The Building Blocks of Attracting Customers - Whether you're a Fortune 500 company or a one-person shop, to be successful, you must have a plan to attract customers and you must implement it consistently. However, it doesn't have to cost a fortune and you don't have to be a creative genius.

The key to attracting customers is developing a marketing strategy that forms a solid foundation for your promotional efforts, by implementing advertising, direct mail, social media and one-to-one sales efforts.

To develop a strong marketing foundation:

Define your product or service: How is your product or service packaged? What is it that your customers are really buying? You may be selling web-based software tools but your clients are buying increased productivity, improved efficiency and cost savings. What problem does your service solve? What need does your product meet? What want does it fulfill?

Identify your ideal customer: Everyone or anybody might be a potential client or customer for your product. However, you probably don't have the time or money to market to Everyone or Anybody. Who is your ideal customer? Who does it make sense for you to spend your time and money promoting your service or product to? For example: a massage therapist might decide her target market is a woman with a household income of $75,000 or more who lives in the Uptown area.

Differentiate yourself from the competition: Even if there are no direct competitors for your service, there is always competition of some kind. Something besides your product is competing for the potential customer's money. What is it and why should the potential customer spend his or her money with you instead? What is your competitive advantage or unique selling proposition?

Find a niche: Is there a customer group that is not currently being served or is not being served well? Are there customer wants that are not being met? A niche strategy allows you to focus your marketing efforts and dominate your market, even if you are a small player.

Develop awareness: It is difficult for a potential customer to buy your product or service if they don't even know or remember it exists. Generally a potential customer will have to be exposed to your product 5 to 15 times before they are likely to think of your product when the need arises. Needs often arise unexpectedly. You must stay in front of your clients and customers consistently if they are going to remember your product when that need arises.

Build credibility: Not only must clients be aware of your product or service, they also must have a positive disposition toward it. Potential customers must trust that you will deliver what you say you will. Often, especially with large or risky purchases, you need to give them the opportunity to sample, touch, or taste the product in some way.

Be Consistent: Be consistent in every way and in everything you do. This includes the look of your business, marketing materials, the message you deliver, the level of customer service, and the quality of the product. Being consistent is more important than having the best product. This in part is the reason for the success of chains. Whether you re going to Little Rock, Arkansas or New York City, if you reserve a room at a Courtyard Marriott you know exactly what you're going to get.

Maintain Focus: Focus allows for more effective utilization of the scarce resources of time and money. Your promotional budget will bring you greater return if you use it to promote a single product to a narrowly defined group of customers and if you promote that same product to that same customer group over a continuous period of time.

Before you develop marketing materials, run an ad, implement a direct mail campaign, join a networking group, start a Facebook page, add a Twitter or Pinterest account, ask yourself this question, Do I really know who my ideal customers are and not only what they need but also what they want?

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"I cannot give you a sure-fire formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody." Herbert B. Swope,  Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Barbara Wold
International Speaker, Author and Business Strategist
Global Retail, Consumer, Hospitality and Tourism Expert
Keynote Presentations -- Seminars & Workshops -- Retreats
Manager Meetings & Corporate Conferences
Downtown Revitalization, Recruitment & Merchant Retention

9795 Jefferson Parkway, Suite F1, Englewood, CO 80112 USA
+1.720.542.3055
bwold@ix.netcom.com
Barbara_Wold@comcast.net

The Hackettstown BID's Weekly news and information!! Click Here for the full web version!

Congratulations Centenary
College 2013 Graduates!

With Centenary Commencement tomorrow and HHS coming up quickly - remember to get your gift and make your reservations now!

It's not too late to get that unique gift for those special students in your lives. Not sure what to get? Give them a Gift Certificate from one of our unique shops.
Click here for the full
list of Shops in town!

Our fantastic restaurants are also taking reservations, though they are booking up fast!
Click here for the full
list of Eateries in town!

Save These Dates

Grand Opening - Fur Love of Pawz
Sat, May 25, 1pm - 2pm
229 Main Street
Join BID Director Jim Sheldon as he welcomes Sharon Spitz and Fur Love of Pawz to Hackettstown
Click Here for 'Fur Love of Pawz' website

Moore Street Market Opening Day
June 1, 2013 - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Moore Street betw. Main and Washington
Thank You HRMC for being the
2013 Market Sponsor!

