.

Opinion B said that offering information, photos, and work of any sort through the medium of magazines, blogs, websites, videos, etc. is the new way to advertise, maket, and promote one's business and services. Giving a certain amount free is a way to prove your ability to deliver the goods to a paying client. To charge for services, assistance, advice, etc. is what business is all about - not to mention that the fees she quoted were more than reasonable - so more power to her.

I'm with the B people.
'BeeKennedy. BeeMoses. BeeJesus.' (sorry, a bit of movie humor there...)
Honestly, I deal with this situation every.single.day. Yup. In the dozens of emails I receive each day, there are multiple requests for my services and lengthy explanations of why they are needed. I rarely ever get asked what my fees are. When I reply with a suggestion of how I can help, and what my fee structure is, I usually hear 'We are on a budget and can't afford to pay for services like this. We thought perhaps you could help....' I'd LOVE to help! I'm in business to help! I'm happy they found me, asked for help, and am ready to jump in and do so. And my fees are so reasonable it's killing me. But I just can't provide it free of charge.

I look at it this way: I've offered free information, inspiration, advice, and assistance of a general nature here on my blog, on my GHC blog, in my GHC videos, in several community forums, in articles for online web sites, blogs & magazines, all available to the public for free. I know that they are of help & benefit because usually the first line of an email request says 'I learned so much from your article....' or something similar, and I am thrilled to be able to help people by providing those free resources.

But the purpose of all of that time-consuming writing of free information is ALSO to express my ability to offer my services professionally. When someone needs me to provide advice on specific situations for their business, that's something I charge for. (Kind of like a taste of ice cream on the miniature pink spoon is free at Baskin Robbins - but a scoop or two on a cone is gonna' cost ya'!)

Like the designer who posted on her blog, I have devoted myself to education, practice, research, and more to develop the skill, talent, ability, and professionalism to be able to help people. I've chosen to do this work that I love, and it has been the primary occupation of my life since I was thirteen years old. Don't I deserve to be paid for that? Doesn't she? It's not rocket science or brain surgery, to be sure, but design is a valuable service. If I can spend half an hour to solve a dilemma for you that will save you days, weeks, maybe months of searching for answers and missteps, and all of the costs incurred in that, isn't $50 reasonable?

I am having a hard time understanding the rationale of the 'A' position. According to this kind of sideways thinking, I guess I should be able to walk into a store, see displays of product I like and am inspired by, and pick up the product and walk out without paying for it. Because, after all, they put it out there and I saw it, and now why should I have to pay for it?

??? What do you think???
And this time, I'll not forget to add PLEASE be courteous with your feedback. ;0)

Check out the original post and comments to see what I'm talkin' about here... http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/2009/03/design-consultations.html

The 3/50 Project - Heard of It?

This is a brilliant grass-roots organization and cause that it is high time for! The cause? 'Support local merchants and local economies'. It's easy, simple, and affordable: Pick three independent shops in your community that you would miss if they went under. Each month, spend fifty dollars combined in all three stores.

This can include your local mom & pop grocer, bookstore, card shop, hardware store, clothing exchange, and furniture consignment shop, just to name a few possibilities. That makes it easy to spread fifty bucks a month around - you're going to buy groceries, paint, socks and birthday cards anyway, so support your local small businesses!

For more information, registration, resources, and news, visit the 350 project.

You can even purchase swell merchandise to advertise the cause at Cafe Press!

And Bacchus, just because you asked, yes, the 3/50 Project IS on Facebook! Find them here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-350-Project/58063584908?ref=ts (this link and more are on the Resources page of the 3/50 web site).

**As per a request in a comment from Linda, I've changed the title of this post to use numerals rather than words for the phrase '3/50 Project'. Sorry 'bout that, had no idea.....**

Thank You, Farm Chicks!

Many thanks to The Farm Chicks, Teri Edwards and Serena Thompson, for their blog post today - they've featured me and the series of six videos I filmed at their show last June. They provide links to each of the videos in the post. (You can also access those from my sidebar, lower right.) The videos were a project for The Gift & Home Channel, which incidentally is not a television channel but a web site!

If you are preparing to participate in antique, art, craft, or gift shows this summer, check out these 15-minute videos. They are filled with inspiring & helpful ideas for display & design, from some of the top names in the industry: The Farm Chicks , Heather Bullard , Tammy Gilley, and Bari J Ackerman of Bari J. Designs. My eternal gratitude goes out to these sweet and talented ladies for participating in the project... I truly could not have done it without them!

