It Begins
Thu, 14th October, 2010
. . And so I shall blog. This might be deleted before our "grand opening" but I have to start somewhere, so I'll start here. At this stage our site is just barely under construction. I know what I need it to do in the end, but really have no clue how to get it there. Web sites just are not in my skill set. Once it is there we still have the problem of driving traffic to the site. How exactly do we get the word out about "Captain Cosmos Collectibles." There seems to be this myth that merely having a web-site will bring you success. Well I can certainly attest to the falsehood of that idea. No a web-site alone will not bring success. Nor will advertising, or the right product, or the ever so helpful location, location, location. All those things help, but don't do much good without the others.
The Internet almost negates the need for location. Now our store is right there in your home, or on the train, in your office, or even in your car. Though I beg you, please don't shop with us while your driving, that's not a good idea. We have what at one time would have been a fantastic location. We're downtown. Before the urban landscape changed with mall's, and Big Box stores, and bypasses, downtown was were the action was. There are photo's of regular days for downtown Winchester spanning decades, everyone of them shows a crowd of thousands. Every parking spot full, every shop teaming with customers, the sidewalks overflowing with life. Those days are gone. At least they are gone in small town America. Larger cities might not feel the same impact, Lexington, Kentucky, our closest, and largest neighbor has a thriving downtown. Perhaps not as thriving as it was in the 1950's, but business is good there. Here in downtown Winchester, Kentucky, just a half hours drive from downtown Lexington, things are more of a struggle. Businesses here worry about being open next month. Businesses here have to choose between the phone bill, or new stock.
Why?
Why has the traditional downtown been so thoroughly forgotten? Downtown's offer things that the Big Box stores just can't. First on that list is the personal touch. Most downtown businesses are family owned, and operated. They will get to know you over time. They will get to know what you need. Can the same be said at the Big Box where the check out girl rings up 2000 faces in a shift? Just yesterday I was talking with the owner of another business just down the street. Downtown Winchester recently did a promotion involving international flags, so a lot of businesses were suddenly in need of a flag pole. Well she got her's right across the street at the downtown hardware store, Bridges and Lane. Did it cost a little more than the Big Box stores? Yes, but the Big Box store's would never have installed it for free, or taken the time to make sure it worked for her. That's the sort of thing you get downtown.
The Internet almost negates the need for location. Now our store is right there in your home, or on the train, in your office, or even in your car. Though I beg you, please don't shop with us while your driving, that's not a good idea. We have what at one time would have been a fantastic location. We're downtown. Before the urban landscape changed with mall's, and Big Box stores, and bypasses, downtown was were the action was. There are photo's of regular days for downtown Winchester spanning decades, everyone of them shows a crowd of thousands. Every parking spot full, every shop teaming with customers, the sidewalks overflowing with life. Those days are gone. At least they are gone in small town America. Larger cities might not feel the same impact, Lexington, Kentucky, our closest, and largest neighbor has a thriving downtown. Perhaps not as thriving as it was in the 1950's, but business is good there. Here in downtown Winchester, Kentucky, just a half hours drive from downtown Lexington, things are more of a struggle. Businesses here worry about being open next month. Businesses here have to choose between the phone bill, or new stock.
Why?
Why has the traditional downtown been so thoroughly forgotten? Downtown's offer things that the Big Box stores just can't. First on that list is the personal touch. Most downtown businesses are family owned, and operated. They will get to know you over time. They will get to know what you need. Can the same be said at the Big Box where the check out girl rings up 2000 faces in a shift? Just yesterday I was talking with the owner of another business just down the street. Downtown Winchester recently did a promotion involving international flags, so a lot of businesses were suddenly in need of a flag pole. Well she got her's right across the street at the downtown hardware store, Bridges and Lane. Did it cost a little more than the Big Box stores? Yes, but the Big Box store's would never have installed it for free, or taken the time to make sure it worked for her. That's the sort of thing you get downtown.
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