Your BottomLine Text Version
SeaComm Business Newsletter
2nd Edition 2021
Business Spotlight: Brookwood RV Resort
The Brookwood RV Resort located in Ticonderoga, NY has been a long-standing experience as it has been a campground for over 50 years. Through the years it has had several different owners, but since 2014 has been owned by Mark Jacoby and Buffie Vereecke. The resort offers cabins, tent sites, RV sites with full hook-up, water, sewer, and electric. In the future there are also plans to add a barn, pool, and entertainment complex.
In addition to the peaceful and beautiful wooded campground, they also have a camp store that features local vendors, a variety of gift selections, and camping supplies.
The Resort is in an ideal location as it is close to several New York destinations. When asked what her favorite thing about the location was Buffie stated: “The history is my favorite thing, a lot of people come to explore the rich local history. There is such a variety of activities within driving distance. People could stay a week and could do something different every day.” Within an hour of the campground there is the Six Flags Amusement Park, the Lake Placid Olympic Center, Fort Ticonderoga, and the Lake George and Lake Champlain boat launches.
When preparing for the camping season, Buffie hopes that the cabins, and sites feel like a “home away from home.” The cabins at the Brookwood RV Resort feature a kitchen area, a living area, a bathroom, different bedrooms, cable, Wi-Fi, heat, and even pots and pans are provided.
Their goal is to make people feel welcomed and to make their stay an experience to remember. Part of owning a campground is the joy of having an extended seasonal camp family including those that return every year to their favorite cabins.
One reviewer summed up their experience at the Brookwood RV Resort as, “…beautiful, quiet & peaceful. It’s a great location with access to boating, fishing, kayaking, swimming, hiking & all things Adirondack. The campground has a fantastic store filled with ADK motifs & handmade crafts all reasonably priced. We look forward to coming back!”
When COVID-19 effected businesses last year, they did see a range of cancellations. Luckily they were also able to host a variety of campers that would typically travel out of the state for vacations. As they follow the guidelines; masks are not required at your own site, sanitizer has been added throughout the resort and social distancing (when not within your traveling party) is encouraged. Masks are required when entering the store.
Buffie’s secret to success “…is being a people person, being helpful in the good times and bad times, always keeping a positive attitude, and letting everyone know that they are welcome!” In navigating all of the aspects of business Buffie has also found strength in her faith.
“SeaComm has been absolutely wonderful and very supportive,” Buffie said about her relationship with SeaComm. She continues; “Emily (Member Business Loan Officer) was great and if she didn’t know the answer she would find it for us.”
Currently, the Brookwood RV Resort is open and taking reservations. The Brookwood Campstore is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., seven days a week.
To learn more about the Brookwood RV Resort or to book your reservation you can call 518-585-4462. They can also be found online at brookwoodrvresort.com or on facebook, “Brookwood Rv Resort.”
Contact SeaComm’s Business Lending Department to discover how we can help your business at (315) 764-0566 ext. 285.
Manager's Notebook
A Big Payoff in Taking the Optimistic View
If you're an optimist, you believe that any defeat is a temporary setback or a challenge. It doesn't knock you down.
Using this theme in your life helps you move forward in your work. A positive view helps to prevent illness, improves relationships and increases self esteem. According to Mayo Clinic Proceedings, one study showed that optimists live longer, are healthier, and are more peaceful and calm.
When you find yourself stuck in pessimism, psychiatrists at Columbia University say there are things you can do to revive your optimistic ways. Developing certain skills can change your view of the world.
- Practice seeing the progress you have made in life. That could be in your relationships, work or personality.
- When things go wrong, realize that the situation will only affect you for a limited time. If you failed, acknowledge your own responsibility in the failure, but also recognize if some things were out of your control.
- Decide to be positive even if you don't feel like it. If you smile, your brain assumes you feel good. Act happy and you will begin to feel better.
- Be positive with others and they will reinforce your optimistic attitude. Be upbeat and show interest in them. Laugh at other people's jokes.
- Carry cards with positive statements about your life and your future.
"“Life isn’t perfect, any failures you have are actually learning moments. They teach us how to grow and evolve." -Phillipa Soo
3 Ways Small Businesses Can Thrive in the Future
(BPT) - For the past year, the pandemic has disrupted the world - and small businesses are no exception. While navigating challenges, many small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) discovered keys not only to survival, but to adapting and thriving. New research reveals what SMBs need to weather today's hardships - and future challenges.
