Business without a phone

Running your craft business without a phone

How many of you who own or operate a local business have a phone number where you can be reached?

(I know most of you must be scratching your heads and asking, “Has Bob gone off his rocker. We all have phone numbers. You can’t run a business without one.)” You’re right, but there’s a message in my madness that I can explain with a short story.

Dawn Basso Bamberg is my daughter-in-law. A great wife to my son and super mother to my two grandchildren. She recently had a birthday and I had not the foggiest idea what to get her. They come up every Thanksgiving, but they live in Florida and I just don’t have enough day-to-day contact to know what to get. And my otherwise sharp son is not much help.

A week or so before her birthday, she leaves this post on Facebook:

I click on the picture, and voila, up pops the picture in Pinterest.com and a link to ilenesgatorstore.com. (Did I mention that both Dawn and I graduated from the University of Florida and are Florida Gator fans.) Ilene’s store let me order one of her handmade gator scarves and ship it to by daughter-in-law in Florida. Birthday present problem solved and I hope I am now her favorite father-in-law.

Back to my phone question. Not having a phone was a sure way to cripple your business in the 1970s and 80s. If you are a local craftsperson and don’t have an online store, don’t do social media like Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter – in other words if you are not busting your keister to develop your presence on the Web – then you are fast becoming an antiquated as a business without a phone number. Ilene has the chance to sell her handmade Gator scarves to the world’s 6 billion inhabitants and you’re selling to the few who drive through Sparta.

Wilkes Community College has held FREE classes that will walk you through it, but in the past, they’ve had trouble getting enough takers. Today, crafters of handmade products would be better off with an online store and no phone, than with just a phone. A website alone, that you are counting on someone to find via Google, was where it was at 10 years ago.

If are interested in spending a few hours learning the ropes to create the kind of Web presence that sells to the world, email me. If we get a dozen or so committed individuals, I work to get a learning opportunity set up.

Walt Green: A Life of Gratitude and Service

Sparta and Alleghany County are mourning the death of Walt Green. Walt retired here after a career with Eastern Airlines and later with NASCAR. He is probably best known for being the key instigator of the Alleghany Mower Racing Association that sponsors the series of lawn mower races each summer. 


Walt loved to share things that gave him pleasure and lawn mower racing permitted locals to experience a bit of NASCAR excitement. 


He chaired the Alleghany CARES board and was a regular volunteer. He helped spearhead the construction of the Solid Rock Food Closet. At his church he volunteered for the firewood ministry and headed up mission trips. 


He was always available to transport nursing home residents to church, an acquaintance to a doctor’s appointment, or someone down on his luck to Burger King. He was such a soft-spoken, gentle person, I would have never thought he could accomplish much. Instead he taught everyone he knew a lesson in Christian kindness and humble service.


 I've always been impressed with the quality of the people Alleghany attracts. Our retirees, transplants and newcomers add so much to this community, but sometimes God blesses us with someone who is better that we deserve. Walt Green was one of those blessings. A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Sparta United Methodist Church. More informaiton available at www.elkinfuneralservice.com

A New Christmas Tradition

Many of you had this forwarded to you email box, but it is worth repeating. I've made a few small edits. 

~ Bob Bamberg

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year can be different. This year Americans can give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or rounds at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big national chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play at your hometown theatre? Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer has to be about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas can be about caring about your neighbors, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.