Latest Posts

What is fascinating?

In a recent blog entry, I promised to write about a “fascinating” new book I’m in the process of reading entitled, Fascinate by Sally Hogshead.  Sally’s book makes a strong case that there are 7 Fascination Triggers used in all marketing.  Each person and brand has a unique combination that best suits them. We all Read More

By: Joe Schmitter

Tabling the Planning and Zoning Commission

With the ouster from the council of Jerry Wade and Karl Skala, both former Planning and Zoning Commissioners, the zoning-review body could wane in influence. Over the last three years while those two sat on the council, the body’s recommendations seemed to carry more weight than in the past. Wade spearheaded a change to the Read More

By: Jacob Barker

P&Z beefs up bylaws

On Thursday night, the Planning and Zoning Commission passed a change to its operating procedures that establishes a standard time to table zoning requests where information is submitted late. I wrote about it at this post. Basically, the change says that the commission will usually table a request for at least two meetings when information Read More

By: Jacob Barker

Local spending and the election

As I anticipated, my last post about spending locally (a little snarky, I admit) promptly got a response from one of the campaigns. Edge Wade, Mayoral candidate Jerry Wade’s wife, sent CBT an e-mail pointing out that her husband did make an attempt to buy everything locally for his campaign. Mrs. Wade noted that she Read More

By: Jacob Barker

2 Styles of Advertising: Which One Suits You?

Advertising is an art, not a science.  If any advertising source, i.e. Newspaper, radio, tv, etc. could guarantee results, they would have long ago put the other sources out of business.  The truth is your business can achieve results with any form of advertising, if done properly.  I’d like to share with you some background Read More

By: Joe Schmitter

one response

The final stretch — and a bit of irony

With Columbia’s biggest election in over a decade nearly upon us, it behooves me to list where the candidates stand in terms of money raised and spent. But, before I commence, one thing struck me as I looked over the finance reports. For all the talk about economic development and supporting local businesses while Columbia Read More

By: Jacob Barker

one response

Cheeseburger and Fries, Hold the Discount!

Recently the concept of discounting has found renewed life, mostly due to the perception of a troubled economy and the ease with which it can be measured.  Some social media applications have even been tweaked to provide a platform for businesses to discount their products/services to their followers/fans/connections, etc.  The topic of today’s post is Read More

By: Joe Schmitter

City drafting first-ever growth report

Development junkies out there will be thrilled to hear that the Planning and Development Department plans to produce an annual report of Columbia’s growth and building patterns. The department is working on a draft of the first such report, which analyzes the plethora of city and county data out there. The conclusions of the two Read More

By: Jacob Barker

P&Z to penalize late zoning requests

Time is money, so while the Planning and Zoning commission can’t fine zoning applicants who submit late materials, a change in their bylaws would do pretty much the same thing. A draft of an amendment to the commission’s rules would make it custom practice for the commission to table any zoning request for two meetings Read More

By: Jacob Barker

one response

Really, Do You Smell?

We’re driving home one evening, and my 9-year old asks from the back seat, “Mom, what’s your favorite smell?” I paused a moment before answering because…well…I hadn’t thought about it in a while.  And thinking about it made me realize how easily I can slip into “autopilot” as I run through my life.  Like many Read More

By: Cathy Atkins

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Love ‘em or Leave ‘em

Late last week I had one of those days that would have been better spent staying in bed. Not because I was ill, but because it seemed everything that could go wrong did.  It culminated with my cable being out and my 3 year old daughter having a bit of a meltdown because she couldn’t Read More

By: Joe Schmitter

2 responses

Who Wants Yogurt?

During a recent session on Twitter, I came across an opportunity that piqued my interest and I felt it just had to be shared with the business community of CoMo.  Thanks to Dane Carlson’s Business Opportunities Weblog for bringing this to my attention. You might wish to follow him on Twitter: @danec If you are Read More

By: Joe Schmitter

City election fundraising update

*Correction: In a previous version of this post, I incorrectly reported the amount of in-kind contributions to Fourth Ward candidate Sarah Read. The correct amount is below. OK, last week I posted a pretty incomplete campaign finance report for mayoral candidates Jerry Wade and Bob McDavid. Since then, I’ve managed to make the time to Read More

By: Jacob Barker

5 responses

P&Z recommends against new commercial zoning on Grindstone

The Planning and Zoning Commission had different ideas than the Planning Department Thursday night, diverging from staff’s recommendation and voting against a proposed rezoning on Grindstone Parkway across from the Walmart center. The request by Red Oak Investment Company, owned in part by Hugh Stephenson and his son Ted Stephenson as well as Robert Smith, Read More

By: Jacob Barker

ALL YOUR ISP ARE BELONG TO US

Columbia Missouri has a message for the nation: 1.12.12 25.15.21.18 9.19.16 1.18.5 2.5.12.15.14.7 20.15 3.15.12.21.13.2.9.1 #CoMOflashmob

By: Scott Wendling

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