Web site tries to bring back conversation

By RAY ESTRADA — July 28, 2009

While an increasing number of people use social network or online dating sites these days, a Santa Barbara businesswoman is employing technology to simply bring back the art of conversation.

“We don’t have a front porch any more,” said 28-year Santa Barbara resident Michele Sandlin, who earlier this month she launched open2conversation.com. “We used to have front porches back when people were more open to conversation; now we have hedges, fences and gates where the porches used to be.”

“I want to reinvigorate the art of conversation,” said Sandlin, who admits to once being quite shy herself. “I want to make it easier for anyone and everyone to make new friends.”

She said she needed to create a symbol that people could wear to indicate that they are open to conversation. Sandlin said she sells men and women’s T-shirts on her Web site starting at $22 each with the distinctive Open 2 Conversation logo – O2C – on them. She also offers some women’s jackets with the logo.

“I want to go international with this,” she said. The idea is for men and women to wear the clothes and when someone spots the O2C logo, they can strike up a conversation since they are open to it.

“I’ve come up with a plan that’s so simple, it’s  brilliant,” she said. “It’s an invitation to have a conversation.”

 While not necessarily aimed at dating, she said, her Web site will provide a blog to discuss the meetings and conversations.

“Some people can talk up a storm with perfect strangers,” she said.

Sandlin said her logo is not meant to be worn into bars. “It’s about being active, being out doors,” she said.

The Web site is Sandlin’s first attempt at starting her own business. She left a part-time office job last July, but before her second child was born she worked as a controller for a Santa Barbara architectural company.

“I turned 45 this year and I found that people were not approaching me,” said shapely, blue-eyed blonde entrepreneur. “I’m healthier and happier than I have been in eons.” As she walks  around town, Sandlin said it seems many people are reluctant to strike up a conversation.

As a mother of three children and former philosophy major at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Sandlin said her family is her top priority.

However, since she has worked in business offices around Santa Barbara for many years, she said she has found business networking very simple. “There are a lot of young entrepreneurs around her,” she said.

A couple of months ago, she attend the Tech Brew Mega Mixer at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort and Hotel where the Maverick Angel Investors group launched its Santa Barbara chapter. The room was teeming with some 300 business people.

While there, Sandlin met Ruth Ann Bowe, a Realtor who also is a member of the board of the Santa Barbara chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, or NAWBO.

Bowe convinced Sandlin to attend a NAWBO breakfast in June and now she’s on the verge of joining the 2-year-old chapter.

She’s also received some key advice from the area chapter of the Service Corps of Retired Executives, or SCORE, which provides free counseling to small businesses. She said a SCORE counselor told her about search-engine optimization, which helps more potential patrons to see her Web site. She met another entrepreneur at a Santa Barbara Executive Roundtable, or SABER, breakfast who told her about SCORE.

Sandlin said she is trying to keep the products she offers local. For example, the clothing she offers is printed in Goleta. A Santa Barbara company designed her Web site. She works out of her home office.

Now, her biggest goal is to affiliate with groups that will help spread the word about O2C, which might seem difficult in this economy.

“In tough times, you have to get creative,” Sandlin said. “And, creative is the new sexy.”

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O2C : 7/30/2009

Can I forward this article to other news outlets for publication?

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forwarding article : 7/30/2009

You most certainly can forward this article to news outlets for publication....well if it is up to Michele at O2C!

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Confusion : 7/31/2009

So, 28 year old Michelle Sandlin turned 45 this year? I would like to have a conversation with her about lying about her age....

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28-year resident : 7/31/2009

Her age is 45; she's lived here 28 years. Learn how to read.

W

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Cynical Nature : 7/31/2009

I bet that after one day of wearing one of these shirts you will be sorry about all the losers that approach you and hide it forever in the back of the closet....unless of course you are a loser yourself.

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Pardon me? : 8/1/2009

I wear my t-shirts all the time and it's a blast...and FYI, I'm the female model on my website...go figure.

Michele from www.open2conversation.com

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Too cool : 8/27/2009

This sounds like an amazing line that will go far, so cynical nature you can watch this blow up in success and you will be wanting one of these shirts for yourself. When that time comes, go to www.open2conversation.com and click on products and purchase yourself one!! You go girl!

fan#1

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Great Idea! : 10/12/2009

What a great idea! Hey, why didn't I think of this...LOL...I think any idea like this born out of a genuine desire to inspire is one to be greatly admired! You go girlfriend I sincerely hope it catches on in a big way!

Angela C. Soelzer-Ragosa@MORE.com

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RE confusion : 12/18/2009

she has lived in sb for 28 years, she is 45....read it more carefull? this is a great idea, deffiently forward this to other news articles!

Micaela

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