WDYT ..? Ice Theaters 87th Street

I realize that some may not agree with this blog post. Especially the true entrepreneurs so I've decided to ask WDYT= What Do You Think..?

Ice Theaterat 87th west of the Dan Ryan expressway is truly the theater in the hood. There is no doubt about that.

Today I went there and as soon as I stepped inside with my ticket I see a beautiful vendor table with nice looking cheap aka cosmetic jewelry. You know the kind you take pictures in and never wear anywhere. They were displayed nicely starting at $25.00 going up to $40.00.

Yes, take that in for a moment. I went for a movie, paid for a ticket, had dinner prior to and now I need snacks so where exactly does this jewelry fit in the budget..? Is this a recession product..?

I know they are making money so that's why they are there but as a patron entering the theater for a movie I feel hassled.I don't see this vendor as being any different then a guy in the parking lot with his trunk up selling socks or turkey fryers at the "theater".

So yes, I fussed and bitched about that for a moment. The only justification I can think of for this is that it's only for the holidays. Don't get me wrong here. I don't have anything against anyone's hustle. If I needed to setup a table that surely would be a great place to do so.

The women just couldn't seem to resist touching, looking and trying on the jewelry. The jewelry they most likely didn't intend to buy because it's a theater not a mall.

As much as people complain about the prices at movie theaters I'm surprised they would add another expense. A guy taking out his girlfriend for an inexpensive movie has just gotten a $25.00 -$40.00 surcharge. Wow !! That should go over well. I mean how can he say no. It's the holidays, right..?

On the other hand a women with a "shopping addiction" looking to avoid buying things is in big trouble. She may just have to avoid the theater, the mall and settle for her home theater and netflix.

What do you think...?

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Congratulations !!

golden applause
Originally uploaded by zen

I've always felt that I'm supposed to do something bigger then I can think of or imagine perhaps something I won't even be aware of. Instead of fighting to make it happen I just read the signs, listen and keep going. Life has taught me that having your mind set on the "Big thing" can sometimes cause you to miss all the little things you need in order to acquire the "big thing" you want.

Life is best lived and far more enjoyable when you live it with an open mind, open eyes and a guarded heart.I went out today with a goal and though it seemed for a moment the goal was unattainable I didn't stop believing. As I waited I decided to stop in to some of the nearby businesses. I was shocked to learn that one of the entrepreneurs I spoke with was actually going to let a child show her how to use her facebook page.

While that may be ok if you are using the internet for recreation it is certainly not ok for marketing, branding and social networking purposes.

I chatted with her for a moment got her business card, the business card of her co-worker and the neighboring businesses and continued on to a nearby friends house.

She asked me about my business and the services I provide and congratulated me.
I said thank you and as I was walking I thought hmmm, she is the first person to congratulate me.

I never thought it made a difference whether or not anyone ever gave me that acknowledgment but apparently it does. It's amazing what small things can do.

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Motivation

Yesterday, I saw a man on the corner peddling and I knew that he wouldn't be interested in any of my services but I felt at the very least I'd get some practice with my "sales pitch".

So, being who I am and doing what I do. I stopped to talk to him and immediately noticed all the illegal activity of his business. A peddler on a city street of Chicago selling cigarettes, boot leg porn (evasive angels, black market), t-shirts, boxers, socks, and nice Coach bag knock offs for $30.00 and he had the wrong license. He said he worked for the state and he most likely wouldn't be interested in my services but he knew someone else that might be.

Aww, another "NO". I never let the No's make me feel defeated. They make me tired but never defeated. After I made it back home I sat down and thought about the moments when I had his interest and the moments when I lost his interest. He had boot legged porn "Pinky" and I asked him did he go see her at Mr's G's. Now of course I knew he didn't and No he didn't. I asked him who was his favorite porn star and he said "I don't really watch that" there is no point in watching something I can't get.

Now, that struck me as being kinda odd. But It shouldn't have because there are a lot of "businesses" that don't use or support the products they sell. They simply supply what is demanded that's it, that's all and the products sell themselves.

While I was talking to him a women walked passed talking to herself and she stopped to look at his merchandise. She picked up some socks and his eyes locked in on her but she put them back and continued on talking to herself and walking. He want over to the orange crate to straighten his merchandise out and came back complaining about how people put his stuff back any kind of way.

Wow, I just couldn't believe it. There was something way deep down in the pit of my stomach yelling dude your selling socks on a corner out side of a currency exchange on a public street with a "Junk peddlers licenses". These are the small business owners that desperately need an upgrade but are most likely to refuse one.

Should I view peddlers as business men and women or just hustlers trying to make ends meet..?

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but the fact is they are acknowledged by the city of Chicago as small business owners and their license is a business license. There are thousands of peddlers throughout the city of Chicago and some of them are making money.

Spending 5-10 mins talking to him or anyone that is out and about is important.
I walked away feeling that the whole experience was a gain he even confirmed what I was thinking about his Coach bags. He got them from the same place most people do.

He's getting a pretty good deal on them but there is a way to get them even cheaper. Had he been interested I would have discussed more affordable suppliers.

Since I've been researching merchandise suppliers I have learned so much more about business. I feel as though a veil has been removed from my eyes.

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Facebook share, missing images..??

A problem I've had on a site for quite some time and I didn't have the time to stop and look into such a minor issue. However today, it was truly annoying me so I did what I should have done a very long time ago. I went over the documentation for sharing post on face book again.

It's very simple if you want your images to show with a description you need to include this in your site header.

< meta content=" title " name=" title ">
< meta content=" description " name=" description ">
< link href="thumbnail_image" rel=" image_src ">

http://wiki.developers.facebook.com/index.php/Connect/Implementing_Facebook_Share

http://www.facebook.com/share_partners.php

I wish I had more time and a team to really get these applications developed ahh, maybe I should put that on my Christmas wish list this year right below clients with bigger budgets or and clients that understand the value of important things like web presence, branding, online advertising, web site development and web site maintenance.

Yes, all I want for Christmas are giant leaps instead of baby steps is that too much to ask...?

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