Ten percent of product sales at Waterdrop Shop go toward drilling of water wells in Kenya.

College students in Illinois show how sustainability, enterpreneurship and social consciousness can combine to launch a new global business that solves problems and gives back. http://www.thewaterdropshop.com/

The Annual Main Street Shop & Stroll in Nacogdoches is Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..

Main Street Manager Sarah O’Brien invites shoppers to “enjoy a beautiful day shopping in historic downtown Nacogdoches. Downtown stores will offer a variety of unique finds, great deals, and specialty items all right at your fingertips,” she said.

“It will be an exciting day downtown with the Floral Design Exhibit at the Art Center, Volkswagen Show in Festival Plaza, and Spring Fling at the Farmer’s Market.”

J. McKinney’s Restaurant, located inside Hotel Fredonia in historic downtown Nacogdoches, is now offering their popular award winning lunch buffet seven days a week.
The restaurant invites the community to enjoy a fresh salad bar, soup du jour made from scratch, a variety of meats to suite any craving, and a large selection of homemade desserts.
On Sundays, the buffet is expanded to offer a large platter of freshly sliced cheeses and fruits, peel ‘n eat shrimp, a pasta station, prime rib, and more.
The buffet is open daily from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Pricing for Adults: $12.95 Monday – Saturday, and $14.95 on Sundays.
Seniors (65+) are $10.95 Monday – Saturday and $12.95 on Sundays.
Children ages 7 – 11 are $9.95 daily and ages 4-6 are $6.95 daily. Children 3 and younger are complimentary.
Bring your Frequent Diner Card and receive your tenth lunch buffet free.
Full menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available as well.
J. McKinney’s hours of operation are 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Monday -Thursday, until 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and until 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Click here for more information.

The Nacogdoches Farmers Market will be hosting open as usual this Saturday so that everyone can finish up their holiday shopping! “This is a perfect opportunity to Shop Nac First and support our local farmers and vendors,” said Main Street Manager Sarah O’Brien. Shoppers can find a variety of locally produced and handmade items that make perfect one of a kind gifts!

American Legion (post 86) food vendors will be back at the market this Saturday, December 22nd. They serve barbeque sandwiches, catfish plates, sausage on a stick and soft drinks. Proceeds to benefit US military veterans.

Things you might find this time of year: baked goods (breads, cakes, mini cheesecakes, cookies, fried pies & pies), organic beef, candles, canned goods (jams & jellies, marmalades, preserves, chow-chow, pickled vegetables, salsas & relishes), artisan Texas cheese, organic chicken, free-range eggs, organic tilapia fish filets, local raw honey, jewelry, plants (cacti, bedding plants, house plants, fruit trees, trees & whips), organic pork, smoothies, soaps (lye and herbal), sugar cane syrup, tamales, vinegars, fruit wines and wood products. LOCAL PRODUCE: frozen shelled beans (butter, baby Lima & pinto), unshelled pinto beans, beets, bok choi, Chinese cabbage, eggplants (5 types), greens (arugula, broccoli, Swiss chard, collards, kale, mustard, sorrel, spinach & turnip), herbs (3 types of basil, 3 type of mint, rosemary & thyme), lettuce (red leaf & others), frozen shelled peas (blackeyed, brown Crowder, Lady cream, purple hull & zipper cream), unshelled purple hull peas, pecans (cracked, shelled & unshelled), peppers (banana, green Bell, cayenne, cow horn, habanera, jalapeno & serrano), persimmons, sweet potatoes, radishes (cherry bell & Diakon), squash (banana, butternut, pinata, spaghetti and winter), tomatoes (green & red) and turnips.

If you would like to sign up for the weekly Farmers’ Market email update, please send an email to obriens@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us. You are also more than welcome to visit http://www.nacogdochesfarmersmarket.com. Also be our fan on facebook@NacogdochesFarmersMarket.

The Nacogdoches Farmers’ Market, located at the “hitch lot” at the corner of West Main and Pearl Streets, is open from 8 a.m. until noon or later every Saturday morning. If the market parking lot is full, additional parking is available in the Nacogdoches County Courthouse Annex parking lot
Please note that the Farmer’s Market is a “Smoke Free” facility for the health of our customers and vendors.

Great Read!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2012/07/27/5-steps-for-small-businesses-to-revitalize-local-economies/

Kennedy’s Jewelers has served Nacogdoches for nine decades.

