The Vermont "Rat Race"

Good morning Vermont businesses! I'm writing this note because, as you may have noticed, PromoteVT, though wildly popular with the online community, hasn't been doing much promoting lately. I'd like to have a conversation with you, a Vermont small business owner, about this fact. This conversation is long and multi-faceted, so today I will begin with an introduction. I appreciate you taking the time to read my note/blog and engaging in this conversation with me. I feel it can be hugely beneficial to both of us, and by extension, all of us. Cheers.



Background: My name is Nichole Gilbert. I own and operate a small business from my home in Jefferonsville, VT. Though I originally hail from San Diego, I've lived in VT almost 12 years now and whole-heartedly call Vermont my home. I have acknowledged to myself and my family that I will ALWAYS live here. I have no plans whatsoever to go back 'out west' or anywhere else for that matter. Why? Not because I feel stuck or apathetic about where I am like so many people do. No, not at all. I will never leave Vermont because Vermont is home. Vermont is amazing to me. Seriously. Stunning. The core values of Vermonters rest in what I find important: environment, recreation, community and a healthy, happy lifestyle. Not only that, Vermonters have an overwhelming sense of entrepreneurship that you don't find anywhere else. (In the world!) I feel so incredibly fortunate to be a part of the Vermont community.



My business is called Cambridge Event and Design. I've been working for myself officially for about 1.5 years but honestly (like most of us) I've been dabbling in working for myself on the side since I was only a kid. I went to a couple of colleges, eventually finished with one, got married and had babies. I held a handful of mid-level office positions and then, in 2009, it occurred to me that I may never be satisfied with my life if I kept on that same path of always going after someone else's dream. I know you know what I'm talking about. If you are a small business owner, or have ever dreamed about working for yourself, you have felt the very same way at some point. It's like one day you say to yourself, why am I doing this? Though this is Vermont, and not New York or Los Angeles, we DO honest to god have our own Vermont-form of the rat race. This rat race has become ever so much more prevalent in the last two-three years as unemployment has climbed and larger employers have dropped the ball on working on employee retention and employee happiness. If you do work for someone else, or have in the last several years, have you noticed this?



More later ... Please share your comments.

Relay for Life

"The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length ... Relay has grown into the world’s largest movement to end cancer. Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States, along with additional communities in 20 other countries, gather to take part in this global phenomenon and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer. Thanks to Relay participants, the American Cancer Society continues to save lives."

Meet Team HOPE. Vermont-native Melynda Sawyer is passionate about this cause. Though most Relay's last only a day, Melynda herself works tirelessly day and night to raise funds with not only a one-day relay, but also with a fund-raising dinner, dance and silent auction. The fund-raising event is planned for Friday, January 14, 2011 at 6pm in the Canadian Club located in Barre, VT.

Donation items are sorely needed. Edibles for the spaghetti dinner, a DJ and sound equipment for the dance, and numerous (new) items and gift certificates large and small for the silent auction. There's no one in this world who cancer hasn't touched. Here's your opportunity to give back. Please contact Melynda directly to find out how you can help.

Melynda Sawyer
Team HOPE Leader and Event Coordinator
802-839-5399
MelyndaSawyer@hotmail.com

It's Turkey Time

Thanksgiving is about more than turkey dinner with the family right? This is a time for thanks, but it's also a time for giving. With the manic hustle-bustle and running around of families, sometimes trying to fit in two or even three turkey dinners in a day, it's easy to forget that not all of us are so fortunate. There are thousands of needy families in our Vermont communities. Record numbers of Vermonters are now signing up for state assistance and unemployment benefits. Children are being taught less to "eat healthy" and more to "eat enough." Community shelves are a wonderful asset to any hungry family, but community shelves need our help in continuing to provide their services.

