On Friday news broke that Starbucks are closing around the state, including the one in Somerset. But have no fear, latte loving hillbillies can still get their Yuppie caffeine fix on, and the answer how may tell you a little something about why Starbucks is facing such pressure.
You see, Starbucks created a wonderful experience tied to a terrific beverage: the coffee shop atmosphere with lots of pastries, terrific new ways of drinking your coffee to the last drop, and the office-away-from-the-office thanks to wireless internet. A wonderful business model, there’s just one problem: it’s not very defendable.
Starbucks found their model being knocked off by thousands of mom and pop shops around the U.S. Unlike national chains like Wal-Mart, which relied on massive economies of scale, or McDonald’s, which managed to build brand ID superior to everyone in on earth, Starbucks became just another fancy coffee option. Some folks love Starbucks Coffee, but some loved another brand better… and a place with a more down home feel to boot.
Like this place, (hat tip Mark Sievers) Baxters' Coffee in Somerset:
“[W]ith three locations to serve you in Somerset, Kentucky. We proudly offer the finest gourmet coffees, full espresso bar, muffins, scones, and cinnamon rolls baked fresh daily in our kitchen, as well as gourmet soups, salads, and sandwiches at lunch. Come visit us at any of our locations – experience the coffee shops that were voted BEST COFFEE SHOP IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY IN 2005! In the morning, catch the morning rush and see your favorite friends on your way to work. Come in during lunch to have lunch with your coworkers and enjoy a fresh lunch. Use our free wireless internet and grab an afternoon pick me up to pull you through the day.”
Three full service espresso bars in Pulaski County, Kentucky! Starbucks may have opened the gates, but many are following. The Starbucks example should be an important lesson to entrepreneurs and those who coach them.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Former Fleming County Dude Ranch DH Resorts For Sale, Potential Tourism Development Opportunity
Here's a press release about a potential tourist opportunity down in Fleming County:
The DH Resorts dude ranch property, which since the early 90’s operated as a dude ranch and recreational property, elected to not reopen last year and this attractive and expansive property is for sale.
The property is represented by The Sievers Company (an affiliate of Apex Realty and the International Business Brokers Association).
This 733 acre Fleming County property includes a 22 acre lake, a 5,000 sq ft B&B , horse trails, rental cabins, restaurant , barns, equestrian center with bunkhouse , meeting pavilion , pool with bathhouse and an extensive equipment list.
The property has convenient access to Interstate 64 and the greater Morehead area. There is a possible opportunity to sell it in two separate sections.
The property has potential for various recreational and tourism purposes.
For more information please contact Mark Sievers: (859) 576 2257
The DH Resorts dude ranch property, which since the early 90’s operated as a dude ranch and recreational property, elected to not reopen last year and this attractive and expansive property is for sale.
The property is represented by The Sievers Company (an affiliate of Apex Realty and the International Business Brokers Association).
This 733 acre Fleming County property includes a 22 acre lake, a 5,000 sq ft B&B , horse trails, rental cabins, restaurant , barns, equestrian center with bunkhouse , meeting pavilion , pool with bathhouse and an extensive equipment list.
The property has convenient access to Interstate 64 and the greater Morehead area. There is a possible opportunity to sell it in two separate sections.
The property has potential for various recreational and tourism purposes.
For more information please contact Mark Sievers: (859) 576 2257
Friday, July 18, 2008
Do You Know of a New Economy Company in Eastern Kentucky?
Of course you do! Please go to our web site and register it... better yet, ask the owners to. Site location:
http://www.ekyneweconomy.org/
And check out the site's blog too, located at:
http://www.ekyneweconomy.blogspot.com/.
http://www.ekyneweconomy.org/
And check out the site's blog too, located at:
http://www.ekyneweconomy.blogspot.com/.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
As Fuel Prices Rise, Opportunities for a Localized Economy Increase
BBC blogger Justin Web has an interesting take on the fuel crisis that has implications for local entrepreneurship
A thoughtful piece in the Observer newspaper asks whether the real impact of the fuel crisis is that "in effect, America is becoming larger again".
This is the key point [quoting the Observer]:
"That will lead to a more localised economy. To many environmentalists that is a blessing, not a curse. They point out that cheap fuel for industrial transport has meant the average packaged salad has travelled 1,500 miles before it gets to a supermarket shelf.