Click Here to Register as a Vendor

Spring Fling Street Fair
June 16, 2013
Main Street betw. Plane & Grand
Click Here for Vendor Info

Summer Concert Series
July 10, 2013
Hometown Hardware
Featuring "The Kootz"

Restaurant Week
July 14-20

This Week in Hackettstown
Click on each event
for more info!

Hackettstown Soccer Club
Travel Soccer Tryouts
Sat, May 18, 2:30pm - 7:00pm
Hackettstown High School Turf Field

Health Care Reform
What Every Business Needs To Know
Wed, May 22, 8am - 12pm
Centenary College, The Lackland Center 715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown, NJ 07840

Centenary College
'Be A Hero' Honors Veterans
Thu, May 23, 10am - 12pm
Sitnik Theatre, David and Carol Lackland Center 715 Grand Ave.

Applebee's Teacher Appreciation
Happy Hour
Thu, May 23, 4pm - 7pm
Applebee's - 225 Mountain Ave

Our Full Community Event Calendar
and meeting schedule is
Available on our Web Page
www.hackettstownbid.com

To have an event added
please contact Wendy @
Staff@hackettstownbid.com
Please contact the Hackettstown
BID for more information
Hackettstown BID office 908-850-5004
Director@HackettstownBID.com
or Follow Us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/HackettstownBID

As the Moore Street Market prepares to open on June 1st, BID Director Jim Sheldon is pleased to report that the Hackettstown Regional Medical Center has stepped up as the Market's primary sponsor. "The connection between health and wellness and the availability of farm-fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat products makes it a natural fit for HRMC to sponsor the Moore Street Market," said Sheldon.

The Market will continue to be located on Moore Street at the Main Street Gazebo every Saturday from June 1st through September, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. The Market will welcome not only local farmers, but also craftspeople and artisans with a variety of unique products. The following vendors have already registered with the market and will bring a hometown fair feeling to the market:

Treasure Grove Ranch - Farm grown fibers, plush toys made with alpaca fiber (both hand knit and pelt)

Amish Recipes - Prepared foods - Jams, jellies, breads, other baked goods

Gil The Sausage Man - Hand crafted sausage and baked goods

Fuela Farm Eggs - Free range brown eggs

Aspen Ridge Farm - Eggs, chicken broilers, pork and lamb (pasture raised, organically grown animals)

Celestine's Catering - Prepared foods

Kaffe Kaprys - Kielbasa, pierogies, stuffed cabbage, blintzes

Stone Row Acres - Farm grown plants, flowers, herbs

Godlewsky Farms - Large selection fresh produce and herbs, variety of hanging and container plants, fresh honey and other seasonal items

CloudWave Jewelry - Hand crafted jewelry

Silver Birch Kitchens - Prepared foods - Jams, jellies, breads, other baked goods

Best's Fruit Farm - Farm grown fruit

Grandma's Herbals - Organic teas, spices and spice blends

Mt Lebanon Soap Company - Skin care and related products

Earth To Urban - Hand crafted home decorating items, terrariums and air plants

Kenzies Creations - Hand crafted accessories (baby headbands, hats, clips)

For the June 1st opening of the Market, Chris Schmidt of S.C.3. Entertainment will be providing a wide variety of music for market-goers to enjoy. Look for additional special events and special entertainment throughout the market season.

The Market is still accepting registrations for artists, craftspeople and other unique vendors. Please visit our website at www.hackettstownbid.com or contact Mr. Sheldon at the BID Office for additional information or questions about the Market.

Click here for the Moore St. Market Page

207 Main Street
Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840
Telephone 908/850-5004

Visit us on the web: www.hackettstownbid.com or email: director@hackettstownbid.com

Our Weekly Newsletter - Click Here for the full Web Version with Links and images!

Mother's Day Reminder!
It's not too late to get that unique gift for those special ladies in your lives. Not sure what to get, give them a Gift Certificate from one of our unique shops.
Click here for the full list of Shops in town! (http://www.hackettstownbid.com/shopping/)

Our fantastic restaurants are also taking reservations, though they are booking up fast!
Click here for the full list of Eateries in town! (http://www.hackettstownbid.com/restaurants/)

------------------------------------------------------------
Business News
The Hackettstown BID welcomes the
following Businesses who recently opened!

