Rough Winter

Now this is the type of winter I remember from my childhood. Snow and cold.

My horses are loving it -- no mud to contend with and the colder weather makes them a bit more frisky than usual. But me... I'm just freezing!

So, I'm heading down to Marco Island, Florida for a little sunshine. And I can't wait to be sitting on that beach, soaking in the warmth.

I made my reservations just a week ago. I had just had it.

I'm lucky enough that my Dad has a condo right on the gulf. So, all I have to do is hop on a plane and he'll be meeting me at the airport.

I am curious, though, to see how many other Hudson Valley residents are feeling the same way I am. We've been a bit spoiled in recent years and haven't had a cold winter like this since I can remember. Is anyone else planning a last-minute getaway?

I've noticed there are some great deals out there - especially for cruises. Bill Sivillo, from Captain's Club Cruises & Tours in Middletown is a member of ours. If you're looking to get away for an affordable vacation in the sun, you may want to give him a call. Tell him June sent you -- he'll have absolutely no idea who I am, but he'll probably rack his brain trying to remember. I've known his wife, Cindy, for years... but I think I've only met Bill once, on a cruise up the Hudson with the Chamber of Commerce. 

Whatever you do, try and keep warm. And we'd love to hear from you and find out how you're enjoying (or not enjoying) this old-fashioned winter we're having.

June Bisel

Tough Economy?

My dad was in town this past weekend, and we went out to dinner twice. Sunday night we went to Limoncello's in Goshen, and last night (Monday) we went into the city to Nanni's, a nice little italian restaurant on East 46th Street. I was amazed, in both instances, at how crowded these restaurants were. Remember, this was a Sunday night and a Monday night -- not traditionally big nights for dining out.

I spoke with one of the waiters at Limoncello's and he indicated that they are busy there every night. And, in fact, they have been busy every night I've been there. But, this was the first time I had been there since the economic downturn, and I have to say, I was really surprised. Especially since I've read that consumers are choosing less expensive, fast food restaurants over fine dining.

So, what is it that these restaurants are doing to stay so busy? Is it the $10 off coupon to Limoncello's? Is it Nanni's location right near Grand Central? Or is it the great italian food many of us find so hard to resist?

Let us know what you think Hudson Valley, and if your eating out habits are changing because of the economy.

June Bisel

BusinessCardContacts.com and

BBG&G Advertising, Inc.

(845) 695-1880

or email helpdesk@businesscardcontacts.com

A busy time of the year for business

I know I should write in this blog regularly - heck, I preach it. But when business gets so busy, the little "extras" seem to slip by the wayside.

Yesterday morning Deborah Garry, my partner, and myself had our first talk radio show gig on Business Journal Radio. Aside from the first time I spoke, in which I said "um" 27 times, I was pretty comfortable with the way things went. And, it was actually a lot more fun than I realized it would be.

The show discussed marketing (go figure), and we did have a discussion on the importance of blogging.... which is why I'm here today.

The thing that's really been bugging me about not blogging lately, is that I have so much to talk about. So let me give a quick rundown of the things that have been happening in the Hudson Valley, in case you've missed any of them.

- Friday, October 17th was the first airing of Business Journal Radio, with Debbie Kwiatoski editor of the Hudson Valley Business Journal. It airs on the Hudson Valley Radio Network, with three different AM stations throughout the valley. It will be airing every Friday at 10am. Each week will be full of good advice. I believe the guest next week will be giving advice on how to save money on our heating bills this winter - we can all use that!

- on Thursday, the 16th, was the Rockland Business Association's Business Expo. I volunteered at the registration table for a couple of hours, and had a great time. Attendance was excellent - kept us on our toes. When I was done at the registration table, I walked around a bit, met a few people I've never met before, caught up with some people I haven't seen in awhile, chatted with some friends, and became familiar with some businesses with products or services I'm interested in. Lots of fun. Good for business. It's all about relationships, and the RBA has a nice group of people with some good networking opportunities.

-On Wednesday, the 15th, I had gone down to SUNY Purchase on some business. What a beautiful campus they have there. I'm in the area regularly, and I am somewhat familiar with the campus, but the day afforded me the opportunity to really walk around and take it all in. And, it was an absolutely beautiful fall day to boot, so I really enjoyed it. The college offers an opportunity for a high level of education in the conservatory arts and liberal arts & science, but it is also a wonderful cultural resource for the entire community, with the Performing Arts Center and the Neuberger Museum of Art. The college is located in Westchester, in the town of Purchase, just a couple of miles from 287. 

- And speaking of Westchester, the Half Moon is currently docked at the Yonkers Pier and will be there for a couple of weeks I believe. It will also be in Newburgh after that. You can check the exact dates by visiting the Westchester Tourism web site, or the Orange County Tourism web site. The Half Moon is a full scale replica of the boat that Henry Hudson sailed on his exploration trip up the Hudson back in 1609. I will be visiting the Half Moon this Sunday and for me, it is a little bit of a head start on the quadricentennial celebration, which marks the 400th Anniversary of Hudson and Champlain's early voyages along the Hudson.

