Newest articles and comments on The Sacramento Press written by Scott Eggert

Scott Eggert on "Is it time to get on with it?"

2011-02-08T14:52:20Z

Great insights Andrew. I appreciate that you have offered some measured steps for business owners to begin plotting their way in the new economy.

Scott Eggert on "Fair Oaks Theatre Festival's 'Charlie Brown' will roll on"

2010-08-13T06:15:22Z

Thanks Barry for featuring a story about the less heard of Fair Oaks Theatre Festival. My wife and I took in an enjoyable night recently in the Village that involved a show. The quaintness of the Village and the intimate theater make for a great combination. I am glad to see them get some attention.

Scott Eggert on "Social Media Helps Sacramento Art Scene"

2010-07-19T22:49:18Z

Great write up Jane. These panelist should provide us with a unique angle on how social media is changing the way art is created, promoted, sold, and celebrated.

Scott Eggert on "Third Saturday"

2010-07-18T21:31:15Z

Thanks for sharing this David. My wife and I enjoy when we can take in the great Second Saturday festivities in midtown. I had no idea that this great Third Saturday events were being organized. Let's make every day a great day to visit Sacramento! Great Job Adam Saake and TAIS. What a great way to treat local Sacramento small businesses to some great exposure.

Scott Eggert on "Cultivating a healthy comment ecosystem"

2010-06-24T19:52:21Z

I applaud the Sacramento Press in it's continued efforts to improve itself as a platform for ALL who wish to be heard and to listen to others in the community. As a occasional writer and commenter on the site, I am impressed by your continued efforts to improve accessibility to the conversation, as well as the quality of the conversation itself. It can be a painstaking process, especially when you have the likes of those who piss on your writings under the pseudonym of dead presidents. What happened to Bbbmer is a bummer. Perhaps he/ she can refine their habits and return as a more responsible community member. Cheers to you Geoff for making yourself the scapegoat and openly publishing the actions of the site. We will continue to watch and hold accountable as you all proceed with your refining process. Thank you for your gift to the community.

Lessons from Companies Hit Hard by the Recession

2010-05-24T21:08:14Z

On Friday I had the opportunity to attend the Structures 2010 event hosted by the Sacramento Business Journal. I have come to enjoy attending the periodic varied themed events hosted by the BizJournal as they attract a generous mix of professionals. Friday’s event however was of particular interest. In recent years the event has celebrated local accomplishments in the building industry, sometimes highlighting developments in green building or public-private partnerships. This year however the BizJournal chose a more dour topic, the recession. Gone were the cavalier attitudes of “sitting out the recession” present at many business events. The panel assembled by the BizJournal was transparent and candid about the realities that face their industry and their individual companies. Of the architectural and construction firms represented neither was experiencing revenues half of what they experienced at their peaks in 2007. These businesses had some sobering advice that I think should resonate with any Sacramento Area business.

The local firms present where Carlton Engineering, represented by President Alan Carlton; Williams Paddon Architects and Planners represented by President Jim Williams. Also present was Tony Cooper, Founding partner of Shirlaws USA and Dennis Raymond, Principal at Raymond Business Advisors. Tony Cooper has acted as an advisor to companies struggling to survive the recession similar to Dennis Raymond who consults area businesses but also had the distinction of having worked for Irwin Union Bank which was liquidated by the FDIC in September of 2009. The topics covered by the panel ranged from the affects of a changing workforce on design to the future of the local economy and the effect on the shape of business.

The Economy – Is there an end in sight?
All of the panelists had realistic expectations regarding the economy. They all agreed that the peak economy was not only a realistic goal, but undesirable. Should production soon return to those levels, it would surely result in another collapse. Jim Williams comment was that the construction industry would “achieve stability when the industry looses capacity”. Under current conditions there are simply too many competitors in order to profitably divide the small amount of business. It is an uncomfortable reality across several local industries that in order to succeed some companies simply need to give up and find other industries or niches to compete in.
As for how the companies have managed to keep the right talent there was a surprising consensus regarding staffing. While Raymond commented that “people, innovation, and leadership are always good investments”, the entire panel agreed with Tony Cooper, “that when it comes to cutting employees, attitude comes before talent”. This can certainly be an unnerving reality for any worker who clings to specialty training or workplace skills for their future in the workplace.

