Our Town America, the premier new mover marketing program, relies on a one-time housewarming gift filled with proven offers to help local businesses garner loyal customers and achieve sales success. Sports teams have a knack for sparking fierce brand loyalty and lifelong support of their teams. While most businesses do not experience the same level of rabid fan mania, they can rely on customer loyalty to ensure their business thrives. Creating a lasting relationship with customers benefits businesses and solidifies their place in the local community. Here are the top three reasons loyal customers are the key to success. 1. Loyal Customers Stay True to Business Having loyal customers helps local businesses keep doors open during uncertain economic times. Customers are willing to spend hard-earned dollars at a business they trust. Social distancing policies and innovations businesses are making to comply with regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of having a loyal customer base. While customers can’t stop in for their morning cup of joe, coffee shops are staying afloat by relying on loyal customers to order beans online for home delivery. The smokers are still burning at barbecue restaurants because customers are picking up their meals curbside. Local businesses that are shifting to online sales to cope with required store closings are seeing sales from loyal homebound customers. Loyal customers trust their favorite businesses and are willing to adapt their purchasing strategies during times of uncertainty. 2. Loyal Customers Visit Regularly Loyal customers form first-name relationships with employees because they visit regularly. Forming a relationship with a customer ensures positive reviews and helps grow business using word-of-mouth marketing. Research from HubSpot reveals that 81 percent of customers trust recommendations from family and friends over those from companies. 3. Loyal Customers Increase Sales A 5 percent increase in customer retention correlates with at least a 25 percent increase in profit, according to a report from Bain & Company Inc., a Boston-based management consulting firm. Frequent customers spend more money with a business over their lifetime, reports reveal. A loyal customer base fuels sales and ensures profitability. Our Town America’s Welcome Package Covers All the Bases Our Town America delivers a one-time housewarming gift filled with proven offers from partnered businesses. The new mover marketing program puts local businesses in front of new customers who are searching for options. The proven offers are backed by data showing which incentives receive the best response rates from customers. Our Town America’s proprietary new mover marketing system offers the most accurate databases and mailing lists in the country. High value, unparalleled accuracy, and proven response rates has made Our Town America the leading new mover marketing program for 48 years. Marketing to New Movers a Home Run for Local Businesses Our Town America helps local businesses establish loyal, repeat clientele by appealing to new movers. New movers spend more on goods and services in their first six months than established residents spend in two years. In 2019, nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population moved, or 31 million people, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. Millennial movers shop locally, with 57 percent choosing a new home because it has restaurants and shops within walking distance, a survey conducted by Our Town America revealed. Making new millennial residents aware of nearby businesses is a great method for driving sales. Using Data to Craft Proven Offers Our Town America relies on innovative software to enable partnered businesses to see the impact of the welcome package. The company’s proprietary TruTrak® software allows each business to scan certificates at the point of sale. The information is uploaded to Our Town America’s database, which instantly updates to reflect the redemption. Our Town America compares the certificates scanned to the number of mailings that have gone out to help determine if an offer is successful. For example, data compiled from Our Town America reveals that customers are more likely to respond to proven offers that provide a free gift, rather than a coupon that provides only a discount. A pizza joint can draw in customers by offering a one-time-use free pizza gift certificate. To ensure the success of proven offers, Our Town America takes the additional step of surveying new movers to get an unbiased review of the welcome package. Data from the survey helps Our Town America deliver future proven offers to the succeeding sets of new movers. Learn more about how Our Town America can help your business build a loyal customer base using proven offers today. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
Brittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations.