Fur Love of Pawz
229 Main Street - Suite 2
Click Here for Info (http://www.hackettstownbid.com/shopping/fur-love-of-pawz)

Selling Tales Book Store
113 Main Street
Click Here for Info (http://www.hackettstownbid.com/shopping/selling-tales-bookstore)

------------------------------------------------------------
Spring Steals and Deals
Looking for offers from our local Businesses?
Our Spring Steals and Deals page is up and running
Look here for the latest info on Specials in town!
Click here to go to the Steals and Deals page! (http://www.hackettstownbid.com/news/2013/4/spring-steals-and-deals-in)

------------------------------------------------------------

Save These Dates
Moore Street Market Opening Day
June 1, 2013 - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Moore Street betw. Main and Washington
Click Here to Register as a Vendor (http://www.hackettstownbid.com/news/2013/1/moore-street-open-air-market)

Spring Fling Street Fair
June 16, 2013
Main Street betw. Plane & Grand
Click Here for Vendor Info (http://www.streetfairs.org/)

Summer Concert Series
July 10, 2013
Hometown Hardware
Featuring "The Kootz"

Restaurant Week
July 14-20
------------------------------------------------------------
This Week in Hackettstown
Click on each event
for more info!

Wonka@St.Mary's (http://stmarys1.org/118.html)
Fri, May 10, 7:00pm - 9:30pm (http://stmarys1.org/118.html)
St. Mary's School - Church & Liberty Streets (http://stmarys1.org/118.html)

HFEE Duck Race (http://www.hackettstownfoundation.org/Duck-Race---Community-Day.html)
Sat, May 11, 9:30am - 12:00pm (http://www.hackettstownfoundation.org/Duck-Race---Community-Day.html)
Alumni Field, Hackettstown (http://www.hackettstownfoundation.org/Duck-Race---Community-Day.html)

Hackettstown Soccer Club Travel Soccer Tryouts (http://www.hackettstownbid.com/news/2013/5/hackettstown-soccer-club-travel)
Sat, May 11, 2:30pm - 7:00pm (http://www.hackettstownbid.com/news/2013/5/hackettstown-soccer-club-travel)
Hackettstown High School Turf Field (http://www.hackettstownbid.com/news/2013/5/hackettstown-soccer-club-travel)

Brooklyn Shuz Tournament (https://www.facebook.com/events/494656470601928/)
Smiles for Margaret (https://www.facebook.com/events/494656470601928/)
Sat, May 11 - 7:00pm (https://www.facebook.com/events/494656470601928/)
Hackettstown Knights of Columbus (https://www.facebook.com/events/494656470601928/)

A Night of Knights (http://www.centenarycollege.edu/cms/index.php?id=1645&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2024)
Wed, May 15, 6pm - 9pm (http://www.centenarycollege.edu/cms/index.php?id=1645&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2024)
Centenary College Equine Center (http://www.centenarycollege.edu/cms/index.php?id=1645&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2024)

------------------------------------------------------------
Our Full Community Event Calendar
and meeting schedule is
Available on our Web Page
www.hackettstownbid.com

To have an event added
please contact Wendy @
Staff@hackettstownbid.com

------------------------------------------------------------

Please contact the Hackettstown
BID for more information
Hackettstown BID office 908-850-5004
Director@HackettstownBID.com
or Follow Us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/HackettstownBID

As Hackettstown's Business District is continuing to grow and thrive, Selling Tales recently celebrated their Grand Opening at 113 Main Street. Owner Stephanie Nagy was excited to bring used books along with CD's, DVD's and LP's for area residents to enjoy. Her love of books is apparent as she stocks the shelves and shares her joy with every customer that comes in. The Grand Opening on Saturday April 26th was celebrated with family and friends with snacks and drinks provided and a Raffle and Sale!

In addition Sharon Spitz has returned to Hackettstown moving her shop Fur Love of Pawz from Denville to 229 Main Street Suite 2. As Sharon says ‘We offer a wonderful selection of necessaries and not so necessaries for your beloved dogs and cats.' They have beds, bowls, collars, jewelry, clothing and items are all high quality and fairly priced, unique and unusual designs. Your pet can enjoy a large selection of fresh baked treats made every day in their beautiful retail store. Their all-natural healthy treats are available for shipping as well. Now opened, look for their Grand Opening celebration in the coming weeks.

Both Selling Tales and Fur Love of Pawz have active Facebook pages so make sure you ‘like' them to get information on their sales and special offers. You can also find details about Hackettstowns shops on the Business Improvement District's web page www.hackettstownbid.com

Hackettstown continues to grow and welcome new businesses that add to the positive business environment and help the local Community.