Here are the top areas SMBs need to focus on.
- Boost cybersecurity with smarter technology Technology company Lenovo's "Future of Work and Transformation Study" shows that while companies experienced a learning curve moving employees to remote work, businesses are leveraging smarter technology to increase IT security and empower employee productivity.
- Meet consumer demand for omnichannel ordering Since lockdowns began, eCommerce and online ordering has increased dramatically - for everything from sporting goods and retail apparel to housewares and takeout meals. While some businesses - whether independent retailers or restaurants - have gone online for the first time, others worked to optimize their existing online ordering systems, taking into consideration order flow, packaging, delivery systems and end-user experience.
- Leverage social media to grow community Lenovo's recent study also found restaurants that were able to grow their revenue by more than 100% in 2020 maintained a robust social media presence and marketing strategy to connect with local neighborhood diners. These thriving restaurateurs found ways to give back, reward customer loyalty and partner with other local businesses to build a broader customer base.
For independent businesses, surviving - and thriving - despite daunting challenges requires agility, plus the know-how to leverage all available technological tools.
Quick Tip:
Setting small goals is important when managing your finances. It’s better to set smaller, manageable goals for your money, such as saving up a targeted amount of money, or by putting away a specific percentage of your monthly income for the future.
Check out more business tips at www.seacommblog.com
Using AI for Small Business
Artificial Intelligence, once out of reach for the small business owner, is quickly moving into the category of the must-have tool. If you have a website (and why wouldn't you?) and/or use social media, then you can potentially benefit from some level of AI help.
Consider these uses:
- AI can help you analyze customer feedback from a variety of communication channels (phone, email, social media) and adjust marketing and lead generation.
- You can use a chatbot to answer common questions. Not sure how a chatbot works? You've probably seen one before. These often take the form of a popup on the bottom right corner of the screen that asks whether you have any questions. Forbes points out that small businesses that don't have a customer service or sales team yet can use chatbot to free up time to focus on other tasks.
- Some companies have begun using AI in the hiring process, filtering through applications to find the best matches and then later, assisting with onboarding.
- One area that could prove exceptionally useful and efficient is the use of AI to gather and analyze data on competitors' online behavior. Think of how many social media posts or videos your competitors use and how much time you spend tracking and evaluating them.
- Other uses for AI include: time tracking software, legal support bots that help you decipher contracts, and email automation.
Jerry Manor
Business Development Manager
Direct Line: (315) 764-0566 ext. 546
jmanor@seacomm.org
Locations
Main Office
30 Stearns Street
Massena, NY 13662
Malone Branch
3349 Route 11
Malone, NY 12953
Potsdam Branch
6 Sisson Street
Potsdam, NY 13676
Canton Branch
101 East Main Street
Canton, NY 13617
Ogdensburg Branch
3001 Ford Street Extension
Ogdensburg, NY 13669
Plattsburgh Branch
139 Smithfield Blvd
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
South Burlington Branch
1680 Shelburne Rd
So. Burlington, VT 05401
Essex Branch
125 Carmichael Street
Essex, VT 05452
Watertown Branch
605 Coffeen Street
Watertown, NY 13601
Branch Managers
Joanne Langdon
30 Stearns St. Branch Manager
Terry Torrey
Potsdam Branch Manager
Christine Marshall
Malone Branch Manager
Barbara Bessette
Canton Branch Manager
Danielle Uppstrom
Ogdensburg Branch Manager
Yvonne Alterie
AVP Regional Manager/Plattsburgh Branch Manager
Leslie Bush
Watertown Branch Manager
Joseph Feltz
Essex Branch Manager
Joshua Thomas
South Burlington Branch Manager
Business Development
Jerry Manor
Business Development Manager
Jordon LeBlanc
Business Development Representative
Emily Bristol
Member Business Loan Officer
315-764-0566 / 800-764-0566
www.seacomm.org
Let us Spotlight your business!
We are proud of our business members and want to share your story! Contact Jerry Manor for more information. Call (315) 764-0566 or toll-free (800) 764-0566 or email jmanor@seacomm.org
SeaComm
30 Stearns St
Massena, NY 13662
*This publication does not constitute legal, accounting or other profesional advice. Although it is intended to be accurate, neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance on this material.