EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
By Bessie Fisher
I was born, educated, and have lived in the small town of Inman, SC my entire life. I love it and want to see it revitalized. Small towns and communities fail for a number of reasons, not all unique to one area. In the case of Inman, it was:
- Downsizing of the local textile mill
- Loss of train service through the area
- Reduction of peach growers and shipping of the fresh produce
- No local, weekly paper
- Larger city, daily paper cover small towns and communities only when there is a huge event or bad news.
I have learned since retiring and becoming more involved in the community that:
- A city is focused on infrastructure and its judicial system
- A chamber is to promote their membership and the area
- A county is more interested in the overall county and not necessarily the smaller communities as a whole
- A state – well we all know that track record and it isn’t always small towns
With that said, the question I am asking, “Is there a community effort to assist in the growth or is everyone expecting someone else to lead the revitalization? That question can be asked of nonprofits and small business owners wanting to grow their organization or personal business.
OVERVIEW
MISSION: To assist in a collaborative effort to give nonprofits, businesses, communities and municipalities a voice and presence.
VISION: To serve our clients with excellence to achieve their goals and purpose.
Community Promotions, LLC is a God-led collaborative effort developed to give nonprofits, businesses, communities, and municipalities a voice and presence. There is a knowledgeable team with various skills and talents primed to assist in developing, organizing, and providing tools for growth.
Prior to Community Promotions, LLC, a Face Book Community Page MEMORIES OF INMAN, SC was established. This site provides residents and visitors an opportunity to post their memories and photos of the area. Encouraging use of this site, allows the history to be recorded and available as a visual reminder using modern technology. This is blending the past with the present to build the future.
A community consists of residents, merchants, and businesses all with the common goal of providing a safe and comfortable area in which to live, work, and visit. Within each community are memories on which to build. Remember and celebrate the past but build on what is available. This is what makes each community unique and attracts those wishing to relocate or open a business.
POINTS TO CONSIDER
Many nonprofits, businesses, communities, and municipalities have seen declines over the years yet want to invigorate their area or organization. There are those who need direction in organization and development. Assisting in this process is the goal and purpose of COMMUNITY PROMOTIONS, LLC. All are a community with people coming together for their common goal.
Factors to be considered when developing a PLAN OF ACTION:
- What is purpose/goal of the nonprofit, business, community, or municipality?
- How is the community communicating and staying informed?
- How do small local nonprofits, businesses, communities, and municipalities promote themselves?
- How do individuals place reasonably priced classified ads, seek/post job opportunities, yard sales, etc?
- How can a nonprofit, business, community, or municipality familiarize others with all they have to offer?
- Are residents, merchants, and community leaders willing to work together to promote one another?
- Are you working with your local Chamber of Commerce?
Communities are often identified by past history as are many small businesses and nonprofits. This knowledge can be used to build an “identity”. Use past history and present assets:
- “Known” for?
- Past/current industries?
- Past/current events?
- Past/current projects?
- School district?
- Is the community in which you live or serve in close proximity to:
- Larger cities?
- Job opportunities?
- Colleges/universities?
- Hospitals/medical care?
- Interstate highways?
- Affordable housing?
- Available transportation, bus system, taxi, airport?
- Mountains, beaches, active living activities?
In developing a nonprofit, business, project, or service for a community, consider:
- Build on what is available
- Focus on one area and set perimeters to allow for concentrated coverage
- Community factors:
- Location
- Services
- Partners who will work collaboratively to insure success with this project
- What is the need for the community?
- Who will be the “lead” on the project?
- Who/how will the project be funded initially?
- Who will manage the project once established?
- Do you have a written PLAN OF ACTION to guide the project?
Established, successful businesses have the ability and capability of assisting small communities, merchants, and nonprofits.. Sharing past experiences and knowledge is beneficial to all parties. It takes a cooperative effort to foster growth in all struggling communities.
