On March 31, communities from across rural Ontario gathered online for the virtual Teeny Tiny Summit to learn tips and tricks on building community and business prosperity through storytelling and the experience economy. Keynote speaker, Peter Kenyon from the Bank of Ideas, challenged participants to rethink how towns and businesses present themselves by focusing on one simple but transformative concept — embracing the wow factor.
So, what exactly is wow? Peter shared the now-famous story of Beechworth, Australia — a town once in total collapse, seemingly unable to give away homes or businesses. Today, it’s one of Australia’s top tourist destinations. That turnaround is widely credited to Tom O’Toole, owner of the Beechworth Bakery, whose philosophy was clear: “In every town and business there has to be the wow factor. Wow is the answer.”
Peter offered ten practical tips to bring WOW to life. It starts with fresh eyes — stepping back to notice tired signage, empty storefronts and weak first impressions that may have become unnoticed over time. From there, WOW grows through experience, interest and fun. Great products matter, but memorable experiences matter more. From organizing live music or events outside your business, to engaging all five senses of visitors and customers, experience creates connection.
He urged towns to design for people, not cars, investing in green spaces, street life, public art and Instagram-worthy features. Storytelling was another standout theme — “stories are data with soul” and they build trust, humanize businesses and make places unforgettable.
Creativity, humour and curiosity also play vital roles, as do powerful words like free, local and discount. Appealing to values, bragging shamelessly about achievements and committing to positively outrageous customer service round out the list.
The message was clear. Wow is not accidental. With intention, creativity, and heart small towns can create big impact.
You can view the recording and the presentation slide deck from the March 31st Teeny Tiny Summit virtual session.
Attend an in-person Teeny Tiny Summit
Register Today!
- May 26 at the Clifford Community Centre, Clifford
- May 28 at the Burleigh Falls Inn, in Burleigh Falls
- June 3 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Manitouwadge
For more information about the upcoming in person Teeny Tiny Summits, read our blog!
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