On Moving to Rhode Island

Wickford, Rhode Island Harbor

Well, we did it. We've moved our offices to the Ocean State, Rhode Island.  This has been a very busy and exciting year to say the least.  In March of this year my husband told me that we were moving to Rhode Island for the company he works for, North Sails.  Kicking and screaming, I knew this was the right thing to do, so after several house showings and viewings, we landed in North Kingstown, RI.  A beautiful, quaint New England town.  Wickford, the main town, is full of history, restaurants, marinas, gift shops and antique shops.  Just beautiful. (Quite like our old town, Guilford, CT) We're only a half hour on the boat to Newport Harbor, which is nice!


While I love Rhode Island, and used to live in Newport and work at Hasbro, Inc., there are so many things that I loved about Connecticut.  My favorite things about Connecticut: its proximity to New York, the people, the friends, the schools, the business colleagues, the scenery and the Long Island Sound. While we will miss having close friends, business colleagues and partners close by, we are only an hour and a half away. As I review the things I love about Connecticut, I see that most of these things exist in Rhode Island, except now the closest city is Boston.  Not a bad trade off for cities in my opinion. My son has already noticed there are fewer Giants, Ranger and Yankees fans here and to his liking, many, many Patriots, Bruins and Red Sox fans.  Go Sox! 

We welcome this new adventure!  I look forward to maintaining current clients and meeting new friends and business colleagues who may be added to the wonderful list of friends we made in Connecticut. 

Newport Rhode Island Harbor

Stay tuned for new blog posts.  I've been away for a while tending to clients. I'm back.  So you are aware, I generally use this space to share a fresh perspective on marketing and companies and clients who are doing it well.  

Wickford, Rhode Island

Why you should share your Egg Nog .......

As 2011 begins to wind down we'd like to take a moment to thank all of our valued clients and partners for their support. Between celebrating New York state heritage, sailing with SailQuest Mystic, working with financial companies, in-home care companies, partnering with airlines, digital media companies and philanthropic causes and more it's been a great year!

While we have had a wonderful year, we understand many across the nation and world have not. Please take a moment to help those in need this holiday season; food pantries, toy drives, hospitals and more. Even a small donation of $5 can help a person have a warmer holiday whether figuratively or literally. It is so important. Why you should share your Egg Nog: So instead of buying that extra carton of Egg Nog, think about donating that money to someone who is really in need. It WILL make a difference.

We look forward to a successful 2012 and a prosperous new year for all!! Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Are you attending the 2010 Shoreline Business Conference and Trade Show at the Water's Edge Resort and Spa on October 25, 2010? If so, don't miss the opportunity to network with shoreline professionals at the official Tweet Up Networking Happy Hour at 4:30pm in the Seaview Bistro.

FREE Drinks & Prizes: How to win... Follow @sfadvisors on Twitter.

Sponsored by Shoreline Financial Advisors, this Tweet Up will prove to be a spectacular cross section of business professionals from Old Saybrook to East Haven, Connecticut. Shoreline Financial Advisors is offering free drinks by way of trivia and answering questions on Twitter during the event. So have your Twitter accounts up to date and make sure you're following @sfadvisors to tweet them for free drinks and prizes.

Prizes:

• CToutandabout: 3 months banner advertising. (value $450) (updated 10/20/10) Follow them on Twitter at @ct_shoreline
• Colby Strategic Marketing: 1 hour complimentary social media introduction. Follow them on Twitter at @heathercolby
• Guilford Art Center: $100 toward a class at Guilford Art Center [guilfordartcenter.org]
• Blue Plate Radio: 1 month radio advertising, production included. Concert Ticket Giveaway too! Follow them on Twitter at @blueplateradio
• Comfort Keepers of the CT Shoreline: 3 hours light cleaning service! Follow them on @CKGuilford

As seen on WTNH: Tweets Can Benefit Businesses, Too [video]

----------->>>>>CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS TWEETUP <<<<<----------

Admission for the Tweet Up requires a full day or half day ticket purchase for the Shoreline Conference. Get Shoreline Conference tickets here!

What is a Tweet Up? A tweet up is a meet up of people who exchange correspondence and share information together on Twitter, a social media platform. It's a place to "Meet the people you tweet." This Tweet Up is for Twitter and non-Twitter users alike in Connecticut to network with like-minded business professionals who want to break into the social media scene. Non-Twitter users and all Shoreline Conference attendees are encouraged to attend to learn how social media can help their business.

About the conference:

The 2010 Shoreline Business Conference and Trade Show is a culmination of efforts from Chambers of Commerce on the shoreline between the Q-Bridge and the Baldwin Bridge. The conference and trade show will offer several presentations ranging from marketing and sales to legal and organizational solutions.

