Introducing Small Business Patch

It's a resource for small businesses.

Patch has launched a new site to educate and empower small businesses with the digital tools, social media strategies and marketing know-how needed to ensure long-term growth. Readers will have access to exclusive interviews with well-known founders and CEOs and small business industry experts who share their experiences, advice and tips for success. One of the latest articles features an exclusive interview with successful real estate entrepreneur, Barbara Corcoran, founder of The Corcoran Group. In this Q&A, Corcoran discusses the how to take advantage of the size of a small businesses, and why making big “mistakes” made all the difference in her success. Click here to read about the tactics Corcoran used to grow her business. …

• Photos (1)

The Mob’s Coming to Town

Show me the money.

The latest small business craze is coming to Wickford Village this week as one lucky local merchant will get the “cash mob” treatment Thursday evening. Not to be confused with flash mobs, cash mobs are a trend that's sweeping the country and aiming to increase sales at select small businesses. Using platforms like Facebook to orchestrate the gathering, event organizers set a rendezvous point for shoppers at a specific date and time. From there shoppers, armed with at least $20 to spend, “mob” a local business. The identity of the business is kept secret until eager shoppers arrive at the rendezvous. “It’s a really great way to promote local business and is just a lot of fun,” said event organizer Alexandra Miller, owner of Johnny’s Barkin…

• Photos (1)

Post Your Small Business Saturday Hours Here

North Kingstown Patch is looking for business owners to tell our readers where they can support small business.

Patch wants to give small businesses in North Kingstown a chance to post their hours and locations for Small Business Saturday in one place so local shoppers can find you. Just add your business name, address, hours, and telephone number in the comments below — and note some of the products you have. If you have a listing on the North Kingstown Patch Places Directory, you can also add that link to your comment so readers can easily find other info about your business.Don't have a listing? E-mail Editor Samantha Turner at samantha.turner@patch.com and we'll set up a free listing for you.

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

NKtaxPAyerAlso

3:52 pm on Thursday, November 24, 2011

Mr. Beattie came and took my leaves, it couldn't have been easier. Thank You CB Landscaping !   more ›

Up to You

Up to You: Foodies

If it were up to you, what would you like to see become of the former Foodies/Bagelz/Wickford Gourmet building?

From Post Road to Boston Neck Road to Quaker Lane, North Kingstown has its fair share of vacant buildings. Some have been empty for years while others see a rotating crop of businesses. But, if it were up to you, what would you like to see happen to these buildings? Each week, we'll feature one empty building, lot or area in North Kingstown and ask our readers what they'd like to see there. A skate park? A community center? A Thai restaurant? A movie theater? What do you want? This week: Last Monday, Foodies of Wickford closed down after just less than a year in business. Before that, the building was known as Bagelz of Wickford and before that Wickford Gourmet called the location home for nearly 26 years. If it were up to you, what …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Mike Burt

9:56 am on Friday, February 24, 2012

Move the chamber of commerce down there. I really never understood why they are in that little hut on Rt 1.   more ›

POLL: Will You Brave The Black Friday Brou-ha-ha?

There are only four days left till the big shopping day.

Named for the color used to show that businesses have turned a profit, "Black Friday" has become a bellwether for predicting how well the holiday shopping season will be. But with America still in the grip of The Great Recession and stubborn unemployment, there's a chance that this year's Black Friday may be proof of ongoing problems. Then again, the first official day of the holiday shopping season — and the deep discounts offered by most retailers — usually draw hordes of deal-hunting shoppers and could be a sign of a rebound in consumer spending. So, which are you — a deal hunter, or someone who avoids Black Friday? Let us know by casting a vote in our poll, and posting your comments below.

•  4 Comments
• Photos (1)

Stephen Greenwell

4:52 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Erin, I totally agree. I'd warn parents to be especially careful on video game prices, an area in which many people aren't really that cognizant. Check out the prices on Amazon and eBay, which tend to be fairly stable, before you wait in line for the big ticket items.   more ›

Up to You

Up to You: Wickford Marketplace

If it were up to you, what would you like to see become of the former Ryan's Market and Wickford Marketplace building?

