Cogster.com is easy. It allows you to speak your voice and use your money while doing so. Plus, it brings you together with many others in your community. If enough of you want something to happen, Cogster facilitates your collective ability to speak with authority. And, to put your Money where your Mouth is.
Cogster is not just about giving money. It’s also about getting something back. It’s called Social Dividends. You deserve to reap rewards for the choices you make and the risks you take. Cogster Loyalty Campaigns are all about providing a new, social platform for you to direct financial resources to Mom and Pop businesses located on Main Street, USA. Often, the Social Dividends you receive may be 1.5, or even 2 times the amount you pay to join a Cogster Campaign. All you have to do to redeem those dividends is go shop at the businesses you decide to support.
You matter to those businesses. Your money matters. Your Will matters. What you want to accomplish is up to you. Cogster now makes it social and fun to add power to your voice.
Local businesses need capital and customers to stay in business. Now you have a way to provide both of those resources. You don’t have to spend a lot to get involved, either. Cogster aggregates your show of support with that of other citizens who want to join a specific Merchant’s Cogster Campaign too. I’ve seen most individual amounts range from $20 to $50. It’s really easy. When enough people do it, the dollars add up pretty fast to help the local merchant’s business.
How does it all work?
Cogster.com allows you to register and manage your very own Account. It sends email reminders to update you on your Dividend Cash Certificates, when they’re about to expire and when new Dividend amounts are available to you. Plus, it allows you to print out your Dividend Cash Certificates right from your home or office. They’re as good as cash. No blackout dates; no fine print. The Merchants agree to honor those stipulations prior to opening their Campaigns. Those merchants want you in their shops and stores; they need you to keep coming back. So, please enjoy Cogster.com. It is a brand new tool your community now has in its tool-kit to help power-up the local economy and help businesses STAY in business.
Cogster
16
Jul 10
You Matter
11
Jun 10
French Fries and Beer, with Mandy Sergent!
Mandy Sergent, a local yoga therapist and instructor, is one of the coolest local business owners using Cogster.com right now! She’s always posting exciting promotions and information about her hip yoga studio located in the heart of downtown Boalsburg, PA. One of my newest members, Kristina Giambra (we call her “Tia”), recently stopped by to visit Mandy and this is what Tia had to say:
“…Today, I stopped in at Mandy Sergent’s yoga studio. It’s located right in the basement of her house and when I arrived she was very cool — she made me feel so welcome. As we walked into the studio, I immediately started to feel healthy! Not only does Mandy teach yoga, but she’s also a Holistic Health Counselor. I have no idea what that means, but I do know it has something to do with teaching others how to make smarter food decisions and control portion size. Mandy told me her counseling has less to do with simply dieting to eliminate carbs and sugar – and more to do with maintaining a lifestyle of patient eating. She even said, ‘I eat french fries and drink beer like everyone else, but I also spend a great deal of time preparing my own meals and living a consistent lifestyle.’ Mandy’s customers will tell you she’s nice and thin; that says something for her health and also for her frequent yoga workouts. The studio has dimmed lighting, creating a relaxing atmosphere to perform yoga and the space provides just enough size to accommodate 9 students at one time. Most of her classes are offered in the evening to accommodate her customers’ schedules. In addition, she also offers individual sessions, by appointment. Overall, a great vibe and an impressive local operation. I highly recommend it.”
You can find out more about Mandy Sergent on Cogster.com at http://cogster.com/business/view/33. We’re a huge fan of Mandy’s and we recommend you check out her “Deals of the Week.” Plus, give her a call or stop by to see her. People like Mandy make our community a special place to live.
8
Jun 10
Susquehanna Business Life
Cogster is a big fan of Susquehanna Business Life, a Central Pennsylvania business magazine originating from the part of the State where I grew up. The magazines feature articles telling fascinating stories about thriving Central PA businesses, ranging from start-ups to family-run enterprises that have been around for generations.
I enjoy flipping right to the Publisher’s Letter every time I receive a new issue. It is written by Erica Shames, a rather impressive and energetic force in the Susquehanna Valley. While I’ve not yet met her, I’ve heard great things about Erica from many colleagues who know the area and her work.
