Houston Gun Shop
I am cracking up. I try to not to get political here, but I just have to today. I was actually reading the Houston Business Journal a minute ago and read an article on the front page about a gun shop. My interest was totally peaked because we’ve finished our newest website for a Houston Gun Shop – Jim Pruett’s Guns and Ammo – so naturally I’m very intrigued with gun stores now, especially the gun shops in Houston.
The reason I’m cracking up is because the title of the article is “Gun Shop gets a straight shot of stimulation.” It seems Obama’s stimulus package for small businesses is aiding a local gun store in its expansion. They are moving in to an old Circuit City (which is HUGE) – this move is giving them an 844% increase in square footage. Since Obama has been in office, this store has seen its business grow 600%. Now do you REALLY think he meant for a GUN STORE to have that kind of growth? I know some of you are saying, “Sure he did. They are a small business.” I’m still smiling.
Jim Pruett’s Guns and Ammo is rockin’ along also. They are moving into a larger space this spring some time. Check out their new website – it shows all the brands of guns they sell, the types of clothes (it’s called Tactical Apparel), it even has a Stevens and Pruett page – remember the Rock Gawds of 101 KLOL? Yes, it’s the same Jim Pruett. We are started to collect old pictures and post them on the site. They also have a new Fan Page that reflects the new site url – you can get there by http://houstongundealer.com or www.jimpruett.net – both url’s will get you to the same place. Facebook wise – if you don’t have a Facebook page you can see their page at www.facebook.com/houstonguns .
It’s been a really fun site to work on for so many reasons. One being that Jim Pruett’s energy level has NOT changed a bit since the 80′s. I visited the store on fact finding missions a few times and got to handle an AK-47 – didn’t know THOSE were legal. Now I have ammo against my oldest son. He is SO into guns – hunting guns – that I can fire off stats, and talk “ammunition” now.
This houston gun store carries all types of handguns, military style rifles, and has quite a collection of OLD war guns (called militaria – see my vocabulary has even grown) displayed “museum” style. It is an experience in itself – definitely worth a trip over. Another vocab word I learned is “less-than-lethal.” Mr. Pruett’s daughter-in-law carried quite the container of pepper spray. But for something more exciting, you can peruse the tasers.
The really nice thing is that they REALLY care and ask questions of the gun buyer. Questions over and beyond the scope of the “gun application.” They teach CHL – concealed handgun license – classes as well as defensive handgun classes. They DO care that you learn how to use your gun.
I’m really looking forward to watching this site grow traffic wise, fan wise, and the Facebook page – well that’s up to you. Become a fan – NOT a business plug – it’s a riot watching what people post. Go ahead – try it!
And I guess I should thank Obama for allowing these Houston gun stores to grow – to borrow from the article – now THAT’S a shot of stimulation………still smiling here!
FunnySEO & Marketing – the MacBurger
In a Facebook exchange today with a few of my friends (Susan Sternberg has an AWESOME photography blog on Smugmug and Tina Tilghman is a massage therapist at the New Territory Club – both out of Sugar Land), we were discussing the MacBook. As the director of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and SMO (Social Media Optimization) at our Houston website design company, Bizopia, I can’t afford any “down” time on the computer. I am constantly blogging here and on 4 other blog sites. These sites are part of my SEO job and I chronicle about our clients as well as tips on SEO (and on a good day, swimming tips of the trade).
