Storm Dawg Marketing

ABC News reported in their article, “Neb. Small-Business Owners Say They Get No Help,” that Small business owners gathered in Omaha Tuesday to discuss what they feel is a lack of help from government stimulus programs and banks. Some of the business owners interviewed recount tales of home foreclosures, lending struggles and land devaluations – all things that significantly impact the small businesses that Omaha representative Lee Terry describes as the backbone of the U.S. economy.

If this article (and the 50 small business owners that gathered in Omaha) indicates anything, it’s that the recession is far from over, small businesses are STILL struggling, and many are having difficulty finding the help they “need.”  … or was it “want?”

We blogged a while back about a few great resources for small business: The SBA, SCORE, local banks to name a few. Now it’s not always easy… handouts (bailouts?) are easy. These are more like hand-ups. Our free marketing contest has even helped-up a few hundred small businesses drum up new customers and breath life into some marketing practices. (For those of you waiting to enter again… February we’re opening the contest back up, and it’s going to be BETTER THAN EVER!)

With all of the cries of small businesses these days, I’m reminded of a saying from another one of our blog authors, Christina Kudym: “Mom said no… … … Da-a-a-a-d!!!”  (She’s hilarious; follow her on Twitter @ChristinaKudym.)

With all the “bail outs” going on for larger industries, are we losing site of our own responsibilities? Do we “need” help or “want” help? Or to say it differently, are we just whining too much? Is there an opportunity to take even more pride from owning a business if you can steer it successfully with whatever resources are made available to you?

Or… does the government have a responsibility to the backbone of the U.S. economy to step in and help when times get tough?

Or further still… is there a risk to the greater economy without greater intervention?

Would love to hear your thoughts on this evolving discussion.

Bryan D. Jennewein

People are spending money… but where they are spending that money has changed considerably. You might be thinking, “This is nothing new”, but I like to think I’ll give it a little something extra…plus I’ve got some fun stats for you.

Who would have thought that going to a movie or buying perfume would become a “luxury” purchase?  Those things always have fallen under “discretionary” purchases, but the majority of people probably wouldn’t have thought of them as a “luxury” – until now.

People are being frugal with their money, and more people are staying home to rent movies, drink and eat.  So how do you get them back? The first reaction is to run a deal or a special to draw in the business.  Not a bad idea, but what happens when you go back to regular price – will your customers be happy?  Watch your specials and don’t go overboard.

Since it seems people aren’t going out as much….do girls need to get all “done up” as often? Survey…Says…..NO.

One industry that usually doesn’t see a large decrease in sales is the beauty industry. As a girl, I can tell you yes, I will eat in more often if it means I don’t have to give up things that I deem essential – hair, cosmetics and perfume.  I mean…if my hair doesn’t look good, if I can’t smell fantastic and if my skin isn’t balanced, then I don’t feel good about myself. And the end result is my work and social life suffer.  Right!?

Deep down I think/know that I can make do without these so-called essentials.  But I’ll do my best to make sure I never have to find out.  Please send your friends to read this post…I need a haircut and color next month!

It appears, however, that some girls have had to find out if they can make do. So sorry!!  According to NDP Group, skin care sales between January and June 2009 were down 6%, makeup was down 7% and fragrances down a whopping 10%.  There has been a slight increase in these numbers, but it just goes to show that people are giving up certain things to buy the essentials…food, water, break and milk…who knew?  Oh and some are even paying down their debt – imagine that.  Please see the attached research from our friends at ORC Guideline. It’s a great piece and worth checking out.

Until next time,

Christina Kudym

You keep hearing about people and businesses “going green”…  What does that mean to/for you?  Possibly another way to increase traffic to your business by way of new products and services?   Um…YES!

More and more people are feeling the urge to lessen their carbon footprint & want to buy the products that will help them accomplish that.  Can they buy them from you?  The green consumer base is growing, and where they want to be green, they also want to save green.  So offering products that are green and affordable is a goal you should add in 2010.

That being said I’ve attached some research from ORC Guideline that says by 2013, green product offerings will increase by 19% as well as some trends out there now.  See if you can take advantage of these trends.

As an added bonus, you are also doing your part to keep our planet healthy -small businesses are so numerous they can have a large impact on the environment by way of the green products and services they offer.