The Evolution of the Workplace
Most professionals can point to evolution in the workplace. Gen-Y brings a new perspective and expectations just as technology has made telecommuting full or part time a reality for many organizations. Rarely do you hear somebody articulate so coherently and insightfully about the future of the workforce and it’s affect on workplace design. Jim Williams of William Paddon Architects and Planners offered just that. As companies seek ways to remain lean in real-estate coming out of the recession greater innovation in how the workforce gathers and interacts is going to be required. During one question Jim remarked that in many work places we go to our cubicles and “spend about half of our time emailing each other”. Jim obviously has some forward thinking notions of tomorrows work environment. His vision includes environments where “gathering places are going to be more important”, where workforces come together “to create the mission and the energy” that makes a company run.

Advice for Struggling Businesses
There are many companies and organizations still struggling through the economy. Nowhere to be found was any lifeline that things will be easy anytime soon. So what should a business be doing to make it? Jim Williams recommend that you ask yourself one simple question: “If you were going to start your business over again, would you do it like you are doing it right now?” The panelist’s comments reflected their openness, or perhaps the necessity, to consider measures they never before would have. For instance, Jim Carlton who for 27 years swore that a live person would always answer the company phone switched to an automated reception platform. Consultant Tony Cooper piled on with his comments that “you don’t go into a business to help old models work” and “if you’re working the model that lead you to success 5 years ago, you are going to whither on the vine”.

The panelists for the Structures 2010 event were speaking in regards to the beleaguered Sacramento construction industry. While construction is one of our heaviest hit industries, the panelists touched on some wisdom that applies across several of our regional industries.

If I had to highlight the overarching themes that effect local businesses it would be:

Practice Organizational Openness – Employee job descriptions should be more varied than ever. Everybody becomes a cost saver and innovator. Create lines of communication that breach traditional hierarchies.
Slaughter Sacred Cows- Holding to traditional business conventions may be keeping your organization from making necessary cuts.
Get Real – Do not waste time waiting for better markets to return. Build your business around today’s realities.

What lessons have you learned from your industry? What advice do you have for local businesses?

Scott Eggert on "Why I Donate Blood "

2010-05-01T18:45:58Z

BloodSource is a first rate organization. I myself was hospitalized for surgery late last year. While I did not receive any blood during my emergency procedure, it would have never crossed my mind that it may not be available. This is because of the diligence of the folks at BloodSource. They collect blood all throughout the Central Valley and supply units and plasma not only to area residents, but to other major cities that have shortages, and to troops overseas. For about an hour of your time you really can save 3 lives. Thank you for your story Emily.

Scott Eggert on "A Celebrity Chef With No Kitchen"

2010-04-22T05:18:19Z

Thank you Lesley. Not always when you get to meet people for these events are they as charming as Kristy. She has a wonderful story and it was a pleasure to get to meet her and share it with the Sacramento Press readers.

A Celebrity Chef With No Kitchen

2010-04-21T22:26:59Z

On April 30th the InAlliance, a local non-profit serving the developmentally disabled, is holding its 8 th Annual Celebrity Chef Challenge. The event is a no-holds-barred, Iron Chef-esque competition of the best known Sacramento area chefs and restaurants.

While looking over the list of entrants there was a single standout competitor: Cakegrrl. While the name might sound more like an online identity than a chef, Cakegrrl is no stranger to the Sacramento food scene. When she visited Sacramento for a single day in 2003, it was love at first sight, and since moving here in 2004 Cakegrrl (also known as Kristy Devaney) has been a big hit both online and off. A chronic blogger who posts recipes, restaurant reviews, and current events stories, Kristy has become a fixture in Sacramento’s virtual landscape and at local charity events.

What is so different and interesting about Kristy? For starters, she’s not actually a Chef. This celebrity of Sacramento cuisine is a 12 year veteran of the graphic design industry who took an interest in food writing several years ago, and the rest is history.

