Comments on: The Death of Akron, Ohio

By: Ralph Bormet

Ralph Bormet — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 16:25:18 +0000

Dear Mr. Kessel:
I stumbled on this thing about the death of Akron a few days ago and, after adding it to my Favorites column, I finally read it. As an ex-Akronite who moved to Florida 32 years ago, I agree with your analysis (though I only came back once in 1986). After that trip, I wrote an opinion piece in a now-defunct weekly newspaper based in Oviedo, Florida called the Oviedo Outlook. In it I relayed my disappointment with the attitude I saw in Akron merchants and employees. I recommneded that a campaign called “Thumbs Up Akron” be started that would mimic a camppaign done by a bank in Orlando called “Thumbs Up Florida”. In a nutshell, I recommneded:
1. Inventory the assets you have in hand.
2. Forget about any glory days from the past; focus on the present while planning for the future.
3. Project an attitude of pride, confidennce and gratitude to each and every person (especially customers).
4. Use the greatest resource you have–your brain–to imagine the future you wish to create.
5. Then, just do it! (But make it an area-wide effort).
Sincerely,
Ralph Bormet

By: Will Kessel

Will Kessel — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 01:14:07 +0000

Well, my thing with Seth is that… see, I read him every day. I know what he’s on about; he’s one of the only marketers out there that understands that the marketing target’s self-image is at least as important — if not *more* important — than the marketer’s — if a marketing campaign is to be successful. He encompasses the emotional/spiritual end of the issue as well as the logical/technical/business end of it. He’s obviously a smart guy.

After reading that statement, I was positive he made an unfortunate choice of words; dissing an entire area for one or two people’s actions/attitudes just ain’t his style. My big problem is with the response the NEO area gave to what to me was a simple, if not rather unfortunate, error: it made us look like a two-year-old that just had their dewie taken away. Seriously. David Geffels said it, too, (account or Bug-me-not required) and in the Akron B-J no less.

What kind of image does that convey? To me, it means that my beloved hometown area has a severe inferiority complex, and we’re quite touchy about it.

Touchy enough, in fact, to respond in a totally puerile fashion (pronounced: “pure’ -isle”; it means ’seriously childish’ or ‘immature’). I was appalled and embarrassed, truthfully. Think about it: NEO bloggers are the self-appointed ambassadors to the rest of the world; we have the power and technology to enhance — or discredit — our area with the simple, lightning-quick click of a mouse. And this is how we respond? Totally puerile.

Not necessarily incorrect, mind you, but puerile nonetheless. We need to stop and think before we fly off the handle next time (and, yes, there *will* be a next time — unfortunately).

OK, enough pontificating; the event is over; let’s bury it. ;-)

So… now to techfutures.net… Ummm… yeah… I took a quick look at your site… finding it a bit familiar-looking, I decided to View Source… hmmmm… yep! there it is, just as plain as day! You’re a client! I can tell an Optiem site from a mile away! ;-)

I’m not sure how involved I can get with the process without talking to my higher-ups first. I also have a significant lack of free time for the next 3 or 4 months, so I’m not too sure what I can do anyway.

Talk? I can do that anytime. ;-)

I’d be more than happy to meet with you; let’s get together some day after work and quaff a beer.

By: Chris Varley

Chris Varley — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 17:26:59 +0000

Will, I mentioned your commentary in my own take on Seth’s visit, as I think you present the most balanced and articulate view on the whole issue (I used mine to make a few other points, and was intentionally a bit flip in the process).

I’d appreciate your thoughts on what we’re trying to do with TechFutures, and to meeting with you personally at some point. url = http://www.techfutures.net

By: Will Kessel

Will Kessel — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 22:33:25 +0000

Finally, a couple of folks who get it!

To both of you: of course, there are many more local independent restaurants than I have listed here — many of them quite good (I even left out my favorite, the Beach Club Bistro in Euclid). I was speaking of a ratio rather than an absolute number, however; perhaps I didn’t make that as clear as I should have.

I do note with interest your comment, Michael, about running a local bakery for 48 years, the last few on fumes; that’s exactly what I am talking about: we tend to see the chains move into our area and give up almost immediately. I give you a lot of credit for hanging in there. Plenty of those independent restaurants, groceries, bakeries and such have either fallen by the wayside, or — as you said yourself, Michael — are running on fumes.

It’s not the chains’ fault; one look at the West Side Market will tell you that the little guy can thrive with virtually insurmountable competition right across the street. Very few at the WSM gave up when Dave’s moved in; they dug in and did what they had to do — and if you ask them today, they’ll tell you that they have no fear of Wal*Mart at Steelyard Commons.

Why? They honestly believe in themselves. They don’t have grand delusions about how difficult things are. They’re not in a state of denial. They don’t complain at the first sign of struggle. They see what needs to be done and they do it. They welcome the challenge rather than complain that someone’s targeting them.

Such is the level of their self-esteem, their self image.

And *that’s* what Seth Godin was talking about — and nothing else.

(Michael — you didn’t leave your URL, so I couldn’t take a look at your site; if you want to send it over to me, I’d be more than happy to take a look at it.)

By: michael feigenbaum

michael feigenbaum — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 11:55:53 +0000

i think you limit yourself, we have hundreds of local independent restaurants, unfortunatly most local consumers belly up to the chains by the thousands and the locals get the crumbs. the reality is that is the facts,a wall-mart grocery dept. single-handed outsells all the farmers markets in the area combined, the cheesecake factory is pissed because they only gross 5 million per year in legacy village, i own a local bakery that has survived for 48 years but we have stayed open running on fumes for the last few years. we have been on the food channel, featured in better homes and gardens, bon appetite, and many local papers. we support and vend at the north union farmers market, we sell more product at one 4 hour market than all day /all week in our store (holidays excepted) the conundrum is hard to ignore. this is not bitching, negative or limnited thinking. it is real life facts. outside the box? look at my website and let me know if you think it rates as fresh and top-shelf.
michael@lucy’s.

By: Adam Harvey

Adam Harvey — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 15:41:27 +0000

Will, I’m gonna have to disagree with you about “we have virtually no independent restaurants here.” A quick list that I’ve eaten at: Udupi, Phnom Penh, El Tango Taqueria, Empress Taytu, Sage, Parallax, La Dolce Vita, Mama Santa’s, Max’s, Stevenson’s, Heck’s, Johnny Mango’s, Great Lakes Brewing Company, Two Amigos and Fulton Bar and Grille. Cleveland is crawling with independent restaurants.