COMMUNITY
BUS I NES S
EDUCATION
NEW PALTZ
REGIONAL
CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
TOURISM
REGIONAL
REPORT
SUMMER 2011
A QUARTERLY BUSINESS NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
THE INSIDE TRACK
IN THIS ISSUE Weaving a Website
By Kelley Granger
10
S
22
The Bottom Line
24
Member Profiles
The Business Benefits of Trend Tracking
ee if you can figure out what the following things have in common: An “ownerless” society driven by fractional ownership and experiences that demand less responsibility. Marketers who monitor customer moods via social networking channels—and respond to them. Consumers who define a healthy, toned body as a status symbol in the way past generations may have viewed a fancy car or a big home. Although they may seem completely unrelated, they all fall onto www.trendwatch.com’s list of the top 11 consumer trends for this year. Trend tracking provides a fascinating look at the things that drive the consumer mind, and being in touch with these ideas provides an invaluable platform for inspiration, innovation and potentially winning new clients. Continued on p. 12
Staking out a digital presence for your business is a must. We talk to the experts about best practices and tips for the web.
U.S. economy’s service sector grows for 18 months in a row; pet industry bucks recession; SUNY an economic engine.
G. Steve Jordan Gallery, Moondance Ridge Bed & Breakfast, A Tavola, Mid-Hudson Acupuncture
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