by Management
Other posts: admin (3)

This website is the beginning of a push to revive efforts that started with the Chamber’s Retailers Group. The Retailers Group was setup to encourage area business to share ideas and participate in joint marketing efforts. Interest in the group dwindled over the last year and the group was disbanded in February 2008.

The near term goal is to build upon an idea Renee Porada offered up to the group’s mailing list. Folks can post their specials, announcements and events on here.

In addition, this effort should expand to include broader efforts and a broader base. Particularly, I’d like to see this website become a repository of knowledge so new businesses can search the site and find information that might otherwise require months to find.

Anone who has gotten business off the ground knows how much we’re shooting in the dark those early days. If we can shine some light for others to follow, it is our obligation to do so with the means we have. The means I have includes building user-driven websites. And here is my effort to get that going.

As to questions that naturally arise…

First, this is not a function of the Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce. This site is operated on a server owned by Pro Content and Design, a sole property operated out of Punxsutawney, PA by John Crawford (aka “me”).

Second, I am operating it off the PunxsyPage website because the effort resembles some of the earlier efforts I tried to promote with that website. Although that site has a tendency to lapse into being a free classifieds website, I have always wanted it to offer a resource for area businesses. While PunxsyPage is, and will remain, a side project, it is robust enough to be a resource if others are willing to take advantage of it.

Third, I want ideas. I’ll defend your stupidest idea before I’ll tolerate it being put down without good cause. The conversation and the ideas matter most.

Fourth, I am a full supporter of naked self-promotion. I never liked doing sales pitches, but business moves on the back of marketing. If you don’t like naked self-promotion, you are welcome to build a time machine and refight the outcome of the Cold War.

Fifth, check an adversarial attitudes you have toward others here. 98% of all human conflicts can be resolved if you keep talking. If you have a problem with someone, be human about it. You’ll be surprised the results you get, even in the most vicious dispute.

Down at the bottom you will see a red link to “Post a Comment”.

Don’t just post topics. Respond to the discussion. Ask questions about the topics others post. Interact.

That’s what I got. It’s time to find out if this is a good idea, or if I just built my own personal echo chamber.

That’s the cool thing about America: the right to fail. It means a lot. I don’t want folks on here to be afraid of failing. Don’t be afraid of looking dumb. Don’t be afraid to be out of your element. And while you’re at it, don’t be afraid to listen.

Let’s see what we got here. The comments section is open.