Mudslide-O-Rama

I am stuck at the National Hotel in Block Island. Massive thunder and lightening show, drinking Mudslides.

Yeah, it doesn’t suck.

Have you ever found yourself stuck someplace only to have it turn out to be better than any alternative?

So here I am drinking (celebrating my hubby’s birthday) commiserating with all the other stranded mainlanders watching Mother Nature put on one HELL of a show ( the last piece of
Lightening touched down right near us in Old Harbor!) eating peeled shrimp.

I find myself thinking about the past few days in this island, it lives and breathes, for the summer visitor dollar. They’ve had a rough go of it with the past few weeks of rain. My hubby and I have made a game profiling BI businesses, from B&B’s, restuarants to t-shirt establisments. Think of it- high season is just July & August, with perhaps a few weeks either way. “The Block,” thrives on repeat customers, weddings and family cottage rentals. Good marketing and high-quality customer service.

But TheLiquidBetsy is always on the scout for business/marketing/innovation and I’ve seen a few things I’d like to share:

- 2 Oars Taxi: (Note: Oars is a picture but I can’t do that on my iPhone…yet) I witnessed the finest, most simple way to ensure repeat business … honesty. While eating lunch at Three Sisters( lunch place I’d recommend) a 2 Oars taxi pulled up, the driver seeking a family eating lunch there. Why? To return a $10 bill he felt the father had accidentally over-paid. Which he had.

Brillant.

That day, the simple act of a taxi driver driving back over his route to return $10, and ended up making 3 or 4 new customers in the process. Probably more in word of mouth, as Three Sisters was PACKED for lunch- the only thing they do- and after he left about 3 others commented on how great that small act was- and how they planned to recommend them to friends coming soon (incl. TheBetsy here.)

Which do think was better for the taxi driver’s bottom line? $10 or multiple long-term referrals?

- The economics of living on an isle. That is a tough racket.

Short of being independently wealthy (yes, please!) these people are born hustlers, in the finest sense of the word. Sure there is the surly college student doing the half-ass summer job. But see a real islander in action is to know they have about 2 or three gigs, often at the same time, to support living here.

I met a woman who rents her home and cleans houses after deciding to stay here on her 40th birthday. Nice as can be, and no regrets. To quote Donna Summer, “she works hard for her money.” Contact Sullivan Real Estate for great houses and rentals.

Often we see shopkeepers DJ’ing at The Yellow Kittens (a good place to lose a few brain cells while listen to live music and where my hubby’s 97 year-old grandmother played hooky with his grandfather back when they were courtin’.) Also the manager of the Sea Breeze, where we stayed & highly, highly recommend for a relaxed, lovely B&B experience, was saying she works at the grocery store during the winter. “You got to be willing to do anything and work hard.” And for the hard-core islander that’s “the truth, Ruth!”

So, finally, the rain & thunder & lightening have subsided a bit, though the mudslide still is a kickin’. I say good- bye to one of my favorite (check “Betsy’s Top 50) places in the World.

Cheers.

Note: I posted this on the iPhone using the WordPress iPhone app… in the middle of Block Island Sound, with links. That’s impressive. The technology out today is just so innovative. Am in awe.

I am totally deadly now.