Nacogdoches – The City of Nacogdoches Main Street Program is organizing another Cash Mob in historic downtown Nacogdoches, on Saturday, July 14th from 12 to 2 p.m. at Kennedy’s Jewelers, located at 201 E. Main Street. A Cash Mob is a twist on Flash Mobs. You’ve seen Flash Mobs online or on television – groups of seemingly random people at a mall or street corner suddenly breaking into coordinated song or dance. Cash Mobs take the spontaneous gathering concept and coordinate it through social media and add a shop local component.
“Cash Mobs are a great way to encourage people to Shop Nac First,” said Main Street Manager Sarah O’Brien.
The concept is to utilize social media to encourage a large group of residents to visit a particular business at a certain date or time and spend money. “Simply Google Cash Mob, and you will see examples from across the nation,” said O’Brien.
Nacogdoches Main Street hosted their first Cash Mob in March, in honor of National Cash Mob Day. “We had a lot of fun with our first Cash Mob, we have just been waiting on the right time to host another one,” said O’Brien, “with the announcement that Kennedy’s was closing their doors, we couldn’t think of a more perfect time to host another Cash Mob.” The Kennedy family has been in business for 97 years on the square in downtown. Kennedy’s Jewelers is a Nacogdoches landmark. “What better way to say “Thank You” for all they have done, then to help them go out with a bang by Cash Mobbing them,” said O’Brien.
To make this cash mob phenomenon a success, Nacogdoches Main Street is encouraging everyone to make plans to come downtown and help us “Cash Mob” Kennedy’s. “It’s simple to participate, just come downtown and visit Kennedy’s between 12 and 2 p.m., next Saturday, July 14th, and leave a few bucks behind,” said O’Brien. “Help show your appreciation for the Kennedy family and all they have down for historic downtown Nacogdoches.” We encourage everyone to join us at the Old Town General Store after mobbing Kennedy’s.
Staff will be on hand to serve you lunch, dessert or drinks and you can visit and reminisce with other cash mobber’s about your memories of Kennedy’s.
For details and information about the July 14th Cash Mob, contact the Nacogdoches Main Street Office at 936-559-2573 or email obriens@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us.

In honor of National Cash Mob day, the City of Nacogdoches Main Street Program is organizing a Cash Mob in historic downtown Nacogdoches, on Saturday, March 24th. What is National Cash Mob Day you may ask? We have all heard of Flash Mobs. You’ve seen them online or on television – groups of seemingly random people at a mall or street corner suddenly breaking into coordinated song or dance. Cash Mobs take the spontaneous gathering concept and coordinate it through social media and add a shop local component. “Cash Mobs are a great way to encourage people to Shop Nac First,” said Main Street Manager Sarah O’Brien. The concept is to utilize social media to encourage a large group of residents to visit a particular business at a certain date or time and spend money. “Simply Google Cash Mob, and you will see examples from across the nation,” said O’Brien.
In determining which downtown business will be “cash mobbed” the Main Street Program has opted to let the public decide. Residents may “like” the Nacogdoches Main Street facebook page and write on our wall, which locally owned- downtown Nacogdoches business, they want us to organize the cash mob for. Residents can also tweet the name of the merchant @downtownnac as well. Voting for downtown businesses will begin at 1 p.m., Friday, March 16, 2012 and continue until 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 20th. Each person may only “vote” once by casting the merchant’s name. Votes will be tallied and Nacogdoches Main Street will announce the business that will be “cash mobbed” on Wednesday, March 21st, just in time to spread the word to encourage local residents to participate in the Cash Mob.
“We highly encourage everyone to mark their calendars for next Saturday, March 24th, to help us make this cash mob a huge success,” said O’Brien. “Also, please take the time to vote for your favorite downtown business on our social media sites.” More details such as payment options, store location, and exact times will be released on March 21st.
For details and information about the March 24th Cash Mob, contact the Nacogdoches Main Street Office at 936-559-2573 or email obriens@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us.

