Congratulations Framerguy

[GUMBY, GCF]

Fort Walton has been named in the top 10 least expensive cities to live. [URL=http://houseandhome.aol.homestore.com/Finance/Census/LeastExpensive.asp?gate=aolhouseandhome&source=a2anbtht553&poe=homestore/URL]

Southern Small Fries
Southern Small Fries
There may not be a Starbucks on every corner in Wilmington, Delaware, or Fort Walton Beach and Tallahassee, Florida, but they're certainly the cheapest places to live in the South. (Maybe the dearth of $5 soy lattés is what keeps prices down in these areas?) Still, there are tradeoffs: Commute time, housing and utilities are cheaper in Wilmington than Philadelphia, but according to recent statistics, violent crimes occur more often in Wilmington than Philadelphia. Yet the negative statistics haven't made a dent in Wilmington's tourism.

As for the Gulf Coast, Fort Walton Beach is just 200 miles away from the Big Easy, with cheaper housing and healthcare and less crime. Its 20 parks, numerous beaches, resorts and hotels may make it a popular, yet affordable retirement area.

And to the southeast of Fort Walton, Tallahassee has just as much sun as Tampa, two power schools—Florida A&M University and Florida State University—and remains an affordable Florida city in which to retire, with average home costs of $99,790. In addition to good weather and good prices, Tallahassee has a variety of cultural events and tourist activities
So your rent $ per square foot must below to right?

[Emibub]

Why are we congratulating Framerguy? Has his presence in the community lowered property values and caused a general cheapening of Fort Walton Beach?

Either way, good going Framerguy!

[Framerguy]

Well, "cheap" may be a relative term but I'm glad to hear that it isn't as "expensive" as many of the other towns I considered while planning this move.

(And I'm not sure if the person who wrote the article bothered to look at a map but Tallahassee is kinda Northeast of FWB, not Southeast.)

I did do some homework on this move. I looked at almost every town from Gulf Shores, AL all the way to Naples, FL over the last 5 years. I studied the demographics of the towns that had an interest for me, looked at what the towns were doing internally to improve their downtown areas, and talked to so many business owners and Chambers of Commerce and Main Street groups that I felt that I could understand what they were planning for their communities and I found that many had great plans on paper but few were carrying out those plans. My towns narrowed down dramatically as I made more and more trips down to the Gulf coast and I had Clearwater, Fort Walton Beach, and Gulf Shores as the towns I really followed up on. FWB was the only town that really showed a marked improvement in their downtown area over the years.

Many of these towns had big plans ............ on paper, but they seemed to fall through for lack of funding, lack of volunteers to keep the projects alive, or a general lack of interest except for a small cadre of movers and shakers in the towns.

I met a man by the name of Perry Lord who was the honcho of the FWB Main Street group and he showed me all the plans that they and the Chamber had for the downtown area back in '98. Let me say, the downtown of FWB in '98 was salted with night clubs, tattoo parlors, and bars. As I visited this little town each succeeding year, I saw such changes in this area that I knew that this was the town I wanted to live in. Many of these plans on paper became reality over the last few years due to the unending dreams and work of the people who really wanted to turn things around and make their shopping area nice for visitors again.

Just a few of the projects completed were a new library building, a new school of ballet, new science center, new waterfront park with a band shell and plenty of room for all kinds of special events, and a general rejuvenation of the downtown area including new sidewalks, tree plantings, benches, store front repairs and refacing, free municiple parking and many new businesses that moved into the area because of the affordable leases and general friendliness of the residents. Today there is 1 bar and 3 tattoo parlors left on scenic 98 (the main downtown route) and most of those will be gone as their leases are up.

This may be boring to some of you but, to a framer who is looking to relocate, these are valuable resource areas that you want to use to check out the towns that you are considering relocating to.

My main point in all of this is you can talk a good talk all you want but the proof is eventually in what you actually do, referring to all the plans that I saw on paper and what actually took place in these towns.

No matter where you want to relocate and for whatever reasons, you need to do some research, I mean really deep searching into what those communities that interest you are planning to do to make operating a business a profitable enterprise and also ask questions! Look at what has been already done to attract businesses to the area and don't get in a rush about moving. See if what they told you was going to be done has at least made noticeable progress since you were last there.

My business is increasing slowly as my shop name gets out in the surrounding communities and more and more people talk about my work. It is slow and I get frustrated at the rate my business seems to be moving. But we all know that it doesn't happen overnight with framing. Nobody NEEDS custom framing! And so it is up to the business owner to make the contacts and get his/her name out and hang in there until things begin to happen.

I have to thank Bob Carter (you remember that guy with the "little mind") for reinforcing my convictions that I could find a place that would support my business. I had been doing alot of the things that seemed like the "common sense" approach to checking out new areas but his advice here on the Grumble over the last 2 years has helped and reinforced what I suspected had to be done for a proper relocation. For those of you who think that he doesn't know what he is talking about, all I can say is, shame on you!

I had struggled for almost 15 years, far longer than most would have stuck it out before throwing in the towel, in an economically depressed area of the Midwest that held no future for me at all. But I didn't think that I could make a major move like this and survive! I had all the self confidence in my expertise as a framer but had little in my personal fortitude. I had almost succumbed to the mentality of many areas that "I can't just move somewhere else and start over, I can't do this or that because I am too old or I don't have the resources" or whatever.

I may not make it here either but I am much more educated about what to do to make it work and nobody will be able to say "He didn't try hard enough." I feel good about what I have started here. I feel that I know enough about the area to make a business successful here. The only thing that may stand in my way is going completely broke in the process of getting this business off the ground. And that can happen to the best framer in the best location available.

My advice for those of you wanting to relocate is .................. check out Tallahassee or Wilmington and see what is there for you. ;)

(Forget about Fort Walton Beach, I think that was a mis-print anyway!) :D

And, DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!

Framerguy

[ 10-25-2003, 05:10 PM: Message edited by: Framerguy ]

[Less]

My Hat's off to you Framerguy!

Less sends his best too.

Not many have the guts to start a business and even fewer, dust off and do it again!

And yes, Bob is a real asset! :D

[ 10-25-2003, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: lessafinger ]

[Emibub]

Hey Tom,
Sorry about the teasing at the beginning of this thread.....

I just wanted to speak to your "personal fortitude". You have shared a lot with me as to your situation and struggles. You have kicked me in the butt more than once telling me to quit my sniveling. Heck, your personal fortitude has given me strength. So, don't question your personal fortitude. Please and thank you.

I have been in awe of your decision to relocate. You actually did it! When I look at what your previous situation was and where you are now it gives me courage.

I have decided that part of the key to this whole thing called success is to put blinders on and keep your eyes on the prize. Don't look down, don't look back, look straight ahead. If you waiver or so much as blink you are gonna cave in for sure. You taught me that.

I am genuinely happy for you and I know if anybody can do well it will be you!

[MarkG1]

I am genuinely happy for you and I know if anybody can do well it will be you!
FGII,

That goes for me too. Even though you are an old fart, I have allot of respect for your courage to lay it all on the line and sink or swim.

Especially with all those sharks in FWB. ;)

And I have to agree about Bob Carter. He offers very good, straight forward advice that everyone can benefit from.