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OTSEGO.business PAGE B-1
THURSDAY-FRIDAY, SEPT. 12-13, 2013
AllOTSEGO.business
REJOINS MONTHLY LINEUP
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ith this edition, AllOTSEGO. business rejoins our monthly lineup, to be published the second week of each month. The idea is not just to highlight success stories of Otsego County businesses, but to share what successful businesspeople are doing in a way that’s helpful to the rest of us. Additionally, this is a place to highlight new hires, promotions and awards featuring businesspeople. Please send that information to info@ allotsego.com or call 547-6103. – From the editor
THE
Chamber To Honor Brooks BBQ, Five Star At Its 2013 Small Business Awards Banquet By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA
‘E
ntrepreneurial spirit” has won the Otsego County Chamber’s 2013 Breakthrough Award for Brooks’ House of BBQ. And “arts and culture outreach” won the chamber’s Small Business Award for Five Star Subaru. Please See AWARDS, B5
ART
OF
At the Otsego Chamber’s Small Business Awards’ announcement are, clockwise from lower right, Executive Director Barbara Ann Heegan, Five Star Subaru’s Ben Guenther, Brooks’ BBQ’s Ryan Brooks and Five Star’s Blaine OTSEGO.business Jennings.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
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neonta’s largest garage sale, the Grand & Glorious, takes Main Street, Oneonta, from Chestnut to Ford Avenue 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14. But if a velvet Elvis isn’t your thing, stroll over to the 11th annual City of the Hills Arts Festival, a show and sale by local artists in the Dietz Street parking lot. The two crowd pleasers are being held simultaneously for the first time this year. WELCOME FALL: Celebrate an old-fashioned agricultural fair at The Farmers’ Museum Harvest Festival. Old-time music, world dance and a dulcimer making demonstration, Junior Livestock show and alpaca agility trials, crafts, artisans and harvest tastings. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Sept. 13-15, at 5775 Route 80, Cooperstown. Info, www.farmersmuseum.org.
AllOTSEGO.business
ART Boden, That Is, NY Pizza’s Impresario
up with orders, he greeted every customer, even if one of his other employees had already taken the COOPERSTOWN order. “How’s your dad doing?” he ven if you’ve never set foot asks a patron whose father had into New York Pizzeria before, been hospitalized. “Glad to hear the minute you walk in, Art he’s doing better.” Boden welcomes you as “friend.” “I “Those cannolis yesterday live right upstairs, so when you come Art poses with were good, right?” he asks a tourmother-in-law into my restaurant, you’re literally ist, bagging up two more for the Giovannah Vezza. road. “You have safe trip.” walking into my house,” he said. Such customer-service prowess He flips drink cups to impress was evident at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5, but it the kids who come by when school lets out, always is. While Art was still rushing to keep Please See SERVICE, B5 By LIBBY CUDMORE
E When counter duties slow down, Boden spreads goodwill through New York Pizzeria’s diningroom.
MR./MS. BUSINESSPERSON, HERE’S HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE
hese customer-service suggestions were provided by business writer and business owner Susan Ward on about.com 1) Answer your phone. Get call forwarding. Or an answering service. Hire staff if you need to. 2) Don’t make promises unless you will keep them. Not plan to keep them. WILL keep them.
It’s bargains as far as the eye can see at Oneonta’s annual Grand and Glorious Garage Sale on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Enjoy Grand, Glorious, And Arts Fest As Well
Ian Austin/
BEST BETS
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Ian Austin/
New York Pizzeria’s Art Boden jousts with Stacia Barkley, Country Inn & Suites general manager, over the upcoming Cooperstown Pumpkinfest Regatta, where he and her daughter expect to compete for a top spot.
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HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO
3) Listen to your customers. Let your customer talk, then suggest how to solve the problem. 4) Deal with complaints. Aim to please one customer at a time. 5) Be helpful – even if there’s no immediate profit in it. Solving customers’ problems will bring them back.
6) Train your staff to be always helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable. 7) Take the extra step. Don’t just say, “It’s in aisle three.” Lead the customer there. 8) Throw in something extra. A coupon for a future discount, additional information on how to use the product, or just a genuine smile.
COMMUNITY SUPPER: Enjoy a communal organic, gluten-free, vegetarian supper to kick off the fall season of meditation classes. Pay as you wish, suggested donation, $20, reservations recommended. 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12. Rangjung Yeshe Gomde Meditation Center, 412 Glimmerglen Road, Cooperstown. Info, RSVP, LotusBarn108@gmail.com. DINNER DANCE: Enjoy the sounds of Sinatra with Ron Leone and Mary Francis Perricone as they serenade you through dinner and dancing. 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, to benefit the Sixth Ward Athletic Foundation. At the club house, 22 W. Broadway, Oneonta. Info, (607) 436-9136. SECOND-STORY TOUR: Peer into the upper windows of Oneonta with a guided “Looking Up at Downtown,” tour. Some floors will even feature entertainment and refreshments! Members $5, others $8. 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15. Main Street Oneonta office, 242 Main St. Info, tickets, 432-0960 ALL DAY MUSIC: It’s a BBQ, B-Side style with Malcolm Holcombe, Good Luck Mountain, Micah Resney and Dan Hardey. 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, B-Side Ballroom, 1 Clinton Plaza, Oneonta. Info, www.bsideballroom.
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