Spring arrived with a flourish to 305 East Main Street.  There was so much to do and as always not a lot of time.   The big news came with a marketing grant through the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau.   I decided to change marketing strategies by saying good bye to some people and company associations-many of which I been working with for over 17 years.  I made the cancellation calls with mixed emotions while anticipating the unknown.   I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake.   The marketing strategy takes in 2011 as well as the Laurel Highlands 2012 tour book where I will place a photo ad…something I have not been able to afford in the past.    While I was loyal to Verizon-extremely loyal I experienced problems with my business internet server for an extended period of time so in the process of rethinking a bad business relationship I made a big move to Comcast for my business phones and internet service.  Just so you know I kept my end of the deal…I paid big bugs for two phone lines, high speed wireless (this was a joke) and in return I received great phone service but lousy wireless.   Sending email confirmations was almost impossible.  I am most thankful to my friend and Ligonier business owner Joe Vella who noted my distress-so much distress that he sent a Comcast business rep to talk with me.    Well I took the leap, made the necessary change in service and I have been happy ever after.   Verizon kept me as a customer as I have a long awaited for i-Phone which I am very happy with.

Next came the transformation of the Campbell House web-site.   Oh the web-site received a fair amount of good comments it was out dated as well as the person who  was maintaining my web-site.   I was tired of bad attitude, smart remarks, and waiting until he was good and ready to make changes…hard to believe I was paying for this behavior.    I was indecisive if I was ready make the necessary changes needed on the web-site-but all it took was one phone call-bad choice of words from the web-guy and it was all over for me.  I wrote out his last check and never looked back.   Again my friend Joe Vella came to my rescue with a  recommendation of Sillett Designs.   Erich Sillett took the old and created a new updated web-site, even matching business cards…a site I can make most updates on my own!  I no longer have to call, beg or email to make necessary changes and best of all I have a site I am really proud of.

I took advantage of other marketing opportunities with the grant money in order to get more visitors to Campbell House, Ligonier and the Laurel Highlands.

When you own a B&B you have never ending maintenance, updating, up-keeping and  2011 was no different.  Had some AC issues all repaired immediately.  I haven’t had my roof redone from the ice storm as I am not willing to shut down the B&B for the work to be done during busy season.   I did get my van repaired, so there are no more ice dents.  There sure were a lot of dents in the Soupkid van.     The weeds were looking really nice, yes I said weeds as I was late in planting flowers but they are now looking good despite the fact that I forget to water.   I have a reminder note “water plants” on the frig only to walk past and ignore, however; there has been enough rain to keep the flowers alive.   I have been in a war with a chipmonk…he or she keeps making a hole in the flower bed and I keep covering it-so far it is a draw.   The big rock I placed over the hole yesterday seems to be working so far.    Installed a custom shower door in the Campbell Suite, refinished the oak floor in the main part of the suite, rearranged and rearranged again…so if you come back to stay in the Campbell Suite you will be in for a pleasant surprise.    The “box room” called that because I kept all my shipping boxes as well as other storage items in this room has been cleaned and organized.   Sitting or kneeling room only-so Bill (my handyman) and I were hurting after that big ordeal.   I feel like I am in the wrong house every time I walk by the newly named “storage room”.    Come to think of it, I have been having an ongoing battle with spiders and webs…I get rid of them and they come back.

There is always mounds of laundry, beds to make, rooms to clean, groceries to be purchased, food to be prepared, phone calls to be answered, guests to meet and greet, breakfasts to be served and the next thing I know here is is August…a wonderful time to visit Campbell House B&B in the beautiful Laurel Highlands.