After moving to Sacramento Kristy found that blogging was a way to fit in her social circle; as she puts it, “If you hung out with people who fish, you’d probably take up fishing.” Her writing was initially centered on the everyday events of her and her friends’ lives, the personal drama and introspection that fuels the blogosphere and builds followings. After about a year of blogging Kristy took a look back over her writing and found a common theme interwoven among all of the drama and silliness of her writing: Food.

The prodding of other prominent local food bloggers Elise Bauer of Simply Recipes and Garrett McCord of Vanilla Garlic encouraged Kristy to convert her blog into a food-centric site. She removed any previous posts that where off topic or contained information she did not want to present to wider audience and refocused her efforts on food. “I did not want a history of things I was not proud of… when I had an audience of ten that was one thing, but I did not want that out there for everybody.”

One of Kristy’s most prominent employers in the Sacramento area was Senior Magazine. While working on a variety of aspects for the publication she also began writing some food features. Her consistent writing both in print and on her blog lead to invitations to local events and venues. After her work with Senior Magazine came to an end, Kristy maintained her blogging and the invitations continued.

Having turned a passion for food into a disciplined endeavor to participate in and contribute to the local restaurant scene, she earned the trust of local readers and restaurateurs who rely on her fair and even-handed reviews. She parlayed this trust into greater participation with local non-profit events that benefit a broad range of causes.

Kristy says that many people mistake her for a caterer or a cake baker. While she does bake for special events on occasion, her core interest when it comes to food is promoting restaurants in the Sacramento area through her blog and participating in non-profit events and causes.

Cakegrrl has a unique story, and her strange journey to Food Celebrity status continues: she will be the only non-professional chef participating in next week’s Celebrity Chef Challenge. Though she may be a dark horse of sorts, she will not be unsupported. Many of her regular readers will be forking over the $50 entrance fee to get a shot at watching her compete.

So what will she be preparing? The competitors will have 45 minutes to prepare 3 dishes with 5 unknown ingredients. With a list of available pantry items and a handful of spice blends and signature ingredients the contestants are allowed to bring, the contest will no doubt result in some interesting creations. At the time of our conversation she still had no idea what to expect.

You can find Cakegrrl on Friday night April the 30th at the California Automobile Museum with the rest of Sacramento’s elite competing in the InAlliance Celbrity Chef Challenge, or any other day of the week online at Cakegrrl.com.

Have you read Cakegrrl? Who has your ear when it comes to shopping and eating in Sacramento? Are there bloggers that similarly get you excited about patronizing local small businesses? Leave us your insights in the comments.

Photos supplied by and used with permission of Cakegrrl.

Scott Eggert on "Illegal Signs Removed, Guerrilla style."

2010-04-19T14:30:34Z

Xavier. Thank you for your inspiring piece. There are many once beautiful parts of our town that merely require a passionate few to take notice and help to restore some neighborhood pride. Way to lea the movement. Sacramento will be a better city for it.

Scott Eggert on "Businesses hope to hold steady in 2010"

2010-01-23T06:17:13Z

Great profiles Suzanne. It's always good to get a pulse on the local small businesses that are working to keep our local economy afloat! I enjoy hearing how these small businesses find innovative ways to cut cost, provide better service, or to increase customer loyalty. The businesses you have profiled represent some great niches that I hope continue to find ways to thrive through the difficult economy.

Scott Eggert on "Focus on Social Media and Your Business Could Miss the Mark"

2009-12-15T18:28:46Z

Mark, you are correct that user / subscriber counts can be extremely mis-leading. Utilizing statistics from Pew and Nielsen as well as monthly traffic figures can help to paint a more accurate picture of a site's popularity / relevance. I would be interested in whether there are any businesses which you enjoy interacting with through social media, and how that affects your buying habits with those businesses. This is the heart of the article, how do we convert virtual interactions into in-person transactions for local small businesses? Any ideas?

Scott Eggert on "Ask the Readers... What do you want from local small businesses on social media?"

2009-12-15T15:15:41Z

Lesley, I would be interested in any anecdotal stories about how social media has been of help to some of your customers. I enjoyed your participation in the recent Social Media Club panel on social media for non-profit organizations. Your organizations contribution to a few of the participating non-profits was clear.

