LOCAL BUSINESSES RETURN FROM "DESTINATION BOOTCAMP" WITH NEW TOOLS TO CHANGE BUSINESS, ATTRACT NEW CUSTOMERS

McMinnville, TN – Downtown McMinnville business owners Pam Wilson of All-O-K’sion, Brad Kaplan of Capalano’s Café and Roxie St John of Roxie and Darla’s Shopping Bag, returned this week from a Colorado-based business improvement “Destination Bootcamp”, where they learned hundreds of new methods to bring more customers and tourists to McMinnville.  Wilson, Kaplan and St John were among a group of business owners from across North America who attended the two and one-half day, 20-hour workshop.

Pam Wilson with All-O-K’sions is the first flower, gift and limo service from McMinnville is the first to attend the Destination Bootcamp.  “This was a tremendous opportunity to reinvent my business, make it operate better and attract new customers,” said Pam Wilson following her return on Tuesday.

Brad Kaplan, owner of Capalano’s Café is the first restaurant owner to attend from McMinnville.  “The techniques learned were exactly what I needed to expand my business,” said Kaplan.

Roxie St John, owner of Roxie and Darla’s Shopping Bag is the first ladies shop to attend from McMinnville.  Roxie said “I have attended many retail improvement workshops in my career, but this one stands out from all the rest.  It was comprehensive and right on target.”

The two and half day “Destination Bootcamp”, created by marketing consultant Jon Schallert, teaches independent business owners how to reposition their businesses as “consumer destinations”.  According to Schallert, a business using the “Destination Business” strategies can compete effectively with superstores, chains and their own competition while significantly impacting a local economy.  According to Schallert, it is not uncommon for destination businesses to create change in an entire community, by drawing consumers from miles around, from outside the immediate marketplace of a community.

“With the principles we learned at the BootCamp, the businesses will be able to satisfy more of their customers needs and make purchasing flowers, gifts, food and beverages and ladies accessories a much more enjoyable, fun experience.  Additionally, we will be attracting more visitors and tourists from outside McMinnville”, says Chris Wilson, Executive Director of Main Street McMinnville, who accompanied the three businesses to the BootCamp. “With what we’ve learned, there is no reason why we can’t attract customers from hundreds of miles away.”

Main Street McMinnville, through an Innovation Grant from the Tennessee Main Street Program, paid the tuition of $1,300 for each of the three businesses to attend the BootCamp.  Each business owner paid their own travel and lodging expenses.  Part of their duties when they return is to teach others what they learned and implement the strategies together as a team, but collaborating as a single unit.  Each business had the unique opportunity to learn about each other and how they could work together to achieve their goals.  The BootCamp gave them a clearer vision of how to achieve success.

Schallert’s Destination BootCamp is held in Colorado four times annually.  Schallert has worked with independent business owners since 1983, speaks to thousands every year, and is the President of The Schallert Group, Inc. in Longmont, Colorado.  One newspaper called Schallert “the marketing guru rooting for the retail underdogs”.  Business owners interested in attending the BootCamp may contact any of the business owners above or the Main Street McMinnville about their BootCamp experience, or one can visit Schallert’s website at www.DestinationBootcamp.com