Guest Bob Negen of WhizBang! Retail Training shares his perspective on how the pandemic forced independent retailers to adapt and change their business models in order to survive this challenging time.  He cites examples of those that took advantage of existing technologies which allowed them to ultimately emerge stronger than pre-pandemic times.  Bob also hits on the crucial concept of first, building a customer data base in order to begin building on your customer relationships, and then, reactivating and retaining those customers as a more effecient path to profitability.

Learn how my guests Tara Tomcsik-Husak and Sheila Denstaedt, from the Troy Chamber of Commerce got started.  Without any previous experience these executives launched their new podcast and are now well on their way to growing their audience.

Hopefully this episode takes the mystery out of how to get started and inspired you to grab the mic and create your own show! Reach out to us at [email protected] to join me as a Main Street Beat guest or find out how we can help your community get started.

In this episode, you’ll hear the second part of my conversation with Shannon Laing, the Lincoln Park Main Street Programming Director in Duluth Minnesota, about the common issues facing her community.

Gain a unique perspective on some everyday problems your businesses may be encountering, including parking dilemmas and the impact of incorporating food trucks in your downtown.  Shannon's viewpoints might just have you rethinking your own strategy!

Feel free to send us feedback or consider joining us as a guest on The Main Street Beat Podcast by contacting us at [email protected].  Be sure to check out all of our resources at MainStreet Nation.

In part 3 of a conversation with Shannon Laing, Main Street Lincoln Park’s Programming Director in Duluth, MN, you will learn why this community was chosen in 2021 by the National Main Street Center as a recipient of the  Main Street Forward Award for their effort to support local business amid the COVID pandemic.  Highlights include specific strategies and initiatives to put to use in your community.

Feel free to send us feedback or consider joining us as a guest on The Main Street Beat Podcast by reaching out to us at [email protected].  Be sure to check out all of our resources at MainStreet Nation.

If your community is looking for ways to revitalize, this episode is for you! We're sharing a success story from a Main Street Program Director in Duluth Minnesota who took on a disjointed community and dug deep to discover and overcome perception problems and disinvestment challenges, along with other obstacles. She was eventually able to breathe new life into her downtown by engaging both businesses and visitors. You'll be inspired to consider some of theses initiatives and perhaps even pop in for a visit to revitalized downtown Lincoln Park!

Feel free to send us feedback or consider joining us as a guest on The Main Street Beat Podcast by reaching out to us at [email protected].  Be sure to check out all of our resources at MainStreet Nation.

Feel free to send us feedback or consider joining us as a guest on The Main Street Beat Podcast by reaching out at [email protected].  Be sure to check out all of our resources at MainStreet Nation.