One Vermont family, the Dalziel's, came up with a great charitable idea three years ago. They call it the Dalziel Family Turkey Drive, and they need your help in helping others. This November, you can participate in the Third Annual Dalziel Family Turkey Drive by making a donation online. All proceeds collected go toward the purchase of Thanksgiving Turkeys which are then donated directly to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, so families of lesser means too can have access to the same Thanksgiving traditions that you and I already share in.

Please take a moment to read more about the Third Annual Dalziel Family Turkey Drive on their website: http://consultwithvip.com/turkeydrive, and then take a moment to remember what Thanksgiving is all about.

Happy holidays from PromoteVT.

Taking a Moment for Art

If you're interested in art ... or maybe you're just interested in horses ... or maybe even you're just interested in finding something fun to do on a Wednesday night, well then here it is!

Opening Reception is Wednesday, September 8 from 4-6pm at the Winding Brook Bistro in Johnson, VT. http://windingbrookbistro.com/

Horse Meditations
New Paintings by Marcie Valette
Sept 6-Nov 7

The Winding Brook Bistro
933 Rt 100c Johnson VT
802-635--9950

The Bistro is providing free hors d'œuvres!

"Exciting new paintings by local artist Marcie Vallette opens at the Winding Brook Bistro. This is an exciting departure from her work with the East Johnson Plein Air Club that should not be missed. Bold, dynamic horse images that convey a calm and grandeur that is deserving of these stately animals.

In her statement Marcie explains the influence.

"Along with my passion for horses, I have always had a passion for making art. At the turn of the new year, 2010, I thought this year I’d put the two together. I have been studying Centered Riding, which is an approach to horseback riding that combines aspects of meditation and martial arts. It has added to my already enormous appreciation of this animal. I am using the horse as a launching point to explore other formal aspects in my art, including simple black and white, and using color and paint in a way that is experimental for me. For me, it’s interesting to combine what I’ve learned during my centered riding lessons with what I’m doing in my studio. Breathing meditations while I’m painting is one example of how centered riding has informed my studio practice."

Marcie Vallette has lived in Vermont for over 2 decades, and is originally from the Boston area. A founding member of the East Johnson Plein Air Club, she works both on-site and in her studio. She is also a member of the Bryan Gallery, the NVAA, and
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Vallette has drawn and painted cover art, illustrated, and performed layout and design for books, magazines and numerous other kinds of publications. Exhibitions of her art have appeared regularly for 18 years throughout northern Vermont. She has a BFA from Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, an M.Ed from Johnson State College, and she spent 3 years on staff at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson. She is currently a first year nursing student at Vermont Technical College."

Press Release- Art at The Bistro, by Bradley Fox

Saving Money for Yourself and Others

Small businesses thrive on word of mouth advertising. It's a fact. You can spend all the time and money in the world advertising your company through newspaper, radio, television and direct mail, and that'll do you some good for sure ... but if just one person out there feels the desire to tell their friends and colleagues about a great experience they had with your company ... you're golden. Word-of-mouth advertising is the basis of The Buyer's Market. By buying into the program you are making an agreement with The Buyer's Market that they will tell people about your business in exchange for you telling people about theirs. There's more ... in an effort to reward small business owners for their efforts, The Buyer's Market is offering a profit-sharing plan that you simply CAN NOT PASS UP.

"People love to tell others when they find a great deal and save money. We also can't wait to tell everyone we know about a business that treated us well, honestly, and priced their service fairly.

At The Buyers Market, we not only rely on "word of mouth" advertising, but we reward you for it! If a successful business spends upwards of 20% on advertising then why not us!

Difference is, we spend it on the best advertising we could get, YOU!

So here is how it works...

if you know someone who has a service or product that you think would benefit by joining us in The Buyers Market, let them know and let us know! We will contact them to see if they can benefit from us advertising for them. All we need from you is their company name and a way to contact them (either a phone number or address). We will take it from there! Or perhaps you know a few individuals who need to stretch their money a little farther each month. We can most likely save them many times more then the $10 they'll spend on the membership -- usually within one use of service! Again, let them know and let us know!

