Harvest Coffeehouse and Beanery in Bay City, MI

When we travel we love to visit other independent coffeehouses. Before coming to the island, we found the Harvest Coffeehouse and Beanery at 810 Saginaw Street. After many travels to independent coffeehouses in cities all over, it's still really hard to find a decent espresso-based drink. So, I have to admit that my expectations are generally low when I walk into a coffeehouse. However, on this trip, I was very pleasantly surprised and pleased when I tried the cappuccino at this coffeehouse. I brought Lorna back the very next morning and got talking with the new owner, Erin. Erin tells me he recently bought this from his brother and will be re-launching the coffeehouse under a new name. He also mentioned he had recently joined Baristaexchange.com, so I told him I'd try to find him and add him as a friend on that quickly-expanding network. Erin roasts his own beans and is learning the ropes from his brother, who will keep the Harvest name for their coffeehouse they recently opened in Frankenmouth. Roasting your own adds a whole new skill set and complicating process to your cafe operation, and they do a great job. Their espresso was rich, creamy, full, chocolaty, and just fantastic. If you're in Bay City, check them out!

Marketing to Generation "Y"

Here I am with another post after two years of nothing. No one told me that life would get so busy with a child!? However, I want my rededicate my efforts to get and stay web 2.0 these days. This includes with the coffeehouse and my job as Howell DDA/Main Street Director. Apparently, generation "Y" won't discover Howell without the use of new technology, specifically, their cell phone. I just finished a Michigan Downtown Revitalization Conference in Bay City which was all about the future of marketing, particularly to generation "Y." This generation was born between 1979 and 1994, but can't be defined only by age. They are also defined by behavior. The more I discover new ways to use my cell phone/blackberry/MP3 player, or whatever this device is, the quicker I become more like Generation Y, despite my 36 years. The keynote speaker was Marianna Hayes, from Team Halo Consulting. She was really inspirational and had great information on marketing to this generation. Oh, by the way, this generation represents 45% of the world's population. So, if you're in business you better be thinking of this.

I'm actual writing from Mackinac Island at this moment. We decided to keep heading north after the Bay City conference. Lorna and I wanted to show Julian where we got married in 2000. We have a lot of great memories from our wedding and other trips we've taken to the island. Many think it's corny, but there's an undeniable charm, too. Can you say "no cars?" It's not many places you can here the clip-clop of horses hooves anymore.