Is your Business all washed up! Appearance is everything.

Ideas out of Flint, Michigan

I’m thinking it’s time now to take a look around the downtown area that I live in and see what needs to be spruced-up come “spring cleaning time“. I understand that sometimes when you live and work in an area for a while, that you tend to overlook some small repairs or clean-up. Yet, others that come to your town or place of business will notice and note the appearance.

Appearance is everything!

When people/customers come to your business what do they see? How does your building or store front look through their eyes? Sometime you have to step back and take it all in. It might be a good idea to take some photos of your own store front or office building and maybe even your neighbors’ businesses and buildings and play a little Sherlock Holmes game I call “What do I see and what’s really there”. It will surprise you once you see, what’s really is being seen.

Although, I normally write this blog as an overview of business practices, today I want to lead by example, by letting you in on a project we are working on in my new/old home town of Flint, Michigan.

“Wash down, Downtown“

Here’s a draft note and outline I’ve “scrubbed” to work in most any town or business area.

Neighbors,
We all are looking foreword to what spring will bring to downtown and we need to be looking good as others re-discover downtown, Flint.

As part of the newly formed Downtown Flint Loft Tenants I/we are committed to helping in anyway possible. This means we are willing to lend a helping hand in organizing and doing lite clean-up.

Many of the store/building fronts are in need of a good, spring cleaning. Maybe, together we can ask our downtown development association, downtown small business association and other community actions groups (like the local area Chamber of Commerce) to coordinate a “Wash down, Downtown“.

Project name
“Downtown Flint, Spring Cleaning Project”

Groups needed to get involved
Our local Downtown or Business Development Association
Community action groups (Not the talkers but the doers!)
Small Business Associations (Those businesses that surround yours)
Local neighborhood associations (They're always looking for projects to lend a hand to.)

Project (projected) date:
Saturday April 17th or Sunday April 18th
Time (TBD) 8am -12:00pm

Project goals:
Pick-up of trash (although DDA does a great job of keeping our streets’ clean there is a need to clean-up private properties with public access.)

Other available action to consider:
Window washing (Exterior)
Power spray washing of building fronts
Light repairs/paint to store fronts

Liability considerations. Private building fronts damaged due to action of clean up team.
Possible alterative action: Business owners’ permission and involvement in clean up of store fronts whereas clean up teams will volunteer labor in helping business owners in clean up.

Example: Exterior window washing. Working with Business owners’ permission and involvement clean-up teams will volunteer labor in helping business owners in clean up.
Example: Power washing of building fascia.
Working with local Development Association for power washing equipment, again with Business owners’ permission and involvement in clean up of store fronts whereas, clean-up teams will volunteer labor in helping business owners in clean up.
Example: Light repairs to store fronts. Again with Business owners’ permission and involvement in minor repairs or painting of store fronts whereas clean-up teams will volunteer labor in helping business owners in clean up.

Projected clean up area: (insert your own local area) Saginaw st. from River Front Park (Street area only at this time) south to Court street.
Other possible areas of clean up will be considered after manpower assessment, including (insert your local area) alleys parallel to Saginaw St. and streets parallel to Saginaw St.

Resources needed:
Tools: Rakes, brooms, trash pickers, garbage bags, electric cart (Transportation for team leaders). Other possible involvement to be considered: Power washer, window cleaning equipment.

Requested involvement: volunteers, printing of flyers and other advertising materials, newspaper press release and media coverage. Other possible involvement to be considered: store owners’ involvement in own store front clean up, donation of lunches for all clean up volunteers.

As you can see with the projected project date of April 17th or 18th this endeavor will need quick response from possible co-sponsors and are asked to confirm involvement no later than March 24th.

This project is self-evident of the commitment of the people living and working in the area, willingness to help build a vibrant, prosperous community.

Remember: We’re all in this together.

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe

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