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What do pizza, boats, model cars, computer hardware, websites, car rentals, banks, and shoes have in common? They all are businesses located in Wilson Boro. They met to help each other grow their businesses together.
Over a dozen businesses were represented at this meeting held at LaBella Pizza, 1715 Butler Street. Andy and his family graciously opened up their restaurant on the one night they are closed so that we could have our meeting there. We all appreciated their contribution to the goal of forming a group to promote our neighborhood businesses. They have extended their gift of time to provide a place to meet for the next three or four months (see Next Meeting Date below for details).
It's not just our businesses, it's your business, too. Together we can accomplish much more than we can alone. So help yourself by helping us grow
Here's what we talked about and accomplished.
- We approved the organization's name: Wilson Boro Business Association.
- We approved forming a website: http://www.wilsonbusiness.org/
- We talked about having forums or areas on the website to accomplish a few things, such as:
- A place to post meeting minutes (to keep you informed when you cannot attend)
- A place to describe your business and let people know who and where you are
- A place for comments, questions and suggestions
- A map of the Boro where you can "mark your spot"
- A place for members to share leads
- We discussed the value and effectiveness of having group buying power. For example, if a dozen small businesses buy all their paper and stationery together, they can affect a group discount and all save some money.
- We talked about keeping business "in the neighborhood" whenever possible. Help your neighbor by being a good neighbor. Buy locally when that resource is available.
- We talked about ways to market our Boro Businesses through flyers, posters, maps, neighborhood "passports," sponsoring local events, exchanging business cards and brochures, and creating a referral system for our members.
- Len Feinberg shared info on the Business In Palmer organization and how they have kept an active membership for several decades.
- Ideas for special events include an Art Show, sponsoring various Wilson Area School fundraising events (cheerleading, drama club, sports events, various vocational education fields), having "theme weekends" to make folks aware of the opportunities available locally.
- Tying events to specific "zones" within the Boro, to increase local awareness of where businesses are located and what they offer.
- It's not just retail businesses. Service businesses and manufacturers have an interest in Wilson's economy because they either provide services to other businesses or hire workers who live in the Boro. They also buy from local businesses (or they would if they knew you had what they need!).
- We talked about how Wilson Boro Businesses are spread out geographically as contrasted by Easton's "downtown" area where everyone is concentrated in a very narrow area. Thus, we need to provide reasons and methods for folks to find and use your business. What would you do?
- Perhaps a "Discover Wilson Boro" flyer, pamphlet, or newsletter could tie in with a Welcome Wagon type introductory package given to new residents.
- Rob Pitera of East Of West, Inc. will work on a poster that can be displayed in your business, thus increasing community awareness of what Wilson Boro Businesses offer.
- There are over 165 businesses in the Boro. How many can you name?
- About 7,500 people live in the Boro. How many could buy from you if they knew you existed?
- How can the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce help you grow your business? We would like a spokesperson to meet with us and share their experiences with other area businesses.
- Have an "Open House" night at your business to let people know who you are and what you do.
- Be a guest speaker, make a presentation at one of our Association meetings.
- Assist you in writing press releases for local newspapers and radio and television stations. Get the word out!
Next Meeting Date
Tuesday, November 13
7:00 PM
LaBella Pizza, 1715 Butler Street
From November through January, the Wilson Boro Business Association will meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month to give fellow Wilson Business Owners a chance to meet one another and share ideas. We hope these frequent meetings will keep us in your minds and memories and encourage you to join us. We plan on keeping these meetings brief, no more than one hour long, so we don't bore you with small talk and trivia.
Topics/Agenda for our next meeting include:
- Mark Hartney of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce will bring examples of display maps that other groups have used to market themselves
- Rob Pitera of West of East, Inc. will present a draft of a poster that can be displayed in your Business
- Bylaws of similar organizations will be shared to provide ideas for our own group's bylaws
- Our Mission Statement and Goals will be discussed. Items previously listed on our first newsletter are detailed below. What would you add?
- • To increase awareness of all the businesses in Wilson Borough
- • To provide you with a place to network and meet your fellow Wilson business owners
- • To attract new businesses and create a viable mix of services and goods
- • To assist and incubate new businesses and improve long standing ones
- • To provide "strength in numbers" and a voice in local and regional government
- • To offer suggestions and support for improving your business and your Borough
- • To increase the pride we all share in the place we live and work
- Funding for our group:
- Should we have dues? If so, how much?
- Should we charge for placement on the map? Provide advertising space on it?
- Should we allow ads on our website? How big? How much? How often?
- Should we sell window decals of our emblem for you to display in your business or business vehicle?
- Or should we just ask when we need something and hope for your generosity?
Hmmm. All that in one hour? Talk fast folks! And listen faster!
Hope you can come. If the meeting time doesn't fit your schedule, tell us what time would. We're not locked into a single time and place (although we appreciate what LaBella's is doing). We hope we can be flexible enough to meet your needs. Morning instead of evening. Same day, different time. Tell us what works for you. We'll see what we can do. Meanwhile, do what you can to help us, too!
Thanks for taking the time to read all this. Check out our website. Register your business on it. Share ideas. Network. Meet new business owners. Make a difference.
See you on November 13th at 7 PM.
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