"'Distance is now an enemy,' said Professor Bill McKibben, author of the 1989 climate-change classic The End of Nature. 'There's no question that the days of thoughtless driving are done.'
"The worst hit parts of the US are not yet the suburbs or the freeways of southern California, but the small towns that dot the Great Plains, Appalachia and the rural Deep South. Even more than the Inland Empire, people in these isolated and poor areas are reliant on cheap petrol and much less able to afford the new prices at the pump. Stories abound of agricultural workers unable to afford to get to the fields and of rural businesses going bust. "
So what does this mean for our local entrepreneurs? Will Americans start shopping locally, buying local produce, eating locally, vacationing locally? Isn’t this an opportunity for entrepreneurship?
A thoughtful piece in the Observer newspaper asks whether the real impact of the fuel crisis is that "in effect, America is becoming larger again".
This is the key point [quoting the Observer]:
"That will lead to a more localised economy. To many environmentalists that is a blessing, not a curse. They point out that cheap fuel for industrial transport has meant the average packaged salad has travelled 1,500 miles before it gets to a supermarket shelf.
"'Distance is now an enemy,' said Professor Bill McKibben, author of the 1989 climate-change classic The End of Nature. 'There's no question that the days of thoughtless driving are done.'
"The worst hit parts of the US are not yet the suburbs or the freeways of southern California, but the small towns that dot the Great Plains, Appalachia and the rural Deep South. Even more than the Inland Empire, people in these isolated and poor areas are reliant on cheap petrol and much less able to afford the new prices at the pump. Stories abound of agricultural workers unable to afford to get to the fields and of rural businesses going bust. "
So what does this mean for our local entrepreneurs? Will Americans start shopping locally, buying local produce, eating locally, vacationing locally? Isn’t this an opportunity for entrepreneurship?
Our Esteemed Leader Gets Positive PR @ UK
Some nice PR for our man in the Ivory Towers of UK, Dr. Ron Hustedde... gotta love their intro:
In a Dry Season, a Career Was Born
If the rain had not ended in Costa Rica, Ron Hustedde might have never begun the career path that led him to the UK Cooperative Extension Service and two national awards.
Years ago, Hustedde, who is an extension professor in Community and Leadership Development, was a rice researcher in Costa Rica as a Peace Corps volunteer. Rice grows in the rainy season, so when dry weather came, Hustedde used his time to work with Costa Rican youth, helping them learn to be leaders. That’s when he knew he had begun to find his niche.
Once back in the states, Hustedde began to acquire more education (three master’s degrees and a doctorate) and more experience, including five years as an extension agent in community development.
He has been at UK since 1990. His extension work here initially focused on training extension agents and other community leaders to lead discussion of public issues. It was a natural move from that work into public conflict resolution. Hustedde began to develop a state and national reputation in helping groups resolve controversial issues and training others to do the same.
In recent years, Hustedde’s focus has been on fostering an entrepreneurial culture in Kentucky through his brainchild, the Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute. It is a training ground for people who provide the psychological and social support for entrepreneurs.
The institute has been funded by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund under the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy. It has graduated two classes of coaches so far in northeastern Kentucky and earlier this year expanded into 22 counties in the south-central part of the state. Larry Jones in Agricultural Economics is co-principal investigator for the project.
Hustedde received the 2007 National Excellence in Extension Award, the highest award presented by U.S. Cooperative Extension Service and the National Association of Public Universities and Land Grant Colleges. The award presentation noted his “visionary leadership on emerging issues, high program impact, commitment to diversity, and partnerships with university colleagues and outside clientele.”
Hustedde also received the Rural Sociological Society’s 2007 Excellence in Extension and Public Service Award.
In a Dry Season, a Career Was Born
If the rain had not ended in Costa Rica, Ron Hustedde might have never begun the career path that led him to the UK Cooperative Extension Service and two national awards.
Years ago, Hustedde, who is an extension professor in Community and Leadership Development, was a rice researcher in Costa Rica as a Peace Corps volunteer. Rice grows in the rainy season, so when dry weather came, Hustedde used his time to work with Costa Rican youth, helping them learn to be leaders. That’s when he knew he had begun to find his niche.
