We’re In Good Social Media Company

Ah, yay! We’re flattered to be included in Paducah Sun Business Editor Joe Walker’s first in a series that investigates how area companies use social networking to expand their branding.

He, of course, interviewed social networking leaders at Paducah Bank. William Sledd (left, with the bank’s lovely Susan Guess) gave this great quote: “Especially for local businesses, it’s becoming a crucial part of their advertising. People are jumping on board like the industrial revolution, but I don’t think it replaces anything. It helps complete the overall package of getting maximum exposure.” (Well done, William!)

Joe also interviewed Curt Jones from Dippin’ Dots, Jack Fares of Four Rivers Harley-Davidson and…me! I talked about Nikki’s and my use of social media to complement what we do here on iList Paducah.

“You can totally overdo a sales pitch,” I noted. “But if you show a lot of generosity, social networking will come back to you.”

Hopefully, we come close to striking the right balance. We’re always interested in our readers’ .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on how we can do it all better!

Sun subscribers can read more here!

Thanks, Joe, for including us in your story!

St. Paddy’s @ St. Russell’s Pix, With St. Tony Foo O’Yong

St. Tony Foo O’Yong brought in St. Paddy’s Day right at St. Russell’s Bar & Grill, March 17, 2010! Anyone who plays the full nine-minute version of Rapper’s Delight is A-OK by me.

All the photos are on our Flickr page!

Got a Hero? Get a Free Symphony Ticket!

More Updated Update: Paducah Symphony drumroll please….The winner is Dina Timmons Perez! Congrats, Dina! I’ll send you the details shortly!

Update: We’ve just received a pair of tickets to give away to Saturday’s performance! Want ‘em? Use the comment button to tell us your hero. We’ll randomly draw and announce the winner by happy hour today (Friday)!

The Paducah Symphony’s fourth finalist in the conductor search — Glen Cortese — conducts Heroes & Legends, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 20, at the Carson Center. On tap: King Lear Overture, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with pianist Lei Weng, Overture to Don Giovanni and more!

And here’s a very cool offer: Buy your ticket and get a second ticket for your own HERO to attend for free!

Yep, it’s a heroic buy one/bring one free offer that’s good only for advanced sales only. Tix start at $20. The offer expires Friday, March 19 at 5 p.m. So call 270.444.0065 and get your tickets today!

Oh, and arrive at 7 p.m. for the art gallery and Touch of Class-ical Conversation before the concert. There’s wine.

See you there!

Etcetera Squared Opens!

In case anyone missed it, yesterday was the grand opening of Etcetera Squared! You can now get your Love Buzz on in two locations! Etcetera Squared is now open in downtown’s Market Square next to Kirchhoff’s, offering the same great coffees and bubble teas. Do what I did yesterday afternoon… grab a cookie from Kirchhoff’s and enjoy it with a honey cinnamon breve (also known as a Tami). She gets a kick out of it when I ask her to give me a “big hot cup of you!”

Come see the cool new counter with Emilee’s painted trees and the same baristas you are used to from Etcetera Classic, including Justin, seen here in his natural state, sleeping on what or whomever is closest!

Etcetera Squared hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday.

Crave Jasmine Online!

If you love Jasmine as much as we here at iList Paducah do — or if you’re curious about trying it — check out their revised Web site, cravejasmine.com! Our new banner ad on our home page links directly to it. LOVE!

The site has all sorts of special offers, with great new photography and descriptions of menu items. A big recommend, by the way, for the Savory Sampler Platter — why pick just one appetizer when you can have a little of everything?

Jasmine has two locations: 506 North 12th St. in Murray, and 451 Jordan Dr. in Paducah. And they’re hiring! Job apps are available at both places.
 

Laura K’s Style File 3/15/10

The Hot and Happening PR News

In demand stylist Alicia Medina is now with the new MaArte’ Style Expression Day Spa and Salon at Jordan’s Crossing. Alicia is well known for staying on the cutting edge of style trends, and those lucky enough to secure appointments with her reap the benefits of her skills in cut and color. She is also a frequently sought stylist for numerous national touring theatrical performances at Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center. Located at 451 Jordan Dr. in Paducah, MaArte’ offers a wide range of salon and spa services including massage, facials, manicures, pedicures and spray tan. To book an appointment with Alicia, call MaArte’ at 270.993.1140.

