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I found the parallel of me at Starbucks in Riverside CT

By
Home Builder with The Flooring Girl

This time, it was not my laptop sticker...but my voice.  There is no way he could have seen my laptop, nor my shirt that says "The Flooring Girl," because he was right next to me.  Instead, he heard my voice.

 

dark hardwood floors katonahI got a call from a customer who wants to refinish their hardwood floors in Katonah.  A past customer had recommended us, and he loved the ways their floors turned out.  He loved the finish and wanted to have the same for his home.  He was asking me questions about types of polyurethane and finishes.

 

When I got off the phone, the person next to me handed me his card and asked for mine.  As it turns out, he is a painter!  Yay!  Painting and flooring go hand in hand, and we can refer business to each other.  He is in Riverside CT and does both CT and Westchester; I'm in Westchester, and do work in Westchester and Fairfield CT.  Double Yay.

 

He was laughing saying how Starbucks is his second office.  He hangs out in them all the time....does that sound familiar?

 

But, here's the biggest yay....he said he was just starting to blog and learning how to do it!  I think he is on his 2nd blog post, and someone told him blogging is the best way to get sustained business on the internet (I so agree).  So, of course, I was all full of advice and I sent him an invite to Active Rain.  I hope he joins and sees the huge value I have in this community and platform.  I had to run to my appointment in Darien, but I really wanted to keep on hanging out w/ my new friend.  I told him we would could regroup in 2-3 weeks.  Or who knows...I may just run into him at a Starbucks.

Comments(34)

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Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Now that is definitely kismet and so glad you were able to create another resource.  Yay Starbucks!!!

Jun 18, 2013 09:03 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

What a cool place to meet another vendor.  Maybe I should start sitting with my laptop at Starbucks.  I'm sure I'd get an eye full of folks and start a conversation!  Thanks for the idea and good luck with your new friend and potential rainer!

Jun 18, 2013 09:45 AM
Kelle & Kevin Wirt
The Wirt Team - Horizon Realty - New Braunfels, TX
"There is a new Horizon in Hill Country RE!"

So far I have sold two houses at my local Starbucks! Happy coffee drinking!

Jun 18, 2013 11:10 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

All - I just got home and internet connection in apt is working...using lobby and I have to go to bed soon.  So glad others have had success in Starbucks, too.

Jun 18, 2013 11:29 AM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Starbucks is the place for you Debbie. We finally got one in Newburgh. Not sure how much value it will have, but I really should just go in and sit around and check it out.

Jun 18, 2013 11:55 AM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

I too love it when that happens. I meet many people but not many in our area do Active Rain! That is okay with me because they are not benefiting from all the good advice I get here. That means they don't have the EDGE!

Jun 18, 2013 12:41 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Starbucks is a great place to hang out!  I am glad you made such a great connection. 

Jun 18, 2013 01:27 PM
Ken Reetz
Zip Realty Residential Brokerage - Beaverton, OR

Starbucks?  I'm a little suspicious about the new pastery (a few more calories than what they replaced?), but the Pike is good.  Still, it really is the perfect hangout to get things done while away from wherever.  Nice tag - "The Flooring Girl."  Sure to be remembered.   And kudos for mastering the art of talking with strangers.  Great post.

Jun 18, 2013 02:03 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566
I hang out at Panera a lot for the iced tea but dash in to Starbucks lots, too!
Jun 18, 2013 02:56 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Debbie:  That is so awesome, and so exciting, too.  And really, for those of us whose boat this kinda stuff floats... it really CAN be exciting.

Today I was at a place called La Madeleine... kinda a stretch, but like a Starbucks but concentrating not on coffee but on French breads and little pastries, small salads and soups.  It would make a great place to replicate your Flooring Girl business model.

I am so glad you are having such great success with it.

Jun 18, 2013 03:23 PM
Gerard Gilbers
Higher Authority Markeing - Asheboro, NC
Your Marketing Master

I have heard of several people getting business by being in places like Starbucks or Panera. You have to be out in public in order to meet people!

Jun 18, 2013 03:40 PM
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker, Notary

It is amazing who I run across at Starbucks.  It is a great place to just hang out for a while and see who shows up.  Glad you were helpful to this guy (as you have been to me in the past...).

Jun 18, 2013 03:48 PM
John F Muscarella
RIVER FARM PROPERTIES, LLC - Venice, FL
Broker/Owner, Venice, FL, Florida's Suncoast

Hey Debbie timing and place are everything in our business.  You obviously impressed the guy with your knowledge and customer handling.  Good for you that you found another source for referrals and a way to expand your business!  AR may benefit too.

Jun 18, 2013 07:55 PM
David Popoff
DMK Real Estate - Darien, CT
Realtor®,SRS, Green ~ Fairfield County, Ct
Who better to mentor about blogging than the Flooring Girl, great contact, good luck.
Jun 18, 2013 08:14 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I should start going to our local Starbucks and take muy iPad with me. Thanks for the inspiration.

Jun 18, 2013 08:48 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Hi Debbie,

Interesting story.  Maybe Fairfield County Ct is a good place to meet.  As it turns out I met an electrician and a home stager and both signed up for Active Rain.

Jun 18, 2013 09:26 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Karen Anne - LOL... I have a business model?  Just plain luck.  But, hanging out in Starbucks has been a smart marketing move.

Grant - So glad to hear that and good for you in signing others up.

Jun 18, 2013 09:40 PM
Richard Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

I used to work with a man who made appointments all over southern ca at starbucks with all his clients

Jun 18, 2013 11:29 PM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

That's awesome. A lot of professionals hang out at Starbucks. Way to go on helping them find us here. 

Jun 19, 2013 04:51 AM
John Anello, Stamford Area Electrician
Safe and Sound Electric LLC - Greenwich, CT
Call Safe and Sound Electric at 203-536-0021

I searched for Riverside, CT on ActiveRain and this comes up first.  Great job.

Jan 19, 2014 03:24 AM