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Andrew Middleton

@mapcenter.com

13K followers 2.1K following 2.4K posts

'Peddler of Wheres,' job creator, Owner at The Map Center in Pawtucket RI- it's like a hip record store but for maps. www.mapcenter.com Cartographer, GIS specialist and educator Linktr.ee/ecoandrewtrc

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 7h

"The data's in PDF."

Marjorie James Keenan @unenthusiast.com · 17h

In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

rm -rf ~/

hammancheez @hammancheez.bsky.social · 17h

"The chancellor approved it"

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 7h

While I was at Apple, a company-wide corporate communication email (to one of Planet Earth's largest companies) went out to every single employee and contractor and some fool replied all and it created a cascading email chain that produced audible email pings across the floor for over an hour.

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 8h

oh that looks siiiiiick

Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 8h

this is a great idea! I'm gonna be noodling over this today.

Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 22h

I mean it 1000%

Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 22h

They're so good! They're intimidating! but you're right I should see them as partners and collaborators, not competitors.

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 22h

Come to RI and I'll give you a personal tour

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 22h

Thank you so much! Lemme know how it goes over!

Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 22h

Yeah, I think being that direct is important. And a link to Trip Advisor/Yelp etc. If you can't put a buck in the box, rate us somewhere.

Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 22h

Nah this is fantastic! Ideas from people who are actually good at this are so much more valuable!

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 23h

I did it once! I hate paying for a table when I already have overhead with the store but it's possible with part time staff.

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 23h

Library talks aren't super lucrative but they're fun and they're basically hour long advertisements for my business to self-selected potential customers.

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 23h

Map print weighted blanket

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 23h

Lolol I love this idea even if it slightly risks boosting "neurodivergence as fad" aesthetic. But I think it's brilliant to lean into the flag/train/map/ASD culture

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 23h

Oh absolutely. I'm just thinking about who might be in range. My membership-shed.

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 23h

I sell that title! It's a fun one. I like these ideas for local cross promotion!

Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 23h

I have T-shirts but
a. Don't we all have enough T-shirts?
b. I did the graphic design myself and you can kinda tell.
c. They actually sell okay but only getting S, M and L was a mistake.

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 23h

Oooh! An Explorers Club or something. Maybe I'd have member events + special discounts. Ultimately I think Pawtucket is just too dang small and I need to move to a place with more tourist/visitor churn. Providence isn't far. Memberships rely on locals and Pawtucket has a limited number of those.

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 23h

Totally. I've seen some great map-like-objects, or "map crap" as I affectionately call it. Finding stuff that is thoughtful and well done is tricky. I love my ceramic vintage map coasters by All Mapped Out AKA Dr. Candace Lueberring.
Having a tasteful selection that doesn't feel gimmicky is tricky.

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 23h

I got stickers for this very reason. I need to figure out a better way to administer it though. Maybe a box/sign at the door?

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Reposted by Andrew Middleton

Random Sanborn Maps @sanbornmaps.palewi.re · 1d

Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island. https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn08099_013/

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 23h

First off, thanks for caring at all! I love that this project means so much to so many people.

Actually though?
Rate/review on Google Maps, Yelp, Trip Advisor (if you've been).
Buy something online.
Tell a friend.
Send me suggestions.
Introduce me to your rich widow friend?

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 1d

I think it's fairly clear that I sell cool stuff but a ton more people enjoy visiting than taking anything home.

Is it a museum? Am I a teacher? Entertainer? How do I make money if people are very grateful I exist but don't necessarily want to buy what I sell?

Do I go nonprofit?

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 1d

Not many visitors to the map center today. Didn't make much money.

But I did get to watch a mother and daughter pore over Anton Thomas's 'Wild World' map together for like an hour. The complete delight of a child being excited about learning is such a gift.

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Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 1d

He uh, he knows about it.

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