GTBA Hosts Summer Summit

Forty people representing 30 businesses turned out for the Monday night at Fred and Ethel's Lantern Light in Smithville, Steve Moliver said on Wednesday.

While about 15 of those businesses came from Smithville, there were many businesses from throughout the township represented, including Herbal Nutrition and Glazed Over, the new ceramics store that recently opened in Risley Square.

Razzle Dazzle, Ireland and Old Lace and Paw Dazzle were among the Smithville businesses that turned out for the event.

"It was very engaged," Moliver said. "This event had a broader focus. Our next event will be marketing focused, and will take place Aug. 22."

This event utilized the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey's Turning Point Technology, an anonymous clicker the business representatives used to answer a 40-question survey about their businesses.

"We wanted to give them pause and it did just that," Moliver said. "It made them think more about their own business."

He said there was interest in a variety of follow-up seminars, including those focused on business planning, but marketing is the issue that will be addresses first.