Name of your website?The Day Crop'Inn
Your name?
Jan Grupido
Your Location (city, etc)
Troy MI 48083
Please give us a short summary of your website?
This website details the historic 1830's Halsey Farm House in Troy, MI that is now the home of "The Day Crop'Inn." The Inn is a DAY CROP retreat designed for local users and scrapbooking consultants to meet and work for a day or a weekend to do what they love best....scrap!
What inspired you to launch your own website?
To reach as many local and other local scrapbook and stamping enthusiasts, like myself, as I can to tell them about the perfect location to relax for a day or two ~ a get away to scrap away! My previous company's web site, in the residential real estate brokerage business, drove large numbers of customers to my company. Just prior to selling my real estate company my web presence had become our primary marketing and customer generating tool! No other media provided as large a return for the dollar! I hope to see similar results from my web presence with this site now and as I expand it to reach more people and generate more business!
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
This is the first website for this particular enterprise. I went to webhero.com to investigate their offerings and register my url, once I had selected a name, etc. I used WEbhero because they had hosted and serviced the website for the real estate brokerage company that I owned and operated for 15 years and just recently sold. I had launched that website back in 1996 and have NEVER looked back. Web presence is a "MUST" when it comes to business in the new millenium!
How did you decide on a name for your website?
I named the site directly from the company name playing off the concept of a cropping "Inn" retreat but with the advantage of offering "day crops" and not a "pillow stop." The beautiful old building I own, where I house this business, was the site of one of my real estate branch offices. Due to it's age and character it lends itself beautifully to this new business.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
The concept that it is not intended for overnight or out of area customers, generally, makes it unique as a "retreat". It is a local concept to provide a central location for avid scrapping, stamping enthusiasts to get away and scrap away...locally. They spend money on more supplies and product and NOT on gas to travel or a pillow to sleep on. We are NOT a retail store and choose to feature local demonstrators and consultants from the many scrapbook and stamping product lines that MOST scrapbooking enthusiasts prefer to use based on the quality of their products.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
To fully book the Inn and build a local referral client base that refers friends and families to use the Inn because it's affordable, fun and a great alternative to an out of area retreat, especially when time is a consideration. We have the unique ability to host large groups of upwards of 50 people or small get togethers of 4-8 for a scrapbooking party. Even children can enjoy a "scrappin' birthday party" at the Inn...we've already hosted a Baby Scrap Shower!
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
This is a new enterprise. It will be a challenge to make it profitable but that's the fun! I have been VERY successful in previous enterprises I've owned and now get to "work" at what I like to "play" at! It's the best of both worlds!
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Hire a marketing director, interior space designer, manager and staff to service and plan the events and cater to my customers. I would oversee the operation and plan and provide that my success would be their success also. I LOVE having people "buy-into" my dreams and visions for success when I'm able to "share" the success and the accompanying personal and financial benefits. It's HARD to have a place you like to work at....I want my staff to LOVE to work with and for me~!
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Absolutely. Been there once and would consider it a comfortable fit to once again be that successful. I thrive on the challenge of anticipating and planning for growth. My previous company was a $2.4 Million Dollar Gross Income operation with 3 branch locations in 2 counties. I loved managing and directing the company and it's operations and expect to have the same challenges here. It's a little different because it's a "hobby" that's turned into a passion over the last 5 years! Keeping up with the newest techniques etc. requires I resource others which is what growth is all about!
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
The physical setup of the facility was the first challenge. The historic nature of the building lends itself to a warm, at home feel BUT also limits exterior changes to accomodate "ramps" for customers bringing heavy cases etc. of their own supplies. We've adjusted for that with a ramped luggage lane off the rear decking. The business is SO new that it will take a little time to deal effectively with this question, but I anticipate that staffing will be the next challenge. That is a large expense, as I know from past experience, and I want to be sure the staff "fits" the service vision I have.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Marketing is and will probably always be my biggest challenge, hence the website...just to get people to know where we are and what we do. Keeping the offering fresh while establishing a branded identity is my biggest challenge right now. I have to be clear what that is and be SURE I deliver what I promise.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Just started but everything we do will be tagged with the website. Exterior signage, local print media ads, business cards, mailers, coupons, EVERYTHING. Everything SUPPORTS the website as my main vehicle for information, registrations, customer contact etc.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
Nothing unexpected yet. Biggest challenge will be getting it to the top of the exposure lists and various search engines. As I expand I will rely on professionals to accomplish that. It is THE key piece of the branding effort.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
Site has only been up a couple of weeks. I have not yet begun to reap the benefits except by way of an introductory email sent to various lists of the local Creative Memories, Stampin'UP, and Close to My heart consultants...who have been wonderful in their response. That's the first step. I will keep it running until I close the doors....! Hopefully that will only be when I retire OR sell the business, which I don't anticipate will be any time soon!
Would you pay to have more exposure on this particular site?
Perhaps. I LOVE that this is a free service and will do my best to frequent your advertisers. I KNOW how important cooperative commerce is and have been in sales and business as a self-employed individual for so long now that any dollar I spend that can return itself or generate additional revenues at a reasonable rate is a great buy!
What is your website address?
The Day Crop'Inn
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