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gpnationalcrane · 4 years

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The Ultimate Construction Holiday Gift Guide 2020

Another year is about ready to wrap up as the holiday season is upon us. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be stressful for those in your life that are hard to buy for, especially those in the construction trades. Our goal is to make that process easier for you or your loved one with our top picks for gifts every year!

For more gift ideas, be sure to check out our Ultimate Construction Holiday Gift Guides from 2017, 2018, and 2019 or our past Father's Day Gift Guides from 2018, 2019, and 2020.

I’ve been lucky enough to be able to use many of the tools on this list throughout the year and there are others on the list that I’d love to try because they have been highly regarded in reviews. It should be assumed that the tool manufacturers have given us these tools for free to test out, but none of them have paid to be a part of this gift guide. All tools on this list have been chosen by me, because I think they would be great gifts.

This post contains affiliate links, which earn us a small commission for the things that you buy. The prices in the links are exactly the same as they would be normally!

Ultimate Construction Holiday Gift Guide 2020

Under $50

Zenith Industries ZN700001 Trim Puller Buy on Amazon

Trim Puller Multi-Tool

If you’ve ever had to pull baseboard, crown molding, or other trim work, you know it’s pretty easy to either damage the trim or the wall behind it in the process. I picked up a Trim Puller recently and it makes saving trim extremely easy and greatly reduces damage to the wall. Just line it up with the joint of the trim against the wall, hit the back of it with a hammer and the trim pops loose.

Vaughan & Bushnell 4300 Dalluge Da Bar By Dalluge Nail Puller, 12" Buy on Amazon

Vaughan & Bushnell 4300 Dalluge Da Bar Nail Puller

Whether your building new or demolishing existing, chances are you’ll need to pull a nail somewhere. The DA Bar was another one of my recent purchases and its beauty is the ability to dig its claws into wood to expose sunken nails and the leverage it provides to pull it out. The nail puller comes in 8”, 10”, 11”, and 12” sizes.

Spring Tools PM407 Nail Set and Hinge Pin Tool Buy on Amazon

Spring Tools PM407 Nail Set and Hinge Pin Tool

Removing hinge pins on doors are annoying and using a screw driver can cause damage to the finish on the hinge. Spring Tools not only has a spring loaded hinge pin remover, but also a nail set for those pesky nails that refuse to be driven flush to the surface. Both of these have come in extremely handy for me recently and it’s also another tool that I’ve purchased.

Starrett ProSite Miter Saw Protractor Buy on Amazon

Starrett ProSite Miter Saw Protractor

As every contractor knows, wall corners are rarely ever 90 degrees. The Starrett Miter Saw Protractor, another one of my recent purchases, is a low tech way of finding the exact angle of the cut that you need, whether it’s joining 2 pieces together or making a single cut. This simple tool takes a lot of frustration out of the finishing process.

Malco MSHXLC 6-inch Reversible and Cleanable 1/4-inch and 5/16-inch Magnetic Hex Driver (1-pack) Buy on Amazon

Malco MSHXLC 6-inch Reversible and Cleanable 1/4-inch and 5/16-inch Magnetic Hex Driver

¼” and 5/16” hex head fasteners are extremely common on jobsites and this magnetic driver bit combines those two sizes into one. This bit is a favorite of technicians in the HVAC-R trades, but most will find it to be pretty handy to have for a variety of tasks.

Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker Finder with GFCI Outlet Tester ET310 Klein Tools

Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker Finder

If your house is like mine, the labeling system inside your circuit breaker box is an absolute mess, which makes it extremely difficult to find the correct breaker to turn off when needed. The Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker finder is a 2-in-1 tool that not only can confirm that your outlets have been properly wired, but it can also help you easily locate the correct breaker an outlet is wired to. Simply plug the outlet tester into an outlet, bring the receiver wand to your breaker panel, and run the receiver down each breaker until the light indicates that the correct breaker has been found. Of course, you should ALWAYS double check that power has been turned off to whatever electrical system you need to work on before beginning.

