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Year end 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

Rethinking Small Business Saturday

By Dr. John Hogan, CHE CHA CMHS    December 10, 2011

At every turn when there has been an imbalance of power, the truth questioned, or our beliefs and values distorted, the change required to restore our nation has always come from the bottom up from our people.      Howard Dean,  American politician and physician who served six terms as the  79^th Governor of Vermont.

We have had Black Friday, Cyber Monday and sales coming at us from every possible medium the past six weeks.

Over the last month, I have received a number of similar emails on a topic we all understand- supporting local businesses.  Some of these emails have come from people I know well and others from casual acquaintances.  Some have politically oriented messages in them, while others express a sense of real frustration with politics as usual.

 The portion of these messages I have appreciated revolves creating a mind-set for this year’s gift giving  to be different. This year, people can give the gift of genuine concern for other people in their town and state.  The mind-set change is to realize there is no longer an excuse that  nothing can be found that is produced locally.  Oh.... Yes there is!

These messages sent to me have urged readers to think creatively, a bit outside the proverbial box. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box?

Remember, this isn't about big national chains. This is about supporting your local, home town operated and owned businesses that have their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.  Now many local businesses are franchises of national brands, but locally owned and operated.  Profits remain  in your community, as do most of the jobs and tax revenue.

Some thoughts shared so far from others include:

1.    Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local Hometown hair salon or barber?
2.  Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
3.  Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, locally owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
4.   Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down a large amount on the latest gizmo made who-knows-where which benefits someone from far-away?  Why not consider having their driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local bowling alley or public golf course within your community?
5.    There are hundreds and thousands of locally operated and owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates.
6.   As an option to dinner,  what about a half dozen pre-paid breakfasts at the local breakfast shop?
7.  How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle done at a shop run by the local small business?
8. Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
9.  My computer often could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young entrepreneur  who is struggling to get his/her repair business up and running.
10.  OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves and hats. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
11.  Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip.
12.  How about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre?  Community colleges and local community theatre offer excellent shows at a bargain price.
13.  Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
14.  Do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand imported lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community.  I wonder where the rest goes…..
15.  Leave the mailman, trash truck driver, babysitter or anyone else who provides you a service throughout the year a nice tip.
16.  Facials and massages at a local spa are gender neutral and appreciated by all.
17.  Many in the local hotel business offer gift certificates – consider using them locally.   Many provide excellent packages and there are advantages in trying something closer to home sometimes.
18.  Hotel owners and managers at times find themselves cash strapped, but creativity can balance that.  Consider reciprocal arrangements with comparable properties as gifts for deserving staff and their families.  The cash cost is negligible and the appreciation can be enormous.

The term Small Business Saturday sounded great to me at first glance, but seemed to evolve into just another promotion from the credit card companies or advertising agencies.   I have no problem with the term, but we need to make it real.

Christmas and the end of the year holidays should not be about  draining  hometown pockets so that some other country  can build another glittering city. It should be about caring about US (We the People  Everywhere ) and  encouraging hometown small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. When we care about others in our hometown, we care about our communities and the benefits come back to us in ways we could not imagine.

Let THIS be the new tradition!!

Alan Jackson wrote about this a few years ago – he sings the message very clearly

Hospitality Tip of the Week: Focus on Values

Action expresses priorities.      Mohandas K. Gandhi

   Success does not come by accident or chance.        

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Feel free to share an idea for a column at john.hogan@hospitalityeducators.com   anytime or contact me regarding consulting, customized workshops, speaking engagements … And remember – we all need a regular dose of common sense.

     John Hogan, Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), Certified Hotel      Administrator (CHA),

Certified Master Hotel Supplier (CMHS)

John Hogan is a successful hospitality executive, educator, author and consultant and is a frequent keynote speaker and seminar leader at many hospitality industry events. He is Co-Founder of www.HospitalityEducators.com , which delivers focused and affordable counsel in solving specific challenges facing hospitality today.

Consulting Expertise and Research Interest

1.    Turn-around and revenue management

2.    Professional Development for the Organization and the Individual

3.    Customer Service

4.      Making Cultural Diversity Real

5.    Developing Academic Hospitality programs

6.    Medical Lodging Consulting

7.    Sales Management and training

If you need assistance in any of these areas or simply an independent review or opinion on a hospitality challenge, contact me directly for a prompt response and very personalized attention.

www.HospitalityEducators.com  is a membership site offering a wide range of information, forms, best practices and ideas designed to help individual hoteliers and hospitality businesses improve their market penetration, deliver service excellence and increase their profitability.

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CONTACT        John Hogan, CHE CHA CMHS

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www.hoganhospitality.com / Email: info@hoganhospitality.com