Category Archives: Thank-yous

Day 87: Patricia

Posted on March 28, 2015 | Leave a comment

Today’s letter is to my friend Patricia who bought me my favorite set of personalized stationery. It’s made by Crane & Co. – for those of you who are not paper geeks like me, Crane is a legend in the paper business. They’ve been crafting fine paper products in New England since before we won our independence from Britain -yeah, a really long time.

Day 87-3A little over four years ago Patricia gave me this wonderful box of personalized stationery. As I mention in the letter, the beauty of such a gift is that it lasts a long time and you can celebrate your friendship with the person who gave you the gift every time you sit down to compose a letter. I like that about it. Every time I write a letter on this stationery I remember her and her generous and thoughtful gift.

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Dear Patricia,

I’m writing you this letter from Northside Social – half expecting to see you walk in the door any minute. I’m pretty sure that you introduced me to this spot – it’s exceptional. I just had a cappuccino and the egg and sausage sandwich – delicious!

Day 87I wanted you to know that I love this stationery that you gave me. I don’t use it often – just for special occasions. Times when I want to make an uncommon impression – the last time was on Jan. 2nd when I wrote our new mayor Muriel Bowser. Giving fine stationery is a thoughtful gift – it lasts a long time and allows the recipient to reflect on their friendship every time they sit down to write something important.

Let’s get together soon – I know that your scheduled is about to become unhinged and you’ll be sucked into the vortex for the next 8 months.

Reed

P.S. Glad to hear your ‘hood is getting a coffee shop – even if it isn’t as cool as Northside Social – it’s better than nothing.

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Day 86: Murray

Posted on March 27, 2015 | 2 comments

Still no word from anyone from Penn State – I thought for sure someone would find my letter, look up the blog and leave us a message. But nothing so far. As my former boss Mikael used to say, it’s been “radio silence.”

Today, you get a letter to Murray – the likable owner of Hunting Creek Outfitters. I met Murray through Story Distillery – we were working on his social media strategy.

Day 86

Yes, she’s just as soft as she looks.

His store focuses on fly fishing, although Murray admits some visitors come for an entirely different reason. They come to see one of the most beautiful dogs you’ve ever seen: Maizey. This English Spaniel is arguably photographed more than anything else on Market Street. She’s even been on the front page of the paper!

Anyway, Murray is looking to build his Facebook presence – please consider following Hunting Creek Outfitters.

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Dear Murray,

I enjoyed meeting you last week and discussing your social media strategy. Your desire to see clear results from your investments in social media is something that I can definitely relate to. It’s often difficult to see how your time and money spent on online media translate into your bottom line.

I hope I was able to help answer some questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of assistance.

All the best to you (and Maizey!)
Reed Sandridge

Murray uses some old school social media outside his store - this is is one of my favorite messages he's posted.

Murray uses some old school social media outside his store – this is is one of my favorite messages he’s posted. Photo: Hunting Creek Outfitters

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Day 85: Richard

Posted on March 26, 2015 | Leave a comment

I used to have a stone that I kept in a small box of prized possessions. It wasn’t a valuable stone like a diamond or aquamarine or some other type of precious stone. Nope, it was a simple stone. Ok, it was a rock.

I have no idea what kind of rock it was – it was dark in color but not like obsidian. More like the color of slate. I picked it up near the shore of a river while looking for rocks to skip across the water’s surface. I picked it up and reached back to launch it across the river hoping that it would skip enough times to land safely on the other side. But this rock felt different – it had significant weight and a smooth polished feel to it and I decided to drop it in my pocket instead. I have no idea what I thought I was going to do with it, but I wanted to keep it.

earthlyelementsWell, apparently lots of people collect rocks – and not just 9-year-old cub scouts. Richard Bailey is a geologist and owner of Earthly Elements in Frederick, MD. “We’re the only rock shop in the state of Maryland,” he told me leaning back in a chair behind the counter. His welcoming shop feels more like someone’s home than a business – there are a pair of boots sitting just inside the door. He says on a busy Saturday he easily gets over a thousand people visiting the store.

