HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.14.17 Forbes Award
City of Plainview/Main Street NEWS
901 Broadway St.
Plainview, TX 79072
September 14, 2017
The Rusty Rose selected
as a finalist for the
Forbes Main Street Award
th
The Rusty Rose, located at 110 E. 5 Street, was selected as one of 15 finalist in the Paid
st
Marketing Category for the 1 Annual Forbes Main Street Award.
One winner will be selected for each category and featured on Forbes.com and in the
December 12, 2017 issue of Forbes magazine. In addition, there is a Viewer’s Choice Award
nd
where votes are cast daily through Friday, September 22. Votes can be cast once a day at
www.mainstreetawards.forbes.com/voting.
“This is an amazing honor for Andrea, downtown Plainview and the community,” said Melinda
Brown, Main Street Manager. “The Rusty Rose was one of 15 businesses in the nation selected
for this honor and one of only two in Texas. She brings recognition not only to her business but
to Plainview as well.”
Forbes Main Street Awards are designed to champion the positive impact of small businesses
that are leading the way forward by taking big steps for both their businesses and their
community. To qualify, a business must be a for-profit Main Street business, rather than a
company with a national footprint, operates primarily in one American community or region
and is not funded by venture capital. In keeping with Forbes 100-year tradition of promoting
entrepreneurial capitalism, the awards are intended to celebrate innovative, surprising local
players who might otherwise escape Forbes’ notice. The contest is sponsored by Canon U.S.A.
Inc. and in addition to coverage in Forbes, winners will get an engraved award and a Canon
Maxify MB5420 Wireless Small Office All-in-One Printer.
“I was so surprised that I had been chosen as a finalist,” said Andrea Glenn, owner of The Rusty
Rose. “The community as well as my online customers have been my biggest supporters and I
am just happy to be nominated.”
Entrants were required to complete a brief questionnaire about their business and the category
or categories to which they are applied Entrants could also upload a one minute or less video
“elevator pitch” for consideration with their questionnaire. Below is the questionnaire
submitted by The Rusty Rose:
With so many shopping choices out there, providing as many options as possible as well as giving
customers an easy and fun shopping experience is my goal at The Rusty Rose. Through Instagram, I use
professional photos with great imagery and local models to not only sell clothing but to showcase the
styling possibilities. As with many corporate and well-known brands, I am selling a lifestyle as much as I
am selling clothing. Nominated as one of the 10 best Instagram boutiques in Texas to follow and top 100
in the month of April for the United State in the Boutique Hub Hot List. We use a mixture of flat lay
photos and live model photography. Facebook and our Facebook VIP Group is the most used social media
platform for our local customers. Facebook accounts are more laid back with a personal and fun touch.
Live videos, polls, personal antidotes and asking for customer’s feedback keeps them engaged and
connected with us. Social media “customer service” is just as important as we respond quickly and with a
personal touch. Customers feel as comfortable commenting/posting a response on the page as they do
with us in the store because of the “personal feel” we use on social media. Flash sales, specials discount
and exclusive items only shared through social media accounts keep both our local and online customers
wanting more. We have a 80% sale rate on items posted. Our customers know items sell out quickly so
they act fast and we ship fast, keeping them coming back for more. Customers feel like they have a friend
in us when they shop with us through any of our outlets. Today’s customer expects great service and I
strive to give that same great service via social media by a quick response to questions, processing and
shipping orders quickly and providing interesting content. Furthermore, like Teddy Roosevelt said -
“People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care” – my customers are not
going to want to know about my products until they know that I care to provide them with the best
retail/boutique garments that are within their price point, work with their lifestyle and make them feel
confident in their clothing. This philosophy has been the driving force in producing increased traffic,
followers and sales on The Rusty Rose social media platforms.
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