hey, everyone,
Just wanted to let you know we're trying to better integrate our main site, localshops1.com, with the social network.
We're told there's no way to do it with this platform, though. so we added another social network, right on
http://www.localshops1.com
We hope you check it out, and update your profile there. Please keep in mind that you log in there with your localshops1 user name and password. If you haven't signed up there, please do.…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on March 17, 2009 at 11:00am —
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By LocalShops1.com blogger Leah Dallaire
At first, I thought the news feed today was video of giant insects overtaking a building.
I had the sound on the TV turned down, and have a very active imagination. When I actually tuned in to the story, I realized the news was showing aerial footage of more than 2,000 people waiting for their turn to get into a job fair in South Florida.
Two thousand people. At a job fair. A frightening statement.
The job fair was in Davie, a town of about 85,000 in Bro…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on February 27, 2009 at 2:41am —
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Friday the 13th is just a couple of minutes away and already I’m crossing myself and doing other little quirky rituals to ward off the bad spirits.
It’s not that I’m very superstitious; I mean, I do believe in karma, and that there’s another side of nature that we don’t see or understand. But I routinely step on sidewalk cracks, I’ve opened up an umbrella inside (by mistake) and I don’t dive out of the way if a black cat happens to mosey on by. And, I’ve broken a mirror or two in my time.
Just n…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on February 13, 2009 at 1:30am —
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Hey, business owners! Our interns Sara and Marisa are out and about, writing profiles on your businesses.
This week they're featuring the Globe coffee shop, and Coco's designer consigner, both in St. Pete
Click here for a link to their reports! Continue
Added by Ester Venouziou on January 31, 2009 at 1:11pm —
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By LEAH DALLAIRE, LocalShops1.com blogger
Being a writer is often a lonely endeavor. A lot of the copywriting and editing I do is from behind the scenes. Some of my clients are across the country in corporate offices, or are shrouded by email. I don't get to meet any of my peers, hobnob with folks in the business or rub elbows with anyone who shares my love of the craft.
So I was quite interested in particpating in the First Annual Book Fair Blitz put on by Key Business Partners and…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on January 28, 2009 at 11:00am —
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Reporters came out to do a longer story on LocalShops1.com!
Check out video here:
http://is.gd/gFXc
Gulfport, Florida - In the strange way that technology works, Ester Venouziou is typing away in her home and using the internet to discourage shoppers from using it. Her Web site, LocalShops1.com, aims to point consumers to small local businesses.
"I think it's important to think before you shop," says Venouziou. "If you spend $10 at a local store, most of the money is going to stay locally. I…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on January 21, 2009 at 4:32am —
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By LocalShops1.com blogger Leah Dallaire:
I knew Albertson's supermarkets closing was a bad sign. Add to that the various Linens' n Things and Bed, Bath and Beyond stores that have disappeared. Bennigans also pulled out of our area, taking with it their fantastic baked potato soup. GAP spin-off Old Navy is downsizing.
KB Toys is already closed - its stock sold off after filing for bankruptcy protection. And Sweetbay supermarkets just announced they are closing seven of their Tampa Bay a…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on January 21, 2009 at 4:25am —
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Did you all see us on ch. 10 last night??
It was our first TV appearance, and it was very exciting. Photojournalist Chris Allan was great to work with!
Segment was really short -- we were competing with coverage on new Bucs coach -- but it was great!
Here's link to shortened story ... we'll try to get video up on our site;
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/mostpop/story.aspx?storyid=98351&provider Continue
Added by Ester Venouziou on January 18, 2009 at 1:04pm —
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When I was seven years old, the nation was embroiled in the Iran Hostage Crisis. And for the first time, I was interested in world news. I wrote letters and spoke out in class and became a tad obsessed.
My father, bless his heart, urged me to be the controversial little person that he saw emerging. "Challenge everything," he told me. And he bought me a 'Khomeini is Crazy' tee shirt. I wore it to school, and they sent me home, of course.
Daddy had crust and sass, and an offbeat sense of humor tha…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on January 8, 2009 at 2:46am —
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Brief Radio Interview for iconic Small Business
I got this email from a reporter looking to interview owners of small businesses with character! Check it out ... free publicity!
This is all I know about it .....
