Video from Norwood Transcript about FNC

Another vendor for Norwood's Farmers Market!

Friends of Norwood Center received word recently of a new addition to the Norwood Farmers Market roster:
Stone Soup LLC DBA Langwater Farm Organic Certified.

Welcome! We are delighted to have you aboard!

Harvest coming in :: Photo from Langwater Farm website. 

For information on Langwater Farm, please see their site here.

The more I learn of our Norwood Farmers Market the more excited I am for June.
Oh, is it silly to dream of a fresh tomato when it's only the end of February?

Thinking of summer!~
Thanks for reading,
Kim Weineck

Feedback from the Community Input Meeting

A lot of great ideas were generated from the Community Input Gathering last Wednesday. 

Here was the list I generated on the projector from my laptop:

Bike racks

Large scale events to bring people uptown

A multi-purpose Cultural Center

Independent bookstore

Developing theme events designed to draw people downtown

            Topics like “home décor” “arts” “spa pampering” etc.

            Realize and Utilize what you already have

Business-broker? Someone to connect the businesses we need in town

            Office of Business Development

            Referral program

Internship experience to assist FNC in planning and instituting revitalization

Share marketing information with merchants

Survey residents about downtown (piggyback Town Mailing perhaps?)

“did you know” column focusing on Norwood Center strengths

Marketing a new perception

Parking signs

Connecting the links and strengthening the ties together

Taking 10% (or more) from the train station and bringing them to the center

Suggestions from you?
Please share them with us either by commenting here or emailing norwoodcenter@gmail.com or calling 781-269-9677. 

Thanks for your valued feedback!! 

TONIGHT! Feb 22 :: Community Input meeting!

Are you a stakeholder in Norwood Center? 

Residents, Merchants, Businesses, Landholders:  We want to hear your ideas for the future of Norwood Center. 

Join us on Feb. 22nd at the Olde Colonial Cafe, 171 Nahatan Street, to learn what we've accomplished in the last six months and hear what's next for Friends of Norwood Center.

Arrive anytime after 6pm for registration and conversation. Meeting starts promptly at 6:30pm. 

We're looking forward to hearing from you!

The Olde Colonial Cafe, 171 Nahatan Street, Downtown Norwood
The hosts of our meeting tonight.

Please RSVP and share this invitation with anyone who may be interested in the exciting future of Norwood Center. 

A visit to Limey's Pub

Recently I had dinner at Limey's Pub at 659 Washington Street in Norwood Center.

FNC photo :: Limey's Pub

FNC photo :: Limey's Pub 2

Limey's is new to Norwood Center and it's a great spot.

A lot of work went into opening this neighborhood pub and it shows in the details. Enjoy shooting a game of pool? Limey's has a great table toward the back of the restaurant. I was told they have darts, too. Sounds like a great destination for some fun. And they're open until 1am!!

The staff was wonderful and I look forward to more great times at Limey's!

FEB 22 at 6pm :: Community Input Meeting!

Are you a stakeholder in Norwood Center? 

Residents, Merchants, Businesses, Landholders:  We want to hear your ideas for the future of Norwood Center. 

Join us on Feb. 22nd to learn what we've accomplished in the last six months and hear what's next for Friends of Norwood Center.

Arrive anytime after 6pm for registration and conversation. Meeting starts promptly at 6:30pm. 

We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Please RSVP and share this invitation with anyone who may be interested in the exciting future of Norwood Center. 

Friends of Norwood Center

Curb Appeal from Retail Visioning

This post is from Chris Moynihan's "Retail Visioning" site. Please click here to subscribe to her postings.

Curb Appeal

2012 FEBRUARY 17

by ChristineMoynihan

Spring is around the corner and Open Houses will be popping up every weekend as houses go on the market and people think about moving.   Those selling houses are sprucing things up and talking about “curb appeal.”   Those house hunting they will be checking out neighborhoods and downtown to better understand the nature of the town they are looking into – as well as to scope out shopping opportunities.  

And what is the first impression they will get about your town?  In part that is up to you.   What does the outside of your store look like?  Once you get behind that front door do you forget about your curb appeal? 

