“I need to drive traffic.”

“I need to get past this recession.”

You’ve heard these statements from small business owners. You may have said one or two of them yourself. Question is, what are doing about it?

Traditional push media advertising has unintentionally excluded the small business owner. Why? Because while radio ads, large scale mass mailings, Superbowl television commercials, and Goodyear blimp advertising are all effective ways to promote a business, are the up-front costs to do so feasible? How can small businesses compete with big box retailers who have the marketing dollars and staff to market their business using these methods? Is there a way to use today’s technology to circumvent mass media advertising methods? Yes, there is…and the answer is as simple as a Road Trip Savings key tag.

One Key Tag to Discover, Save, and Grow Local Businesses…Now that’s an idea!

What is Road Trip Savings?
An easy and convenient way to grow local businesses via our Road Trip Savings universal key tag. Simply put, we’re a cross-promotional, web-based advertising vehicle that offers you the business owner the ability to advertise exceptional discounts, promotions and specials for new or existing customers. Customers receive savings at local businesses just by showing their key tag to save. No more printing or clipping of coupons is required!

CLICK ME TO SAVE EASY

How the Road Trip Savings key tag is forever changing the local landscape for small business.
Recapture and grow the “spirit of community” with the Road Trip Savings discount program and find out, wherever you go, you can discover and save.

How can you benefit:
1. A win-win revenue stream for your business while being a member of Road Trip Savings – Cost: FREE to join with numerous value-added service packages available to meet your marketing needs.
2. Promotional exposure of your business online using email, social media methods, a mobile app and more!
3. A business partner dedicated to helping small business succeed in your community.

Want to help your business in 2012? Drop us an email, give us a call. Connect on Facebook, Follow Us on Twitter. Learn more about how the Road Trip Savings key tag is forever changing the landscape for the better for small business.
issued by: Duane Drzadinski

We are excited to showcase Kathye Franz from Kathye’s Green Mittens, etc!

Website URL: http://kathyesgreenmittens.vpweb.com/default.html

What Type of Business is it? Handmade apparel made from recycled materials (mittens, slipper socks, jean and album purses)

Where are you located?
We are newly located in the historic Marion Center at 3211 S. Lake Drive, Suite 323 in Saint Francis, near the Cousins Center.

What items of interest should customers be aware of that frequent your shop?
We cater to customers looking for one of a kind unique wearable art. We sell Mittens, Purses, Slipper Socks, Jean Jackets, Scarf’s with “Bling” and many more wearable recycled fun art wear.

During the month of December, we donated 50 pairs of mittens to those in need for the TravelWisconsin.com Great Lakes Mitten Campaign. The mittens were donated to local charities.

In addition, we proudly donate one pair of mittens to a homeless shelter for every 20 pair sold. It’s our way of giving back.

Your Road Trip Savings coupon offer(s)?
Our current special is Buy One Pair of Mittens and Receive a Second Pair at 33% Off!

We are excited to showcase Patricia Delmenhorst from Socialtique, LLC. Pat is not a typical crafter that makes and sells her creations at craft fairs. You will rarely find her at a craft fair unless it is a community or non-profit event.

Website URL: http://www.socialtiques.org

What makes Socialtique special to the community?

Socialtique’s business model is to sell quality jewelry and boutique items at conferences and non-profit fund raising events and to give back a minimum of 10%-20% of sales to the sponsoring organization. Socialtique supports multiple good causes – everything from scholarships for students to services for the elderly. I can also plan boutique events for any worthwhile cause. My next event is in support of Interfaith Older Adult Program’s Foster Grandparent program. This program matches low income seniors with students in MPS that need tutoring, extra love and support.

Why did you start Socialtique?

I started Socialtique as a post-retirement venture. For the past 15 years I have worked in the non-profit world and I understand the great needs in our community. I wanted to take a passion for treasure hunting and jewelry making and do it with a purpose. The repurposed jewelry that I make will now have a purpose unique to each organization that hosts an event.

When is your next event?

We are hosting our inaugural Holiday Boutique and Cookie Tasting event on Saturday, November 12, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Radisson Milwaukee North Shore located at 7065 N. Port Washington Road in Milwaukee. It is our Grand Opening Event in support of the Foster Grandparent Program of Interfaith Older Adult Programs. Learn more about the work of foster grandparents by visiting: http://home.interfaithmilw.org/fgp

Come join us for this fantastic event!

What type of vendors will be participating with Socialtique?

We have a variety of vendors joining us with a wide selection of gifts and price points. Currently, they include:

• Twisted Knot Designs

• Aprons from Dominican Republic – an Economic Development Project

• Custom Wreaths designed by Barb Smith

• Silk Prayer Scarves by Christine Walker

• Nice to Greet You Greeting Cards

• Knits by Sherri – http://knitsbysherri.com/

• Eli Kase, Jewelry Design – http://www.elikase.com/

• Retro boutique items for the home by Shannon & Bridgett Gallagher

• CeCe Redd Jewelry - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ceceredd

All of the vendors were selected because they wanted to help Foster Grandparents through their registration fee and a donation of 10%-20% of their proceeds. The cookie tasting and fellowship will make the event truly special.

Your Road Trip Savings coupon offer(s)?

At the Holiday Boutique Fair on 11/12/11 we’re going to have 50 enticing grab bag prizes available exclusively to Road Trip Savings members. We’re going to have some great prizes available so please stop by our booth and present your Road Trip Savings key tag to claim one!* * Smart phone users can scan the Road Trip Savings QR(code) available at the Socialtique booth and present the applicable coupon offer via their cell phone.

Anything new coming up in the near future for Socialtique?

