|
URL: http://www.womenentrepreneur.com/2009/04/stimulate-the-economy-no-problem.html As an editor, I get an abundance of pitches, news releases and factoids on a daily basis. Some go directly to the delete file. Others get a lukewarm reception. But I also see a plethora of innovative and compelling ideas out there in Entrepreneurland. (PR pros take note. There are ways to catch an editor's eye.) Like most entrepreneurs, Brooks and Lynch jumped in when they recognized an unmet need. Lynch says the initial idea for The Right LANES came from a newspaper story about Charlottesville's struggling shops. Instead of shopping at Target, she tought, why not get a group of women together to shop at a series of boutiques where they could make a significant impact and perhaps help keep those businesses afloat? Thought quickly translated into action, and The Right LANES became reality. Lynch's husband, a graphic designer, created a website. The women followed up with an e-mail blast to all their contacts, along with letters to the Obama administrataion and state politicans. "We want them to know that constituents are doing things themselves to help the economy. We want to let people know they can do the same," Lynch says. The bus is filling up fast, and businesses in Charlottesville are eagerly anticipating the potential influx of customers and cash. They've offered discounts and items for gift bags. A couple of boutiques are even closing their doors for the shoppers to browse their wares, sip champagne and enjoy 30-minute seminars on such topics as stress management and dressing for success. Two individuals, working together, have stirred an air of excitement in Virginia these days. Lynch and Brooks took the initiative because they believe they can make a difference. |