Scott Eggert on "Focus on Social Media and Your Business Could Miss the Mark"

2009-12-15T15:08:45Z

Ben, correct that the Survey was on the use of status updates. These statistics represented the more avid users of these services, rather than the inflated number of people who have a profile but rarely log in or utilize the service.

Scott Eggert on "Focus on Social Media and Your Business Could Miss the Mark"

2009-12-15T15:07:45Z

Thanks Colleen. I will have to check out the Cakegrrl. I always like to see who is doing well and how they do it.

Focus on Social Media and Your Business Could Miss the Mark

2009-12-14T22:24:18Z

If you have been reading about communication and marketing tools over the past couple of years you are aware of the proliferation of new devices and platforms for marketing to and establishing community with existing and prospective customers. Studies continue to show that growing numbers of people are adopting the use of social networking and micro-blogging platforms for personal use and to “follow” or “fan” their favorite businesses. Social media will continue to grow and offer businesses perhaps the greatest value in time and investment to reach customers and successfully track the results of their efforts. Read this: your business needs a presence in social media.

As growing numbers of consumers and the businesses looking for their attention continue to migrate to online interactions there are some important thing for small businesses to keep in mind.

A significant portion of the population is not participating in social media

Our tendency as small business owners is to play to the crowd, appeal to the masses. Utilizing online tools whether they be social networking, a website, or an e-newsletter provides you with the ability to observe and track the response to your efforts. However, consider these statistics:

The following are those adults that participate in social media with a status update service:

37% of 18 to 24 year olds

31% of 25 to 34 year olds

20% of 35 to 44 year olds

Pew Research on Internet and the American Life August 18 – September 14 2009

While these are certainly some impressive numbers, it is not quite yet a majority of adults. As more businesses vie for the attention of these adults the online marketplace will grow more and more saturated and will require a more astute business owner. Consider the results of 50 percent of small businesses marketing to 40 percent of the adult online consumers (statistics regarding SMBs online from Internet2go and Merchant Circle study HERE).

Here are some tips for business utilizing social media:

Seek interactions that will drive foot traffic

This is likely an obvious tip, but necessary nonetheless. Networking and marketing online can lead to a great deal of interactive business. It is important to consider how through the use of interesting promotions or partnership you can bring people to your site. This could easily be accomplished through the hosting of a community event. Businesses are encouraged to make their space hospitable to community groups for gatherings. Recently I attended a panel discussion hosted by the SacPress at the Urban Hive. The Urban Hive has been a regular host for such events which helps make it a continually convenient location for freelance, creative, and solopreneur types looking for a collegial work environment. I would also point out the wisdom of the Sacramento Press utilizing other communal spaces for their events.

Another local business, Bella Fiore florist in Fair Oaks, recently had an in store contest that resulted in an online drawing. Guests who attended their recent artist showing during 2nd Saturday looked to an online announcement for the winner. A reverse of this would also be advised- have online submissions for an in-person drawing (must be present to win). Businesses would be advised to engage in these types of promotions that endeavor to create real world interactions.

Meet the people that you network with online – offline.

Social networking presents a variety of opportunities to interact with other business owner / managers. These relationships can be valuable as you consider opportunities for partnerships and cross promotion. Look for community events, trade associations, or affinity groups where you have the opportunity to meet these potential partners in person. Later this week I will be looking forward to an event co-hosted by the Sacramento Social Media Club and SacTweetUp. The annual holiday party, the HoliTweetup hosted at the Park Ultra Lounge (props to another small business opening its doors to community groups) will be an opportunity for professionals whose primary connections exist online to network in a personal environment.

Find unique ways to establish community with offline customers.

Remember all of those customers that are not engaged online. Customers who are not engaged online can often feel alienated if they are left out. Activities and promotions aimed at interacting with customers in a more traditional fashion can help your business build loyalty amongst these customers. This can be an important part of engaging customers in the way of their choosing. If you have customers that take business updates online, that is where you should make them available. Similarly, be sure you continue to cater to customers who may be more comfortable with collateral materials and the occasional mailer.

Have any other ideas about how businesses can target non-internet customers? Who do you see doing a great job at mixing their online with real world interactions? Name some names.

Ask the Readers... What do you want from local small businesses on social media?

