Topic: Northwood vs Albert Lea
started by: iowegian
Posted by iowegian on Mar. 24 2004,10:26 am
cea posted on another topiccea "I'm just a person with a dream to own my own business."
Give the city of Northwood a call here is their website
Home < http://www.northwoodia.org/ >
Economic Development < http://www.northwoodia.org/econ_dev.html >
Our home buyer grant program < http://www.northwoodia.org/house_assist.html >
Try getting $5000.00 or free lot and with kids get another $2250.00 from Albert Lea.
We also won't put up Mao like murals to former dictators . Iowa just has more common sense.
If you can't get a hold of the Iowa office try our Albert Lea branch office and ask for Pam. She already brought in a nice furniture business for us and we think she has real potential and is a pleasure to work with.
Either place will help you and your business get started in Northwood. And be sure to check out our housing incentives.
Below are some past economic grants awarded to companies in our town.
Northwood – ADA Enterprises
$87,500
Northwood – C.P.&I.
$113,492
Northwood – Fieldstone Cabinets
$76,000
Northwood – Grand Central
$22,000
Northwood – Northwood Fiberglass
$101,500
Northwood – Northwood Foods
$99,500
Good Luck and please post back so we can follow your progress. We'd love to have you.
Posted by minnow fan on Mar. 24 2004,12:28 pm
Guess what iowegian, not everyone wants to live in a small hick town in the middle of nowhere in Iowa. If everyone did, then I would guess Northwood would be bigger then Albert Lea, wouldn't it?Are you on the payroll for the Northwood Chamber of Commerce? It is comical to see you beg businesses & people to come to Northwood, "it just makes more sense"
. Go take the piece of straw out of your mouth, put your overalls back on & head back out to the barn to do the rest of your chores.
Posted by cea on Mar. 24 2004,10:38 pm
I would like to start this business anywhere, but Albert Lea has the only facility around that I know of that would be able to house this business.Also because population will base the success of this business the more people I can draw from, the better.
Don't get me wrong... Northwood, Lake Mills, and many other small towns are a great place to live, but to hard to get a fighting chance in the retail business.
Posted by GEOKARJO on Mar. 25 2004,11:17 am
Since the wheel was invented it has been improved on over the many years. Many small towns contribute to the nations demand for consumer goods. Stong labor force lower cost of operations.
Retail in small town America is much more difficult as you do not have the buying power to offer goods at a price to keep the consumer from driving to larger communities with major market retail stores.
To be located in the area of the major retail store you must offer a better quality product than the mass retailer. You must offer serve and be knowledgeable about the product.
The internet is another example there are so many internet providers in Albert Lea to choose from. I decided to jump into this market offering a better quality lower priced service. My retail business offers many other things that are offered in town but I have name brands and service.
Location, location, location, I have always been told, however reasonable priced location is another important factor. Being located in the mall is good but do not, I repeat do not get tied to a progressive rent amount as I. I was in a lease that started low and increase each year in dollar amount as my business should increase but after 5 years and business never increased from the first year to the end of the lease.
My business declined as the population and the employment situation drastically changed.
Most retailers pay a percentage of sells to the landlord 8 percent of sales is a common amount amoung the national chains.
Common dollar leases are at $13 a square foot in the Northbridge mall and I was informed that will be the asking amount in the new strip mall by walmart.
Family Fun has been in business for 17 years through the hands of three different owners which I have the books and sales records for the store.
The sales record reflect many things the conicide with Farmsted and it's misfortune. Every year the sales dropped as much as 50 percent Barnes went under and the placed burned down.
I have sat here and sent your money to Carrington and associates in California for the last year. I hope I can find a local Landlord keeping money in Albert Lea as I intend to expand my business. I need 2000 square feet to move into in December.
Our Name is 17 years old, we will invest in advertising informing our consumers where we are. Watch for our Grand Reopening In January.
Posted by farouk on Mar. 26 2004,8:44 am
Doesn't look like Forbes likes small hick lake towns in Minnesota5_088.jpg
Posted by minnow on Mar. 26 2004,8:58 am
Call the General and put up a building on your own land. That's the ONLY way I'd do any business in the area and I'd pay for that up front so I wouldn't even have a mortgage payment....except to my mortgage company I'd create...hehe. 
With expenses under control and a fresh new building, I'd be primed to sit back and rake in the cash! If business turned south for a time, I'd be covered to weather the storm without going under.
If I were you Geo, I'd do Mason City before Austin or Albert Lea. Expenses are far lower and still, sales are far higher. Albert Lea is dead contrary to what the city leaders spout. I mean the writing is on the billboard, just look into Paul Sparks eyes, he's snickering at us.
Posted by Mamma on Mar. 26 2004,8:25 pm
Hey Minnow, I thought you were primed to jump on some of that commercial property in Northwood so you could capitalize on the casino, should it open. What happened to that plan? Maybe now is the time!
Posted by minnow on Mar. 27 2004,12:26 am
Nope, that's why I have all the marbles. It ain't gonna happen. When I saw 3 pigs in pink T-shirts at the state capital begging for my gambling...I knew it was a goner.
Posted by jimhanson on Apr. 01 2004,5:26 pm
From the Trib. today--"Worth County adds 1% sales tax".Very few people actually voted--only about 10% of the registered voters voted FOR the tax. Shows what can happen here unless people shed their apathy and take the time to go VOTE.
The gap gets less all the time!
Posted by minnow fan on Apr. 01 2004,5:32 pm
is it just me or did something happen with the Trib's on-line poll regarding the sales tax?I voted the other day, now I see only 5 people have voted? What gives, didn't the Trib like the results so they started over?
