Saturday, we
travelled to the heart of Amish Country in Wayne County, Ohio. The peak colors of
fall had passed a week ago, so I was hoping for less tourists and traffic to
navigate. I should’ve picked a day during the week; it was still crazy with too
many crowded shops and congested traffic.
I often
write concerning the opportunity to “wow”
your customers. While driving towards our Amish tour, I stopped at a gas
station outside of Millersburg, Ohio. The business was an old two- pump station
which offered ample staples, including meat and Swiss cheese. I asked the young
lady working at the meat counter if we could use the restroom? She replied: “We don’t
have restrooms for our customers.” We promptly headed back to the car.
A few more
miles down the road we stopped by another gas station and were accommodated.
Those types
of businesses should understand the power of marketing begins by getting you to
enter the business. Once inside, the customer’s impulse to purchase candy, chips, or soda is how a shop makes money,
not at the pumps.
During our journey,
my Mother noticed a mile-marker sign for Mohicanville, Ohio. I’ve never been there. My
Mother told us a story concerning her great Grandfather’s brother, who was
skinned alive by Indians near Mohicanville. Gruesome stuff! My guess is this could have occurred around
1812, near the time of the Copus Hill Massacre, near
Mifflin, Ohio.
We continued
through Millersburg and onto Berlin, Ohio to the gift shops of Sol’s Palace and
Sol’s Exchange. Sol’s is the area’s largest art and craft mall. Berlin, Ohio reminded me of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Crowded sidewalks
of people, moving from one shop to the next, like a herd of cattle throughout
the business hours. Well ok, maybe a very
small version of Gatlinburg.
Outside of
Sol’s Exchange was an Amish man selling buggy rides in an authentic horse-drawn
carriage. His wife and perhaps their granddaughter sat in chairs near the
buggy. The amount of congested traffic in the parking lots wouldn’t appear to
be safe for a buggy ride.
After
shopping at Sol’s we headed further down the road stopping by Troyer’s Country Market. While my wife and Mother shopped, I took the opportunity to snap a few photos.
Our
next destination (by-passing Walnut Creek and Sugar Creek, Ohio) would be the
Dutch Valley Restaurant. We arrived at 4:15 pm. The waiting line extended 50
feet outside the doors.
The hostess
informed us the wait for a table would be 15-20 minutes. She stated a buffet
was served in the basement of the business and there was no wait to be seated. I
elected to try the buffet. The buffet
price was $33.00 for two people and included drinks, desert and tip. A young Amish
girl served our drinks.
The salad bar and food were delicious and we
were surrounded by continual groups arriving from tour buses. I noticed many
people from Pennsylvania and West Virginia at the Dutch Valley Restaurant.
After our
meal, we departed for home. The tourist traffic was minimal since most of the
shops had closed. We stopped by the same gas station on our journey home. My
wife spent a few more dollars on pop.
The hand crafted furniture is remarkable in Amish country as is the food. The economy always
does well in this niche. There’s never a recession in Amish Country.
And luckily, there is
only one gas station without a restroom for their customers!
Until
We Meet Again,
Jim Carver
Jim Carver
Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School
“Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com
Disclaimer- Books and
links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver
and third party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses
that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy
of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my
work. Thank you.