Hackettstown High School Celebrates 5 Freddy Award Nominations with their recent production of 'Annie Get Your Gun'.  Congratulations to all of the Cast, Crew and Faculty for the Spring Production at Hackettstown High School!

The Nominations are:

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Ally Borgstrom as Annie Oakley

Outstanding Performance by a Featured Male Ensemble Member
Connor Goerk as Chief Sitting Bull

Outstanding Choreography

Outstanding Use of Costuming

Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical by a Smaller School

Well done and good luck at the Freddy Awards!

For the complete list of Freddy Nominations, please visit:

http://www.wfmz.com/freddyawards

The Centenary Stage Company's Young Performers Workshop presents their Spring Festival of Shows with a week full of musical favorites. The Festival will run May 31st through June 9th at the Little Theatre on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown.

This season's selections will include The Pajama Game, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Sweet Charity. The Young Performers Workshop (YPW) has been called "The most professional kids troupe around!" by the Star Ledger. The workshop has been lead by Broadway, film and television veteran, Michael Blevins, for over 20 years.

YPW is dedicated to the enrichment of young lives through experience in the theatre arts, and serves as a venue for cultivating young theatre performers between the ages of 8 and 18. The program is one of only a handful in the nation that offers both formal training and production experience for young people. The young performers devote their weekends over a 15 week time-frame rehearsing challenging dance numbers and learning complex vocal arrangements to create a memorable theatre experience for all audiences to enjoy.

The Pajama Game is about a battle between the management and the labor at the Sleep-tite Pajama Factory. But the debates are complicated when a romance blossoms between Sid and Babe, who happen to be on two different sides of the debate. This musical includes such classic songs as "Steam Heat" and "Hernando's Hideaway." The schedule for The Pajama Game is Friday, May 31st at 8:00 pm, Sunday, June 2nd at 4:00 pm, Saturday, June 8th at 8:00 pm, and Sunday, June 9th at 1:00 pm.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is based on the original novel by Mark Twain following young Tom Sawyer. Along with best friend Huckleberry Finn and love interest Becky Thatcher, the greatest Tom Sawyer exploits are plucked from the book and plopped on the stage in this family-friendly musical. The schedule for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is Saturday, June 1st at 2:00 pm, Sunday, June 2nd at 7:00 pm, Saturday, June 8th at 2:00 pm, and Sunday, June 9th at 4:00 pm.

Sweet Charity, originally produced for Broadway by the legendary Bob Fosse, follows the tale of Charity Valentine who is struggling to keep her dreams alive amongst a string of bad dates, clumsy mishaps and a dead-end job at a risqué dance hall. This bright and comic musical is filled with colorful characters and lively dance numbers. The schedule for Sweet Charity is Saturday, June 1st at 8:00 pm, Sunday, June 2nd at 1:00 pm, Friday, June 7th at 8:00 pm, Saturday, June 8th at 5:00 pm, and Sunday, June 9th at 7:00 pm.

Tickets for the YPW Spring Festival of Shows are $12.50 for adults and $10 for children under 12. To purchase tickets or to find more information on other shows in the 2012-2013 season, visit us online at centenarystageco.org or call (908) 979-0900. Patrons are encouraged to check the age recommendations for individual shows.
YPW is also interviewing for the Summer Session on Saturday, June 8th and Sunday, June 9th. The Summer Session runs from July 15th through August 18th of 2013. For information call 908-979-0900 to set an appointment for an interview. More information about the program and the registration form can be found online at centenarystageco.org.

The Centenary Stage Company is a not-for-profit professional equity theatre, in residence at Centenary College, dedicated to serving as a cultural resource for audiences of the Skylands Region with professional music, theatre and dance events and arts education programs throughout the year. Performances at the Centenary Stage Company are made possible through the visionary support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, and CSC members, friends and sponsors, including Premier Sponsor Heath Village, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Regional Medical Center and The Holiday Inn in Budd Lake, and Series sponsors, Fulton Bank, and Mamas and Café Baci.