2009-12-04T22:24:33Z

There have been recent reports online regarding the use of social media by small businesses. As fast as social media has gained in popularity, businesses have expanded their use of it. It appears as though most social media users are okay with this.

Many businesses have given it a try while others have found too difficult a platform. Some local perspective about Sacramento Press readers and thieir expectations on social media would be valuable to the local business community. Please, share your perspective with us.

What do you like from the small businesses you follow?

Who locally is doing a great job using social networking?

What advice do you have for those considering getting into the game?

Perhaps you dislike businesses butting into your social life. Tell us about that too.

Bankers to Replace Lawyers in Lab Experiments

2009-12-01T21:30:14Z

You have likely heard the old joke that lab rats are being replaced by lawyers because the lab workers do not get emotionally attached to lawyers. Or the one about a thousand lawyers being chained together at the bottom of the ocean being a “good start”. As these jokes (and the hundreds of others) show, lawyers have a bad reputation. Personally, I have never had the need for one and only know a few, and I have worked pretty hard at maintaining the status quo on both of those points. It seemed to me that lawyers are for people who live near secret toxic waste dumpsites.

Recently, my work helping small businesses with marketing led me to a local Law Firm and Real Estate company where I’ve learned several things (including the fact that there is such a thing as a combination Law Firm/Real Estate company, and that combining those services is a huge benefit to their clients- more on that later).

The people I met there are well aware of the reputation Lawyers have; working with them I quickly picked up on the company jargon that “nobody likes a lawyer until they need one”. With the recent happenings in the Real Estate market, there’s not a whole lot of popularity on that front, either. I have always advocated integrity and personal responsibility, which I feared would not mesh well in a Law Office. I kept these thoughts to myself and focused on my responsibilities, to build awareness of their services and to market a loan modification program.

Surprisingly, I discovered a deep seeded passion in the Attorney and his staff. Ted Greene, the owner and Attorney, is an affable but direct communicator. In one intense conversation with Ted four days into my work he stopped me and said, “You don’t talk to these people. You don’t understand the fear and hopelessness that these people feel. They want assurance, they want an advocate, to speak with an Attorney who knows the law.” I was taken aback and humbled at his perspective and his passion for the distressed home owners that his company had been serving. Integrity and responsibility in a Law office? The list of things I was learning continued to grow.

Every day that I work with the law office I encounter another story of distressed home owners in desperate need of help. These stories have forced me to re-examine another long-held belief. I consider myself to be a savvy consumer and I’ve long followed conventional consumer wisdom, which made me wonder: Why do these people think they need us? Everybody should know that they can do their own loan modification. Call your bank, fill out some paperwork, and get a loan mod. Anybody who has taken in an afternoon of Clark Howard could tell you that. Besides, the larger banks are receiving government money to help us all out of this mess and it only stands to reason that they’d rather agree to a lower house payment that can be paid every month than get nothing, right? Somehow this has proved not to be the case for many people. My conventional wisdom is not serving me well.

The clients at UpsideDownCA.com, the joint venture of Ted Greene Law Offices and JCL Realty, are not lazy people who can’t fill out forms. They have tried all of the options available to them and they have nowhere left to turn. Many are home owners who have already been denied their modifications. Some have come home to trustee sale notices posted on their front door after never hearing from their lenders. Others have had their paperwork lost by the bank or have received rejections despite overwhelming hardships. All of these customers received reprieve through the services of UpsideDownCA.

Working with this team has been an incredible experience- fulfilling, even, to earn a living while helping people who are saving their homes. They might not be doing the work that is typically thought of as community service, like feeding the hungry or giving toys to needy kids. No movies will be made featuring the team at UpsideDownCA.com. Still, I do think that this team is doing some pretty heroic work. There are dozens of families who will go to bed tonight in their house because UpsideDownCA went to bat for them. It feels good to be a part of that.

I’ve also been thinking about the lenders who are refusing service to the under-employed, the furloughed State workers, and the suddenly single-income households. I believe that they are doing our society an extreme disservice, and I’m not alone in noticing. People have a long memory for companies who turned a blind eye to the needs of their customers. Maybe it’ll be the bankers offered up for lab experiments in the coming days. Lest the employees of these companies wish to become the butt of longstanding jokes, I hope they take heed and change their tune.