Over $50

Milwaukee Top-Off 175W Power Supply

Preorder on Ohio Power Tool

Milwaukee Top-Off Power Supply

For those in the industry that need to change their electronic devices, like laptops or tablets, this is a fantastic mobile option. It provides 175W of power off of a Milwaukee M18 battery pack and, other than charging electronics, it can also power box fans and TVs, making it an option for tailgating purposes. The Top-Off features (3) different charging ports: (1) AC 120V outlet, (1) USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port, and (1) USB-A port, and all 3 can be used at the same time.

The Top-Off was just recently announced at Milwaukee’s online product showcase, PIPELINE, and is currently available for pre-order with the hope they’ll be shipped before Christmas.

ISOtunes LINK Bluetooth Hearing Protection: OSHA Compliant Noise Isolation Earmuff Headphones, 14+ Hour Battery Life, Included Rechargeable Lithium Ion or AAA batteries, 23dB NRR, 85dB Safe Max Volume Buy on Amazon

Isotunes Link Earmuff Headphones

I’ve included some version of Isotunes on nearly every one of my gift guides, because they offer a rugged product with sound dampening technology. Last year, the brand released a rechargeable, cord free version of their ear buds, but this year, they have released their first set of earmuffs, by popular request of their customers. The Isotunes Link headphones reduce noise by 24 decibels, have an IPX4 rating for water and sweat resistance, provide 14+ hours of runtime on the included lithium-ion rechargeable battery, or 28+ hours with 3- AAA batteries.

BOSCH GLM400CL Blaze Outdoor 400 ft Bluetooth Connected Laser Measure with Camera & Lithium-Ion Battery C & J Direct GmbH & Co. KG

Bosch GLM400CL Outdoor Laser Measure

The Bosch GLM400CL is the coolest laser I’ve ever used, because it solves a laser measure’s biggest problem: sunlight. With the use of a built-in camera and on-screen crosshairs, this measure lets users measure up to 400 feet away without the need to see where the laser is pointing. This laser will set you back around $300, so if you don’t want to spend that kind of cash, Bosch makes plenty of other great laser measures that won’t break the bank. Their GLM30 model has a 100’ range and can be found for around $70 currently.

TRUEWERK Men's Work Pants - T2 WerkPant Technical Workwear, 32W X 32L Wolf Grey Buy on Amazon

Truewerk Work Pants

Truewerk makes some seriously comfortable work pants. You may like your jeans, but your jeans aren’t water repellent, stain and wind resistant while also being breathable and stretchable for increased mobility.

The T3 Werkpants are made for the colder months, as they are fleece lined for additional insulation. I’ve been wearing mine for a couple weeks and they truly do make a difference.

For warmer climates, the T2 Werkpants are not lined, but have all of the same features as the T3. For even warmer climates, the T1 Werkpants are even thinner and more breathable than the T2. I have all 3 versions, most of which I have purchased myself and they’re quickly becoming my favorite pants for not only working, but for a casual look when I leave the house.

Milwaukee 2951-20 M12 Lithium-Ion Cordless Jobsite Radio/Bluetooth Speaker with Built-In Charger (Tool Only) Buy on Amazon

Milwaukee M12 Cordless Bluetooth/AM/FM Jobsite Radio with Charger

If you’re on a jobsite that allows music, this compact 12V battery-powered radio from Milwaukee is an easy-to-transport and easy to use radio and Bluetooth speaker. You’re not going to be blown away by the volume it puts out, but that’s probably for the best, as contractors need to be aware of their surroundings on a jobsite. It connects very easily on the Bluetooth setting and I’ve been pleased with the sound quality and runtime from a 2.0ah battery. It can also be plugged in for infinite runtime and for battery charging.

Dewalt DWST08400 ToughSystem 2.0 Extra Large Toolbox Buy on Amazon

DeWalt Toughsystem 2.0

Modular tool storage can make anyone in construction more efficient, as it helps them stay organized, while also making it much easier to get all of the tools they need on and off the jobsite. DeWalt has recently updated their popular rugged storage solution, Toughsystem, with an updated version called Toughsystem 2.0. It features and easier to use, one-handed latching system, upgraded latches and wheels, the ability to connect new half-width cases, and add interior trays for the deeper boxes.

The Toughsystem 2.0 is also reverse compatible with the original version, other than a few exceptions, but the updates make this storage system much easier to use and more versatile.