He and I were meeting to discuss how social media can help his business. It was a fascinating meeting – and I learned a lot about rocks. Who buys them. Why. And which ones sell the best.

Oh, and if you’re wondering. I no longer have my rock. I know it made it to my freshman year dorm, but I’m quite certain I didn’t have it when I moved out.

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Dear Richard,

What a pleasure it was to talk to you about Earthly Elements and the story you are creating for social media. I was impressed with your shop as well as your understanding of the niche market that you are in. I hope that you will continue to invest in your Facebook presence – I believe you have a lot of untapped potential there. If I can ever be of assistance, please let me know.

All the best,
Reed

P.S. I mentioned your shop to my father and he has been in and purchased stones there a couple of times. I told him to say hello if he stops in again.

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Day 82: Dr. Maria

Posted on March 23, 2015 | Leave a comment

Sight is one of the most crucial abilities that we possess. Last Tuesday I was working with Dr. Maria who owns Unique Optique – a funky optical shop in charming downtown Frederick, MD. I don’t wear glasses any more but if I did, I’d buy them here. Very cool place.

photoboothI love that they have an old school photo booth that you can pop into snap a photo of how you look in your new specs. Lots of people have left their photos to be posted all over the photo booth.

Dr. Maria is not only a respected optometrist and entrepreneur, she’s also got a clear vision (see what I did there!) for social media. “I manage about 10 different social media platforms,” she told me. Wow! I even told her that I thought that might be a few too many. Step 2 of my INSPIRE social media storytelling methodology is to say no to the platforms that you’re not going to focus on. It’s a hard one – but essential to really focusing on the other ones.

Check out Dr. Maria and Unique Optique’s website, blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and You Tube.

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Dr. Maria,

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you last Tuesday and was extremely impressed with Unique Optique. You can’t help but feel relaxed and comfortable in your beautiful downtown shop.

My attempt at an embossed tree on Dr. Maria's card.

I embossed this tree on the card – turned out great!

Your commitment and passion for social media impressed me – you understand the commitment as well as the reward that can be earned from telling your story effectively through social channels.

If I can ever be of any assistance, please let me know.
Reed

P.S. I had Lasik a few years ago, but if I still used glasses I’d buy them from Unique Optique – here’s a photo of me with my last pair of glasses.

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Day 78: Gerry Hicks, The Trail House

Posted on March 19, 2015 | Leave a comment

Day 78

I made a bicycle embossed card for Gerry! I didn’t have a stamp of a backpacker or a campfire.

You saw in my post on Tuesday that I was up in Frederick, MD doing some work. I’ve got a few thank-yous to write. Here’s one to Gerry Hicks who opened The Trail House with her husband Clyde in 1984.

It’s a great outdoors shop and you’ll love the people who work there. If you’re in Frederick, stop in and say hello. They gave me a cool Nalgene water bottle – I’ve promised to photograph it some place interesting. I don’t rock climb or do a lot of hiking, but I have made about 100 skydives, so maybe I’ll take this thing to 14,000 feet and enjoy a cold, refreshing beverage on the way down. Stay tuned for the photo!

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Dear Gerry,

I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for taking time to speak with me last week about The Trail House and your experiences with social media. I enjoyed our discussion and meeting your staff. I thought a lot about our conversation since Tuesday and how your business has changed since opening the store 30 years ago.

Your Facebook post on Tuesday evening sharing Jennifer Pharr Davis’ course on preparing for a hike of the Appalachian Trail is a perfect example of the 80/20 rule I mentioned – giving your audience something they can use.

Keep up the good work. Let me know if I can ever be of any assistance.

All the best,
Reed

P.S. Be on the look out for some photos of me with The Trail House water bottle!

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