Having a strong community presence shows good will and familiarizes the merchants, residents, volunteers, and donors with your business/organization. A successful, wise business person knows it is essential to always have a customer base on which to grow their business. By entering into a small, struggling market area, an established business sets the stage for future growth while assisting the community. This is particularly true when your product or services can be developed for the mutual benefit of your business, nonprofit, and community. It is possible that a community may know your business/organization or recognize the logo but are unaware of all your business/organization does and offers. It is the job of a successful business/organization/community to familiarize a potential market of what is offered and available.
REVITALIZE, REGROW, REINVENT
SMALL TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES
I grew up and continue to live in a small town. Its economy was based on the local cotton mill and shipping of fresh peaches on the rail running through downtown. It was a busy successful small town until the early 2000s when the economy changed and young people were leaving for “greener pastures”. This scenario has been played out across our great nation however changes are in the air. Those same young people who left their small town are coming back. Many now realize the benefits of small town living. Some have retired and are seeking a home and peace where they once lived. A small town/city/community is a sanctuary from the hustle/bustle of the corporate/business environment. It is where one relaxes, rejuvenates, and interacts on friendly, comfortable terms.
Why does a person choose to locate/live in a small town or community? Each person has their own reason but most want:
- Less stress
- Less noise
- Less traffic
- More space
- More freedom
- Peaceful surroundings
- Safety
- Good schools for the younger family
- Higher education availability
- Available heath care and facilities
- Proximity to entertainment venues
With that, we see a small town or community as a living room for those seeking a relaxing, less stressful environment in which to live, interact, and relax.
Whatever the reason, small towns must provide these amenities. Can your community provide the above? The first step in determining is to research and develop the strengths and weaknesses of the area. This gives you an outline of how to proceed.
SHOP LOCAL, SHOP SMALL, SHOP OFTEN.
SMALL TOWN AND COMMUNITY BUSINESS OWNERS
All have seen the SHOP LOCAL reminder but have you seen or thought to include SHOP OFTEN? The purpose behind this is to keep visitors/shoppers coming into your business. As a small business, you must stay in the line of sight of shoppers by providing information to bring them through your doors. Regulars should be the focus of your promotions and advertising. Tourists and visitors into your community are an added bonus. Create a destination for your shoppers.
Promote SHOP OFTEN:
- Year round shopping allows purchases of unique items
- Year round shopping is an opportunity for shoppers spread out their spending on gifts
- Year round shopping takes the rush out of finding that “one” item for someone’s birthday, anniversary, Christmas
- Year round shopping provides a relaxed shopping experience
- Year round shopping can also be a walk through “window shopping” to get ideas for gifts or decorating
- It forces a small business to rethink displays, promotions, and sales and keeps your door “swinging”
As a business owner, you have committed your time, money, and energy to being successful. You are spending time in shop or store so continually change around, update displays, revamp your windows, and use colorful signs to draw attention around your business. Show the buying public you are staying on top of things and want them to enjoy their visit into your business. They may not purchase during every visit, but you have given them something to remember and a reason to return. A happy visitor is a spending customer.
NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines nonprofit: not conducted or maintained for the purpose of making a profit. That is the definition but when presented with the word, a majority of people will have the question, “What do you want from me?” There are two common replies: your money, your time.
It is time for nonprofits to present their organization as “helping”: helping in a designated way while helping volunteers fulfill their desire to become involved in an area of their interest and choosing.
GOALS OF COMMUNITY PROMOTIONS
- Give nonprofits, businesses, communities, and municipalities a voice and presence through a collaborative effort with a knowledgeable team possessing various skills and talents.
- Assist in developing written documents
- Provide guidance in obtaining needed information
- Direct meetings to gather ideas and information
- Become familiar with the nonprofit, business, community, or municipality
- Provide direction in marketing
- Web presence
- Print materials
Contact our staff via email at: Community PromotionsLLC@gmail.com
The 29349 Inman Times 