Werner Leansafe X3

Buy at Home Depot

LEANSAFE X3 6 ft. Fiberglass Professional 3-in-1 Multi-Purpose Ladder

Ladders are one of the most dangerous tools on any jobsite and much of that can be attributed to using the wrong type of ladder for the task. The good news is that Werner has solved that problem for many different situations with the Leansafe X3. Not only can this ladder be safely used as a step/a-frame ladder, it’s also designed to be leaned against a wall (something that most tradesmen do with other stepladders, but aren’t supposed to), and the back of the ladder can be extended vertically to transform the ladder into a straight ladder, giving the user several additional feet of climbing height.

This Type 1AA ladder has a load capacity of 375 pounds, making it super sturdy to go along with its versatility.

MILWAUKEE HYDROBREAK RAINSHELL JACKET Buy on Amazon

Milwaukee HYDROBREAK Layer Rain Shell Jacket

Fall, winter and spring can come with some pretty cold and rainy days, so it’s important to keep yourself or the contractor in your life dry and warm on those days. I’ve been wearing this Milwaukee Hydrobreak jacket for over a year and it’s my go-to for days I have to be in a wet environment. It’s thin enough to not make you uncomfortable on warmer days, but also provides wind resistance to match the water resistance if you want to wear a thermal layer underneath on colder days. Combine it with a base layer of a Milwaukee M12 heated jacket for maximum warmth.

Helly Hansen Women’s Luna Winter Jacket

buy at helly hansen

Helly Hansen Luna Women’s Winter Jacket

For the female contractors working in cold climates, this new Helly Hansen Luna Winter Jacket is a high-quality, lightweight, waterproof, and windproof jacket perfect for the jobsite. Like many brands have discovered recently, you can’t just shrink down a men’s version of workwear and call it a women’s size, it has to be completely redesigned to meet the needs of the women wearing them, which is exactly what Helly Hansen has done with the Luna collection.

DEWALT 20V Max XR Cordless Router, Brushless, Tool Only (DCW600B), Black-v186, Mini-v186 Buy on Amazon

DeWalt 20-Volt MAX XR Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Router

A few different cordless trim routers have hit the market in recent months and I picked up the DeWalt version a few weeks ago and have been extremely pleased with it. It’s powerful, quiet, and smooth, making it easy to control while adding those finishing touches to your trimwork. It also has plenty of power to cut out windows and doors in plywood for framers.

Keen Utility Men's Chicago 6” Composite Toe Waterproof Metatarsal Guard Work Boot Construction, Tobacco/Black, 11 Buy on Amazon

Keen Utility Chicago Work Boot

Heading into the cold and wet months of the year, it’s extremely important to find a work boot that is not only comfortable to work in, but also waterproof. Keen Utility recently released a new boot called the Chicago, which features their KEEN.dry waterproofing membrane and a cushioned midsole for added comfort. The 6” boot comes in a variety of different versions, including a soft-toe, carbon fiber toe, a metatarsal guard, a women’s version, an Electro static dissipative (ESD) version, and even a low-top oxford version.

Milwaukee Gen 2 Rocket Tower Light/Charger

Buy at Home Depot

Milwaukee M18 Cordless ROCKET LED Stand Light/Charger

Days are much shorter in the later months of the year, making it extremely important to have a good lighting solution on the jobsite. No one matches the collection of lighting solutions that Milwaukee has and one of their latest releases is the upgraded LED Rocket Light/Charger.

With an output of 6,000 lumens on high, this light can be set up and extended to 7’ high in a matter of seconds. The max height helps reduce shadows and its 3 heads can all be angled separately to provide both ambient and task lighting. The onboard changer can also charge M18 batteries while plugged into an extension cord. I’ve had this Rocket light for a few weeks and, if you only need one light that can pretty much do it all, this is a great place to start, but you’ll have to pay for all of those features.

