Suggestions?
Monday, September 12, 2011
Stagger or be staggered.
After today, larger workplaces unwilling to adjust schedules to alleviate gridlock should be compelled to do so by governmental fiat. This will annoy free marketeers. So be it. This is not a disaster, but it is an emergency, and waiting for lemmings to adapt perhaps not the most hopeful strategy.
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26 comments:
Yes. Live in the community you work in, or be prepared for the consequences. If it requires a multi-million dollar bridge and interstate system for you to get to, it is hardly "local". I think that will be the ultimate lesson of all of this.
...unless you’re job that used to be local has been shipped overseas; or outsourced to a more “competitive” state; or the school you taught at is closed; or you need medical care not available in New Albany, or you’re Amish, etc. Mr S., do you live in the dark ages? You’ll remember we had trains then, and ferries.
Employers and medical care...apples and oranges
Daniel - do you really think there are 22,561 jobs in New Albany? That's the current Census Bureau estimate of total 18 - 65 year olds in the city. Note that total doesn't include 16 - 17 year olds.
Do you really think people should move out of town if they find work in Louisville?
Taking your comment to the next level, should we only buy goods made in New Albany? If a product has to move on a freeway or across a bridge, do you think that's too exotic?
No I just think that it boils down to what we consider local is now defined by its ease to reach in terms of transportation, not the "local" marketing tool we hear so often. This incident is a reminder that what is local can change in one crack.
The "local marketing tool," presumably as it contrasts to the multinational marketing tool. Good thing we have a truly local newspaper ... er, uh, never mind.
A local marketing effort might be well served by a local transportation plan, but we haven't seen one of those yet.
Every bit as local as your "local" biz is...how funny you're now actually trying to connect with New Albany pocket books after so long forgetting about them.
Daniel, that's simply mistaken. I've always tried to connect craft beer with the local market, in the sense of Southern Indiana. I'd venture to say that we sell as much draft in Clark and Floyd (outside our two on-premise locations) as in Louisville, with far less of the population.
If you want to know something, just ask. Wait, I forgot: You're already a reporter.
As quickly as possible:
For some reason, marketing New Albany businesses, at lease since I've been here, has been more concentrated in the Louisville market than the NA market. Many businesses that have followed that plan are no longer here, by the way. By the same token, many people who live here constantly go to Louisville for their needs. Somewhere along the line an obvious solution has been missed, and now it's taken a bridge closure for people to really think about what's local and what isn't. I always found it double-sided for the same people who label a paper as non local because it's owned out of state yet only markets in Southern Indiana to then say they are local when they obviously so greatly depend on customers from another state. To me that comes across as a marketing slogan. To take it a step further, my guess is the bulk of that bridge was paid for with tax money from people and corporations that would by no means be considered local by such a narrow view these days.
We've been over this a million times, we won't see eye-to-eye, but in some ways New Albany needs this to truly learn to stand on its own and quit relying on Louisville.
Daniel - your newsprint is made in Canada, your web offset ink is likely made by Henan Xiangchuan Printing Ink Co., Ltd.
A Toyota Camry made in Kentucky has a higher "local" content than a Ford Focus.
Local means very little in a very large sense.
Roger makes beer locally, and his profit from my purchase of that beer stays in town a little longer, until his bank sweeps his account, moves the money offshore, plays hedge funds overseas, until Roger demands "his" cash back from the bank.
So few are aware that when you use a debit card at Thornton's (more local than Royal Dutch Shell?), they add a $ 50 - $ 100 "use fee" to your account, take the money and sweep it as I mentioned above.
Is a purchase at Thornton's local?
Do you folks make your newsprint in town?
Exactly. When you define something as local, you have to be more specific. In this day and age, there are no local businesses, just some that have less out of town products than others.
And on that, we agree. Your comment about New Albany businesses needing to ignore Louisville troubled me - we are really part of the Louisville market.
It's amazing how parochial the southern Indiana towns are - as if Jeffersonville, Clarksville and New Albany exist in separate bubbles. Roger is right in pointing out their part in his plan.
I think the bridge closure may be a helpful thing in terms of waking up the market to interdependence.
BTW - build the East End bridge (by itself) now.
