Post extensively on social channels, and pin your hours post to the top of your page Your small business has times when you need to change your hours either for holidays, staff issues or (my favorite) extending into evening hours. How do you retrain your customers so they notice the change? Let’s look at a […]

Post extensively on social channels, and pin your hours post to the top of your page

Your small business has times when you need to change your hours either for holidays, staff issues or (my favorite) extending into evening hours. How do you retrain your customers so they notice the change?

Let’s look at a real-world example from our friend in Boise, Idaho, (I know, kind of a big town) Kathleen Minogue.

“My local coffee shop just extended their Monday hours, and I will get heading there this afternoon,” Kathleen said. “They did a whole video about it on the socials to tell us and have pinned their hours to the top of their page.”

If your website is hard to update

If your website is not easy to change, use it to let people know what social channel is your main tool for quick updates.

Post your most usual hours on your hard-to-change site, then say, “For current hours, follow us on…” and then give the social link.

Kathleen said her colleague Scott Madsen was the one who suggested pinning the posts for visibility.

“It’s a quick and responsive way that keeps their customers in the know and can be pinned so easily for all followers to see when they visit their profile,” Scott said.

Crowdfunding? Crowdfund Better

Kathleen and Scott are part of the team at Crowdfund Better. I recommend them to everyone who tells me they are considering crowdfunding for their small business.

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Guest post by Jason Duff, founder of Small Nation Ever wanted to pour your own candle? Now you can right here in Downtown Bellefontaine! Triple Moon Designs in Bellefontaine, Ohio, recently added a new and exciting candle bar, offering a unique experience not typically seen in small towns. My team has had the chance to try it out […]

Guest post by Jason Duff, founder of Small Nation

Ever wanted to pour your own candle? Now you can right here in Downtown Bellefontaine! Triple Moon Designs in Bellefontaine, Ohio, recently added a new and exciting candle bar, offering a unique experience not typically seen in small towns. My team has had the chance to try it out and they’re raving about it. Owner Jessica Epley has curated the best-smelling and cleanest scents, as well as some of the nicest vessels that range from only $20-$35.

Plus, if you like your created scent, Jessica can re-create it for you to make for the perfect Christmas or new client gift!

How Candle Making Creates an Economic Ripple Effect

Jessica’s new candle bar is a perfect example of the kind of destination-type experience that brings vitality and vibrancy to our community. Creating these unique experiences in a small town setting holds immense value. They draw both locals and visitors. The candle bar isn’t just about making candles; it’s about the experience of creativity and personalization. Visitors have the opportunity to craft something uniquely their own, and this hands-on activity creates a memorable and engaging experience that keeps people coming back.

One notable aspect is the two-hour curing time for the candles. This built-in waiting period is a strategic advantage for our downtown area. While their candles cure, visitors are encouraged to explore and enjoy the other offerings in Bellefontaine. They can dine at one of our local restaurants, browse the many boutiques, or enjoy a coffee at a nearby café. This not only enhances their overall experience but also supports other local businesses, creating a ripple effect of economic benefit.

By people like Jessica integrating destination-type experiences like the candle bar into our downtown, it’s creating a vibrant, interconnected community where businesses support each other. This synergy is vital for the sustained growth and development of small towns. It transforms our downtown into a lively hub of activity and engagement, attracting more visitors and encouraging local residents to explore and invest in their own community.

About the guest author

Jason Duff is the Founder of Small Nation. He leads the Small Nation team in developing places, spaces and dreams for small towns and small town entrepreneurs across the country. The 4th generation of a family of entrepreneurs, he started his own businesses before leading a team that has completely revitalized the city of Bellefontaine, Ohio, population 14,000. Read more about how Jason and team did it at Small Nation.

When Kathleen Minogue of Crowdfund Better mentioned Common Ground Coffee and Market to me, I found their Instagram feed was full of stealable ideas for small business social media marketing. We first talked about how they let customers know about changes to their hours. They’re in Boise, Idaho, which I realize is not a small […]

When Kathleen Minogue of Crowdfund Better mentioned Common Ground Coffee and Market to me, I found their Instagram feed was full of stealable ideas for small business social media marketing.

We first talked about how they let customers know about changes to their hours.

They’re in Boise, Idaho, which I realize is not a small town. I promise I wouldn’t share ideas unless they also worked for small town businesses.

These ideas are perfect for coffee shops, gaming businesses and other third places where people gather and hang out.

Any small town business could copy their “Open the shop with me” video, or their post of staff members as a group.

Partner with other groups and businesses, even in small ways.

You don’t have to come up with, organize and then staff every event. Start looking for other clubs, groups, people and other businesses you can partner with. What do people like to do in your town, for fun or activities? Try tapping into those folks to help create experiences inside your business.

Notice how each of these events is in partnership with another local group or business. Image from Common Ground Coffee and Market, Boise, Idaho, Instagram.

Another idea to steal: SILENT book club.