Articles by Brittany N. Johnson:
Americans are re-evaluating their careers as they navigate social distancing guidelines, telework and remote learning, prompting many to turn to franchising as a solution that provides flexibility and high earnings potential. Whether you were already considering franchising or just trying to find a career that will allow you to fulfill your responsibilities as a parent or spouse, home-based franchises can be an affordable option to consider. Like many Americans, you may be already working from home and learning to find your footing in a telework environment. According to research from the Brookings Institution, about half of Americans are working from home. Higher-income workers are much more likely to be working from home during the pandemic, and many experts predict the telecommuting trend is unlikely to end anytime soon. If you are considering opting out of the corporate rat race, now is an ideal time to consider entrepreneurship with a home-based franchise, like Our Town America, the nation’s leader in new mover marketing. Despite a difficult time immediately following the outbreak of COVID-19, the future of franchising is bright. Experts predict franchise sales to rebound. Industry leaders are forecasting that 2021 will be one of the strongest years ever for franchising, according to Franchising.com. Job insecurity and access to debt capital at low interest rates are prompting many Americans to consider franchising. High unemployment numbers are making it easier for franchisees to hire qualified employees, alleviating one of the primary concerns of new business owners. “We are truly committed to our culture and the people who make up our franchise system,” said Michael Plummer Jr., CEO of Our Town America. ”During this unprecedented time, Americans are struggling to balance work, family and safety. Putting an end to job insecurity by taking control of their career is a great first step to keeping worries at bay. Our home-based franchise offers business owners a proven model designed to fuel local businesses and help build and sustain economies.” Our Town America specializes in helping new movers adjust to their new communities and assisting local businesses to gain loyal customers. The company connects its partnered businesses with a new audience of movers every month, resulting in loyal, long-term customers and a welcoming sense of community. Some of the company’s valued well-known sponsors include Back Yard Burgers, Texas Roadhouse, and Mellow Mushroom, as well as numerous hair salons, dentistry offices and grocery stores. Our Town America provides franchisees with a proven business model they can tackle from the comfort of their home. At a time when safety and security are top-of-mind, teleworking provides a secure solution for a new entrepreneur. To determine if a home-based franchise is the right choice for you, here are some of the benefits of this business model. No Real Estate or Construction. Home-based franchises allow you to skip the difficult process of finding the ideal business location. Construction required to adapt your new location for your franchise model can be a costly and lengthy process. Working from home requires little more than investing in a good modem and laptop. During the pandemic, many businesses had to unexpectedly shut down during stay-at-home orders. Without a revenue stream, brick and mortar franchisees were unable to make rent payments, and many had to rely on government funds or dip into savings to stay afloat. A low-risk, home-based franchise is designed to weather the unexpected. Low Initial Investment. Home-based franchises offer a low initial investment as well as saving on construction costs. Our Town America’s up-front franchise fee is under $50k and is significantly reduced even more so for veterans. They are consistently ranked a Top 50 Low-Cost Franchise by the Franchise Business Review. Flexibility. Home-based franchises give owners the opportunity to work at their own pace. They offer unlimited earnings potential, coupled with the time you need to take your children to their extracurricular activities. Technology That Gets The Job Done. Some home-based franchises offer their business owners the latest technology to help their businesses thrive. Our Town America provides an unmatched filtration process that produces a high-quality list of new movers. They mail to all new movers, not just homeowners. They offer a Welcome Package designed to appeal to new residents, and they send follow-up mailings to encourage repeat business. Our Town America uses proprietary management software so franchisees can easily manage their business on-the-go, along with full security and tracking features, mobile applications, social media, loyalty programs and more. If you’re considering opening a low cost franchise, please contact us to learn more about investing in a successful home-based franchise. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