No, see the issue is several say they are local and they should be supported first because of that. I think if you're going to take that stance, then you shouldn't market to Louisville customers. It's somewhat hypocritical to infer out of town businesses aren't welcomed, but locals should leave their market to shop here. While Louisville may be considered part of the market when we have a bridge, but today puts that into question.
I will simply say that the true definition of buying local is--buying from an independently owned and operated business-it has nothing to do with an area code,zipcode or what city provides the most customers. Please go to these pages for a clear understanding of what most of us mean by buying local for some clarification.
https://www.facebook.com/independentwestand
http://www.amiba.net/about/
https://www.facebook.com/independentwestand#!/The350Project?sk=info
And how about articles explaining the benefits of locally owned and operated businesses
http://www.businessweek.com/small-business/dont-subsidize-big-boxes-at-local-shops-expense-09092011.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/bringing-america-back-man-unemployed-owning-small-business/story?id=14456323
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-jobs-20110804,0,5481757.story
http://www.newrules.org/retail/news/death-category-killers
On and On I could go, but i will finish with----Yes I need and woo Louisville customers,they are larger in number than my local city customer base. When my customers from other cities and states spend their money at my shop that benefits not just me but the city of New Albany and the state of Indiana.
I generally try to support businesses that meet the definition above when in other cities or states as well. It's about sustaining local culture, giving consumers more personalized choices in what is anything but a free market, and shifting power back into local hands-- on a national level so that hegemony is an exception rather than a rule. It's not just about New Albany.
Thanks Jeff--you get it and well stated.
Daniel,
Your paper only markets to S. IN? Really? And why is that? Could it possibly be that you wouldn't sell over 2 or 3? What does your paper offer to anyone in Louisville? With every passing month, I keep wondering what it offers me and I live here. I will say, that your paper has "held up" better than the CJ in my perception of value for what I spend to subscribe. Faint praise, but better than none, I guess.
Your paper can't piss without approval from your owners who are hundreds of miles away. We can debate local definitions(although Antiques Attic has done a good job)but I doubt you could find 2 out of 100 who would classify the Tribune/Evening News as a local business--if they know the whole ownership story.
Now, that all said, I try to support what I consider to be locally owned and operated businesses. That doesn't mean that I don't ever eat at a chain restaurant, shop at a national store, etc. Hell, even Roger admits that he can't give up some damn chili out of Cincinnati, although we have to remind him of that sometimes. Death to chains...............except
Antiques, your description of what a local businesss conviently includes you, which is what my point is, these are marketing tools designed to separate small businesses from competition that you can't separate yourself from otherwise.
Mark, it's simple, we fill a roll no one else in new Albany will. Honestly some days I wonder why I stay, because I've seen much worse papers more fervently supported in bigger cities than New Albany. My point is with all this...the bridges, media, business...new Albany refuses to step out of Louisville's shadow of her own choice. Not out of necessity but ego in some ways.
My point being anymore, if we feel threatened or I don't know, maybe intimidated by what we feel for whatever misnomer is better than us. As a result, we break each other down into stereotypes and while we don't realize we are feeding into the very system we hate, we purport separation. Chains bring jobs, small businesses bring passion and community newspapers can still report news others ignore. I feel like Jeff feels in many ways, there's businesses in all cities that get it. In my opinion though, some are "nationally owned". Why even have a bridge if we are going to build walls? That's all, I hope you all suceed in whatever you do.
"These are marketing tools designed to separate small businesses from competition that you can't separate yourself from otherwise."
When it comes to business conditions wherein small, independently-owned local businesses must compete against subsidized multinational chains, there is pre-existing separation. Why must the terms of the game be dictated in this manner? Along with others, I no longer accept it.
Daniel, you have consistent issues with this. I'm not sure why. I suspect that if you spent some time in our shoes, you'd understand better.
Dear Daniel
I intentionally gave links for you or anyone interested in to read or look at that describe what is happening on a national basis concerning buying local and its definition. It was not a personal self gain expression or opinion of mine. Furthermore I have never stated that that is the only type of business important to our country or local community. Since I do fit into the catagory of Buy Local yes I will use and promote that. As a business I would be foolish not to.
