First on every list: First Tuesday events offer opportunities to showcase New Albany businesses

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July 31, 2010

By DANIEL SUDDEATH Daniel.Suddeath@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Sat Jul 31, 2010, 07:59 PM EDT

NEW ALBANY — Thorpe Woodworks is a fast growing business with national clients from places like California and Texas — and it happens to be located in downtown New Albany.

Tuesday Thomas and Jenna Evers will open the doors to their business — located at 137 E. Market St. — to share how Thorpe Woodworks went from an operation in the couple’s garage three years ago to a wood supplier and accessory maker respected around the country.

The event from 5 to 7:30 p.m. is through Develop New Albany’s First Tuesday offering. Develop New Albany is a Main Street Organization, and Jenna Evers said the group has been instrumental in spreading the word about her family’s business.

Jala Miller is in charge of coordinating the First Tuesday outings, and Evers serves on a Develop New Albany committee that helps tout the events.

With momentum growing in terms of interest in downtown during the past three years, the pair are eyeing turning First Tuesday meetings into inclusive gatherings that focus on networking.

The events rotate to different businesses each month, usually at downtown establishments.

“The primary focus of First Tuesdays is to showcase whatever business we’re at,” Miller said. “A lot of times it will be new businesses, but we also want to incorporate the businesses that are a little more aged and have been here longer.”

Evers added mixing established businesses with startup companies is a goal of Develop New Albany and First Tuesday outings.

“It’s like old meets new too, just partnering together,” she said.

Especially in a down economy, Evers said the networking opportunities yield measurable dividends for her family’s business.

“It’s always keeping me in their mind, but also people that have never come to our events or people that haven’t come for a long time — they meet me, they see our products and then they remember us when they need those things,” she said.

Evers and her family moved to New Albany from Louisville after opening their business because of the sense of community, she said.

It’s that pride and involvement Miller and Evers want to push in the First Tuesday events. They are also a means to increase memberships for Develop New Albany, they added.

Develop New Albany President Mike Kopp said First Tuesday’s are a different kind of networking opportunity because they showcase a business. It helps to inform people about what’s downtown and builds relationships among the different merchants.

“It’s really been a successful program of which Develop New Albany implemented,” Kopp said. “I think [Miller and Evers] will ramp it up and bring us some new energy.”

Miller and Evers are looking for businesses to host a First Tuesday event. For more information, e-mail Miller at jalalanette@gmail.com, or contact Evers through the website www.thorpewoodworks.com.

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