RIP Moford's Hallmark

After 25 years the local Halmark store on 410 is closing. When I think about retail business ideas for downtown Sumner this is not one I would choose. The world is changing and handwritten cards become less used every year, especially the ones sent by the postal service who are also in distress.

I believe the stores in Puyallup and Gig Harbor are still open.

Quirky

Just read an awesome story about Quirky, a business that helps people become inventors and then shares an income stream with them. Why is this so awesome? For years, I have met people that had an invention, sometimes even a patent and the system found a way to steal their idea.

Sometimes outright intellectual property theft, more commonly they were working on a shoestring budget and a well funded company fielded a knock-off product. You may win in court, but it could take years to settle the case and many inventors just give up . . . and swear off inventing from then on.

Lake Tapps Polar Bear Plunge

You have to see this one to believe it. People jumping into a lake off Driftwood Park that is fed by a glacier in the middle of the winter. But Patch posted a video, maybe you can join next time. We might go see it next year ( New Years Day), but we aren't jumping in. It is for a good cause, bring some canned food for the food bank. It even brought in romance for this couple. There is even a facebook page for the event. It was organized by Scott Thorsteinson.

Here is an article on the event and here is another. Apparently, this is a big deal in Washington State, here is a story about a plunge in the Sound off Tacoma.

Paradise Pen Company

Here is another business idea, a pen store. Business people and other professionals often like to have nice pens and some collect them. And you can sell ink, pen holders, crafty wooden boxes to hold pens and high end journals as well. Would a business like the succeed in Sumner? That is a good question because a similar store failed and it was right on Main Street and close to the rail, what I think is the best business location in Sumner.

I am guessing the best chance for success would be to also have an online presence. Now the problem with this idea is obvious, people are using keyboards and touch screens not pens. Think about how many people you have heard mention their handwriting has suffered because they use computers for everything. But, if you could be one of the top ten hits on Google for writing pens you would have a shot at making a go of it.

Trader Joes

Caught the Patch article about Trader Joe's not planning to open a store in Bonney Lake, Sumner or Puyallup. Bummer. Though it is not that far away to get to Tacoma where there is one.

Trevor Waltos, Sumner Alumni, is Santa

The Sumner Santa Christmas parade down Main Street on Saturday was a blast, but one person is showing up on media all over including the Tribune. That would be Trevor Waltos, with his natural white beard.
However, truth be told, I think his daughter's, the elves, outgunned him. And the weather cooperated, which is always a plus.

Business Idea: Cinebistro

We went to see the James Bond Skyfall movie at the Richmond VA StoneyPoint Fashion Mall Cinebistro. It is an interesting concept, adult only. You have a meal and a bottle of wine while some lovely scenic footage is shown, then you finish your meal while the standard movie previews are shown. They have a bar so if you arrive early there is a place to hang out.

By staggering the show times, the same staff is able to serve multiple movies, a standard movie theater concept.

While I like the idea of upscale dinner and a movie I do not think I would want to franchise a Cinebistro. The menu is fairly awful and I have had the greatest heartburn from their meatloaf and hamburger and I eat in restaurants all the time and do not usually have problems. So, I would prefer to style it myself. Even better would be to partner with a local restaurant.

One final concern is the economics. I have been to Cinebistro six times and only once was it packed out. There were four couples for Skyfall, now granted this was the 4:30 PM showing and it was a Thursday, but you still have a lot of fixed costs you have to pay.