YPW CAST: Teax Armijo (Chester), Giulia Bailey (Washington), Ellie Baker (Long Valley), Olivia Berlingerio (Oxford), Cydney Black (Hackettstown), Jenna Black (Hackettstown), Emma Bovair (Hopatcong), Emily Brennan (Hackettstown), Alexa Bridygham (Washington), Kate Carrara (Long Valley), Zack Clark (Hackettstown), Izac Cruz (Budd Lake), Raegan Davies (Hackettstown), Jessica DeFort (Washington), Savannah Doelfel (Hackettstown), Gracelyn Donovan (Blairstown), Tyler Donovan (Blairstown), Kyli Engle (Washington), Alex Evans (Hackettstown), Elizabeth Fahsbender (Sparta), Stella Funkhouser (Newton), Bridgette Ganley (Blairstown), Kaelyn Godbey (Peapack), Ciera Gross (Blairstown), Chloe Hession (Long Valley), Katie Jones (Blairstown), Aree Kim (Pine Brook), Lauren Layfield (Long Valley), Rachel "Oprah" Lee (Flanders), Sarah Lee (Flanders), Olivia Mancuso (Port Murray), Erin Martire (Hackettstown), Caroline Miller (Long Valley), Lexie Miller (Hampton), Tori Murray (Long Valley), Christopher Nunez (Landing), Andrew Nussbaum (Long Valley), Suzanna Nussbaum (Long Valley), Quinn O'Hara (Hackettstown), Claudia Palmer (Long Valley), Sylvia Papathomas (Califon), Raphael Pelczmann (Morristown), Lucy Peters (Blairstown), Sydney Phythian (Oxford), Arjun Pillai (Hackettstown), Tori Pulido (Hackettstown), Amelia Ribnicky (Schooley Mountain), Kiana Rodriguez (Randolph), Alani Rose (Long Valley), Hanna Rose (Blairstown), Tara Rothrock (Phillipsburg), Amanda Scanlan (Andover), Kristina Silva (Hopatcong), Julia Slaman (Great Meadows), Hayden Marie Smith (Hackettstown), Christina Stanton (Hackettstown), Nicole Streger (Peapack), Emily Tamburrino (Long Valley), Deanna Tsakiris (Newton), Julie Ullmann (Newton), Lillian Vaz (Califon), Kevin Wehrhahn (Long Valley), David Yawger (Columbia), Dennis Zuravlev (Hackettstown)

Blue Ridge Lumber Deck Expo - Thurs. May 9th

You are invited to a Deck Expo
Thursay May, 9, 2013 - 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

• Vendors
• Food
• All under a Tent

Blue Ridge Lumber Company
12 Jacksonburg Road
Blairstown, New Jersey 07825
908-362-8252

Northern NJ Dyslexia Awareness Roundtable - Thu, May 9, 6:30pm - 8:00pm - Warren County Library - Northeast Branch 40 US Highway 46 West Hackettstown, NJ

Does my child have difficulty reading and spelling? Is my child dyslexic? What are the signs and how can I tell? These are common questions asked when it comes to understanding dyslexia.

Join Jaime Lelrhoff, M.A. LDTC and parent members of the grassroots movement, Decoding Dyslexia - NJ for an indepth discussion on dyslexia and state level advocacy efforts toimprove services and supports for students.

Jaime Lehrhoff, M.A. LDTC, of Livingston Educational Center will explore the early warning signs, what it means to be dyslexic, common misconceptions regarding this reading disorder, how to diagnose for it, as well as effective programs and strategies to support students with dyslexia.

Come and get answers to your questions and talk to other parents and professionals about dyslexia.

RSVP's appreciated but walk-ins welcome.
Sign in at 6:15. Program begins promptly at 6:30

For questions, contact Pat at (908) 475-8944 or email: pattypkb@comcast.net

http://warrendyslexiaroundtable.eventbrite.com/

In the Who Knew? department - Every Month Applebee's hosts a Teacher Appreciation Happy Hour.  See the info below on their May event, make sure to bring your Staff ID and enjoy the Free Buffet, just for our Educators!

ATTENTION ALL TEACHERS AND FACULTY MEMBERS!!!!

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT TEACHER APPRECIATION HAPPY HOUR.

THURSDAY, MAY 23RD 2013.  FROM 4:00PM UNTIL 7:00PM.

INCLUDED, FREE BUFFET, HAPPY HOUR DRINK PRICES, RAFFLE PRIZES AND MORE

PRESENT A VALID TEACHER OR SCHOOL STAFF ID TO HOUR HOST AND HAVE FUN!!

SEE YOU ON MAY 23RD