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/11/29/the-ultimate-construction-holiday-gift-guide-2020 from G P NATIONAL CRANES LTD https://gpnationalcrane.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-ultimate-construction-holiday-gift.html

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hilifebuilder · 4 years

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How To Renovate A House

If you’re accustomed to watching home renovation shows on channels like the DIY Network and HGTV, they find home renovations quick and easy, attracting them a lot in the 30 and 60-minute specials at the end. This type of show will pull you into a false sense of security, remove the “boring” or “difficult” parts and make some problems that the hosts always manage to magically fix, make them heroes and make them look gorgeous. Results.

The fact of the matter is, there’s a lot that goes into a home renovation, and it’s not all glaze and glamor. It is important to know what you are entering before you choose your sledgehammer and to gain a solid understanding of what steps you need to take to complete the renovation.

Design And Planning

Check For Fundamental Repairs

Demolition

Structural Carpentry

HVAC Ductwork, Electrical, and Plumbing

Windows

Insulation And Drywall

Finishing The Walls

Flooring

Finishing The Exterior

Additions And Auxiliaries

If you need a contractor, home renovation, or architect in the Toronto, Vaughan, and Richmond Hill area, call HiLife and start your dream renovation today!

#Home Renovations #Custom Home Builders #Home Builders Richmond Hill

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isearchgoood · 4 years

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How Your Local Business Can Be a Helper

Posted by MiriamEllis

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.” — Fred Rogers

This quote is one I find myself turning to frequently these days as a local SEO. It calls to mind my irreplaceable neighborhood grocer. On my last essential run to their store, they not only shared a stashed 4-pack of bath tissue with me, but also stocked their market with local distillery-produced hand sanitizer which I was warned will reek of bourbon, but will get the job done.

When times are hard, finding helpers comes as such a relief. Even the smallest acts that a local business does to support physical and mental health can be events customers remember for years to come.

While none of us gets to live in Mister Rogers’ idealized neighborhood, the adaptations I’m seeing local businesses and organizations make to sustain communities during COVID-19 are a meaningful expression of caring worthy of his humanitarian vision. Almost any brand, large or small, has the chance to be a good neighbor. Please use the following industry and platform examples to spark local business creativity when it’s needed most so that brands you care about can stay helpfully productive during the public health emergency.

Inspirational local business pivots and plans

Everyone at Moz is full of admiration for the way different industries are responding in a time that’s not business-as-usual. My thanks to the many teammates who contributed to this roundup of examples we’ve been personally encountering, and we hope you’ll find an actionable path for your business here.

Food and hospitality

1. From fancy to fundamental, famed Seattle restaurant Canlis quickly transitioned from fine dining to offering drive-thru bagels, family meal delivery, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) boxes from local farms.

2. From pizza place to pantry, multiple restaurants and caterers are putting their supply chain to work for their customers. California Pizza Kitchen is delivering meal kits and pantry staples as a pop-up market.

3. Caterers with big hearts like Kay Catering asked parents whose schoolchildren she normally feeds whether they’d be willing to donate unused lunch fees so her company could cook for families in need. Through the generosity of these parents, Kay Kim is now serving dinner to the residents at the Sand Point Public Housing Center at Magnuson Park as part of Seattle Public Schools’ overall effort to feed its students.

4. Pike Place Market on your doorstep is the offering of Savor Seattle, which has shifted from offering tasting tours to aggregating the iconic products of an entire marketplace for home delivery and curbside pickup.

5. To keep grocery shelves stocked, Santa Rosa, California food manufacturer Amy’s Kitchen has ramped up production by erecting tent kitchens with social distancing so that the company’s canned soups can be produced in greater quantities. Meanwhile, distilleries across the country have converted operations to manufacture of hand sanitizer.

6. Community-support agriculture may well see a boom with the appeal of boxes of fresh, local foods delivered to your door, allowing customers to entirely forego trips to grocery stores. Farm stands have become extra precious community resources. Role models like Heron Pond Farm in New Hampshire are accepting SNAP payments and providing discounts to SNAP shoppers.

7. Caring for our most vulnerable community members, grocery stores large and small are setting senior shopping hours. Raley’s is offering curbside pickup of $20 “Senior Essential Bags” filled with fresh and dry goods. Kroger-owned stores are donating $3 million to deploy groceries to food-insecure communities via their Zero Hunger/Zero Waste program.