When they sign up and pay their membership, you will get $1 for each and everyone that signs up as a result of your introduction. And, not just once! You will continue to get $1 for each month that they remain a member. All you need to do to keep those checks coming in, is to continue your membership. You do the 'work' once, but continue to benefit and build a residual monthly income. It doesn't stop there! Because you got the ball rolling, you will also be paid on all of the referrals that they make. That's right - those that sign up under that those that signed up because of you, you will get .50 cents per person, per month! And, you didn't even do the 'work'! ...

Now think about this - If you like the membership and use the services, you are saving money. If you have a business, you also get to advertise and bring many more customers to you. Now you're making money! Then, if you know just 2 people that you think could benefit from The Buyers Market membership and refer them to us, you put in motion a pay back plan that will eventually cover the cost of your own membership. All of this is being accomplished with just $10/month!"

For more information on The Buyer's Market Profit-Sharing Plan call Larry Brothers at 802-291-4783 or visit www.thebuyersmarketvt.com

Helping Build Up Our Local Community

The Buyer's Market is about so much more than just business advertising. TBM is about building community, helping others and making Vermont a better place. One dollar out of every membership paid each month is pooled and used to help fund community projects throughout this state.

"Although The Buyers Market will remain politically and religiously neutral, we do have a great respect for the community and all the wonderful people in it. So if you know of a project that will benefit your town or our state, please send an email and let us know. We're looking for interesting projects that may need either some of our services at a reduced rate, or some seed money to get something built or started. It could be something small like stocking the shelves at the local food shelf, or paying one of our handymen or women to deliver or pick up something needed at a non profit. Maybe your school or daycare needs some playground equipment fixed up. And we hope it grows to be able to look at some lofty goals too. I would like to see some space acquired that could be used by The Buyers Market members as a kind of
swap meet space for your yard sale items, and a tool refurbishing shop that could buy your old unwanted tools and equipment, fix them up, and then rent them back to the members at the prices we used to pay when it made more sense to rent than to buy. Remember when you could rent a cement mixer or wood splitter for $10 a day? I've been working on a plan to recycle old worn out tires. If we could take them from TBM members for free and recycle them, what a bonus to the membership that would be. Could we save a family farm and turn it into an organic supplier of vegetables and meat for the members? At greatly reduced prices for the members. With some money and good ideas, think about what we could accomplish!"

www.thebuyersmarketvt.com

Back To Basics

Remember the days when a gentleman's handshake was as good as gold? We didn't need contracts, up-front deposits paid in full, OR small claims court. Once upon a time there was a time when people and small businesses worked together to help each other out. When good for me and good for you meant good for everyone involved. One man with a vision is working hard to recreate these circumstances. His name is Larry Brothers. Larry, with help from several small business owners who share his vision, has brought to life The Buyer's Market. In his words, The Buyer's Market is "a conscientious approach to an opportunity born out of necessity. A grassroots approach to back to basics marketing. Marketing based on the fundamental ideal of 'providing value to the community, while making a living for yourself and family.'"

Here's how it works: Small businesses through-out Vermont subscribe to a Buyer's Market membership. This membership only costs them $10 per month. Here's what it gets them:

-Seamless and constant advertising via the Buyer's Market website (www.thebuyersmarketvt.com).

-Inclusion in regularly updated fliers and emails offering members and potential members information on products and services that YOU and other members are offering.

-Not only will you be advertising your own business to a growing number of fellow members, but you will have access to other member's products and services, often at incredible discounts. The Buyer's Market will periodically update you with information on new members and fantastic deals.

Think of The Buyer's Market as a growing network of small businesses and people throughout Vermont, who want to work together on saving each other money, time, and headache.

There's more ...

* Tomorrow we will discuss The Buyer's Market Community Project Fund, and

* Thursday you will learn how YOU can take advantage of The Buyer's Market Profit Sharing plan, or even become a member of The Buyer's Market Advisory Board yourself.