Relevant Chews

A candidate running for Governor of the state of Oregon asked me what could be done to make the state more small business friendly?  And what could be the catalyst for economic recovery in our great state?  My answer is “grow the dot.com industry, starting right here in Portland…”

The Top 3 reasons Portland needs Public Marketspace :

1. We are a scalable start up. Portland needs a business like ours to flourish because we are planning multiple stages (phases) of growth in mobile and socialized shopping, non-profit and urban projects, and develop a completely virtual experience.  As an Internet retailer (and global online marketspace), our ability to capture 1% of the known eCommerce market makes us a Billion dollar investment opportunity and a healthy Oregon taxpayer.

2. We are a dot.com company (for lack of more sophisticated explanation) in a sea of empty manufacturing buildings.  Portland needs a flagship dot.com company that is workforce relevant and could employ 50+ creative people (educated + employed in an income tax state) and create work for a number of local marketing agencies; the Columbia River is already powering the largest dot.coms not headquartered in OR (why not ours); introduce a new industry in Portland besides China facilitated manufacturing, microchips and lost sustainability companies; and show a small business friendly commitment by complimenting our willingness to give back to our vendor community.

3. We are in a epicenter of the farmers market + handmade products + neighborhood services. With an unemployment rate of closer to 18 – 20% (lost benefits, self employed without benefits), Portlanders have embraced entrepreneurship.  People can start a service business with online marketing tomorrow!  Handmade artisans represent the state’s new manufacturing base.  We can help “inventors | artists | designers | carpenters…” become the next big idea, and subsequently growing Oregon small businesses into recognizable brands!

Our “Think Global + Shop Local” vision is social shopping for small business products anywhere in the world, and sharing the best local services in your neighborhood.  And as CEO and co-founder of Public Marketspace, I welcome your comments and your help sharing this message.

Welcome to your online public market!

Tis the season to be shopping… fah la la la

Give credit when credit is due.  Some brick-n-mortar retailers will be relevant and smiling this December.

The brand recognition goes to Bass Pro Shop. When it would be easy to be slashing prices and touting sales, the Bass Pro ads suggest something more meaningful; that Christmas (and Christmas shopping) is an experience worth remembering.

They show vintage video that warms and reminds us of a time before the marketing + media blitz.  And kids… come in and create a handmade ornament for Mom, the perfect gift.  See a snowy village electric train and get a free photo with Santa.

What really makes it special?  Instead of competing on price or trying to convince us that the perfect gift is waiting to be discovered in the aisles, the welcome surprise was that Bass Pro didn’t mention a single product.

Good for them.  They should put the ad on Youtube.

Sales by the numbers will go to Craft, Consignment and Discount Stores.  These are the stores that live somewhere between Walmart, Michaels, Nordstrom Rack and the Dollar Store.  What they lack in sex appeal they make up for on unbeatable margins, and location is part of a marketing strategy.

HGTV has taught me that the companies that spend the least on holiday advertising also hold some thoughtful gems and last minute gifts that budget strapped shoppers will looking for with mid-month paychecks.

It’s been a tough year.   Thanks.

Casual Thought Friday… you can’t have everything, so why not find the one thing?

This holiday season, the winning retail strategy will be helping people gift their loved ones with something they really want.

Last year it was easy to predict that companies like Ebay and Overstock.com were going to be runaway favorites.  This year people will be looking for a deal, but even more savvy about how to find that special something vs. settling for anything.

The relevance of social media in our lives will be a game changer in the lingering economic aftershock this Christmas.  If you are paying attention to the signals like Facebook’s “How well do you know Me?” and what I’m assuming will come to pass as the Xmas List app for the iPhone, then you know exactly what to get that special someone.

It’s not the gift, it’s the thought that counts.  But why can’t you have both plus the shopping experience?

As I’m searching online or wandering out into the cold this December, don’t pitch me what’s on sale—help me find the one thing I’m looking for… getting it down the chimney is negotiable.