The Cash for Cartridges program offered by The Cartridge Shoppe provides businesses an opportunity to do three good deeds for our environment and community all at the same time. Businesses that sign up for the program can RECYCLE their print cartridges to go a little greener, EARN CASH for their chosen charity for each cartridge and BUY LOCAL by purchasing replacements at a savings of 25 percent or more. This program is the first of its kind in our area, and school fundraising programs are available as well.  Both business and interested charities are encouraged to contact the Cartridge Shoppe for more information. The Cartridge Shoppe is located at 4793 Village Square Dr. in the Strawberry Hill area behind Walmart. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tammy Zimmerman has been named Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee for Managed Service Providers of Evalon, the leading global provider in payment processing services. As Co-Chair of the MSP Advisory Committee, she will help Evalon determine best practices, increase quality of communications, improve product delivery and program development and enhance sales and marketing tools. Tammy holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Louisville and has more than 20 years of experience in the banking and credit card industry. She is president and founder of Payment Plus Inc., a payment processing provider located in Paducah that provides a broad range of secure electronic payment processing solutions both locally and for customers from coast to coast.

Visit my online portfolio for more PR and marketing news.

Lourdes Mardi Gras Brings in $53,000!

Thanks to wonderful community support, including fabulous food from Artisan Kitchen (above) and other awesome caterers, the Lourdes Foundation raised nearly $53,000 from the 8th Annual Mardi Gras & All That Jazz fundraiser held at Harrah’s Metropolis a few weeks ago.

Nearly 750 Lourdes Foundation supporters turned out for the event, despite the fact that all of our piggy banks are a little lighter than usual these days.

“Healthcare is such a basic need, and we can all relate to the challenges of those who are uninsured or under-insured,” says gorgeous Tara Miller, the Foundation’s executive director. “More than ever, our donors recognize the importance of high quality, compassionate care for our entire community and are stepping up in amazing ways to support Lourdes’ healing ministry.”
   
Funds raised at Mardi Gras & All That Jazz are used to support programs and services, provide facility upgrades and purchase state-of-the-art technology for Lourdes Hospital. The Foundation has raised more than $500,000 through the Mardi Gras fundraiser. 

Congratulations Tara and team!

Visions and Two Tix to Vagina Monologues

UPDATE: We actually received two pairs of tickets! The winners are Amanda Peek and Joe Hedges – both responded to our offer on our Facebook fan page! Congrats!

What time is it? It’s Vagina Time!

The Vagina Monologues, the annual big fundraiser for the Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center, is set for 6 p.m., Saturday, March 20, at the Robert Cherry Civic Center. Tix are $10, available at the door or at Etcetera Coffeehouse.

We have two tix to give away! Want ‘em? Leave a comment and we’ll randomly draw and announce the winner on Thursday!

By the way, enter for your chance to win this original artwork by local artist Sarah Roush. The piece is called “Visions,” and it’s absolutely gorgeous. The raffle tix are $10 — purchase them that night or online — just click the Paypal button on the bottom of the Merryman House home page. Please Indicate your $10 donation as Visions Artwork Raffle. The winner will be picked at random at the performance!

And by the way, meet our iDate of the Week Chaka Barron, the Marketing and PR Assistant at Merryman House. She has a starring role in The Vagina Monologues — she her as Angry Vagina!

It’s a great night for a great cause!

St. Paddy’s in Paducah

We’re gonna have to pace ourselves when we’re out celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on Wednesday. Tony Foo Yong’s playing at Russell’s, The Union Suit and Roscoe are at Mother Duncan’s and gorgeous Jennifer Fox and her Pillow Fighters are at Fat Moe’s — where they’re serving corned beef and cabbage with green beer and Irish Car Bombs from noon to 10 p.m.!

See you out and about!

FEAT on the Street 5K Run/Walk: April 17

iList Paducah is delighted to be a sponsor of the 4th Annual FEAT on the Street, set for Saturday morning, April 17, in Noble Park. We just added the above banner to our home page — it links to the registration form. Yep, we’re handy like that.

We’re big fans of FEAT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment), mainly because it was started by the gorgeous Tammi Halvorson, one of our very early iList Paducah sponsors. Tammi owns Taco John’s — in fact, her husband Pat Halvorson INTRODUCED THE TACO to Paducah when he opened the first Taco John’s a long while back.

Anyway, the 5K race (at 9 a.m.) and the one-mile youth run (at 10 a.m.) both raise money for the Western Kentucky chapter of FEAT and goSoccer, a soccer team for athletes with a physical or mental disability.

And new this year: The event route includes the Greenway Trail!

So lace up your running shoes, and we’ll see you there!