Introducing Small Business Patch

It's a resource for small businesses.

Patch has launched a new site to educate and empower small businesses with the digital tools, social media strategies and marketing know-how needed to ensure long-term growth. Readers will have access to exclusive interviews with well-known founders and CEOs and small business industry experts who share their experiences, advice and tips for success. One of the latest articles features an exclusive interview with successful real estate entrepreneur, Barbara Corcoran, founder of The Corcoran Group. In this Q&A, Corcoran discusses the how to take advantage of the size of a small businesses, and why making big “mistakes” made all the difference in her success. Click here to read about the tactics Corcoran used to grow her business. …

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5 Things You Need To Know Today

Rain, Artists, Needles & More

Five things you need to know about East Greenwich today, Jan. 12.

School Finance Advisory Committee: This panel, made up of appointees, meets at 7:30 a.m. in the conference room of the superintendent’s office. They will be discussing the 2013 budget. Hill & Harbor Knitting & Crocheting Group: This group meets weekly at the East Greenwich Free Library, beginners and experienced alike. All are welcome. From 1 to 3 p.m. Artist at work: Every Thursday for the rest of the month, the East Greenwich Art Club will have real live artists at work from 5 to 7 p.m. at the EG Free Library. Come on by and say “Hi!” See just how these painters practice their art. How to Start and Run a Small Business: This workshop is free. It’s being held at the Centerville Seminar Center, 875 Centerville Rd., Building 2, Suite 5, in…

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Post Your Small Business Saturday Hours Here

East Greenwich Patch is looking for business owners to tell our readers where they can support small business.

Patch wants to give small businesses in East Greenwich a chance to post their hours and locations for Small Business Saturday in one place so local shoppers can find you. Just add your business name, address, hours, and telephone number in the comments below — and note some of the products you have. If you have a listing on the East Greewich Patch Places Directory, you can also add that link to your comment so readers can easily find other info about your business.Don't have a listing? E-mail Editor Elizabeth McNamara at elizabeth.mcnamara@patch.com and we'll set up a free listing for you.

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Lynn Murphy

10:19 am on Friday, December 2, 2011

Inspirations Embroidery is now open Saturday from 10:00 till 2:00pm. Please stop in for unique Custom Embroidered Gifts that are sure to create a lasting memory for those on your gift list!!! We have Stadium Blankets in stock which look great with a Family name embroidered on them or create your own Tee Shirt with any photo or design! Come visit as we are open late on Thurs nights also till 7pm. …   more ›

Main Street Businesses Like Small Business Saturday

A couple of stores are focusing efforts on Black Friday instead.

Some small business owners on Main Street see Black Friday as dominated by big box stores and discounters and are more enthusiastic about Small Business Saturday as they head into the holiday shopping season. Diane Villari, president of the Hill and Harbour Merchants Association, had signs promoting Small Business Saturday made up at Print Shops to be put in store windows up and down the street. The big push behind Small Business Saturday, which originated last year, is coming from American Express. On their website, American Express describes Small Business Saturday as a national movement that marks a day to support the local businesses that create jobs. In addition to the media promotion, Amex is offering cardholders $25 back when they …

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POLL: Will You Brave The Black Friday Brou-ha-ha?

There are only four days left till the big shopping day.

Named for the color used to show that businesses have turned a profit, "Black Friday" has become a bellwether for predicting how well the holiday shopping season will be. But with America still in the grip of The Great Recession and stubborn unemployment, there's a chance that this year's Black Friday may be proof of ongoing problems. Then again, the first official day of the holiday shopping season — and the deep discounts offered by most retailers — usually draw hordes of deal-hunting shoppers and could be a sign of a rebound in consumer spending. So, which are you — a deal hunter, or someone who avoids Black Friday? Let us know by casting a vote in our poll, and posting your comments below.

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Stephen Greenwell

4:52 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Erin, I totally agree. I'd warn parents to be especially careful on video game prices, an area in which many people aren't really that cognizant. Check out the prices on Amazon and eBay, which tend to be fairly stable, before you wait in line for the big ticket items.   more ›

Turkeys Move Center Stage At Pat's Pastured

For the next few days, it's all turkeys, all the time.

Listening to Pat McNiff talk about his turkeys - literally talk turkey - makes you think differently about about your holiday bird - that large frozen mass you usually dump into your shopping cart along with the canned pumpkin, fresh string beans and box stuffing this time of year. McNiff is owner of Pat's Pastured and the new tenant at Boesch Farm on South Road. His turkeys are different. "How many people actually know where their turkey came from - what state, what country, how they were were raised?" he said during a visit Friday to see his turkeys. They are in Jamestown on the farmland he's leased for the past few years and they will not be making the move to East Greenwich. Instead, the turkeys will be slaughtered this weekend and …

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Have a Tofurkey Thanksgiving

Back to Basics serves up farm fresh as well as tofu turkeys

The tofu turkey Thanksgiving episode of Everybody Loves Raymond has become a television classic. The meal was a disaster for the Barone family. But in real life if your children come home from college and announce they are vegetarians, or you have a friend or relative with special dietary needs, the tofurkey may save the holiday for you. Bob Hartman, owner of Back to Basics natural foods at 500 Main St.,  says they see a lot of customers whose children come home from school and announce they are now vegetarians. That kind of lifestyle change as well as health concerns guide the store inventory. In addition to tofurkey, they stock a vegetarian-stuffed turkey, both of which come in several sizes. Smaller sizes make it possible to cook for …

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[VIDEO] Belly Dancing And More At Crestar's Ladies' Night

A night of fun, food, wine and dance at Crestar in downtown EG.

Music could be heard outside of Crestar this past Thursday night as belly dancers were entertaining guests inside. "Ladies Night" at Crestar in East Greenwich included food sampling, wine tasting, massages, fortune telling, and much more.  Cathy Buchanan, co-owner of Crestar, the framing company in downtown, envisioned gathering together vendors whose products appeal to women and then invite women to spend an evening with them. Some of the vendors included Back to Basics, Life Breath Wellness Center, Narragansett Bay Oil Company, and The Savory Grape.      Guests learned about products in a relaxed and fun setting. The event focused on health and wellness, targeting local massage, acupuncture, skin and hair care. Women could get a massage …

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Poll: Bank of America Backs Down; Do Consumers Win?

Bank of America announced Tuesday it is dropping its controversial plan to enact a $5 monthly debit card fee.

When Bank of America announced last month it would start charging customers a $5 monthly fee for use of a debit card, many consumers feared it was the beginning of a new trend in bank fees. They expected other banks would follow suit, and American consumers would see more money moving from their wallets to big businesses. It never happened. In a surprise move, Bank of America announced it is dropping the controversial plan, according to The Washington Post. The Post wrote: "the debit charge drew a torrent of fury from customers, lawmakers and even President Obama. Faced with consumer backlash, Wells Fargo recently abandoned its own testing of a fee. Regions Bank and SunTrust have also dropped their charges." Is this a victory for the …

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David Bouchard

9:54 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011

Folks, I think you should ignore Mr MH, he's just messing with you. You are arguing with a parody. The more insensed you become the funnier he finds it; he's probably giggling to the point that he's wetting himself.   more ›