Ghosting is not just for Halloween and lousy dates anymore
Upper Valley Business Alliance director Recently, I was planning an event with a speaker. I had reached out to a professional about being the speaker via email and the person agreed to speak on the topic. However, when I emailed them a couple weeks later to confirm details and ask some questions … nothing. I received no reply. After a couple days, I tried again and still did not receive a reply. Then I emailed another person at the...
Communication’s carbon footprint
Vital Communities Communications Manager Everything a business does or produces — its goods and services — has a carbon footprint. And so do the words and images that describe those goods and services, including the business’ marketing and communications. Granted, the footprint of telling people about your medical services, baking products or manufacturing equipment is nowhere near as great as the footprint of providing those services...
The endurance of printed posters
Valley News Staff Writer/Enterprise Editor To say that social media has changed the nature of events promotion would be an understatement. People often turn to Facebook, Instagram and other forms of digital communication to learn about what’s happening in their communities.But that doesn’t mean that other more traditional forms still don’t have an impact, according to three Upper Valley arts organizations. Posters, for example, still...
Brands that wear well
Some fashion apparel never goes out of style. The versatile, simple T-shirt has been around for decades and is as popular today as it ever was, especially since printing processes have become more advanced. It seems there is no limit to T-shirt messaging: Advertise a business, outfit employees, celebrate a family reunion, honor a loved one at a charity walk, cherish memories from summer camp, express outrage, humor, sarcasm or just...
‘It is a captive audience’
Valley News Correspondent The instant, cost effective and far reaching impact of internet advertising, including websites and social media platforms, have dramatically affected traditional advertising revenues — but not in all sectors.The simple sign, used for centuries whether on a storefront or by the road, still remains an effective way of reaching customers, even as digital advertising and all its 21st century applications that...
Want to create a beautiful home? Don’t rush the design process
The Washington PostIf television shows have you convinced that a magazine-ready home can be achieved in a snap, professional designers will quickly rid you of that idea. “There is this fantasy of an HGTV-style reveal, walking into a home that’s 100% done — either by you or a decorator — but in reality, that happens for very few,” says Colleen Simonds, a designer based in Pittsburgh.And, really, who wants a space that looks as if it...
Tales from the kitchen table
Executive director of the Upper Valley Business Alliance According to the US Census Bureau, 2021 was a record year for the number of new businesses registered — 5.4 million — which beat the previous record in 2020 of 4.4 million. Job losses and a lot of time at home over the last two years have created a surge in people who decided to take the leap and start the business they had dreamed of doing. Many of these businesses are...
How to keep kitchens, bathrooms clean
Valley News Correspondent Kitchens and bathrooms, whether brand new or several years old, are no doubt the hardest rooms in a house to keep clean given their frequent use. Homeowners with a newly remodeled kitchen or bathroom don’t think it could one day perhaps look like the one they just replaced. While that day may eventually arrive, a kitchen can remain looking new for years with some simple cleaning steps done on a daily basis...
Making the most of fresh, local food
For Vital Communities Whether coming from your own garden or nearby farm, locally grown, in-season food has greater flavor and nutritional value than food that’s shipped from afar or heavily processed. It can also impose a much smaller carbon footprint.So when designing a new kitchen or redesigning an existing one, it’s worth keeping in mind features that help you bring in fresh, local food and bring out the food scraps it...