I’d love to join someone’s silent book club! And how easy would it be to make one?

In another photo, the Common Ground folks showed a pile of books on the table to kick things off. Just bring some of your own used or To Be Read pile from home, grab some used books from the library sale, or just ask around!

No rules. Just read.

Need more coffee shop and gathering place ideas?

Check out these past idea-fests:

• Crowdsourced ideas for coffee shops and other third places
• Build your business with mini-events

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Continuing the discussion on experience-based businesses, what happens after everyone in town tries it? Do these businesses go away? Sheila Scarborough posed the question this way: How do all these axe-throwing and escape room places think they’re going to stay in business past a few years? Main Street Expert Jackie Wolven weighed in: In a […]

Continuing the discussion on experience-based businesses, what happens after everyone in town tries it? Do these businesses go away?

Sheila Scarborough posed the question this way:

How do all these axe-throwing and escape room places think they’re going to stay in business past a few years?

Main Street Expert Jackie Wolven weighed in:

In a tourist community they might be ok if they keep it fresh. But like any small biz, if they aren’t making money they will close and move onto something else.

I was also thinking with the current popularity of shows like Game of Thrones, Last Kingdom and Outlander… the axe throwing probably is a cultural phenomenon. And the true crime fandom is just as rabid which might be driving escape rooms.

 

The Hat Bar: customize your own hat

We’ve talked before about the candle bar in Bellefontaine, Ohio.

In Caldwell, Kansas, there’s a retail business called Rustic Longhorn Co. that features a hat bar. I had to ask what a “hat bar” even was. They sell hats you can customize on site. Pick a cowboy hat or trucker cap. Pick your hat band, patches or other decorations. Assemble your personalized hat right there in the shop.

Won’t people get tired of making hats?

But how many customized hats does this town really need? They do get a lot of western-theme tourism, so it may have staying power.

When everyone in town has enough hats, they can swap it out for a new experience later. The store as a whole remains, even as the experiences change.

Every small town business has to work at keeping their offerings fresh and relevant. 

 

In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals find themselves stuck in careers that fail to ignite their passions. For some, the journey to rediscovering creativity can lead to unexpected and fulfilling paths. This is the story of one such entrepreneur who transitioned from a corporate finance job to creating a vibrant experience-based business in downtown Bellefontaine. […]

In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals find themselves stuck in careers that fail to ignite their passions. For some, the journey to rediscovering creativity can lead to unexpected and fulfilling paths. This is the story of one such entrepreneur who transitioned from a corporate finance job to creating a vibrant experience-based business in downtown Bellefontaine. Through her journey, Jessica Epley not only embraced her artistic side but also built a community hub that fosters creativity and memorable experiences for all who visit.

Take small steps: craft shows and teaching classes

After college, Jessica ventured into the finance sector, but the reality of staring at Excel spreadsheets for eight hours a day quickly made her realize that this path wasn’t for her. Fortunately, she was in a position to leave that job and take some time to rediscover her passions.

Once Jessica stepped away from the corporate grind, it felt like a fog had lifted. She began to explore her artistic side, diving into painting and macramé. This newfound creativity led her to travel around, setting up at craft shows and markets to showcase her work. Eventually, she transitioned from being a vendor to teaching classes across the state, sharing her love for creativity and crafting with others. She discovered her true passion lies in providing people with memorable experiences that they can cherish forever.

Stepping up to a downtown space

Then a small space became available in downtown Bellefontaine. Tired of the constant setup and teardown of market events, Jessica decided to take a leap and commit to this space for a year, envisioning it as a creative haven. Her goal was to create an environment where people could come, spark their creativity, and walk away with a wonderful memory. Thus, Triple Moon Designs was born.

However, just a few months into this venture, it became clear that the space was too small for the activities she had planned. By March of this year, she made the bold decision to move to a larger location, which allowed her to introduce a new feature: the candle bar.

Adding the candle bar

The candle bar offers a laid-back, low-stress crafting experience for everyone. While it requires significant behind-the-scenes work, it has attracted visitors from out of town who come specifically for this unique experience. As their candles cure, they have the opportunity to explore and enjoy the local shops and restaurants in the community, creating a vibrant atmosphere that benefits everyone involved.

Advice to you

“My advice to anyone offering an experience-based business is to think about how special it can be and shoot for that every single time. I don’t feel like I have a lot of business advice to give yet, but from my limited experience I would remind entrepreneurs that collaboration happens at the top. Being willing and able to work with other local businesses has helped me tremendously in getting my business name out there and given me the opportunity to build a network with other successful people. I’m so thankful for our downtown Bellefontaine business community and how we are working together to make our whole town the unforgettable experience!”

As Jessica continues on this journey, she remains committed to inspiring others and fostering creativity in her community. Her story serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your passions and create something meaningful.

If you’re interested in learning more about taking small steps to create an experience-based business in your town, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for ideas and advice!

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