A recent issue caught my eye. Erica’s message to business owners: get back out and sell. Erica acknowledges the last year-and-a-half of economic challenges and shares her own story of having to force herself to get away from her passion for writing and focus on the immediately important task of “selling” advertising and reinforcing client relationships. Moreover, Erica goes on to ask, “Who better to be the face of a company than the passionate owner whose entrepreneurial spirit…., and hard work…, propelled the company where it is today.”
Right on. She’s right. Sales and business development cannot be delegated. Not now; not in this economy.
For fun articles and other words of wisdom for small business owners in Central PA, check out Susquehanna Business Life.
25
May 10
Our local Ace is the Place… for great customer service
If you haven’t seen the Cogster Truck just yet, well, you’re in for a treat. I spent a ton of time readying it (Link to Episode #7) for the Summer of Cogster, and I had one huge ally with me every step of the way: our local Ace Hardware store. A gentlemen by the name of Grant Rosenberger not only owns the place, but also showcases one of the best customer service operations I’ve ever seen. Seriously, I walked in there about 11 times during the last 3 weeks and every single time I received personal attention and a guided tour directly to each nut, bolt, and tool I needed to find. Now, I’ll admit, I don’t know much about hardware or building stuff. But I do know first-class customer service when I see it. Every single team member of Grant’s staff is friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and motivated to help you find what you need and get you back to your project. One day, I walked in and as Jim was helping me find something, I saw Grant explaining how to program a TV remote control to a charming lady who clearly doesn’t use electronics that often. But, there was Grant, explaining and repeating each step, as if it was the most important customer of the month.
I admire that. I was so impressed by it, I spoke with Grant directly about his business and congratulated him on his environment of outstanding service. Turns out, ACE Hardware is a retailer-owned cooperative, meaning that Grant, along with others like him in their respective local areas, own shares of the cooperative. This gives Grant the ability to tailor his store to the local market he serves. This isn’t just fabulous for me and the rest of the folks who live on the South Atherton side of town, this is great for the entire Centre Region. Personal attention. Special treatment. First-class service. Every time you shop. Thanks Grant, and thanks for bringing back good old fashioned customer service to the hardware business.
For more information, keep your eye out for the upcoming Town & Gown, which will profile Grant’s operation and team.
24
May 10
A Sustainable Weekend
What a weekend!? I had to meet a friend back in my hometown of Selinsgrove, PA (The Susquehanna Valley), this past Saturday morning. On my way back to State College through the Bald Eagle Forest, Tara and I decided to stop for lunch at the Elk Creek Cafe in Millheim, PA. Located literally right on Main Street (a.k.a. Route 45), the Elk Creek Cafe is all about sustainable agriculture and local foods. I’d heard about this place several times before, including a few mentions in Ken Hull’s book, going LOCAL!, but I’d never been there to experience it for myself.
It was an absolutely perfect pit stop and a great way to spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. I highly recommend the Elk Creek Copper Ale, but if you want to test all the brewed beers, as Tara did, you may easily order a set of glasses and sample the entire line up, one by one. And, of course, if you are in the mood for wine, they have that too. What impressed me most was the naming convention – all the beers are locally named after recognizable landmarks, such as Poe Paddy and Penns Valley, and the wines come from local vineyards. The prices were very reasonable, too!
Shannon served Tara and me our lunch. We sat right at the bar and had an order of homemade chips with the Burger and fries special. As we were eating, we decided to strike up a conversation with the gentlemen sitting right next to us. And, there it hit me: we met Ben Macneal, a local maple syrup and apple farmer; Brian Futhey, a local farmer (Stone Meadow Farms) and supplier of cheese and beef, and another gentlemen who also farms in the area and supplies food to the Cafe. I took a closer look at the dinner menu, and right there in black and white, the names of several local producers are called out by name. Tait’s Farm, Gemelli’s, and all the guys we were seated right next to! It made my food taste that much better knowing it was all local. Plus, we got to sit right next to some of the guys whose farms were listed right on the menu and hear directly about what local farming is really like.
A totally inspiring experience! And, not just because I had a few beers. It made me passionate about how Cogster complements grassroots leadership like the Elk Creek and its suppliers. I drove away wanting to find out more. I am intrigued to learn about missions such as buylocalpa.org and organizations like the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA). If nothing else, just to say thank you. Thank you, Tim Bowser. Thanks Brian Futhey and Ben Macneal. Thanks, Ken Hull. And thank you to all those whose mission it is to support PA farmers and merchants.