Once back in the states, Hustedde began to acquire more education (three master’s degrees and a doctorate) and more experience, including five years as an extension agent in community development.
He has been at UK since 1990. His extension work here initially focused on training extension agents and other community leaders to lead discussion of public issues. It was a natural move from that work into public conflict resolution. Hustedde began to develop a state and national reputation in helping groups resolve controversial issues and training others to do the same.
In recent years, Hustedde’s focus has been on fostering an entrepreneurial culture in Kentucky through his brainchild, the Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute. It is a training ground for people who provide the psychological and social support for entrepreneurs.
The institute has been funded by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund under the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy. It has graduated two classes of coaches so far in northeastern Kentucky and earlier this year expanded into 22 counties in the south-central part of the state. Larry Jones in Agricultural Economics is co-principal investigator for the project.
Hustedde received the 2007 National Excellence in Extension Award, the highest award presented by U.S. Cooperative Extension Service and the National Association of Public Universities and Land Grant Colleges. The award presentation noted his “visionary leadership on emerging issues, high program impact, commitment to diversity, and partnerships with university colleagues and outside clientele.”
Hustedde also received the Rural Sociological Society’s 2007 Excellence in Extension and Public Service Award.
Life of a Farm Blog: Appalachian Man Hawks Indian Tractors from McCreary County
Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Pine Knot, Kentucky has become a most unusual nexus for American farming, corporate blogging, and an Indian tractor company best known for assembling Wilys Jeeps in India during WW2 and for its co-founder, Ghulam Muhammad, a former Governor-General of Pakistan who cashed out of the company when India and Pakistan split.
Here’s how the connection works:
First, you take the company, Mahindra, an Indian corporation and one of the top three tractor sellers in the world; a company intent on expanding its market share here in the U.S. market.
Next, you have the medium: the internet and blogging. With corporate blogging being touted as absolutely essential for businesses of all stripes, Mahindra saw an opportunity to blog about their product. But who would run it and how?
That’s where Pine Knot comes in. You see, the company decided to find an above average, Average Joe who loves to use your prod, has good writing skills, and is willing to put them to use hawking your wares. And it just so happens that Mahindra found that average Joe (actually Joel) in Pine Knot, the home of one Joel Combs, a jack-of-all-trades chicken farmer whose preferred tool is his trusty Mahindra Tractor. Pine Knot, located in southern McCreary County, is known more for mining and logging than commercial farming, but an evangelist is an evangelist, wherever he lives. What’s more, the region may not offer large tracts of farmland, but its land is relatively unspoiled, free of sprawl and enjoys a respite from some of the hot button issue affecting other American farms, like migrant workers and corporate farming.
Mix all the above ingredients together and… presto; you get the blog Life of a Farm. Life of a Farm has received some incredible reviews on the web, mostly from corporate blog critics who rave about what Mahindra and Combs have accomplished.
Here’s Salon.com:
The title: “170 Acres and an Indian Tractor” (An obvious play off the old post-Civil war phrase: 40 acres and a Mule... I love it!)
On Combs’ writing: “[A]fter scanning a year's worth of postings looking for nuggets … I am forced to admit that, unexpectedly, I kind of like [Combs]. Either this is a masterpiece of creative writing, or Joel Combs is a real guy with a pretty real life.”
On mixing marketing with real life observations: “the most perfect mixture of flat-out commercial on-message marketing and real-life co-parenting woes I think I've ever seen.”
And here’s The Viral Garden , a blog by a marketing guru about corporate blogs:
On Combs’ blogging style: "For the most part, Combs' posts detail his daily work on his farm, including the projects that he is undertaking, many of which are aided by his use of Mahindra products. But he also keeps his readers up to date on other topics such as the Kentucky weather, and the progress that his children are making in school. But above all else, the content is focused on his life on his farm, and its content that appears to be resonating with the blog's readers. The blog also pulls pictures from a Flickr account, and Combs does a nice job showing not only Mahindra products in action, but also what his life is like on his farm. The post formatting and structure isn't always perfect, but I think that is almost a plus, because it comes across as being authentic. Combs isn't a blogger writing about life on a farm, he is a farmer blogging about his life."
