Opened up a branch office

[YeOldeStonecat]

I've been quieter than usual for the past few weeks, after about 20 years of going down to Florida 2, 3, 4 times a year....we sold our house up north (in CT), and moved down here just last week. I'm in day #2 of the new office. A branch office of our business, which the main office in CT still has 5x people (and hopefully another soon) is still operating up there. And I intend to grow the branch office down here.

Englewood FL

 

[britechguy]

Congrats! (I guess, this is not the time of year I'd like to be transplanting myself into Florida coming from the North. Come fall and winter, though . . .)

 

[callthatgirl]

woo! welcome to tax free life!!! You have been talking about this for years, congrats!!!

 

[Metanis]

Congrats! I suspect you'll be as busy as you want to be down there!

 

[timeshifter]

So are you approaching local businesses there? Curious about your marketing strategy in a new town.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

So are you approaching local businesses there? Curious about your marketing strategy in a new town.

Going back to what I did years ago.....
*BNI group.....already visited a particular chapter twice (once last winter to initially get a feel for the group). Love the group. I did BNI years ago, for about 10 years, the final year I was chapter president. I know a lot of people don't like BNI or get much out of it...but I got a lot out of it, was very involved with the group, and fundraisers.
*This BNI group also has a very good website guy...and in my early years of BNI, I cross pollinated a lot of business with a good website guy that was in the chapter back then.
*Joining the local chamber of commerce. Back in CT...we're the IT guys for our Chamber...and get good visibility there. AND...there is an island about 5 miles down the road....home to some mega $ peeps...summer home to some well known celebs....and oddly enough, this island also has people going there that are from an island just off where I worked before...where I was pretty much the only IT guy that went out there. And I'll be joining the chamber on this island too.
*Advertise in the local town newspaper...and I'm considering talking to them about doing a regular "IT/Computer column". Tossing that idea around. It's a big commitment.

*The town I'm in...still has an old Florida "small town" feel to it. I love to get involved in community events, love doing things like organizing beach cleanups, etc. So even though I'm an outsider....a "damn yankee...go home"...I have the fortitude to break through that. I'm a people person. So I'll use those events to "meet potential clients".

There are 3x other "computer shops" in the area. At least 2 of them focus on "residential work"....so I really just have 1x that is "MSP"...to go against. I'll walk into those shops and talk with them. Because..that's how I am. I know most won't walk into "the competition" and want to strike up a conversation...but...I'm the opposite there. I'm actually good friends with the two owners of a fairly large MSP close by my place up in CT...and was building a friendship with senior tech at another MSP that was growing very fast just minutes from my old office. There's enough fish out there for all of us!

 

[ThatPlace928]

Congratulations!!!

 

[Markverhyden]

Best of luck. And the great part is you still have additional boots for remote stuff if need be.

 

[glricht]

I've been quieter than usual for the past few weeks, after about 20 years of going down to Florida 2, 3, 4 times a year....we sold our house up north (in CT), and moved down here just last week. I'm in day #2 of the new office. A branch office of our business, which the main office in CT still has 5x people (and hopefully another soon) is still operating up there. And I intend to grow the branch office down here.

Congrats on moving down here -- I know you've been talking about it for a while. I seem to recall you were looking at the Ft. Myers area. Is that where you're at now?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Congrats on moving down here -- I know you've been talking about it for a while. I seem to recall you were looking at the Ft. Myers area. Is that where you're at now?

About 20 years ago our focus was Anna Maria Island area....but as prices skyrocketed to around 900 bucks a sq ft for houses, that didn't pan out. After lots of research in the Bradenton, Sarasota, Nokomis/Osprey, Venice, Englewood...we chose Englewood. Still a bit of "old fashioned Florida" culture here. Yes...rapidly growing (what isn't!?). Had checked out Ft Myers...fun to go party on Estero but not fond of the area to live. Naples...too packed. Marco...nice..but...didn't feel it (except for the little outskirt called Goodland...but too small)

Specifically I opened the office in the southern end of Englewood, a little neighborhood called Grove City, off of Placida Rd.
Just 5 minutes or so to the heart of Englewood..."Dearborn Street".

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Best of luck. And the great part is you still have additional boots for remote stuff if need be.

Yup, and hopefully add a pair of boots down here soon!

