Summit discusses revitalization of downtowns
CHENANGO COUNTY – Examining entrepreneurs’ barriers to developing new businesses and trying to determine why so many downtown storefronts remain empty were two goals identified at Tuesday night’s Downtown Summit, coordinated by Commerce Chenango.
According to Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter, the organization was approached about downtown revitalization over a year ago, and it was determined that a strategic plan was needed. “It was one of our top five priorities, but there were so many issues that needed to be addressed. We realized we needed to reach out to the people in the downtown,” Carpenter said.
The Downtown Summit brought new and established business owners, Commerce Chenango representatives, representatives from the City of Norwich Code Enforcement Office and the Business Improvement District together to discuss issues affecting downtown businesses.
Dave Emerson, former owner of Hoppie’s Ice Cream Shop in Oxford, was the keynote speaker. Emerson, who was a partner in the Blueox corporation and who currently serves on the Downtown Business Improvement Committee, opened Hoppie’s with his wife MaryEl in 1994. Emerson discussed the five things you should have when planning a business: capital, a business plan, a vision, persistence and luck. Emerson explained that luck played a large part in the success of Hoppie’s.
Although Emerson admits he did many things the wrong way – by not having a business plan or a marketing plan – persistence, luck, location and people made Hoppie’s a success. Today Hoppie’s is under new ownership, but the ice cream shop is still successful, due in part to its solid foundation.
The Downtown Summit included a panel discussion by three Chenango County business owners; Katie Ives of Ives Cream, Chris Hayes of Hayes Office Supplies and Kathi Enstrom of Remember When Cafe, Antique Shop and Guest House in New Berlin. The panel members, each of whom had to overcome different obstacles to make their business a success, were questioned about decisions they had made for their particular business.
Hayes made the decision to include Internet sales and to transition into more of a business-to-business merchant in order to keep his business going. Enstrom combined several business ventures into one location to best utilize her facility, and Ives turned her wholesale business into a successful ice cream retailer.
Each panel member also spoke of some of the difficulties they encountered.
To try to limit some of the difficulties new business owners face, Commerce Chenango has put together resource guides with information for perspective business owners. For a copy of the resource guide or for more information about starting a business, contact Commerce Chenango at 334-1400.
According to Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter, the organization was approached about downtown revitalization over a year ago, and it was determined that a strategic plan was needed. “It was one of our top five priorities, but there were so many issues that needed to be addressed. We realized we needed to reach out to the people in the downtown,” Carpenter said.
The Downtown Summit brought new and established business owners, Commerce Chenango representatives, representatives from the City of Norwich Code Enforcement Office and the Business Improvement District together to discuss issues affecting downtown businesses.
Dave Emerson, former owner of Hoppie’s Ice Cream Shop in Oxford, was the keynote speaker. Emerson, who was a partner in the Blueox corporation and who currently serves on the Downtown Business Improvement Committee, opened Hoppie’s with his wife MaryEl in 1994. Emerson discussed the five things you should have when planning a business: capital, a business plan, a vision, persistence and luck. Emerson explained that luck played a large part in the success of Hoppie’s.
Although Emerson admits he did many things the wrong way – by not having a business plan or a marketing plan – persistence, luck, location and people made Hoppie’s a success. Today Hoppie’s is under new ownership, but the ice cream shop is still successful, due in part to its solid foundation.
The Downtown Summit included a panel discussion by three Chenango County business owners; Katie Ives of Ives Cream, Chris Hayes of Hayes Office Supplies and Kathi Enstrom of Remember When Cafe, Antique Shop and Guest House in New Berlin. The panel members, each of whom had to overcome different obstacles to make their business a success, were questioned about decisions they had made for their particular business.
Hayes made the decision to include Internet sales and to transition into more of a business-to-business merchant in order to keep his business going. Enstrom combined several business ventures into one location to best utilize her facility, and Ives turned her wholesale business into a successful ice cream retailer.
Each panel member also spoke of some of the difficulties they encountered.
To try to limit some of the difficulties new business owners face, Commerce Chenango has put together resource guides with information for perspective business owners. For a copy of the resource guide or for more information about starting a business, contact Commerce Chenango at 334-1400.
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