The fourth Lone Star Legislative Summit is set for February 15 and 16 in Nacogdoches, Texas. (Click here for registration info and agenda.)
The event kicks off with the Lone Star Reception on Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hotel Fredonia.
Summit sessions begin with an early breakfast on Thursday, Feb. 16 on the second floor of the Stephen F. Austin State University Student Center and run through the afternoon. Topics include Jobs and the Economy, Education, Healthcare and Natural Resources.
Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst will speak on legislative opportunities at the event’s luncheon.
Rep. Wayne Christian will welcome fellow legislators attending the event to his ‘home territory.’ Rep. Christian’s District 10 includes Nacogdoches, Shelby, San Augustine, Sabine and Jasper Counties.
Dr. Evan Koenig, vice president and senior policy advisor with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, has been invited to bring an update on Jobs and the Economy.
New this year is a presidential election panel, featuring journalists and academic experts. Red River Radio’s Kate Archer Kent will moderate a panel that includes the Houston Chronicle’s Patti Hart, Dr. George C. Edwards III, University Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M University, and Dr. Ken Collier, associate professor of government at SFA.
County Commissioners can earn Continuing Education Units up to 5.75 hours by attending the Summit.
The healthcare discussion will be moderated by State Senator Robert Nichols and will include State Representative Chuck Hopson, Denise Rose with the Texas Hospital Association and Thomas Suehs, head of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
The panelists will discuss how changes in Medicare and Medicaid will affect East Texans.
Rep. Hopson’s District 11 currently includes Panola, Rusk Cherokee and Houston counties. In the 82nd Legislature he served on the Human Services and Natural Resources committees. Senator Nichols’ District 3 covers 16 East Texas counties. He is a former TxDOT Commissioner and sits on the Transportation and Homeland Security, Natural Resources, Health and Human Services and Nominations committees. He also serves on the Sunset Advisory Commission.
The Public Education panel includes State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, former Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Moses, attorney David Thompson and lobbyist David Anderson. Lufkin ISD Superintendent Roy Knight will moderate. Aycock serves District 54 which includes Lampasas, Burnet and Bell counties. He sits on the Appropriations, Public Education and Redistricting committees. Moses is senior educational advisor for Raise Your Hand Texas and the Center for Reform of School Systems. He was superintendent of Dallas, Lubbock, LaMarque and Tatum.
The Natural Resources panel will be moderated by David Alders of Nacogdoches. Rep. James White will join Jerry Clark, executive vice president of the Sabine River Authority and David Blackmon with the El Paso Corporation on the panel. Blackmon will give an overview of the oil and gas industry in Texas. Rep. White serves on the County Affairs and Corrections committees. His District 12 covers Angelina, San Jacinto, Trinity and Tyler Counties. An agribusinessman, Mr. Alders serves on the East Texas Region I Water Planning Group for the Texas Water Development Board.
Cost for the Wednesday reception is $25. Thursday breakfast is $15 and luncheon is $25. A combination registration for all ticketed events is only $50.
The event is produced by the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce and presented by Norbord.
Check http://www.nacogdoches.org to register online, and to see updates on the above information.

Shop local and enjoy the benefits in Nacogdoches, Texas!
Read all about the contest here!

By Margie Johnson
Make the holidays extra special for your clients this season. Create and manage the momentum in your store through a combination of special events, visual enhancements, community ties, special services, and an enthusiastic staff! Create a “buzz” to assure your clients that shopping at your business will be fun and hassle-free.
Here are some stellar holiday-season starters that are low-cost and easy to implement:
• Start with a kick-off-the-holiday party for the staff. Use this as an opportunity to communicate the marketing strategies, ads, public relations, etc., to which your business is committed.
• Play up the value of shopping at your store, i.e., create some “economic stimulus sale items” or create groups of price-point items by clustering them by price tiers, i.e., $5, $10, $15, $20, etc.
• Have a selection of “grab-and-go” pre-wrapped items to assist time-starved customers.
• Make the store appeal to all the senses through smell, sight, sound, touch, and taste. Think of how you can elaborate on each sense.
• Entertain children waiting in the Santa line by using videos, arts/crafts projects, etc.
• Advertise early shopper programs. Next year, get started with early shopper programs even before Thanksgiving.
• Hire runners and/or doormen to help people get their packages to their cars.
• Give children a chance to develop a relationship with Santa. Set up a phone line so children can call Santa. Have senior citizens staff the phones.
• Find space for a coat/package check – “Sack Sitters.”
• Use a photo of Santa with a different child every day in your ads.
• Write a thank-you note to Santa’s visitors. Include a store coupon for a return visit.
• Match up a senior citizens group with needy children and have a Christmas party.
• Offer delivery to nearby offices. Put the runners in big shirts or sweatshirts with a large store logo, carrying oversized bags that also feature your store’s logo.
• Set up a temporary cart or table offering package wrapping and shipping.
• Create an event to communicate via Facebook.
• Silent Night Silent Auction – everyone loves an auction – secure vendor donations, make it cause-related.
• Make a “joyful noise” – carefully select small musical groups to perform in your store, donate to arts/musical council, etc.
• Invite customers to create an ornament to bring in to place on the charity tree. The store can choose two or three charities to support through a $2-$3 donation for each ornament received. Cap the number of ornaments at 50 or 75.
Select a combination of promotions and ideas that will give your business a competitive edge this holiday season. MAKE BUSINESS HAPPEN – don’t wait for it to happen!