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Congrats! (I guess, this is not the time of year I'd like to be transplanting myself into Florida coming from the North. Come fall and winter, though . . .)

re: the extreme heat? Eh that never bothered me...I've been down here in July during heat waves of 108*F...did fine. It's been mid to upper 90's with...similar humidity lately...I actually still drive around with no AC and my windows rolled down.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

For the home front, we're renting for the first year...we know the neighborhoods and streets well, but just going to sit out the market for another year. Hopefully mort rates will lower a tiny bit, but the bigger thing is, insurance companies are still adjusting after hurricane Ian tore up south west FL. Many of them left the state for coverage last year...(so the few remaining ones could skyrocket their rates) but the Governor put laws in late last year to help protect insurance companies, and they're starting to return to the state, more competition, thus prices are barely juuuust starting to lower. So another year or so...we'll start shopping. Back in CT we sold our home on the first weekend on the market, real estate...super low inventory, so ANY house listed...sells quickly, and usually well above ask thanks to multiple offers. Listed it on a Friday, had showings Sat and Sun....by Monday noon...had 8x offers, 7x of which were above ask, and 5x of which...had escalation policies to outbid higher offers up to XX amount. Took the offer that ended up 20% above ask. Cash, no inspection. Wrote in a "rent back option" so we could stay in the house for 6x more weeks after close...effectively renting it for a dollar.

AND...the place we're renting for 1x year (maybe 2)...it shares a pond in the back yard with 3x other properties (1x of which is a vacant lot next door). We hear there are 3x gators in the pond. The other day my wife and I sat on the porch of the tiki hut that was built in the back yard right on the edge of the pond. And my eyes see a gator start swimming towards us slowly..approaching about 10 feet...sitting for a minute looking at us..then another 10 feet...sit for a minute...another 10 feet. A young'un...only about 3 feet long. Eventually got to within about 5-6 feet of my feet. As much as I enjoy getting close to gators (esp large ones)...sadly to see a gator see a person and swim up to them...means someone has been feeding the gator. Which is a death sentence to them...they'll get used to people, and it's a risk ...it will go up to someone who is not used to gators or doesn't know how to handle them..and potentially hurt them (or worse if the gator grows big). Should not feed gators which gets them used to people and attracted to people. Below pic was taken just from my cell phone, I was on the edge of the deck that is about 1 foot above ponds water level. I later saw a slightly larger one cruising in the pond, about 4 'n 1/2 feet long. Have not seen big ones in this pond yet.

 

[HCHTech]

We hear there are 3x gators in the pond.

Haha - I think I'll stop complaining about the Deer in our neighborhood now.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Haha - I think I'll stop complaining about the Deer in our neighborhood now.

LOL yeah...
2x houses ago, we lived in an area that had some wetlands in the woods, and a widely used deer trail....that came right through our yard. Twice a day of herd of at least a dozen would go through, once at dawn, and coming back at dusk.

That was also in my peek years of riding Harleys...when I was busy restoring them. Many memories of...riding down my road during those dawn/dusk hours...and deer trying to cross at the last second. Lots times they got so close to me I could have reached out with my hand and swatted them in the face...

..and back to my gator story...I think I got interrupted and posted before typing more...makes me sad to think that little guy I saw will likely end up dead. It's used to people, it comes to people..thinking food. As it gets bigger, it'll approach someone who gets scared of it, they'll call the authorities..and it'll get dispatched right there on the spot. Poor guy. "A fed gator is a dead gator".

 

[callthatgirl]

I left right after Hurricane Ian and sold my house for 3x what I paid, now in that same park I lived in, houses have been on the market for over a year and those people are still paying $1300 month HOA. Glad I got out when I did. Now if I go back, I too would wait until the market is better, but right now is a prime in Ft. Myers to scoop a deal. Nobody can sell. I'd consider it but I'm stuck here in MN until I have my knees done, so waiting it out.

 

[Markverhyden]

means someone has been feeding the gator.

Never ceases to amaze me the number of otherwise seemingly intelligent people think that feeding wild animals is a good thing across the board. Especially feral cats and other larger animals/mammals. See comments all the time on Nextdoor about that. Anything alive, or recently deceased, is just a meal for something else.

 

[Rosco]

I know a lot of people don't like BNI or get much out of it...but I got a lot out of it, was very involved with the group, and fundraisers.

I was at BNI, and I think it can certainly be a great asset. Group size is a big factor in the success of the group. The group I was part of now has 11 members. That's well below the recommended number for a successful chapter. Also, the dynamic in the group makes a huge difference.

Congrats on the move and the new business adventure. I know you will do great! I have enjoyed your journey and appreciated the knowledge you willingly give away!