8. Looking to the future, Instagram co-founder Mike Krieg has launched SaveOurFaves.com, an San Francisco Bay Area directory of restaurants hosting the purchase of gift cards to keep cherished eating spots afloat. These gift cards, meant to be used later, are in the nature of a small business loan.

9. Serving up support for displaced restaurant workers, Food Network star and restaurateur Guy Fieri has created a relief fund.This Bay Area celebrity has repeatedly come to the rescue in disasters, cooking for impacted communities, and now, offering $500 in cash to unemployed restaurant employees on a first-come, first-served basis.

10. Hotels are housing health care workers in need of lodging, with some 6,500 properties participating in the Hotels for Hope initiative nationwide. Meanwhile, in San Francisco alone, more than 30 hotels have offered housing for homeless Americans in response to local and state government requests.

Home services

1. Contractors put safety first by implementing new sanitary protocols when making home visits. Roto-Rooter is doing an outstanding job of explaining how plumbers will wear protective equipment, practice social distancing, and use disinfectant. They are also publishing how-to videos for simple home plumbing and offering advice regarding sanitary products. HVAC brand Vaughan Comfort Services created this section of their website to explain their enhanced safety measures.

2. Cleaning services are making tough decisions about whether to remain operational. Some, like Molly Maid, are still cleaning residences while implementing increased safety practices, but others are diversifying into the commercial cleaning space, cleaning offices that are temporarily empty. Meanwhile, professional biohazard cleaning services like Aftermath are creating new pages on their websites to describe their in-demand practices for disinfecting impacted properties.

3. Computer repair services are adapting, where state regulations allow, to 100% mobile operations and are fixing issues over the phone where possible. One independent shop, DreamNet Computers, created this page to explain how they are sanitizing devices being picked up or dropped off, and how they can repair some computers remotely if they can connect to the Internet.

4. The landscaping services market is haphazard at the moment, with some professionals concerned that state-by-state regulations are not clear enough for their industry, while others are embracing virtual meetings and 3D modeling with the thought that people working from home will now be more invested in having livable outdoor spaces.

Professional and instructional services

1. Much of medicine has become telemedicine and therapy has become teletherapy, barring cases which require direct one-on-one contact. Practitioners able to navigate privacy regulations can still provide vital patient support. Bridges Therapy & Wellness Center of Fairfax, Virginia is just one example of a practice putting online appointment availability front and center on its website. Check out how the telehealth platform PatientPop has quickly pivoted their roll out for medical clients.

2. Movement, meditation, and multiple forms of self-care have made a quick transition online. Religious institutions are putting their services on the web, from Pope Francis celebrating Mass at the Vatican, to Ann Arbor’s Temple Beth Emeth observing virtual Shabbat and the Imams of the Islamic Center of America broadcasting live, daily lectures from Dearborn, Michigan. I’ve found Indigenous invitations to prayer for healing especially moving in these times. Meanwhile, dance studio Dance Church has thousands of folks boogying to their livestreams, and yoga, martial arts, fine arts, and music instructors have shifted to both public and private online sessions. Check out the business support being offered by Your Yoga Alliance to instructors needing to transition operations.

3. Banks and financial institutions are responding by offering various forms of relief including deferring or waiving fees, and providing some forms of mortgage assistance. With concerns over ATM contamination, some advisors in the financial industry are suggesting customers bring their own sanitizer, gloves, and a stylus to transactions.

4. Realtors can manage most meetings virtually, and thanks to technology like Kleard and Immoviewer, buyers can get a very good idea of what properties look like and even handle closings online. However, it’s vital to follow state and local regulations regarding home showings.

5. The National Association of Bar Executives offers abundant guidance for legal professionals via their pandemic preparedness resource. They are hosting roundtables, publishing lists of tech vendors appropriate to the industry, and highlighting government and philanthropic news.

6. Personal care professionals may be struggling most, with hair stylists, manicurists, massage therapists, and related practitioners having no way to replicate their work via the Internet. Kaleidoscope Salon in Chattanooga, Tennessee held a fundraiser offering a prize of a full year of hair services in order to meet its payroll during its closure. Professionals seeking to maintain client relationships during this pause in business can head to YouTube, like R’s Just Hair Salon’s chief hairstylist Ruchi Sawhney, to demo do-it-yourself beauty tips. Stay-at-home orders are making it harder for people to access personal care products. If your salon has inventory, consider curbside pick-up of health and beauty supply kits, as is being offered by Sally Beauty.