Mr. Mitchell Etess, Chief Executive Officer of Mohegan Sun is the keynote speaker for the conference. In addition to Mr. Etess, several shoreline business professionals are speaking on their expertise in specific fields.

Featured speaker topics include:

• Internet Marketing and SEO: Tips on Search Engine Optimization, desirable page views, keyword, behavioral, constant contact, e-blasts, text messages, Facebook & Twitter
• Human Resources and Legal: Get advice on your pressing questions about legal issues, human resources, real estate and finance.
• Creative Juices in Advertising and Media Mix: Producing a cohesive plan where there are so many options. Plus, your image - branding, signage, logos & more.
• Making Connections: Customer service including customer profiles, customer retention/reactivation and building relations.
• Community Presence in Networking: Working with your local chambers, non-profits and community events to boost business and give back to your community.
• Interviewing Tips for the Employee and the Employer: How to dress, focus on strengths and follow up; key questions to ask an interviewee.
• Managing Stress in the Workplace: Tips to manage stress and create a positive work environment.
• The Manager and the Employee: Managing and improving relationships across generations.
• Sales Strategies: Cross-selling and up-selling in a difficult economy.
• Building Morale: What truly motivates your employees? Satisfied employees means stronger financials.
• Get It Together: Organizational and time management skills to help you and your staff stay organized.
• Company Goals: Setting a business plan and achieving realistic goals.

About Shoreline Financial Advisors:

Shoreline Financial Advisors combine over 70 years of experience in the investment advisory, wealth management and insurance service fields. Their mission is simple: help our clients achieve their financial goals and dreams. It is the commitment to excellence which has made the firm one of the premiere financial services providers on the shoreline. Shoreline Financial Advisors: trust and integrity in investment management and total financial planning. www.sfadvisors.com

If you're going to Tweet this post: please use the hashtag ----> #sfatu <---- THANKS!

CONFERENCE UPDATE (10/22/10)

@NerdsToGo is offering email access to all conference attendees who need to check email throughout the day and may not have a smart phone. This access is a convenience to all attendees and in addition, attendees will be able to sign up for Twitter to be able to win free prizes at the Tweet Up!

@blueplateradio is playing jazz music in the Seaview Bistro for the Tweet Up at the Water's Edge Resort & Spa!

Colby Strategic Marketing, Bruce Barber, Marchetti Design & Illustration and Shoreline Out and About bring Forward-Thinking Business Leaders Together

On a beautiful evening in Guilford, CT business leaders got together at Ballou's Wine Bar to network and discuss how to use today's new marketing media. Guest speaker and radio guru, Bruce Barber, of Barber Productions, spoke of this event, "It's a great group of people . . . . getting together in real time with each other. It's not just facebook or twitter it's us." Colby Strategic Marketing was one of the event hosts. Heather Colby, President, Colby Strategic Marketing commented, "As a group we need to work together to forge authentic partnerships that will drive the success of each partners' business. There is a wealth of talented marketers and business people here tonight who will certainly reap the rewards of building their businesses together via networking, partnerships and new inbound marketing strategies."

Ballou's set the stage for the event with appetizers for the group and Marchetti Design & Illustration offered discounted drink tickets for an enjoyable evening. Several prize winners left with free content marketing from Shoreline Out and About, twitter training from Colby Strategic Marketing and gifts from M!X Design Store. Keep an eye out for the next event by this up and coming group of business and marketing leaders.

Email hcolby@colbystrategicmarketing.com to be emailed of details for the next event.

Business Leaders in photo above from left to right: Tom Davis (North Sails), Wendy Walden (M!X Design Store), Andy Stephens (Page-Taft Real Estate), Karen Stephens (Page-Taft Real Estate), Jennifer Cowie (M!X Design Store), Betsy Gribble (M!X Design Store), Ed Bartlett (Shoreline Out and About), Susan Schimler, Nace Schimler (Eli's on the Hill), Mary Stager (ReThinc, LLC), Steve DePino (Stevedepino.com, photography), Frank DePino (mediaBoom), Bruce Barber (Barber Productions), Eric Emamian (Prolific Interactive), Kelly Marchetti Grasso (Marchetti Design & Illustration), Jason Wieringa, Heather Colby (Colby Strategic Marketing), Pat Lore (Headline Productions). Photography by Gary@connecticutwebsites.com (Not featured in photo: Patti Urban (Comfort Keepers), Linda Harvey (Liberty Bank), Nikki Rassmusen (Yolo aesthetic boutique & med spa)).