I’m thrilled about Cogster.com and the potential we have to complement this “sustainable” movement. Very soon, we will be unveiling some of our newest features, and when we do, I think you’ll find we provide a “win-win” for both consumers and merchants. It is the new way to Go Local – in a very economically sustainable way. In the meantime, we’ll do all we can to spread the word to our growing user base and encourage them to stop by the Elk Creek Cafe and learn about several of its local suppliers.
28
Apr 10
Cumulative Loyalty: Earning Points on Cogster
We just geared-up our entire Cogster website. Now, there’s a lot more in it for you! At Cogster, we believe your local loyalty counts, and now we’re keeping tabs on it for you.
Starting today, every time you use Cogster to support your town, you get points!
Buying local is cool. Saving money is even better. But, having Cogster keep track as you rack up more and more points the more you help your Main Street — well, that’s really something.
Cogster users can utilize their points to increase their loyalty ranking in town, brag to their peers, and qualify for special drawings and promotions! But, perhaps the best part of the cool, new points accumulation roll-out is that everyday consumers now have a way to prove their loyalty to locally-owned businesses. Moreover, local merchants now have a readily verifiable feature to distinguish loyal regulars from others who may not be as locally committed. Why does that matter? Local merchants want their best customers to feel special. Merchants want to gear certain promotions to be available to their most loyal customers. Now, with Cogster, everybody wins.
Have you ever walked into a local store you’ve been frequenting for years and felt mistreated by a brand new salesperson who didn’t know who you were? I have, and it didn’t make me feel very special. Your loyalty matters. With Cogster, we can all keep track of the cumulative loyalty we possess.
Save Money. Sustain Main Street. AND, earn points for doing so!
Click here to find out how you can start earning points today!
(If this is your first visit to our Cogster Blog, I encourage you to scroll back through some of our earlier posts. Read about 30 excellent local businesses and get to know them a bit better. Also, take a moment to click on the “Businesses” tab within the Cogster community nearest you and find out more about what your Main Street has to offer, how you can save money while gearing-up your town.)
16
Mar 10
Community Champions Series: 30 Days, 30 Businesses
For the next 30 days (March 17 to April 15), we will be featuring businesses in and around the regions that are currently on Cogster.com. Some of these businesses may already be on Cogster, and some may not. The purpose of this series is to highlight great local businesses, mom & pop shops, watering holes and more in order to give them some extra exposure online. This is just another way Cogster goes the extra mile to help the “Community Champions” that we know and love.
Check back everyday to find a little blurb about a new local business doing great in its community!
22
Feb 10
Just Save. Just Local.
Today is a big day for Cogster.com. We’re launching our Spring 2010 message: “Just Save. Just Local.” Community-minded citizens can save money by just shopping at locally-owned businesses on Cogster.
And, to celebrate, our team is unveiling our brand, new Cogster website! We’ve worked hard to make the site a more fun, sleek, and user-friendly experience. In addition, I’m pleased to announce Cogster is entering 4 new communities today as well, in addition to expanding in our home community of State College, PA. The new communities include the Ephrata Area and the Susquehanna Valley in Pennsylvania, and both Golden and Littleton in Colorado. Why these areas, you may ask…?
It’s simple, really. Downtown Ephrata, Inc. is a vibrant and exciting organization led by Marsha DiBonaventuro. Situated right at “State and Main” streets in Ephrata, PA, this organization works diligently to help the local area prosper. Marsha and I had the opportunity of meeting last Fall and we share great excitement for how Cogster can serve Ephrata and the surrounding area.
Secondly, the Susquehanna Valley is very special to me because it contains the town of Selinsgrove, where I grew up. I’m thrilled to work with friends and family to launch the Cogster concept there. One of my best friends from my time in the U.S. Army resides near Denver, CO. He’s thrilled to help my team introduce Cogster in both Golden and Littleton.
Please check out our new website. You’ll see some great new features and an expanded platform to connect with the locally-owned businesses that matter most to you. Local economic development is never easy, and our cities and towns deserve as many tools as possible to allow consumers and merchants the ability to work together. Cogster is now one of these tools – one like you’ve never seen before – on an easy-to-use, web platform that helps everyone save money.