Just providing the evidence you apparently choose to not even consider. To each their own but if you want to debate the issue I suggest you look at or read the evidence available to everyone.
Furthermore I provided those links for anyone who would like to at least consider their options
intelligently.
Recently in national newspapers and television reports it has been stated that at least 75% of all new jobs in America were provided by small independently owned businesses. Info you have missed?
Sorry if you took my info providing as an insult and I for one will not argue or debate with someone who will not even open 1 eye or ear to a viewpoint other than their own on any subject.
As my mother always told me "Have a good life,pick your fights wisely and always know things in life change no matter how much we resist."
No I get the data, and all the information, and I"m quite familiar with what an "independent biz" is, by the consumer definition. Just saying. All these definitions are marketing pitches. That's not meant to be offensive, seriously. Shop with me because I offer this, this and this. And that in of itself is not wrong, but I think trying to confuse a profit-driven motive with community guilt is misleading. Like you should shop with me because it's better for the community, when really the biggest benefit it has is for my pocket book. National chains do it too, and I also find that wrong.
No need in beating around the bush. The meeting this morning voiced most of what I've been harping about for nearly four years. What was the primary message? Start marketing to Floyd and Harrison County residents. Why did it take a bridge crack to bring that to the forefront? Percentage wise, the amount of leakage of So. indiana residents going to L'ville to spend money for services they can get here I'm sure far far outweighs the percentage of L'ville business that may be lost because of this bridge debacle. Why wasn't there an emergency meeting earlier? Of course you should covet some dollars from Louisville, but I don't see the wisdom in aggressively marketing Kentucky before you've spread the word about your business in New Albany and greater Floyd. And for the record I quite understand what you're going through, my father owned a small grocery store for more than 10 years. This isn't about picking sides, it's about getting to the truth of the matter and having a consistent message.
Just curious, Daniel:
You said "...aggressively marketing Kentucky before you've spread the word about your business in New Albany and greater Floyd."
What gives you the impression that's been happening? If we're talking about print advertising, I guess I'm a little confused as to what qualifies as "Kentucky" marketing because many of the publications are regional.
Daniel wrote: "No I get the data, and all the information, and I"m quite familiar with what an "independent biz" is, by the consumer definition. Just saying. All these definitions are marketing pitches. That's not meant to be offensive, seriously. Shop with me because I offer this, this and this. And that in of itself is not wrong, but I think trying to confuse a profit-driven motive with community guilt is misleading. Like you should shop with me because it's better for the community, when really the biggest benefit it has is for my pocket book. National chains do it too, and I also find that wrong."
I tend to agree and such has been an ongoing ocncern with the "voices" of a progressive New Albany. Saying such, I hurry to exempt Jeff and Mark from such a sweeping verdict; their bottom lines don't appear be engines supporting the rhetoric and efforts.
Jeff:
I've seen several ads in publications like Leo and Velocity before it was moved inside the courier, and while I realize that could be interpreted as a regional paper, their main focus without a doubt is Louisville. I remember earlier this year when I attended a city-sponsored event on marketing and branding downtown, most of the marketing talk was about Louisville.
And I can't say this enough, I have no qualms at all really with that. Business leaders should exhaust all opportunities to expand their business. But at the same time, there's been some harsh comments directed at my employer and other "national" businesses locally made in a divisive and somewhat arrogant way. I feel it is hypocritical to market to an out of town area, which Louisville is, and then insult businesses that are owned by out of town people. As I said earlier, I think it sends a message that we want out of town dollars, but we don't want out of town business.
For consistency's sake, I don't feel you can have it both ways. Sure, some will continue to do so, as it's not against the law, but it's hardly congruent with past stated principles.
Now that New Albany has lost its main artery into Louisville, finally it seems consumers and business owners here are realizing the value of what they have.
There are national chains that have outstanding ethics, just as there are local and independent ones that accomplish the same. Just like the opposite end of the token, there are national and local businesses that have very poor practices. I will support ones, at least when I can, that are good for their communities regardless of where their ownership base is. I will still go to Sportsime, but sorry, I like Chuy's as well.
In the end, it seems as if a bridge has been missing for quite some time between local customers and local businesses, but it has taken the collapse of a bridge to another state to realize that for the masses.
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