Change is Good; Lets Find Out What's Ahead

 This is my first blog in a long time; looks to be over a year. (oh my)  I have written about small business and a couple different topics on Facebook, but not here.  I am so passionate about small business and the entrepreneur.  Our country was founded on entrepreneurs.  They're tough, resilient, fearless, and jump in where others fear to tread.   

Having lived in small towns most of my adult life, it's added to this passion of mine.  I hope and pray that small rural communities will always be with us; many times they are swallowed up by the growth of the larger metropolitan areas who are near them.  It's great for those communities in that situation, perhaps.   HOWEVER, what about the small town and businesses away from the crowds?  

Thoughts of those small businesses is what got Travel Backroads started.  

I started Travel Backroads because I wanted to help those small businesses.  I started it because I witnessed MANY small communities with amazing retail businesses.  I truly mean amazing.  I saw downtown Chamberlain, off the beaten path, Fabulous Finds.  Deb and her husband find some amazing pieces of furniture and other unique items and they repurpose them and have turn their passion in to their business.  Or there is Ashley Connor who started up The Gift in Ivanhoe, MN and later relocated to Canby, MN.  What an amazing store she has created of gifts, clothing and more.  Or there is Margit and Sharon who started Florals and Finds in Clear Lake, SD and then later their boutique.  From gifts and florals to an awesome line of clothing for all sizes is a must see.  House of Scandinavia outside Rapid City, SD has been a favorite of mine since I was a younger girl.  I could go on and on about so many more unique businesses I've discovered; those diamonds in the rough.  I wanted my business to be about promoting all those small local businesses and to find a way to help me be reimbursed for my time promoting them.  It didn't quite work out the way I had planned.  
 
I'm reassessing what my plan really is.  My LOVE is to find those businesses and promote them.  I believe I'm going to go back to my old way of doing it where people point out and share what businesses are in their town that people must know about; businesses off the beaten path that work hard to pull in traffic and visitors coming through their door.  I just want to share these businesses and  keep on promoting them. So this begins another journey for Travel Backroads. 

If you have businesses you want others to know about...
If you have a diamond in the rough and would appreciate additional promoting...
If you follow Travel Backroads and get something out of it...
Let me know.  

Come Spring I hope to find businesses (yours or someone else's) you've shared and get their information on my website here and on social media.  I'll continue to promote those that supported me and will not stop with that.  They are listed on the opening Home page of the website as "Destinations"; they believed in my mission as customers of mine,  and I'll continue to show them how I believe in their biz or community.

It's a new year and change is good.  I hope to discover some more awesome businesses out there off the beaten path.  Remember if you know of some you want to share, email me at travelbackroads@gmail.com.  Have a terrific New Year...may it be everything good and one that helps you prosper in so many ways. 

Joan
Travel Backroads