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Fabulous Friday...
Feb. 18th, 2011 02:44 pmA number of interesting subjects came up during this morning's amateur radio breakfast, almost none of them having to do with radio. These included the news that, some months ago, some very persuasive fellow managed to land a job, at a salary of $100K (paid for out of taxes, apparently), to attract development to the area.
You could've knocked me over with a feather with that news, because there would appear to be a steady stream of folks in these lean times leaving Pagosa for greener pastures.
When we first arrived here in 1992, it was clear to me there were only three ways to make money in this burg (indeed, in any burg—it's just that here, the lines seem more clearly delineated). You can sell something to locals, you can sell something to tourists, or you can sell something to people who aren't here at all.
Selling to locals is tough, but apparently achievable, although the actual numbers on this are distorted somewhat whenever anyone sells their business to a newcomer. For example, The UPS Store that replaced our packing and mailing business has been sold once since it opened a few years ago, and the current owner (I am told) is desperate to get rid of the place. How long it might sputter along is anyone's guess.
Selling to tourists is IMO tougher, because while locals are, effectively, a captive audience for the necessities of life, tourists don't have to show up on any kind of schedule. This past year, I am told, was pretty good for the tourist trade—or at least an improvement over the year before—but it takes a certain kind of mental attitude (and, I suspect, free-and-clear ownership of property) to try to make your annual nut during only that part of the year in which folks show up for vacation.
But probably the toughest of these alternatives is selling to folks who aren't here at all. If nothing else (and there's always something else), it's because our local circumstances conspire against the sale of a physical product. Our location makes it expensive to bring in raw materials and ship out finished goods, so there's two strikes right there. Of course, information-related work is feasible (just don't fall for the many work-at-home scams out there), but it's not something just anyone can do. I'm lucky in that I have a marketable skill whose performance requires only a computer and an Internet connection.
Work that arrived this morning is largely complete, with only a bit left to do until Tuesday. February is turning out to be one interesting month.
Cheers...
You could've knocked me over with a feather with that news, because there would appear to be a steady stream of folks in these lean times leaving Pagosa for greener pastures.
When we first arrived here in 1992, it was clear to me there were only three ways to make money in this burg (indeed, in any burg—it's just that here, the lines seem more clearly delineated). You can sell something to locals, you can sell something to tourists, or you can sell something to people who aren't here at all.
Selling to locals is tough, but apparently achievable, although the actual numbers on this are distorted somewhat whenever anyone sells their business to a newcomer. For example, The UPS Store that replaced our packing and mailing business has been sold once since it opened a few years ago, and the current owner (I am told) is desperate to get rid of the place. How long it might sputter along is anyone's guess.
Selling to tourists is IMO tougher, because while locals are, effectively, a captive audience for the necessities of life, tourists don't have to show up on any kind of schedule. This past year, I am told, was pretty good for the tourist trade—or at least an improvement over the year before—but it takes a certain kind of mental attitude (and, I suspect, free-and-clear ownership of property) to try to make your annual nut during only that part of the year in which folks show up for vacation.
But probably the toughest of these alternatives is selling to folks who aren't here at all. If nothing else (and there's always something else), it's because our local circumstances conspire against the sale of a physical product. Our location makes it expensive to bring in raw materials and ship out finished goods, so there's two strikes right there. Of course, information-related work is feasible (just don't fall for the many work-at-home scams out there), but it's not something just anyone can do. I'm lucky in that I have a marketable skill whose performance requires only a computer and an Internet connection.
Work that arrived this morning is largely complete, with only a bit left to do until Tuesday. February is turning out to be one interesting month.
Cheers...