My other half (husband) has been pushing me on the MacBook subject lately because of virus-issues, and how this Apple product interfaces with so many of the things I use…….Adobe Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and all the IPods, ITouches, and IPhones that my family owns. It just makes sense. So, on Facebook I posted something like “am I going to be able to get used to this QUICKLY?” Meaning – at MY AGE. I tried to explain and remind a few of the guys here in the office that we didn’t have computers when I was in the womb 
and all I’ve really know is a good old fashioned Windows driven PC. I still remember when they dumped this THING with a “mouse” on my office desk. I just stared at it – I had had ONE class in college on a Mac (I was in Kinesiology/Education-WHOOP!) – and that was it. Everything I know has been self-taught. THEN here came “Windows” and all the changes with all the different versions………
So I post my “concern” and friends started commenting as they do on Facebook and one friend asks “what is a MacBook? Is it something from McDonalds?” Naturally this opens an entire other string of comments (well, it IS Friday). I throw out there – wouldn’t a GREAT and POWERFUL pairing – Apple & McDonalds? McD’s could use one of those “branding iron” things on their buns and make a MACBurger? I don’t know – in my “marketing” mind, I think it would work – ha!
Just one of my totally random thoughts at work. It’s all about the wordplay for me – it’s an SEO thing!!!! Finding different ways to market client’s ideas through words and the search engines on the internet. Some are easy, some aren’t. Susan Sternberg’s is real easy – go look at her photos on her blog site – you’ll get the “picture” fast. They are WONDERFUL. I’m particularly fond of the Austin HS Swim Team pictures………
More later – I totally stopped working on Houston Auto Glass Repair‘s newest website – http://mobileaffordableautoglass.com – and I need to finish it. BTW, the guys are great – and yes, I’ve had to use them. Unforunately, it was due to a bozo act with my Navigator……….broke the tailgate window – they fixed it in less than an hour FROM THE TIME I CALLED.
A Musical Christmas!
I am LOVING this 60-65 degree weather. WOW! And sun……we’ve definitely done something good in Houston. While trying to wrap up my Christmas shopping and plans, I was driving down Hwy 59 and saw the HUGE – and I mean HUGE – Piano Sale at Houston’s own Piano Sales and Service music store, Fort Bend Music Center.
As clients of mine, I haven’t been out there in a while – but the sign reminds me of what a great sales floor they have with upright pianos, baby grand pianos even electric pianos. As I’ve said in the past, my youngest LOVES going to Fort Bend Music Center because one of my friends, Debbie, is part owner. This is a family owned business that understands that children (and adults) have to try things out before purchasing.
FBMC caters to your musical instrument sales needs as well as your piano sales needs in Houston. For the TRUE beginners, they offer piano lessons for all ages, all levels. Maybe one of these I’m going to get my flute out, dust it off (air it out) and start playing again. Playing music was always comforting to me.
For your last minute musical needs, buy a piano from Fort Bend Music Center….you won’t regret it. (Just hide the bat from the three year old – my piano needs new keys. Think I’ll just buy a new one!)
Sugar Land Family Day
Well …. it’s the last weekday of summer break and we decided to take the family to lunch and a movie. Have you seen “Aliens in the Attic?” Pretty cute. Before the movie, we visited Grimaldi’s Pizza up by the First Colony Mall in Sugar Land. Excellent. You get to pick your toppings and the hand make a specialty pizza – the pepperoni was awesome. Salads were huge. And they gave the kids dough to play with while we were waiting. You might want to rethink that decision…………
After lunch we ventured over to the AMC Theater on Sweetwater. Surprised that the place was not packed on tax-free Friday, we sat on down in the COLD theater. They only had one preview – that’s my family’s favorite part. But it was good one – The Lightning Thief. I totally appreciate Percy Jackson and the book’s ability to instill a shared love for mythology………ANYWAY – back to Aliens.
Pretty cute – some parts are hilarious. The part where Snuggles/Spark plays the music with Hannah was pretty cute. I think Fort Bend Music Center, Sugar Land & Houston’s one stop shopping experience for the music lover, should borrow that clip and make an ad out of it for their store. I can see it now – Sugar Land Guitar Lessons featuring Spark on the Electric Guitar. Or………..Houston Piano Sales featuring Spark on the Baby Grand Piano. I think it would be hilarious.