And remember- you never know. Next time you meet a lawyer, they may turn out to be one of the good guys.

* Photo from above - “Furlough Friday” – 12:30pm – taken by Josh Bruno at the corner of 5th Street & Q Street just a few blocks from the Law Offices of Ted Greene.

Scott Eggert on "Thankful for the 2009 Appetite Enhancement Bike Ride"

2009-11-27T16:11:02Z

Wow. What fun. I would love to have done something like this. My family did participate in the Run to Feed the Hungry, but I was thinking the best way to get out of there was on bike. I wish I knew more about the Underground Parade, but of course then it would not be very underground. Thank you Elisa however for introducing me to a couple of wonderful local charities. I will definitely be paying more attention the the Sacramento Bike Kitchen.

Scott Eggert on "3 Winning Strategies for Sacramento Area Small Businesses"

2009-11-24T15:58:36Z

savemidtown, I like your thinking. Especially in those areas you have cited where an ever increasing percentage of the patrons are from the neighborhood, it is advisable even more so that the owners engage the community. That is in fact why we locate businesses in these areas is it not? Owners that neglect the community in which they live not only miss out on a great opportunity, but actually do great harm to their bottom line. As you have pointed out, people notice.

3 Winning Strategies for Sacramento Area Small Businesses

2009-11-21T23:54:04Z

The Wall Street Journal featured a story recently that held some tremendous promise for Sacramento Area small businesses. The article titled “Three Best Ways to Win Community Support” outlines the some opportunities that small businesses can create or take advantage of. I think these are particularly ripe for those businesses around the Sacramento community.

First off, a recent trend in small business marketing has been to develop community around your products and services. Community is where loyalty comes from. It is why we have newsletters, a social networking presence, and why we all wish there was a bar where everybody knew our name. These tips will help you further to engage your customer outside the confines of your primary place of business.

The articles first recommendation was to hold a contest or event with local flair. Being a New York paper they pointed to the Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest. Sacramento has an active community. This week my wife has our family signed up to participate in the annual Run to Feed the Hungry. The event is sponsored by numerous local and nationally franchised businesses and is a fundraiser for the Sacramento Food Bank. This is a great example of participating in events with local flair. My favorite new pizza spot in Sacramento is Hot Italian. As a fan on Facebook and recipient of their weekly emails I know that they participate in a lunch hour concerts held in the Freemont Park across the street. Another example may be a Second Saturday event. Monthly these events are hosted all over Sacramento with particular fervor in the Midtown area as well as some Suburban locations like the Fair Oaks Village. People who attend these events often are a good source of repeat business.

The second recommendation: Team up with other local businesses, especially those with complementary products. Every business is looking for that perfect partner. We often forget how teamwork works. One customer of mine is a local Max Muscle. The owner selected a site two doors down from a sports footwear store and shares the shopping center with a soccer supply store. Shortly after moving in the footwear store began to sell sports supplements. Now instead of stores working together to build a successful shopping center they are taking an isolationist approach. Why not offer complimentary products from other local businesses in your store. When local businesses win, we all win. A common mistake of marketing is also that it is done in sort of a self congratulatory manner. Working in community helps us to avoid this pitfall. It turns out that customers listen far more when we begin to talk about others. Find some complimentary businesses to partner with. Generate some conversation about each other. Begin a movement together! And that brings us to recommendation number three.

Join or start a grassroots business alliance. The Midtown Grid is a fantastic example of a business alliance in Sacramento. With a dedicated website at MidtownGrid.com these business has joined together in a variety of campaigns for mutual beneficial causes. One in particular is the Green The Grid initiative. When businesses set aside their own well being and put the community first they will experience the same in return.

I believe that most people want to shop local. Given the option of supporting a local business or not, I think there is a strong desire to participate in supporting a local economy. Show your community that your feel the same. Be a business that contributes to the community and see if the community does not give right on back. So host some parties, build some partnerships, and participate in a movement.

I am sure I have missed some well behaving local examples. What Sacramento Area business have you seen using these principles to better the community and grow their businesses? Please, include a link.