Every good real estate agent is going to remind those listing their homes that curb appeal is KEY.  First rule… improve the outside of the house that they are selling so that it is attractive and appealing and it will invite potential buyers in.  Not paying attention to the exterior will cause potential buyers to pass on a property out of hand.  NO chance to make a sale.  Curb appeal attracts buyers — and adds $$$ to the bottom line of every sale when it comes to selling homes.   The same rule holds true downtown… outside stores.   If the outside of a store looks good, customers will come in.   If customers come in…you have the chance to make a sale and making sales adds $$$ every time.

Some tips for improving your curb appeal

1) well swept and tidy sidewalks

2) sparkling clean windows

3) fresh paint on all trim

4) well-lit, bold signs and window displays (go big!)

5) colorful plantings on either side of the door

BALLOONS!

Perfect for Valentine's Day

Last week I ventured into Silver and Sage, a fantastic florist in Norwood Center. Ronald Charles Wight was preparing for Valentine's Day and his shop looked as beautiful as it smelled. 

FNC photo of Silver and Sage's engaging storefront

We chatted for a spell, and it was obvious how willing Ron is to work with the community to be a relevant part of our town center. He has already been a part of the Norwood Evening Garden Club's events and explained he offers floral classes, too. 

FNC photo of Ron in his shop, discussing his business

I left with a few stems to brighten my own home and was delighted to be supporting my local neighbor. Remember that when you spend money locally more of it stays in the community. With wonderful options like Silver and Sage, the choice is easy to make! 

Retail Visioning by Christine Moynihan

Excerpted from an article by Christine Moynihan, Retail Visioning

first published January 31, 2012

Facebook has 800,000,000 users, an increasingly robust search engine and once you get the lingo down it is one of the easiest forms of social media for small businesses to use.   Bottom line — if you don’t make the effort to get up on the social media playing field you may find yourself out of the game. 

Retailers, restaurateurs and storefront small business owners everywhere know that one of the best kinds of advertising is “positive word of mouth” and Facebook is the new way that good word gets around.  56% of consumers are likely to recommend a business to their friends once they “like” it.   

I hope you have a website up and are seriously thinking about not just having but using a Facebook page for your small business, too.  Check outhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php to get started.  Then, consider these Facebook Best Practices as you learn the language and get out on that social media playing field. 

1)      Social plug ins.  Be sure your website has that little Facebook icon to direct customers to your Facebook page and give them the chance to “Like” you right then and there.   You will also want to be sure your Facebook page has a link to your website.  While both are Internet tools, they have different jobs to do!

2)      Post frequently.  If possible every day.  Your community might miss a great message from you if their activity is robust and you do not show up on a news feed!

3)      Engage…don’t sell.  Ask questions.  Start conversations.  Provide links to articles your fans might want to share.  Think about having a deeper relationship with this audience and you will enhance your lists and sell more over time.

4)      Make everyone who visits feel special.   Tease promotions and let everyone who comes to your Facebook page feel like they are VIPs.   Now and then, reward these good friends.

5)      Stay with it!  As tough as it is to add something new to your already full plate, make a commitment to stay with it.  You will be rewarded, too!

*****

Merchants: Like what you've read? Consider subscribing to Retail Visioning by clicking here to receive a wealth of information to your email inbox. 

Community Input Meeting!

Dear Friend,

Join us on February 22 to hear about all that has happened with Friends of Norwood Center over the last 6 months. 

It's been a productive start to 2012 with much accomplished and much yet to do. 

Our mission stresses that we "develop, build, and strengthen the downtown experience and vitality for the entire community" 

and our board has been working to do just that with benefits to residents and merchants and exciting plans for the upcoming months. 

We are hoping you can join us to share your thoughts as we set our goals and agenda for the year ahead 

and discuss the benefits of FNC membership for residents and merchants.

Please join us at the Olde Colonial Cafe, 171 Nahatan Street, Downtown Norwood.

Arrive anytime after 6pm for registration and conversation.
Our meeting starts promptly at 6:30pm. 

Hope you can join us!
My best, 

Kim Weineck, 

Downtown Manager, FNC