"Marlobama Madness"

Jump On The Train Of Success And Continued Growth For Bay City!

January 25, 2009
By: MyBayCity Staff

I recently posted a response to a Bay City Times article that prompted me to start -- A local group that can and will maneuver local forces into advantageous positions for success and continued growth. This, has evoked a HUGE response, within minutes of my posting such. I have to say, I am so very proud of this community, willing to come together and bring forth necessary change.

I invite the public, through this column to join me in promoting change for our beautiful community!

Bay City Times Article: Longtime Bay City businesses closing because of economy

My Bay City Times Article Response:

Negative comments are not what we need right now, positive concepts in moving this city forward are.

Bales is right on the money, businesses need, more than ever, to advertise and market their products and services. Even if they have never applied a marketing strategy in the past or have been a staple to the community for decades. Cut back on other expenses and stay consistently in the public eye with effective and affordable forms of advertising.

I have been in marketing for 24 years and see this economy as a HUGE opportunity to give businesses an edge to stay above the rest by simply reminding potential customers that they are "alive and well" in these times.

Coupons are the most effective way to ensure that clients will walk through that door and spend their money in their establishment vs. another. Everyone is looking to save a dime and rightly so. Folks, utilize your advertising dollars and get in the "coupon war" before closing your door.

Bales also mentioned partnering with other businesses to increase traffic and save advertising dollars. I could not agree more. In fact, as the Sales & Marketing Director for O.J. Advertising Inc., and Co-Host for the Tri City Buzz Television Show, I recently pondered on the same concept. In need of a main show sponsor to continue this community program I decided that no one company in these hard economic times could afford to put forth the dollars necessary to do so. Therefore, I decided to approach groups of folks, such as the Premier Sponsors from the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce to be the main show sponsor "Tri City Buzz, brought to you by...". The amount of money needed, broken down to individual companies (Premier Sponsors for instance, approximately 22) is not a large investment for them yet I can still give each and every one, not to mention the Chamber itself the same exposure and effective results.

This is not something in over two decades of being in this business, I would ever have pondered, but now, I think it is a phenomenal strategy and everyone wins. Coming together as a community to keep the community strong and businesses moving foward is what is necessary. Combining the strengths of the entire Tri-Cities will also give us the building blocks needed in moving forward through this crisis.

We should all support those in need. Each and everyone that can ... should! With my position, I try to find whatever I can to ensure my clients find a strategy that gives them a return on investment, if it doesn't work, I keep trying until it does at no charge. It is what it is, it won't get better by being a hard a&%. If clients aren't paying their bills, I work with them, why not? What good does writing off the debt and ruining a business relationship do? Absolutely nothing but working with them through these times will pay off in the end and hopefully, I get their continued business not to mention respect when it all turns around and I do believe, it will, sooner than we think if we all help out in any way that we can.

Maybe the landlords of some of these businesses who have renters contemplating closing their doors should consider working with them on rent through these times? What good does an empty space do and no rent coming in? Why not work with these people who have rented and paid for years and maybe give them (landlords...your not going to like this but I ask for your ear and your heart for these businesses) 3 months rent free until they can catch up? Your going to sit on empty space "rent free" for at least that long after they are gone anyways...and sadly, probably longer. Rent is usually one of the biggest monthly expenses and is usually the "straw that broke the camels back" for them in deciding to close their doors.

I just think we as a community can take our own businesses/talents/resources and work with others. Remember the bartering days? They are here again. Have a heart for your city. You will somehow be affected if you do not, whether it be your children/grandchildren moving away from you someday to find better paying jobs or whatever the circumstance, what goes around comes around and this city needs arms to hold it together. Be a part of the glue that can hold this community together, I beg you all who have the opportunity to do so! Step up to the plate any way that you can...be a part, it will come back to you tenfold!

Email to clients and entrepreneurs:

I may sound like Obama, but it is time for change here in Bay City.

Everyone, encompasses something they can do and it begins by opening your eyes and pondering ways in which we can help. Is anyone interested in joining a group I am putting together to pool our resources and by resources, I don't mean "money" I mean the things each and every one of us, as a group coming together can offer to those facing hard times. The small businesses in our community need hope before closing their doors. The "little guy" (small businesses) brings forth prosperity for the corporate "big dog".

Together, I promise you, we can help. I urge you to get involved. I know...I know...None of us have the time to get involved in yet another "group", however, we need to make the time. I think meeting just once per month over the next 6 months could bring forth changes that we can all look back on and say we did something when it was needed most.

I just cannot sit back and watch this happen any longer. See the Bay City Times article (above link) and my response to such. What is happening here is a travesty and I believe together we can make a difference. Every business that closes it's doors, big or small is one step closer to the company you work for closing it's own.