12-28-17 Looking for good stories for the Business Spotlight

A few years ago I got into writing stories about Whidbey businesses. My professional background was as a marketing research and public involvement consultant. Then I moved to Whidbey and was asked to write a couple of stories about marketing research for a local business magazine (Northwest Business Monthly, which no longer exists). I don’t even remember now what first created my connection with the magazine. Then, I was asked to write stories about local businesses for that publication.

Somehow, the publisher of Whidbey Local, JoAnna Weeks, learned about my writing, and she asked me to do business stories for her on-line publication. She encouraged me to write what I wanted, in my own style. She has now branded me as the “Business Spotlight.”  Each week, she trusts me to choose a business, tell their story, and it is published without any editing (my husband is my “official” editor).

I feel very privileged because I am having the delight of making my own choices and telling stories in my own way.

I believe that what makes a business story appealing is knowing about the person or people who started the business. I ask three basic questions: Why did they come to live on Whidbey? Why did they decide to create their business? What is special or unique about the product and/or services they provide?

I invite you to check out a new story each week on The Business Spotlight on Whidbey Local: http://www.whidbeylocal.com/articles/1/5243

For me, a business story is really about the people behind the business. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact me: carolyntamler@whidbey.net.

12-14-17 On Whidbey, most of us do our best to shop here instead of going to America

I don’t remember how long ago I heard someone say, “I’m going to America tomorrow.”  I soon learned that many on the island use the term to mean taking the ferry across and dealing with the traffic and stress of going there to run some errands and/or do shopping.

Of course, there is a recognition that the “big box” stores over there have more selection and, often, lower prices.

But for many of us, it is also important to support our local businesses. There definitely is an ethic here, that I am sure is true of other small, connected communities, that doing our part to make the local businesses successful is often more important than going for the selection and the prices at the big boxes.

We are fortunate on Whidbey to also have many businesses that make their own products (coffee, wines, foods, crafts….to mention a few), and the quality is usually excellent. To have an idea of the diversity of the business community we have on Whidbey, take a look at the Business Spotlight on Whidbey Local .

There is also a lot to be said for feeling good about helping someone else. I like to buy locally and know that I am playing a small part in helping a small business thrive on Whidbey.

12-7-17 A Visit to the Village of Langley during the holidays offers a delightful place to shop and have fun

The City of Langley seems to get more colorful and vibrant with each holiday season.  This year there are new businesses, and many of the businesses have created lovely holiday decorations. The annual Lighting of Langley happened on Saturday, November 25^th.

For the last few years the town of Langley has promoted a “Deck the Doors” contest where local artists work with the merchants to create special Christmas displays at the entrance to their stores. An impartial panel of judges choses three winners who each receive a $1,000 cash prize on December 16, 2017. The outdoor gallery created by this contest provides bright and colorful holiday decorations throughout the town. The real winners are the visitors to Langley.

Nearly every store in the business district participates. The result is a cheerful, lively space where people can wander in and out of the different stores, enjoy shopping or simply appreciate the lights and colors and artistic atmosphere.

A recent visitor during this holiday time commented that the “city feels alive and festive.”

There are those who enjoy the experience of going to a busy, crowded mall to look for bargains for friends and family. But the village of Langley offers something that many people will discover reflects the pleasures of a simpler time, when the winter holidays were more than just a mad dash to buy presents.

The village of Langley provides a quaint, charming experience that appeals to many who want to walk around shops in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.

11-30-17 What is really important if you are a business owner?

When many people hear about someone creating a business, they probably think that making money is the primary goal motivating a business owner.

Obviously, if you own a business you have to make enough money to make it worthwhile to stay in business.

But, as I have written these business stories for the last five years, I have noticed that what seems to motivate business owners even more than money, especially in a community like Whidbey, are feelings of satisfaction, passion and love for what they are doing.

I often hear how much work is involved running a business. There is no question that having a business usually requires more work than a 9 to 5 job (do those still exist anymore???). But what I hear most from the business people who have been the subjects of my stories is how much pleasure they get from what they are doing.

11-23-17 I am really thankful to be part of the Whidbey Island community

I’m taking a break from my marketing blog to reflect on what the Thanksgiving holiday means to me.

First, I am very fortunate to have a great partner in life and to have children and grandchildren who are all doing well.

Shortly after our marriage in 2002 Rich and I came to Whidbey for a visit from our home in Bellevue. We had a lovely get together with some good friends who spent the afternoon telling us about the wonderful lifestyle on Whidbey and why we should move here. They were so persuasive, that we made the decision to do just that before we returned to Bellevue that day.

We spent a lot of weekends looking for property on the island. We found some land in Greenbank, built a weekend get-away house there, and after a year of weekend visits, we realized we wanted to live here full time. We lived in Greenbank for five years before deciding we wanted a little bit bigger house and we wanted to live closer to the community of Langley.

Today, we cherish every day that we are in our comfortable home on 2-1/2 acres of beautiful forest in Freeland.

But, I also truly cherish this community. The arts flourish here. We have theaters, talented musicians (with many venues now to hear their music), talented artists displaying their work in the many art galleries, charming iconic towns and of course, the gorgeous views that greet us no matter what direction we are driving.

Whidbey has special meaning to an extrovert like me: I notice all the smiles (often accompanied by hugs) from friends I have made working with valuable non-profits or just taking a walk, going to the movie theater or simply doing grocery shopping.

I have written a lot about the courage it takes to create a business, but on Whidbey when you create a business there are a lot of people who give you support and encouragement.

I am truly grateful to be part of this community.