Until next week…

Christina Kudym

Consumers are taking penny-pinching to the max this holiday shopping season.  What are you doing to compensate?  Are you thinking of creative ways to get your name out there?  You should be.  Keeping less in stock so you don’t have to discount it later?  Maybe…

I mean…I’ll say it…how are you competing with Walmart and Target?  Marketing is going to play a bigger role this year than any other.  How are you getting your offers, deals and steals in front of people?  Do not cut back on your marketing – trust me, they (Walmart & Target) aren’t.

I received no fewer than 7 catalogs in the mail this week, and I looked at all 7…. of course I did…Christmas is coming!  If you are short on marketing $, consider joining forces with other small businesses in your area to put out a “combo catalog.”  Help one another out, for Pete’s sake!  Find a nearby store that sells something complementary to yours and share a marketing campaign.  Or join forces with everyone in your strip mall and coordinate your marketing efforts on mailers, emails and the like.  Why not?  And for heaven’s sake, get a Facebook ad.  Everyone and their mom is on Facebook.  Well….actually not my mom. I just showed her how to get an email address…no kidding.  She shops QVC; however, she’s not your demographic anyway…no worries.

Consumers plan to spend an average of $683 on holiday-related shopping this year. That is down 3.2% from last year’s $705.  How much do you think they plan on spending with you?

For some interesting holiday shopping stats,  take a look at the attached research from ORC Guideline.  If I didn’t motivate you to market, these stats might do the trick.

Do you have some marketing tips for this holiday season? Share!

Talk to you next Thursday,
Christina Kudym

Hey StormDawg fans,

I saw this great article in the American Express’s OPEN Forum written by Julia Rogers of Recession Wire titled “New Business in the Downturn:  Desperate Times Do Not Call For Desperate Measures” .  I thought you might like it.

Don’t Work Too Hard – StormDawg

Small businesses are large contributors to charities and their local communities.  I am sure this is not a surprise to some of you, but did you know that small businesses donate in excess of $40 billion in cash, products, services and time?  That is incredible!

Despite the current economic situation and the fact that small businesses are getting hit hard, they are still out there lending a hand.  Wow!  In fact, according to a survey from our friends at ORC Guideline, small businesses feel they can do even more! Are you one of them?  If so, what are you donating?  Would you rather donate products and services instead of cash? Read the attached research and see what businesses like yours are giving away.

Thanks, and as StormDawg would say, “Don’t work too hard!”

Christina Kudym, StormDawg S.W.A.T. Team

Hey all,

People keep asking me why they should spend money to market in a down economy.  And I tell them, well… there are lots of reasons.  In fact, one of my first video blogs talked about three reasons:

• Reach more prospects with less money.
• Connect with your current customers.
• Identify what’s working and what’s not.

Here’s a short video clip of me talking more about these reasons and others for why you should market.  I’d love to hear from you about what you’re doing to market, what’s working, what’s not and how I can help.

Don’t work too hard!

StormDawg

With information overload occurring everywhere, small businesses need to be very careful about what they believe and what they discard. We have to carefully sift through information and consider all the angles before jumping to conclusions.

Some of the things you’ll hear, like “more people are on food stamps now than ever before,” are likelybecause there are more people in this country than there were before.

Think carefully.  And don’t work too hard!

StormDawg

Hey all,

Here is a link to a great small business article that talks about some of the loans that are being made available by the SBA for small businesses. Your business can qualify for up to $35,000 for loans that are not to be used for working capital but to pay off those nagging debts and give you some room to get going again. The terms are pretty reasonable, so check it out… it might come in handy.

Remember the recession actually represents an opportunity to gain market share and pick up new customers for those that find a way to invest in their business. The money could also help get the entire economy moving again as, according to some economists, each dollar spent can turn over in the economy as many as 7 times.  (Although other economists are still unsure.)

I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Here are a few more articles about our current economic state… I hope they help.

“Growing number of economists see recovery on the horizon” – CNN Money

“Chapman economists predict economy to start turning around by year end” – 89.3 KPCC

“NABE Outlook: Recession end in sight…” – NABE

Don’t work too hard.

StormDawg