Lewisville Old Town Business Association

In a world where giving a good deal is the difference between making a sale or not; a small business must get creative to not only bring a client through their doors…but then keep them coming back for more.

In January of 2011 I got phone call from a gentleman with a company called GroupOn. He mentioned he found me after looking at the OTBA website. He clicked on the link that was provided and really liked my work. After I determined this wasn’t just a random sales call, my question was…what’s a GroupOn?? He explained it to me and I thought, why not?! I figured it was either going to be the greatest thing for my business or a colossal waste of my time and money. But I’m an adventurous girl, so I told him let’s try it! It took a few months to work out the deal I was going to offer and they were very helpful in coming up with suggestions that would work well for my business. It ended up running on St. Patrick’s Day and even with the forewarning of GroupOn telling me to set aside my day, keep a notepad handy, keep your phone charged, and be prepared for A LOT of phone calls and emails. Let me tell you I was not prepared mentally for what happened! And boy…they weren’t’ lying! All in all I ended up booking over 330 clients!! At the end of the day I was in shock! So many questions came into my head… How do I handle this many clients? When do I book them? How do I handle this many clients!! The next day I hit the ground running. I shot 2 sessions that evening and thought…I can do this! I started booking 3-4 in a day a few days out of the week and then got their edited photos to them in a few weeks-easy!

Skip forward to fall. Every Photog knows fall and spring are where it’s at for getting booked up! I got booked up through the end of December by October. But it still didn’t stop clients from calling me the week before Christmas wanting to get their family in for their Christmas Pictures. Did they think I was JC Penny’s where they can just come in on their lunch break? What was wrong with these GroupOn people?? Well, looking back and after talking to different clients about it, I found out that most were not educated in the fine art of being a professional Photographer and that most of us just don’t shoot & burn {Shoot the session and then immediately burn the images to a CD.} Most of us like to tweak them just a little to add that special creativeness we like to express! It takes time… a lot of time. Most of what I do is in front of the computer in my office. Not what most people envision when they ponder the life of a pro photog!! I do love what I do, but it’s also a business and I have to run it and keep it organized.

With getting so booked up and having so many GroupOner’s who still hadn’t booked their session I decided to extend the expiration date in to 2012 rather than the end of December. Most were okay with it and looked forward to shooting in spring when our Texas weather had a little more warmth to it! But there were the few that were not happy at all. I had one “lady” curse at me and tell me I ruined Christmas for her and her family. I would like to point out here that she called me the 2nd week in December and only wanted to shoot on a Saturday. I chalked it up to the client base GroupOn markets too. A lot {not all} just want a deal and don’t want to start a relationship with the person capturing the special moments in their lives. And in the wise words of Thomas my photog Guru…”Kelly, haters are going to hate!” So I did my best in trying to accommodate all the “haters” and explained I was only one little photog and I would do the best I could for them!

Overall I think my GroupOn experience was a positive one. I have met SO many awesome people that truly appreciate all that goes into being a photographer. I have booked engagement sessions that have turned into weddings, newborn sessions that have turned into first birthday’s and more importantly I have made some great friends! And got to photograph the cutest kids in the world!! I don’t know that I will run another GroupOn deal anytime soon, if ever. Because it really did accomplish what I wanted it to-name recognition. I have a great client list that I am comfortable with. If I ever did run one again, I would definitely make some changes-but live and learn right?!

This post by Kelly Blackall, OTBA President and owner of Blackall Photography

Lewisville OTPS was started in the hope of educating, preserving and restoring the historical buildings in Old Town. Lewisville has a rich history and like other cities we need to preserve that history.

OTPS has helped start the Historical Landmark program and it has a number of homes and buildings with this destination. We also have a number of homes over 100 years old and some with Texas Historical Markers in Old Town: Lane Chapel, Smith Cemetery and the Milliken House.

Old Town Preservation Society wants to keep the past as a part of our town’s future. Looking across Texas, you will see many cities restoring their old town areas with great success. Lewisville can and will be one of those cities with our light rail here now and more businesses moving into the Old Town wanting to be a part of the revival.

We are an old town with young ideas for the future! Come be apart of it with us.

This post by Sharon Ellis, Lewisville Old Town Preservation Society.

Lewisville had the largest African American population in Denton County and this group start meeting in families’ homes, even in the brush.  Anthony and Ida Hembry and Jack and Sara McKenzie donated the land that the chapel sets on today. 

The chapel was founded in 1882 and is the oldest black church in Denton County.  Mr. Hembry and six former slaves organized the Lewisville Colored Methodist Episcopal (CME) church in 1882.  It was a significant social gathering center of our town’s African American community.  In 1902, the chapel was renamed Lane Chapel in honor of Bishop Isaac Lane.

Lane Chapel was declared a Texas Historical site in 2000. But the chapel fell into disrepair with a membership of only 65, they started looking for help to restore the Chapel. After several years the Old Town Preservation Society partnered with the mission group of First United Methodist Church to help the members of Lane Chapel in restoring this wonderful old land mark.

You can see this restored land mark on your next visit to Old Town.  The chapel, located at 615 Hembry Street and led by Pastor Dollarhide, is very active today in our community.

This post by Sharon Ellis, Lewisville Old Town Preservation Society.

Main St Lewisville

As consumers, small choices we make on a daily basis have an impact on the vitality and landscape of our community. The benefits of shopping local are undeniable:

Shopping local improves the economic health of your neighborhoods, our localities and our shopping corridors.  Shopping local creates and retains jobs, sustaining local employment. These people in turn spend in the local economy.  Local independent shops invest more in our communities; it has been proven that local businesses are proportionally more generous in our support of local charities, schools + communities. Thus, supporting local business means a financial contribution to your community. 

Shopping locally saves you time and money. Who doesn’t love traveling less and saving on time and fuel?  Residents do not like losing shops and services in their town but don’t equate this with how they spend their money. 

Shopping locally saves the environment.  Often local shops stock a high percentage of locally sourced goods that do not require long-distance transportation, helping reduce our carbon footprint.  Not to mention, driving less (or walking) to a closer destination reduces vehicle emissions harmful to air quality.

As consumers we need to pledge to think, shop local and commit to patronizing businesses near where we live and work.  Local stores employ your neighbors, pay taxes that support your schools and improve your roads, and contribute to local non-profit groups.

Together we can strengthen relationships that improve our quality of life. So next time before you make a purchase, Think, Shop + Buy Local…help us spread the word!

For more information on the positive impact on shopping local, visit the 3/50 Project.

This post by Amanda Ferguson, OTBA President and owner of nest floral studio and pulp::letterpress.