We'd love to hear what you've been up to and about upcoming events - business or recreational. This is your web site, Hudson Valley. Use it to inform, promote, or just toot your own horn.

Orange County Chamber proves Trade Shows are Still Alive and Well

There were over 200 Exhibitors at yesterday's Orange County Chamber Trade Show, held at Anthony's Pier 9 in Newburgh, and for a long-time Chamber member, I've found that walking through the show gets to be more fun every year. 

Each year there are more and more familiar faces. And, sometimes, you run into people who you may not have seen since last year's trade show! But, more often than not, the people who are involved in the Chamber are also involved in other community events and organizations. Having been involved in the Orange County community for over 20 years now, I have had the opportunity to meet a good number of my fellow Chamber members and community leaders. Orange County is lucky to have a very strong Chamber, under the direction of Dr. John D'Ambrosio. The benefits of membership are many, and businesses of all sizes should check it out at www.orangeny.com

Being in the field of advertising, I know how trade show attendance is slipping in recent years. But you would never guess it from yesterday's show. It is a bit hard to navigate from room to room at Anthony's, but with some determination (and help of the floor plan that's handed out at the door) you can make your way through the 5 or more different rooms... and it is well worth the effort.

I always enjoy meeting new people and learning about new businesses in the area. There are so many resources for your own business, as well as for your home and personal needs. I also find it very interesting walking through the show and observing how some exhibitors really engage attendees and make the show work for them, while others just sit back and almost seem unapproachable... even if you are interested in their product or service. I often wonder why these businesses even bother making the investment in the first place, if they're not going to invest in the training of trade show staff.

For those of you who had booths at the show.... make sure you take the time within the next two weeks to follow up on all those leads. You should be categorizing your "hot leads" from your "not so hot leads" during the show, to make follow-up more fruitful. There's no sense in just gathering a bunch of business cards and then putting them in your desk drawer. Develop a follow-up system, and stick to it. A good follow-up system will make your trade shows well worth your investment. 

June Bisel

BBG&G Advertising & Public Relations

and BusinessCardContacts.com

email: HelpDesk@BusinessCardContacts.com

The Fall brings Focus

The kids are back at school, and we can feel the crispness in the night air. And, if you're like me, you have come to the office this morning with an invigorating "can do" attitude.

We all seem to be a big laid back in the summer months, but this year seemed a bit more pronounced than usual. The past couple of weeks, emails and phone calls were drastically reduced. And, I have been awaiting this week with much anticipation. 

There's a lot happening here in the Hudson Valley, and if you're a business person, you know that the fall is just full of Galas, Tributes, Business Expos, Breakfasts, Dinners.... events of all kinds, where we all gather in support or in recognition of the leaders in our community. It's a busy time. A fun time. An exhausting time!

It's a time when a lot of business is done. Much is accomplished. New bonds are formed. New partnerships are undertaken. Everyone seems revitalized and ready to take on the world.

I'm glad that fall is here. I encourage everyone to get focused and move ahead with those plans, whether they are business plans or personal plans. Now is the time to do it! There are so many resources available for whatever project you're looking to tackle. Get the help you need and get the job done!

I also encourage all Hudson Valley businesses to take the time right now and sign on to BusinessCardContacts. Make sure your products and services are clearly listed so when someone is looking for you, they can easily find you.

June Bisel

BBG&G Advertising & Public Relations

BusinessCardContacts.com

Affordable Vacations

It is no secret that I'm a big fan of New York. In fact, you could say "I Love New York"! So, it is only natural that I spend my summer vacations in my favorite state. And with gas prices the way they are this summer, we are lucky to have so many adventures awaiting us within such a short drive of where we work, live, and play.

Living in the Hudson Valley gives me the opportunity to have mini vacations within a short drive of my home on a regular basis. But last week my sister, my 4-year-old niece and myself headed up to the Adirondacks for a week-long camping trip. Alpine Lake Camping Resort is a fun, affordable family vacation that offers more activities than I can list, to keep all members of the family happy.

It is the perfect place for kids to ride their bikes. My son learned to ride there years ago, and my niece went from a novice to an expert on training wheels within a week!

And if you have a dog you want to take along on vacation, camping is perfect. There was an incredible amount of dogs at the campsite, and dog walking around the lake is a favorite pass-time of many campers. Saturday was Pets on Parade day, where if you didn't already have a dog, you could adopt one.

Only 3 hours away from my house in Orange County, and about 1/3 a tank of gas, this New York vacation couldn't have been better.

And later this week I'm heading back up to Saratoga County with my three kids (all adults now) and our horses for some horse camping.

We're interested in hearing what other great vacations people are having in or within a short drive of the Hudson Valley. I know there are lots of great places to go. Let other people know about your summer adventures while there's still a little bit of summer left!