Retail

1. Retail is taking a hard hit, and there’s no gainsaying this, but vendors who can transition at least part of their operations to e-commerce selling may be able to remain operational simply because the demand is so high now for home delivery. If you are sitting on unsold inventory and are having trouble imagining how to sell it, check out eBay, which recently announced that it is waiving seller fees to help retailers get their products onto the web for sale.

2. Major clothing retailers like Macy’s and Kohl’s have closed their stores, but continue to sell online. Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette has stated that the fewest employee furloughs have been in their digital operations, and that they hope to start bringing workers back on through a staggered process in the future. Meanwhile, smaller basic clothing retailers like the Vermont Country Store have temporarily shuttered their premises, but are continuing to ship with the proviso that an overload of orders has slowed down shipping speeds.

3. Electronics retailers are finding their product lines in high demand as all of us seek ways to conduct more of life online. T-Mobile stores may be closed, but they are offering free two-day shipping and have published a whole new section of service resources during the health emergency. Best Buy is offering contactless curbside pickup and delivery. Batteries Plus Bulbs has remained largely operational and is supplying the medical field with essential technology, while also offering curbside pickup to retail customers.

4. Plant nurseries are finding themselves inundated with customers eager to plant food crops in any gardening space they have. In my state of California, agricultural businesses are considered essential. Many nurseries and garden supply shops remain open, but — like the San Francisco Bay Area Sloat Nursery chain — are taking steps to limit the number of customers allowed in at a time, and also offer curbside pickup and delivery. Nurseries should be growing as many veggie starts and stocking as much vegetable seed as possible right now.

5. Home Improvement and hardware stores offering free delivery, like Home Depot, and free curbside pickup, like Ace Hardware, have a good chance of weathering this storm so long as customers can afford to improve their dwellings, in which they are now spending so much more of their time. In a related category, large home furnishings brands like Crate & Barrel are selling online and have their design consultants working from home with clients via phone and web chat.

6. Auto dealers have embraced tech to keep car sales moving. Toyota’s SmartPath tool takes customers from inventory search, to applying for a line of credit, to the point where a vehicle can be delivered to your home. I’ve noticed several dealerships deferring first-month payments to stimulate purchases. Meanwhile, General Motors has begun producing ventilators at its Kokomo, Indiana facility and face masks at its plant in Warren, Michigan.

Where to publicize what you’re doing

Once you’ve determined how your business can best pivot to continue serving the public, you’ll want to update your website to ensure you’re communicating your offerings. You should also update your local business listings, as described in the last edition of my column. Beyond this, here is an example-filled list of resources for maximizing publicity:

Blogs

About a decade ago, local SEO experts were strongly promoting the idea of creating hyperlocal blogs to engage communities. Bloggers who were up to the challenge now have platforms in place through which the most recent and useful information can be quickly communicated to neighbors, as in this excellent example of the West Seattle Blog. If your community lacks a hyperlocal resource like this, your business could be of great help in creating one now. If such a blog is already in place, see if your business can contribute content.

Hyperlocal business association sites

If you don’t want to go it alone in creating a blog, joining with others in a local business association like the West Seattle Junction or Chamber of Commerce will enable many hands to lighten the work. Community hubs like this one are publishing vital information including PSAs, updates on which businesses offer delivery and pickup, and highlighting local merchants. If your neighborhood has platforms like these, contact them to see how you can contribute content. If no such resources exist, contact your neighboring business owners to discuss what you can create together.

Facebook

If you aren’t in a position to build a hyperlocal website or blog right now, Facebook may be your next best option. The Yurok Tribe of California is inspiring in their use of Facebook for continuous dialog with their community. Many tribes are role-modeling how to support one another, and particularly the most vulnerable, in these times. The above example shows how one tribe is phoning its elders and has created a hotline to ensure they’re receiving vital services. I came across another example in which a tribe’s Facebook post instructed elders to hang something red in their windows if they needed any help from younger members of the community. Now is a good time to double down on Facebook with any supportive information your local business can broadcast. Of note, Facebook is offering $100 million in small business cash grants and ad credits.