Name: Paige Barr
Email: hellopj9_@hotmail.com
Deadline: 6:00 PM EASTERN - January 6
Query:
"I am looking for small businesses with CHARACTER for a national
radio show ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!
examples chicago pizzaria's, l.a. surf shops, wisconson- cheese
shop…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on January 6, 2009 at 11:39am —
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LocalShops1.com blogger Leah posted this for us on
http://localshops1.blogspot.com/
So Christmas is here, everything's been unwrapped, and we're all laying around fat and happy. But not for long.
Somewhere around ten o'clock tonight, we'll all get that little itch to get back out there with the masses tomorrow and do more shopping. Return stuff. Get more stuff. Use the gift cards that are already burning a hole in your pocket (like they are in min…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on December 26, 2008 at 2:49am —
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By Leah Dallaire
http://localshops1.blogspot.com/
I always feel a little bad for the Salvation Army bell-ringers. Lots of people do anything they can to avoid them, like putting their heads down, walking around them quickly or using another entrance and exit from the store.
And still they stand, silently soliciting by their lone kettles. I stopped to talk to one in Ellenton recently on my way into Publix. I only had a couple of dollars, but as al…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on December 23, 2008 at 2:26am —
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Our friend Jackie (aka The Old Gold Lady) sent us this. Thoughts?
John Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN ) for 6am.
While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG ). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA)
After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to s…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on December 20, 2008 at 3:04am —
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And me, too!
Times did an awesome profile on localshops1.com!
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/article884571.ece Continue
Added by Ester Venouziou on December 14, 2008 at 1:28am —
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And our very own Old Gold Lady, aka Jackie Simpson, also has much to brag about.
She was recently featured in tbt* and then again in the Times.
Here are the links:
http://www.tampabay.com/features/consumer/article910872.ece
and
http://www.tampabay.com/features/life/article929827.ece
Need extra cash? She'll buy your old gold. Broken, even!
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Added by Ester Venouziou on December 14, 2008 at 1:26am —
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hey, everyone!! check out localshops1.com member featured in the St. Pete Times!!
Michele of North Tampa is the queen of spice! Her hot sauces -- Intensity Academy -- have been featured on the Today show, too. And we hear she recently won a bunch of awards!
Everyone, please congratulate Michele. Or better yet, buy her sauces :)
Here is the link to the Times article:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article932747…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on December 14, 2008 at 1:20am —
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Business coaching seminar
Tom Shay, http://profitsplus.org/
Business owners gathered in Gulfport on Monday for an informative seminar by nationally acclaimed business coach Tom Shay.
Among this tips:
* If something hasn't worked for a year, drop it. Go over your advertising and marketing budget. If you're not getting return on it, maybe it's time to reconsider where your money is going.
* Don't forget about your customers. It's important to get new people in, of course, but retaining existing…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on December 10, 2008 at 10:48am —
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This was sent to us by Shopper Lisa Burns, of Backyard Getaway, and it's being republished with permission from author. !
http://www.microbelift.com/
What's all the hoopla about independent reatails?
I mean, what's the difference if we buy from a large box store a small Ma & Pa store in town? We're looking for bargains, right? We're looking for the best bang for the buck, you're darned right. When it comes to my pets, especially my koi, these days…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on December 6, 2008 at 2:00am —
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Tom Shay, a nationally acclaimed writer and business coach, offers marketing tips on his Web site, profitsplus.org ... it's free to browse.
Here's a marketing tip, especially for December:
'Tag team' coupons
December is the month when we see the most cars in the parking lot and you should take advantage of the opportunity to get your message to as many people as possible.
When we first did this in our business, we partnered with another business that was located on one of the out parcels of…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on December 1, 2008 at 4:03am —
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From our blogger extraordinaire, Leah Dallaire, as posted on our blog at http://localshops1.blogspot.com/:
Every year I cringe when I watch the news stories about people that actually SLEEP outside the big ticket stores to get their hands on whatever thing is "it" that year for gift giving. Has the holiday season really become that commercialized?
Maybe I just see another side. I have responded to injuries and assaults in stores when shoppers flip out after Best Buy runs out of iMacs on sale o…
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Added by Ester Venouziou on November 27, 2008 at 12:08pm —
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