To help draw new customers through your doors, consider offering gift certificates, rather than coupons, to attract new residents. Every business owner understands the value of doling out coupons. The discounts encourage new customers to visit your establishment, introduce new product lines, and help shed excess inventory, according to Investopedia, an online investing resource. But, offering coupons has a downside. Coupons cost your business money, and customers might wait to make purchases until they have another coupon. Our Town America, the nation’s leading new mover marketing company, has an easy solution designed to ramp up profits and get new customers into your location. Rather than coupons, Our Town America appeals to new residents by offering an upscale Welcome Package that won’t get tossed in the recycle bin. The tasteful Welcome Package is oversized and designed to stand out from mundane mail. Plus, the offers included in the package are chosen because they line up with the needs of a recipient – therefore increasing the response rate. Every Welcome Package includes free one-time-use gifts, not repeat coupons. “A housewarming gift that includes proven special offers for local businesses will help welcome new residents to the neighborhood,” said Michael Plummer Jr., President and Chief Executive of Our Town America. “We encourage our partnered businesses to follow up on their welcome gifts with a thank-you postcard to keep their business top-of-mind with busy new residents.” People who purchase a new home typically open their wallets as they work to make their new residence a home, according to the National Association of Home Builders. For the first two years after closing on a new house, homeowners spend an average of $7,400 more than existing community members, $4,900 of it being spent in the first year after purchase, NAHB reported. While a big portion of expenditures are on appliances, furniture, and home repairs, new residents also spend the first few months in their new home running errands and learning where to buy groceries, take their pets, get dental work, order pizza, and more. New movers have no established habits or loyalties, making them an impressionable audience for businesses looking for new customers. Including New Mover Marketing in your advertising strategy makes it possible to reach a brand new, broad audience every single month. “Every time we add a new store, it’s a great decision,” said Tiffany Downing of Broadway Pizza in Maple Grove, Minnesota. “It depends on the market, but we get about 10-60 redemptions per month. We are seeing that people are spending more than we give in the certificate.” In case you’re still unsure whether implementing New Mover Marketing is the right choice for your business, here are some of the benefits of gift certificates. Advantages of Gift Certificates Keep your business top-of-mind New residents are busy unpacking boxes, painting, arranging furniture, and planting gardens. They are looking for easy, cost-effective options when out in their new community. Our Town America’s upscale Welcome Package is personalized and positioned as a welcoming gift to new residents, so is perceived by the customer as hospitality, not advertising. Help your business add loyal customers Gift certificates provide an extra incentive to try a new business risk-free, putting the local business at the top of the list. If you offer a free medium pizza on your gift certificate, hungry new residents will want to place an order as they unpack boxes and organize their new home. As an added bonus, if you impress them with stellar customer service and delicious food, they are likely to become loyal customers. Increase sales When customers come to redeem their gift certificate, it’s not uncommon that they will buy additional items, so it’s a great opportunity to enlighten them on your other offerings. If you’re ready to begin gaining more loyal customers, visit Our Town America today. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
Help your business recoup losses incurred this spring by marketing to new movers with Our Town America, the nation’s leading new mover marketing company. Local businesses took a hit following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States. As you strive to comply with social distancing guidelines and provide a safe atmosphere for employees and customers, new mover marketing offers a profitable way to increase sales while adjusting to the new normal. Approximately 9.8 percent of the U.S. population moved in 2019, or 31 million Americans, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In fact, the average American moves 11.7 times during their lifetime. People opt to move to a different home – sometimes bigger, other times downsizing; to start a new job – whether a career advancement or a layoff; to improve their daily commute or be closer to family, according to MoveBuddha, an online moving service. “Our Town America’s mission is to help new movers adjust and feel welcomed into their community and fuel the economy for local business,” said Michael Plummer Jr., Our Town America’s CEO. “We help our sponsor businesses gain new, loyal and long-term customers every month by targeting new movers.” New movers are big spenders. Having the ability to tap into the new mover market is a cost-effective marketing strategy to snag new customers right when they come to town. During the first year of owning a home, homeowners spend nearly $11,000 on furniture, appliances and home repairs, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders. With so many expenses related to buying a home, it seems natural that new movers would