On Combs’ readers: "Life of a Farm Blog has one of the more active comment sections I've seen on a company blog. In fact, it has a perfect example of a community on a blog. Combs' does a great job of replying to almost every comment left, and is very warm and friendly in doing so. You can also tell that the blog's readers have great empathy for Combs, as most make a point to either relate their own experiences on their own farms or attempt to help Combs' better complete his current projects. It might be a stretch to say that Life of a Farm Blog's readers are devoted to Combs, but it's obvious that they are quite fond of him, and his responses make it obvious that he greatly appreciates their comments."
The blog’s even lodged on the radar screens of some bloggers who pride themselves on being Desis (Des-sees), part of the Indian diaspora in America.
Here’s Sepia Mutiny on what the blog accomplishes: "I have to say that this blog makes for some very interesting, enjoyable reading. It’s clear from the writing and the photographs that Mahindra USA has sponsored a real-life, young family farmer from a deeply rural part of the country — southern Kentucky, about 60 miles from Knoxville, Tenn., as he develops his land and builds a home on it with the aid of his trusty Mahindra 6000 tractor.
Read a few entries … and you will get a rather compelling glimpse into family farming, and one that is quite forthright about the struggles that family farmers face in a country where agriculture is so heavily controlled by large corporate interests. Joel… is a sympathetic character and a frank writer, and seems quite sincere in his affection for his Mahindra tractor."
And what it means to Indians: "It’s worth getting your tractor geek on and poking around this site to hear perspectives — not just on tractors, but on the farming life — that y’all city macacas don’t usually get to hear. It’s also noteworthy how easily an Indian brand has spread in this salt-of-the-earth, so-called “redneck” community, while resentment against desis grows in the suburban office parks of the nation."
For me, the most intriguing thing about what Combs has accomplished is how duplicable it is. (BTW, in saying this I'm not belittling what he's accomplished. He's obviously gotten the enough pros' kudos for you to see that he's taken this thing to a level not often seen for this type of blog. But even if others can't do this as well as Combs, they can still do it.) The essential ingredients are:
1. Average, every day Joes (or Janes) who can write well and love Appalachian living.
2. Appalachian farm space.
3. A blog.
4. A nice family backdrop.
5. The passion and interest in putting them all together to market a product or service.
Entrepreneurial coaches helping clients with family based products should take note: Aside from the skill in writing and the passion and interest for blogging, all of the above are present in spades in Appalachia. As for the writing and blogging, these are skills that can be taught to creative people, another area where we’re blessed in the mountains.
Combs deserves credit for what he’s accomplished here. Not just because he’s helping sell Indian tractors from Appalachian Kentucky, but because he’s selling Appalachian Life in the process.
Here’s how the connection works:
First, you take the company, Mahindra, an Indian corporation and one of the top three tractor sellers in the world; a company intent on expanding its market share here in the U.S. market.
Next, you have the medium: the internet and blogging. With corporate blogging being touted as absolutely essential for businesses of all stripes, Mahindra saw an opportunity to blog about their product. But who would run it and how?
That’s where Pine Knot comes in. You see, the company decided to find an above average, Average Joe who loves to use your prod, has good writing skills, and is willing to put them to use hawking your wares. And it just so happens that Mahindra found that average Joe (actually Joel) in Pine Knot, the home of one Joel Combs, a jack-of-all-trades chicken farmer whose preferred tool is his trusty Mahindra Tractor. Pine Knot, located in southern McCreary County, is known more for mining and logging than commercial farming, but an evangelist is an evangelist, wherever he lives. What’s more, the region may not offer large tracts of farmland, but its land is relatively unspoiled, free of sprawl and enjoys a respite from some of the hot button issue affecting other American farms, like migrant workers and corporate farming.
Mix all the above ingredients together and… presto; you get the blog Life of a Farm. Life of a Farm has received some incredible reviews on the web, mostly from corporate blog critics who rave about what Mahindra and Combs have accomplished.
Here’s Salon.com:
The title: “170 Acres and an Indian Tractor” (An obvious play off the old post-Civil war phrase: 40 acres and a Mule... I love it!)
On Combs’ writing: “[A]fter scanning a year's worth of postings looking for nuggets … I am forced to admit that, unexpectedly, I kind of like [Combs]. Either this is a masterpiece of creative writing, or Joel Combs is a real guy with a pretty real life.”