Nextdoor

Nextdoor is a particularly lively community hub and this is a very good time to join it as a business. It should go without saying that publishing anything that could seem self-serving would be a poor choice. Instead, take inspiration from the spirit demonstrated in the above example of a neighborhood converting their Little Free Library into a mini dry goods pantry, or this independent restaurant using Nextdoor to offer a discount to anyone in their industry who may have lost their local job. This is a good, ready-do-go platform for outreach to your community.

Twitter

Check out how the Downtown Business Association of Edmonton is using Twitter to promote virtual local events and a new directory they’re building on their website specifically highlighting operational local businesses. The instantaneous communication capacity of Twitter is a resource your company should consider right now, even if you haven’t done much tweeting in the past. Follow and share the content of other local businesses to create a stronger community with timely messaging for the public.

Instagram

Instagram is proving extremely helpful in alerting communities to offerings and changes, as in this example of a Richland, Washington cookie cutter manufacturer transitioning operations to produce face shields for medical personnel, and providing DIY instructions for anyone with access to a 3D printer.

Radio

This excellent Los Angeles Times article by Randy Lewis reminds us of how radio remains a strong resource even for those in our community who lack Internet access. People are tuning the dials for hyperlocal information about the availability of resources, for comfort, and hope. If your business is doing something that would help local customers, consider calling into the nearest radio station to share your story. Obviously, avoid being overly-promotional, and do consider whether this might be a good time to invest a little more in formal radio advertising.

Newspapers

Almost any town with a newspaper is printing abundant information about community resources right now, including lists of operational companies like this one in the Marin Independent Journal. Reach out with your news and volunteer to be interviewed to spread the word about how your business is serving the community. These unstructured citations from trusted online news outlets can help local searchers find your business and even boost your rankings. Consider paid news ad spots as well, if it’s in your budget.

Local television and video media

youtube

I thought this multi-location appliance company, Airport Home Appliances, did an excellent job with their local TV ad spot regarding their current operations, which they also posted to YouTube. Your audience is mainly homebound now, and Nielsen finds that local TV is becoming the preferred choice for accessing news and information in the United States. If it’s in your budget, even a basic local television ad could reach many customers at this time. If now isn’t a good time for your brand to invest, get something up on YouTube and embed it on your website.

Local, regional, or industry podcasts

If your area or business category is lucky enough to have a good podcast, reaching out to the podcaster to share what your business is doing could help you broadcast your offering to a wider audience. Check out this episode of the Tennessee Farm Table (theme song guaranteed to get stuck in your head), in which podcaster Amy Campbell gives a running list of Appalachian businesses providing local food to residents. Whether you simply get mentioned or take the next step of being interviewed by a podcaster, this medium is one to embrace. And, if your area has no local podcast, think about launching one to create a more connected community.

Being the helpers

Fred Rogers Memorial Statue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Image Credit: Wally Gobetz.

I hope you’ve seen something in this article that could help support your local brand’s goals to sustain itself in the coming months. A commonality across all the examples I’ve reviewed of COVID-19 business adjustments is that regular, open communication with customers to understand and meet their needs is simply essential right now. Your customers’ stated requests are your best playbook for this unscripted moment.

It’s my heartfelt wish that you’ll see the fruits of today’s extraordinary efforts in tomorrow’s customer loyalty. My teammate, Dr. Pete, recently shared an article with me in which the author described how Marks & Spencer’s provision of clothing during Great Britain's World War II textile rationing earned decades of devoted patronage because customers felt the retailer had “been there” for them when it mattered.

Being there at the present may mean transitioning some operations online, onto street curbs and parking lots, or into delivery vans, and how you communicate availability matters more than ever before. I’m inspired by seeing the ingenuity and kindness of the “helpers” Fred Rogers spoke of, in community after community.

There’s no denying that this is a challenging time for local search marketing, and yet, at the same time, local promotional skills have never been more critical. Take a second to imagine our communities if we were still limited to once-a-year phone book updates of business information, and I think you’ll quickly see just how vital a resource the local Internet has become.