I am planning a December event and details will be forthcoming. Check our website, and follow us on Twitter or Facebook to stay current on upcoming events.

Website URL: http://www.beer-hall.com/

What Type of Business is it? Tavern

Where are you located? We are at 1920 S. 37th Street , near W. Burnham St.

Can you describe the Concertina Beer Hall experience?

We’re a historic Milwaukee polka beer hall offering a one of a kind experience that harks back to the good old days of Milwaukee’s rich music history. We feature live polka, rockabilly, surf, etc., every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (matinee shows). Plus, we are now featuring one of Milwaukee’s largest outdoor beer gardens!

Best reason(s) to visit today?

Live music, excellent beer selection, good camaraderie and polka!

We understand you have one of the finest selections of Polish beers in town. So, besides, Tyskie, Warka, ?ywiec, and Okocim, are there any other Polish beers we should try?

Our selection of Polish beers on tap and in bottles is always changing. Stop by to see our latest offerings!

Your Road Trip Savings coupon offer(s)?

Buy any tap beer and get a second one FREE. What’s not to love about FREE beer?

Anything new we should be aware of going on at the Beer Hall?

This summer, we completed our new outdoor patio. With an outside stage, horseshoe pits and a great atmosphere, now is the time to pay us a visit!

We are so excited to showcase Tracey Halvorson from Tobacco World, Ltd.

Website URL: www.tobaccoworldltd.com

What Type of Business is it? Smoke Shop

Where are you located?

We are at 4818 S 76th St. in Milwaukee, near Southridge Mall.

What items of interest should customers be aware of that frequent your shop?

We cater to customers looking for top quality custom blended pipe tobacco, premium cigars, smoking accessories and we handle specialty orders.

In addition, we proudly sponsor the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, a non-profit based organization with a humanitarian impact helping people in the Dominican Republic have a better quality of life.

Your Road Trip Savings coupon offer(s)?

Our August special is 20% off our Williamsburg Pipe Tobacco. Our Williamsburg blend is one of over three dozen varieties of our custom blended pipe tobacco currently available at Tobacco World.

Plus, we are now offering a “Buy 3, Get 1″ FREE special on all varieties of Partagas Black cigars. Don’t miss out on these one of a kind smokes – an attractive sun-grown beauty unlike any other Partagas blends.

The Main Streets conference mission is to grow support, gain economic strength, and learn about the state of businesses in main street American. The conference will 4 days in duration and will create many educational and networking possibilities. We are very excited to be apart of the event and look forward to sharing our experiences.

To learn more about this fantastic opportunity, you can read more at their website:

www.preservationnation.org/main-street/

“Our Milwaukee” is a business alliance that advocates for independent and locally owned businesses and other non-profit groups. Their goal is to increase the amount of money that consumers spend on locally owned enterprises. When you support local businesses, the community wins and we all win. For every $1 you spend at a locally owned business, more than 68¢, versus 43¢ spent at a national chain, remains in Milwaukee. For more information on the event, visit their website, www.ourmilwaukee.net.

We continue to be very passionate about local businesses. They are the backbone of our economy and are truly what made this country great!

We are so excited to showcase Gwen Nelson from The Growth Coach.

Website URL: www.growthcoachnow.com

Year Business Started: 2009

What Type of Business is it?

It is a full service Business Coaching company.

Why did you start this business?

My passion is to help business owners, managers and sales professionals achieve their goals by creating a vision and doing the right things (and nothing else) to help them get there.

Where are you located?

I am located in Southeastern Wisconsin, but will travel, when necessary.

Do you have any upcoming events that we can include in the story to help promote you?

I will be speaking at the 1st Annual Global Convention for the Irish American Business Network in Las Vegas June 3-5. I am looking to have a couple of other speaking engagements solidified in the next few days as well. Check my website as well for the times and dates.

Your Road Trip Savings coupon offer?

Currently, I offer a Strategic MAP (an assessment profile of who and where you currently stand relative to your goals, helps define strengths, areas of weakness and core critical issues), which includes 3 assessment tools and a 60-min individual follow-up session is offered at $125 (half the regular price). This is a one time offer that expires on March 30th, 2011.

Tell us anything else about your story that you don’t mind having published on the web:

My extensive background in psychology gives me a unique perspective and skill-set to help people identify what is most important to them, as well as what might be getting in the way of them achieving their dreams. My clients tell me that I “hear” what they are not saying, which comes from 20 years conducting
psychotherapy.

Connect with Gwen Nelson and The Growth Coach

Facebook: facebook.com/The-Growth-Coach-of-Southeastern-Wisconsin

Twitter: twitter.com/growthcoachwi

YouTube Channel URL: www.youtube.com/user/GwenNelsonWI

We are so excited to showcase Kevin Kapp from TreeGhost.

Website URL: www.treeghost.com/

Year Business Started: 2004

What Type of Business is it?

TreeGhost is a variety of businesses: It is primarily a tree service, we started making hammocks and now manufacture a wearable gps holder. We also own a portable sawmill and make custom log furniture. Within the next year we are looking to expand have our own retail location.

Why did you start this business?

The business started from doing something my brother and I enjoyed doing… climbing trees. We then started to repel out of the trees, soon followed by setting up zip lines. From there we wanted to sleep over night in the trees that we had our zip lines setup in. From there it grew into the wide variety of services and products we offer today.

Where are you currently located?

We are currently located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, as well as the internet.

Your Road Trip Savings coupon offer?

TreeGhost is currently offering a BOGO (Buy one, get one) on our hammocks. Buy one hammock at full price and get the second free.

Connect with Kevin Kapp and TreeGhost

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/TreeGhost