Canandaigua Tourism

Ever since I opened in July of 2006, I have proactively drawn tourist into the store. First by advertising in the right places - Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, Life in the Finger Lakes, the Canandaigua Tourism Guide and the Finger Lakes Times Tourism Guide. But more importantly than the advertising is having the right plan in place to attract tourist.

Being in the spice business and wanting to attract tourists means offering a large ethnically diverse selection. But also insuring that that selection is as authentic as possible to it's "true" flavor. What does this mean? Often in India and Africa spices are dry roasted to bring out their flavors, then crushed and blended. For example, a true Ras el Hanout, would NOT taste authentic if the over 20 different ingredients weren't dry roasted first, then ground and blended. I research all of the blends we make to try to get the truest flavor.

Along with the flavor of a particular blend, customers want to know that I know where the spices [blends] originate from, how best to use them, recipe ideas, and the blending techniques of each spice. In other words, customers want to know that I know more about spices than they do, even if they are of the ethnicity of the spices origin.

Along with the selection and the knowledge base of the "spice blender", tourist want a welcoming environment. I make it a point to greet everyone that enter the store, I ask where they come from, how they heard about us, what they might be looking for. If it is a motor coach tour visiting [and we have ahd 6 of those this year so far], I jump on the bus before they come into the store to welcome them, give them a very brief history of the shop and Canandaigua, tell them where the bathrooms are [very important to hospitality] and offer them a gift for visiting. Wouldn't this make you feel welcome?

The store itself must be welcoming. Colorful to match the herbs, spices, and specialty foods on our shelves; well lit to better see the products; wide isles to make trafficing through the store easy; clean bathrooms, floors, shelves, and windows are important; and of course fast efficient checkout.

We have a Welcome Book to track where customers come from and also to gather customer comments. I am pleased that we have welcomed guests from 13 other countries and 21 other states at this point. We have many comments that indicate tourist were in teh Finger Lakes area and had done a web search on the area, finding us in Canandaigua and specifically come to town to visit us. Comment slike great selection, great prices, knowledgable help pepper the book. These are indicators that we are doing some of the correct things to attract tourists and local shoppers alike.

I believe that Finger Lakes Foods and Wines are major attractions to our region. To encourage more food and wine travel in the Canandaigua Area I have created the Canadaigua Lake Culinary Trail. The trail boasts over 25 farms, farmer's markets, food processors, specialty food shops, restaurants and wineries. It is a great way to promote local foods and wines. I encourage anyone looking to spend a special day with family or friends to visit some or all of the stops on the Canandaigua Lake Culinary Trail. Your feedback is always appreciated. To see the trail visit my website at http://canandaiguaspice.com and click on the tab for Culinary Trails.

We can all do more to encourage tourism in the Canandaigua area. Tourism is vital to our local economy. Please be proactive and positive to folks travelling into our area.

Until next time,
Michelle