Can you be a helper today? Please, comment about your own business, your clients’ brands, or any company in your town that you’re seeing make a special endeavor to serve communities. Your story could spark a new idea for a local business owner to keep a neighborhood or even an entire city afloat. Thanks for being a helper.

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selectrestorationtoronto · 2 years

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No matter how big or small the job is, we will always protect your property from dust. ⁣⁣It can take a bit of time to set things up properly, but in the end we save time on cleanup, and it keeps our customers happy!⁣ ⁣ We have developed a "Dust Control Plan" to deal with the inevitable dusty mess that is part of nearly every restoration project. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ✅ Floor Protection⁣⁣⁣ ✅ Containment Barriers ⁣⁣⁣ ✅ Zipper Doors ⁣ ✅ HEPA Negative Air Machines⁣⁣⁣ ✅ Depressurize the Work Zone⁣⁣⁣ ✅ Adjust the HVAC System⁣⁣⁣ ✅ Work/cut Outside ⁣⁣⁣ ✅ Daily Jobsite Tidying⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ Dust can damage furniture, upholstery, carpet and ruin the finish on a hardwood floor. Dust can make its way far beyond the work area, landing on furniture, lamps, photos and upholstery with the slightest breeze, and can even be distributed through a home through ductwork.⁣⁣ It is important to have a "Dust Control Plan" for any type of damage restoration or renovation project.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 📢 Make us your FIRST CALL in an emergency!⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #callthemfirst #selectrestoration #toronto #waterdamage #firedamage #restorationcompany #etobicoke #mississauga #vaughan #markham #torontoarea #nationalhomeshow #contractor #interiordesign #baeumlerapproved @baeumlerapproved #bryanbaeumler #hgtv #insurance #damagerestoration #floodcleanup #waterrestoration #watercleanup #renovation #restore #iicrc #certified https://www.instagram.com/p/CcirsXjAh6t/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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daynamartinez22 · 4 years

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How Your Local Business Can Be a Helper

Posted by MiriamEllis

Inspirational local business pivots and plans

Food and hospitality

8. Looking to the future, Instagram co-founder Mike Krieg has launched SaveOurFaves.com, a San Francisco Bay Area directory of restaurants hosting the purchase of gift cards to keep cherished eating spots afloat. These gift cards, meant to be used later, are in the nature of a small business loan.

9. Serving up support for displaced restaurant workers, Food Network star and restaurateur Guy Fieri has created a relief fund. This Bay Area celebrity has repeatedly come to the rescue in disasters, cooking for impacted communities, and now, offering $500 in cash to unemployed restaurant employees on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Being the helpers

Fred Rogers Memorial Statue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Image Credit: Wally Gobetz.

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vaughanair-blog · 6 years

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Vaughan Air provides reliable AC, Water Heater, Furnace, Fireplace Installation services in Toronto. All our technicians are highly skilled, licensed, experienced & committed to delivering high-quality services. We are always ready 24/7 to serve our customers. For more information, Call today at 647-887-6418 & schedule a routine maintenance service.

#HVAC contractor Toronto #air conditioner repair Toronto #AC Repair Toronto #water heater repair Toronto #furnace repair Toronto #Fireplace Installation Toronto #Water Heater Installation Toronto #Air Conditioner Installation Toronto

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xaydungtruonggia · 4 years

Text

How Your Local Business Can Be a Helper

Posted by MiriamEllis

Inspirational local business pivots and plans

Food and hospitality

9. Serving up support for displaced restaurant workers, Food Network star and restaurateur Guy Fieri has created a relief fund. This Bay Area celebrity has repeatedly come to the rescue in disasters, cooking for impacted communities, and now, offering $500 in cash to unemployed restaurant employees on a first-come, first-served basis.

Home services

Professional and instructional services

Retail

Where to publicize what you’re doing

Blogs

Hyperlocal business association sites

Facebook

Nextdoor

Twitter

Instagram

Radio

Newspapers

Local television and video media

youtube

Local, regional, or industry podcasts

Being the helpers

Fred Rogers Memorial Statue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Image Credit: Wally Gobetz.

0 notes