If you wait for the crowd, you are already late. The Rise phase is that quiet but powerful period when attention starts building, people begin thinking about an event or season, and the smartest businesses quietly move first. This is where you lock in attention, loyalty, and revenue before your competitors even start planning. Below […]
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Every year, communities move through waves of excitement. Holidays, festivals, parades, summer markets, fall carnivals, school openings, spring cleanups, and winter celebrations fill the calendar. Yet only a small number of local businesses rise with the energy of these seasons. Most stay quiet and invisible. That is why I created the Seasonal Engagement Activation Curve.
Seasonal Engagement Activation Curve: How Small Businesses Can Win Every Event Season Read More »
If you’re a small business owner in Kitsap County, here’s a number that’ll stop you for a moment. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 61 percent of small businesses say rising costs are their biggest threat this year (source: USCC Small Business Index). That’s something Kitsap owners feel daily, whether you’re in Silverdale, Bremerton,
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The surprising truth small businesses rarely hear Did you know that nearly 65 percent of family-owned businesses in the United States rely entirely on word of mouth and walk-in traffic as their main source of customers? Source: Family Business Alliance. In Kitsap, where tight-knit communities support their own, this sounds ideal. The problem is that
How to Promote a Family Business in Kitsap? Read More »
Small business owners in the USA are stretched thin. One surprising study shows that nearly 40 percent of small business owners work more than 50 hours a week because they cannot afford paid tools or extra help (source: SBA). That means thousands of business owners are trying to grow using whatever they can find that
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The SNAP Pause Is Shaking Kitsap’s Local Food Economy The SNAP pause is creating one of the biggest and fastest changes Kitsap County has felt this season. Families who depend on monthly benefits are suddenly tightening their budgets. Grocery stores are seeing unpredictable buying patterns, restaurants are noticing fewer visits, and food banks are facing
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No Tax on Tips: What Kitsap County Restaurants Need to Know If you run a restaurant in Kitsap County, whether it’s a cozy bistro in Poulsbo, a diner in Bremerton, or a waterfront café in Silverdale, there’s fresh news from D.C. that’s worth your attention. The new “No Tax on Tips” bill just got the
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When Budgets Shrink, Innovation Grows in Kitsap Kitsap County’s small business scene is no stranger to economic curveballs, from federal shutdown ripples to cautious consumer spending. But while many tighten their belts, some local service businesses are doing the opposite: they’re innovating. They’re rethinking offers, refreshing communication, and rewriting the rules of survival. In a
If I were chatting with a small-business owner in Kitsap County over coffee, I’d say: here’s your moment. The event 2025 Fall Forum – Kickstart Kitsap: Winning Strategies for Small Businesses (hosted by Kitsap Economic Development Alliance) has just laid out a roadmap, and it’s one you can step on now, not later. Meanwhile, TheKitsap.com
How Small Businesses in Kitsap Can Tap Into the “Kickstart Kitsap” Momentum Read More »
When times get tough, Kitsap County always shows its heart. During the recent federal government shutdown, local businesses across Bremerton, Silverdale, and Port Orchard have stepped forward to support furloughed employees and their families. From cafes offering free coffee to restaurants rolling out discounted meals, these gestures go beyond generosity, they reflect what makes Kitsap’s
How Kitsap Businesses Step Up During the Shutdown with TheKitsap.com Read More »