I’m pleased to announce that our feedback has been simply outstanding! To find out more about what some folks are saying, please take a moment to view these testimonials.
“Cogster helps you find your local businesses as well as support them…” Sammy, Local Resident
“Cogster is already driving business to my website…” Heidi, Local Business Owner
Thanks for all of your continued support.
15
Jan 10
Working together: Keeping the Local Sales Pipeline Balanced and Flowing
I recently attended a first-class, Sales Training Seminar hosted by the Chamber of Business and Industry in Centre County, PA (www.CBICC.com). The CBICC is an excellent resource for area businesses of all industries, and the staff and programs they offer are top notch. In this particular seminar, the speaker’s name was Arnold Tilden, author of the book entitled Rainmakers, Closers, and Other Sales Myths. Among many important sales techniques and observations, Mr. Tilden spoke about the critical importance of keeping a firm’s sales “pipeline” balanced.
[image credit: forbestraveler.com]
In short, the term “pipeline” refers to the linear process of a local business’ need to attract prospects, showcase its product attributes to those prospects, and ultimately consummate a sale to a prospect, who then becomes a “customer”. Tilden described how the pipeline cannot operate smoothly without a balanced flow of each part in the process.
- Example - Consider the sales pipeline of a typical downtown retail store:
Prospects who are walking by the storefront
Prospects browsing the products inside the store
Customers purchasing items at the register
There are basically three main segments in the pipeline. The more balanced and steady each segment flows through the pipeline, the better the local business does. And, of course, the better the local business does, the better the town does, since its residents obtain the items they need and the business invests the proceeds into creating jobs and sustaining its venture.
And, this is where Cogster comes in: Cogster is a drastically cost-effective way for a business owner to complement his ability to manage his sales pipeline and re-invest in his local establishment. In addition, Cogster provides value, deals, and rewards to the customers who work to steady their local businesses’ sales pipelines.
- Example - Consider the main functions of Cogster:
Local merchants create a business profile (a virtual storefront)
Merchants post deals to showcase their products
Loyalty Campaigns promote repeat visits and a steady pipeline.
Please check out Cogster.com and register for FREE today. Whether you’re a business owner or a local consumer, Cogster can provide value directly to you for joining your local economic pipeline. Remember, great deals are out there for everyone. For more information, please email me at steve@cogster.com or call (814) 861-5351. I’d be happy to hear from you.
15
Jan 10
Local Business Owners: Is the Money You Spend on Marketing/Advertising Paying Off?
Are you a business owner who has ever wondered what you were “getting” for all the money you spend on advertising? You’re not alone. It is difficult, toilsome, and, most times, downright arbitrary to calculate the return on the investment you make in marketing and advertising. Especially in this market.
[img credit: http://www.deploy511.org]
Here’s one good place to start:
Recently, I saw a seasoned CEO in action during a staff meeting with his top sales executives. When they were reviewing the firm’s 2010 ad budget, the CEO made a decisive, clear directive that made perfect sense. Basically, it was to spend “smart,” and the ROI will naturally follow. “Smart” spending means you must answer and then perform the following:
- First, list out where your current customer leads are coming from. Break it down by percentage. (ex: radio, website, newspaper, walk-in, referral, etc)
- Next, list how much you’re spending per lead source, as a percent of the whole budget. Once you have these two lists, put them side-by-side. Do the two lists match? Is there a good reason why not? If not, match the two.
- Example: One local firm recently reported spending over 75% of its annual ad budget on newspaper ads, when only 2% of its customer leads came from those print ads. This is a clear mis-match. Ensure you have the proper lead generation sources, then invest in the ones that yield good leads. Then, go about your business. Very quickly, you’ll figure out if you are spending “smart.” And, ROI will naturally follow.
Hit up Cogster today to learn how you can spend wisely and sell more. It’s three easy steps: (1) Register a business profile. (2) Post some Deals. (3) Initiate a loyalty campaign. Tell all your current customers about it. Ask them to tell their friends. Cogster is a win-win for everyone – customers and you. And it’s smart marketing, with a true ROI.