I can see Spark (the four armed, bug eyed alien) talking about piano sales in Houston, while playing an upright. Laying on top of the upright piano would of course be an acoustic or electric guitar. WHen he’s done delivering his two cents worth on buying a piano in Houston, he could go straight into Stairway to Heaven on the guitar. He could talk about his guitar instructor at Fort Bend Music Center and how COOL he is. “Sugar Land Guitar Lessons….na na na nah…….got get ‘em…..na na na nah” – need to buy a guitar in Sugar Land? Na na na nah!”…and so forth. It would be so cute!
Now if you are seriously looking for an instructor, FBMC really does provide Sugar Land Guitar Lesson INstructors………and they also sell pianos! Adios!
Mom – Can I play the Guitar?
Have your kids bugged you about wanting to learn to play the guitar but you don’t want to plunk down the money? How’s that frog doing? Are YOU feeding the dog yet? We have frogs (that I feed) and a dog (that I play with)…..do you have the same thing going on?
I can hear my crew pleading their case for learning yet another thing………guitar is the latest. Lucky thing for me is that I’m working with a great music center, Fort Bend Music Center, at work and they are experts in Houston Guitar Lessons and Houston Guitar Sales & Rental.
I was in band in school but I don’t remember any of my music stores offering Houston band instrument rental. I LOVE the idea of the kids being able to switch instruments….especially mine. It’s much easier to SWITCH instruments rather than SWITCH croaking frogs………..
I want to buy a guitar….
The need for pickin’ and grinnin’ …..The question isn’t why you should play guitar — but why not. The reasons are as varied and countless as the sounds a guitar makes. In a thriving metropolis such as Houston, it stands to reason handling the axe — and doing so with a certain amount of skill and authority — is an activity that can be as lucrative as it is enjoyable.
Talk about empowering: No musical artists, including singers, command a stage like talented guitarists. If you’re remotely interested, it’s time to forget about playing Wii or Nintendo; learning and conquering a real axe is far more gratifying. Everybody needs a hero, but not Guitar Hero. Perhaps you should invest both time and a little money, in the hope it’ll pay you back in spades. Once you get that pick moving, fingers grooving and strings strumming, you’ll wonder what took you so long to pursue such a cool and worthwhile hobby. (Your fingertips may get sore the first time you undertake this venture, but that’s a small setback: The road to fame is paved with blood and sweat.)
Just getting your act together in a Houston-based garage? Or maybe you’re bandmates have already landed gigs, with compensation, throughout the city’s array of nightclubs.
Jamming on a guitar — whether acoustic or electric, steel string or nylon — provides a sense of power and pride. And there’s no denying the sex appeal: Women from all walks of life can’t get enough of “handy” men playing an axe in the spotlight. Just think of the pleasure and attention you’ll stir up by creating six notes at a time, as only guitars can do.
Better yet, it’s ideal for accompaniment because (as with a piano) only one’s hands are necessary — freeing up your mouth to sing along. Have you considering buying a guitar?
Why learn how to play guitar? As a creative outlet that’s soothing to the ear. Lessons are encouraged, but you can be self-taught with patience, determination and diligence. For inspiration, think of some of the masters: Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Keith Richards, Eddie Van Halen and B.B. King. Each started from scratch, yet made a name for themselves with “sound” fundamentals.
Visit Houston Guitar Sales expert, Fort Bend Music Center, for your guitar sales and guitar lessons in Sugar Land- needs.
Music in Sugar Land
I’m sitting here at the desk wondering how many different ways I can say MUSIC LESSONS in Sugar Land . It’s all part of what I call Houston SEO Biz………Bizopia is our company that specializes in Houston web design and SEO.
To me, SEO is a bit of a game of symantics. I try to think of all the different ways someone might search for private music lessons in Sugar Land. It’s fun to ask everyone how they search for things.
Anyway, Fort Bend Music Center is owned by friends of mine and they are really great people. Located in Stafford, which is a city in the shadows of Houston, FBMC has a great showroom of pianos, uprights/verticals as well as grand pianos, all for sale or rent. It’s worth visiting – my kids LOVE going there! They let Grant bang on the drums!
Off to get the kiddos!