On mixing marketing with real life observations: “the most perfect mixture of flat-out commercial on-message marketing and real-life co-parenting woes I think I've ever seen.”
And here’s The Viral Garden , a blog by a marketing guru about corporate blogs:
On Combs’ blogging style: "For the most part, Combs' posts detail his daily work on his farm, including the projects that he is undertaking, many of which are aided by his use of Mahindra products. But he also keeps his readers up to date on other topics such as the Kentucky weather, and the progress that his children are making in school. But above all else, the content is focused on his life on his farm, and its content that appears to be resonating with the blog's readers. The blog also pulls pictures from a Flickr account, and Combs does a nice job showing not only Mahindra products in action, but also what his life is like on his farm. The post formatting and structure isn't always perfect, but I think that is almost a plus, because it comes across as being authentic. Combs isn't a blogger writing about life on a farm, he is a farmer blogging about his life."
On Combs’ readers: "Life of a Farm Blog has one of the more active comment sections I've seen on a company blog. In fact, it has a perfect example of a community on a blog. Combs' does a great job of replying to almost every comment left, and is very warm and friendly in doing so. You can also tell that the blog's readers have great empathy for Combs, as most make a point to either relate their own experiences on their own farms or attempt to help Combs' better complete his current projects. It might be a stretch to say that Life of a Farm Blog's readers are devoted to Combs, but it's obvious that they are quite fond of him, and his responses make it obvious that he greatly appreciates their comments."
The blog’s even lodged on the radar screens of some bloggers who pride themselves on being Desis (Des-sees), part of the Indian diaspora in America.
Here’s Sepia Mutiny on what the blog accomplishes: "I have to say that this blog makes for some very interesting, enjoyable reading. It’s clear from the writing and the photographs that Mahindra USA has sponsored a real-life, young family farmer from a deeply rural part of the country — southern Kentucky, about 60 miles from Knoxville, Tenn., as he develops his land and builds a home on it with the aid of his trusty Mahindra 6000 tractor.
Read a few entries … and you will get a rather compelling glimpse into family farming, and one that is quite forthright about the struggles that family farmers face in a country where agriculture is so heavily controlled by large corporate interests. Joel… is a sympathetic character and a frank writer, and seems quite sincere in his affection for his Mahindra tractor."
And what it means to Indians: "It’s worth getting your tractor geek on and poking around this site to hear perspectives — not just on tractors, but on the farming life — that y’all city macacas don’t usually get to hear. It’s also noteworthy how easily an Indian brand has spread in this salt-of-the-earth, so-called “redneck” community, while resentment against desis grows in the suburban office parks of the nation."
For me, the most intriguing thing about what Combs has accomplished is how duplicable it is. (BTW, in saying this I'm not belittling what he's accomplished. He's obviously gotten the enough pros' kudos for you to see that he's taken this thing to a level not often seen for this type of blog. But even if others can't do this as well as Combs, they can still do it.) The essential ingredients are:
1. Average, every day Joes (or Janes) who can write well and love Appalachian living.
2. Appalachian farm space.
3. A blog.
4. A nice family backdrop.
5. The passion and interest in putting them all together to market a product or service.
Entrepreneurial coaches helping clients with family based products should take note: Aside from the skill in writing and the passion and interest for blogging, all of the above are present in spades in Appalachia. As for the writing and blogging, these are skills that can be taught to creative people, another area where we’re blessed in the mountains.
Combs deserves credit for what he’s accomplished here. Not just because he’s helping sell Indian tractors from Appalachian Kentucky, but because he’s selling Appalachian Life in the process.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
African American Women Hit Glass Ceiling, Turn to Entrepreneurship
African American women often hit a glass ceiling in the corporate world. Now, many are turning to entrepreneurship as a way to move up. CBS News had the story yesterday (Tuesday, June 17th) and they use the word “entrepreneur” more times than I’ve ever heard any mainstream news org use it in the past.
Here’s the video:
When you think about it, the same reason that entrepreneurship appeals to these women- i.e. a basic lack of opportunity in the traditional workforce- is present in spades in rural communities as well.
Here’s the video:
When you think about it, the same reason that entrepreneurship appeals to these women- i.e. a basic lack of opportunity in the traditional workforce- is present in spades in rural communities as well.
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