From Post Road to Boston Neck Road to Quaker Lane, North Kingstown has its fair share of vacant buildings. Some have been empty for years while others see a rotating crop of businesses. But, if it were up to you, what would you like to see happen to these buildings? Each week, we'll feature one empty building, lot or area in North Kingstown and ask our readers what they'd like to see there. A skate park? A community center? A Thai restaurant? A movie theater? What do you want? This week: This summer Wickford Marketplace – commonly known as "where Ryan's Market used to be" – closed down. If it were up to you, what should happen to this building? Sound off in the comments below.

•  31 Comments
• Photos (1)

Mike Burt

9:59 am on Friday, February 24, 2012

Here is the idea. Separate the place into multiple small kiosk style shops with a wide hall down the middle. At the end, put in a restaurant and make the current back into an open deck area for dining. You may think that there is not enough traffic downtown to warrant another restaurant however they draw traffic.   more ›

From the Farm to the Mill

The Coastal Growers Market has moved indoors for the winter.

As the mercury drops, the Coastal Growers Market has moved indoors from its summer location at Casey Farm. From now until April 7, 2012 the vendors of this farmers market will be staking out at the Lafayette Mill on Route 102 in North Kingstown. From homemade ice cream courtesy of Susanna's (winner of best ice cream in the state by Rhode Island Monthly), breakfast pizza from Bravo Wood Fired Pizza, delicious treats from Olga's Cup + Saucer and Seven Stars Bakery, coffee from The Coffee Guy and delectable apples from Barden Family Orchard, the market is brimming with vendors. Missed the market this week? Check it out every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lafayette Mill, 640 Ten Rod Rd.

• Photos (6)

Two NK Businesses Vie for Vacant Building

A consignment shop will occupy the former Gable House Furniture building while Biomes moves on to another facility.

First, word spread that Biomes owner Mark Hall was set to move his business — Rhode Island’s largest aquarium — to the former Gable House Furniture building on Post Road. For Hall, it seemed like a done deal … that is until he drove past the building one day and saw someone else moving in. Hall’s realtor was also blindsided by the move, having no idea that a deal had been closed with another business. The day before, Craig Schennum of Consignments Goods had closed a deal with the building’s realtor to move his business in. “I’m sure Craig [Schennum] had nothing to do with it,” said Hall. “He was just a guy looking for a place to rent and he rented it. I don’t blame him.” Schennum, who has completely moved his business from its former …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

The Avid Antiquer: Wickford Village Antiques & Collectibles

This week's stop: Wickford Village Antiques & Collectibles

Sometimes you walk into a store and it feels like you have been there before, even the first time you visit. There is an at home feel, a coziness that embraces you and invites you in. And when that store is chock full of antiques, the setting is nearly perfect. That is exactly how I felt when I visited Wickford Village Antiques & Collectibles. No matter what your decorating style, and no matter what you collect, you can probably find something you like at this store. It has a great blend of styles and a nice balance of items geared toward both women and men. The store, which opened 12 years ago, is owned by twin sisters Pat Carlson of Narragansett and Pam Medeiros of Galilee. “We'd been in the (antiques) business for a while and we were …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (10)

Poll: Bank of America Backs Down; Do Consumers Win?

Bank of America announced Tuesday it is dropping its controversial plan to enact a $5 monthly debit card fee.

When Bank of America announced last month it would start charging customers a $5 monthly fee for use of a debit card, many consumers feared it was the beginning of a new trend in bank fees. They expected other banks would follow suit, and American consumers would see more money moving from their wallets to big businesses. It never happened. In a surprise move, Bank of America announced it is dropping the controversial plan, according to The Washington Post. The Post wrote: "the debit charge drew a torrent of fury from customers, lawmakers and even President Obama. Faced with consumer backlash, Wells Fargo recently abandoned its own testing of a fee. Regions Bank and SunTrust have also dropped their charges." Is this a victory for the …

•  12 Comments
• Photos (1)

David Bouchard

9:54 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011

Folks, I think you should ignore Mr MH, he's just messing with you. You are arguing with a parody. The more insensed you become the funnier he finds it; he's probably giggling to the point that he's wetting himself.   more ›