Colorblind

In my recent post on design*sponge for the Biz Ladies series, I discussed 'maximizing your visual impact'. I shared some advice on how to express your business brand image in various ways. Yesterday, I was at a local shopping center and came face to face with a perfect example of how this concept works..... or, rather, how it doesn't work when you don't utilize it!

See that logo up above? What do you think of when you see that? Tanning. Sun. Warmth. Relaxation. The Tropics. Summer. You picture being surrounded by warmth, right? Even the colors in the logo are warm and vibrant, supporting those ideas.

Inside the doors of this establishment, you'll find THIS:

OK, well, maybe they were thinking that you get hot while tanning (not really) and need a nice cool atmosphere around you. Or that in sunny climes, like the tropics, the sky is aqua blue and the water is bright green. Maybe that was their train of thought. Maybe. I'm not sure. Most likely, they just picked some colors out of the blue (pun intended).

I DO know that the colors of minty green and aqua are not universally flattering to skin tones - even tan skin tones. And when you are in the business of helping people look good, then you darn well better make them look good! How much more golden, gorgeous, and TAN people would look if they were surrounded by golden, warm and SUNNY colors? This is one of the most common mis-steps by businesses: Not seeing their environment as an extension of their logo, brand, and business image.

The simple act of relating your business name, tagline, logo, and colors to your environment is like visual merchandising 101 - but instead of just products, your whole business is what's on display. You have a chance to surround your customer with your brand, and it can make or break the image that the public has of your business. In this case, 'maximizing visual impact' was simply a matter of what paint colors were used on the walls & ceiling. And the opportunity to leverage their brand was missed.

Had I been advising them, I would have guided them to make successful choices that extended from those paint colors to the furnishings chosen, the music played on the sound system, and the scent wafting through the rooms, as well as the apparel that the employees wore each day. Every detail could have expressed the brand image.

But it didn't. Maybe that's why the shop now looks like this.

PLease understand that I'm not picking on this business, I'm using them as a way to make a point. You have to plan out every facet of your business. You have to create your brand image, and make decisions about how you will present your services & products to your customers in every single visual medium you use. It doesn't happen by accident. It happens by design.

Those bright happy colors aren't wrong, they are just wrong for that particular business. Put a gelato or ice cream or cupcake company in there, with those aqua & mint walls. Add a soft chocolate brown as an accent color by painting large circles or swirly designs all over the walls, and bring in some warm globe lighting and mod tables & chairs. Create a private party room, play some upbeat happy tunes. Pump in vanilla scent. Call it Frosted or something fun and you'd have a cool, hip, fun place to hang out.

Or, here's one: There's a chiropractor located right next to this (now) empty space. Change the wall colors to soft blue and tan, bring in some soft canvas seating and big glass vases filled with seashells & rocks, and add tons of white towels and some floaty sheer floor-to-ceiling curtains. Pop in a CD of ocean waves, pump in coconut scent, and name the place Sea of Tranquility - it's a massage & spa business ready to go within a few days.

Do you see how easy this is?! It's not kitschy, it's taking an image - the image of what your business IS and what it offers customers - and bringing it to life using every tool at your disposal. You can do this! You need to do this, my friends, because business requires making an additional effort now. What's worked before won't work now, or in the future. Consumers want more. They want special. They want unique. You have to go the extra mile. As my friend Sue Kirby espouses, 'Why do when you can OVERdo?!'

I'd ask, 'Why NOT Overdo? What have you got to lose - except customers...'

Rainbarrels Get Back to the Garden

This morning a sunny plot on Violet Street in Seminole Heights saw some much-needed optimism that probably won't make the headline news. The street was lined with cars and people parked around the block to get to a morning meeting. Bikes were laying on their side just inside the gate. Why all the commotion? The county Extension Service came to us! That's right, you've heard of all those meetings and waiting lists to get a free rain barrel from the county. It looks like our Community Garden just jumped the line for us and got nearly forty people the information and vouchers to make a difference. The rep from Tampa Bay Water did a basic talk about how to make a rain barrel, why they are needed, and how they work. An hour later, this group was ready to do a rain dance and collect some gallons! I would love to think people were clamoring for rainbarrels after reading my article in New Heights magazine. It's probably got a lot more to do with our awesome community organizers. Thanks to Robin of Greener Pixels and her troops at the Community Garden for putting this together. If you haven't been getting in the loop on the garden updates, you should hit the site at http://www.seminoleheightscg.org/ and sign up. Now I just need to get them a bike rack...