take this opportunity to economize, but research suggests the opposite. A home purchase does not suppress spending on entertainment, apparel, transportation and restaurant meals, NAHB reported. Americans are following through on plans to move, despite the pandemic, and businesses can attract new residents by helping them feel welcome in their new community. Americans missed eating at restaurants and running errands without worrying about their health during quarantine, according to a new survey commissioned by Our Town America. Over 70 percent of Americans are eager to try out businesses in their new cities, the survey revealed. Our Town America’s new mover marketing program allows businesses the opportunity to make a great first impression on new residents – essentially bringing new customers through the door – or into their curbside parking spaces! Each month the company sends a Welcome Package to new residents, which includes your proven offer. The high-quality Welcome Package introduces new movers to different businesses in the area to help them feel at home in their new community. Businesses have the option to take advantage of Our Town America’s follow-up ‘thank you’ postcard which mails to guests who redeem their housewarming offer. This gives businesses the chance to invite customers back with a second offer, or even just stand out from their competition by thanking the new mover for their business. “We’re just off the beaten path, just a little ways from the main intersection. It gives people a chance to come down this way and see what’s down in this area,” said Fort Mill, South Carolina salon owner. While businesses can choose what they want to offer the new movers, 49 years of data has proven that a free haircut, with wash, cut and blow dry results in the best response rate. If you’re still unsure if delving into the new mover market is right for your business, check out some of the benefits of new mover marketing with Our Town America. Brand Awareness Generates Customer Loyalty. New residents are stressed and tired of unpacking boxes and worrying if they will fit into their new communities. Social distancing guidelines are making it difficult for new families to meet the neighbors, and teleworking and remote schooling aren’t making it any easier. Sending a Welcome Package with housewarming offers is one way to make their transition smoother. The Welcome Package helps build brand awareness and marks the beginning step to customer loyalty, but getting repeat business is up to you. Make sure to make new residents who visit your business feel welcome by offering superior customer service and a positive atmosphere. Target Your Customer. Our Town America has been acquiring accurate new mover mailing lists for their customers since being founded in 1972. The company mines new resident names from multiple sources to ensure a clean, comprehensive list. They use proprietary technology to pull names from county courthouse warranty deeds, credit reporting agencies, magazine subscription address changes, credit cards, voter registrations, driver’s licenses, utility companies and more. With their impressive new mover mailing list and ‘sponsor exclusivity’ concept, Our Town America is able to target the new residents moving into your chosen ZIP codes so that you reach them before your competitors do. Unique Tracking Tools. The success of any marketing program is only as good as its ability to track your return on investment. Our Town America offers the Our Town TruTrak® mobile app, which is available on both the Apple Store and Google Play Store. The app allows you to validate and scan redemptions at point of sale or at your convenience. It also tracks your return on investment, triggers a ‘thank you’ mailing and even gathers detailed demographic data of your new customers. Learn more about how Our Town America can help you add customers and boost foot traffic to your business today. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
WECT News | Wilmington, NC (Sept 2020) – The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted businesses for more than 6 months now. Some have struggled, but have been able to keep their doors open, while others have had to close for good. In an effort to stay afloat, business owners are trying new things to gain new customers. WECT News met with Chris Levesque of Whiskey Trail Sports Pub and Bassam Safi of Our Town America to discuss a marketing method they strongly believe business owners should consider when looking to bring in new customers. The Our Town America New Mover Marketing program, while it’s been around for 49 years, has proved to deliver new customers to businesses during these uncertain economic times by way of one-time housewarming deals to area businesses. Levesque, Whiskey Trail owner, has been on board with Our Town America for 4 years now offering a $20 gift certificate to new movers in his area. “It familiarizes people that are new to the area with the businesses right around them,” says Levesque. The idea is that as long as new customers have a good experience at the business, they’ll become repeat customers. “Welcoming people is a hidden way of advertising, but it’s actually a way to build a relationship,” says Safi – the local Our Town America franchise owner. “It’s a soft approach to say, ‘Come in! We welcome you. Here’s my gift to you.’ You can get to know them and call them by name. That’s huge,” he says. Levesque says that Our Town America is working for his restaurant and he can tell as he sees the same faces ordering food. “That’s what’s getting us through these times right now. People keep coming back, getting to-go food, or dining outside – doing whatever they feel comfortable doing. But they keep coming back – that’s the whole goal of this thing. And, right now, that’s extremely crucial,” the restaurant owner says. Levesque and business owners across the nation are welcoming every bit of help in these uncertain economic times. Safi suggests the tips below to help businesses make it through. Full WECT News interview below for more information. Buy a gift card or start a tab. Buy gift cards now that you can use later. Pay $100 upfront for future purchases and ask the restaurant to withdraw from your tab when you eat there. Holiday shop now. Some local shops may not make it to the holidays without our help. Buy your holiday gifts now to give them a boost! Tip well. Many servers, baristas, and delivery people have been out of work at some point this year. If you can afford it, leave a big tip and make someone’s day. Schedule and pay for future services. Some salons and massage parlors will allow you to pay for services in advance. Pay for haircuts for the rest of the year now and have the salon withdraw from your account as you go. Leave a positive review online. Many people are looking for safe places to eat and shop right now. Leave a positive review of your favorite restaurants and local shops to tell your community how they’re keeping customers safe and healthy during the pandemic. Mentioning outdoor seating is a plus! Redeem your New Mover Gift Certificates. If you’re a new mover who recently received your Our Town America Welcome Package, be sure to redeem your Gift Certificates from your local businesses. The businesses included in our Welcome Packages reach out to new movers each month as they want to welcome residents, like yourself, to your new neighborhood! Return the favor by patronizing these businesses – whether in-store, curbside or delivery. Remember: For every dollar spent at a small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community. Both Our Town America of Wilmington and the Our Town America franchise system as a whole want consumers and business owners nationwide to know that we’re here to support you during this time by offering various methods to relay business offerings to locals. Both local business owners and consumers will benefit from banding together to strengthen local economies. Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days of the year. If you’re a local business in North Carolina looking for a way to reach new or current customers, reach out to Bassam Safi at 910-352-5776 or bsafi@ourtown.net. If your business is located elsewhere in the U.S., you can reach Our Town America corporate at 1-800-497-8360 to get connected with your local representative. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
CW44 | Tampa Bay – Whether you’re a parent trying to facilitate virtual classes, a business trying to stay afloat, a community resident just trying to go about your life as “normal” as possible – you’ve probably had to adjust your everyday life in some way as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Michael Plummer Jr., the President/CEO of the national Our Town America franchise that connects local businesses with new movers each month, knows just how important it is to stick together as a community during these tough times. “We have businesses who have been with us for decades and they’re having to close their doors. It’s a struggle out there for every type of business,” says Plummer. “And, unfortunately, some won’t survive. It’s not like people are going out exploring the community like they used to. They’re going out of their house with a destination in mind,” he says. Since the pandemic has hit communities around the nation so harshly, Plummer is taking a more aggressive approach to help the business owners he’s come to know so well over the years. In conjunction with all Our Town franchise owners nationwide, Plummer is taking part in the ‘Save Our Town’ movement urging people to help revive local small businesses. Examples of hard-hit businesses in the Tampa Bay area include a 22-year Our Town Sponsor Business, PoFolks Restaurant, and Carriage Cleaners in Seminole – who has been partnered with Our Town for 19 years. “People just aren’t dressing out and going out to eat as often as they used to,” says Plummer. “Dry cleaning is just one of those industries you might not think about being hit”. But numbers show that they could use more foot traffic. According to Yelp’s local economic impact report, as of mid-June, nearly 140,000 businesses closed nationwide as of March 1. Of all retail business closures, 41% of them were permanent. The ‘Save Our Town’ movement led by Plummer and his franchisees urges people to find creative ways to help the businesses in their communities stay open. Watch the CW44 interview below for ways to help. Buy a gift card or start a tab! Buy gift cards you can use later, or pay $100 upfront for future purchases & ask them to withdraw from your tab when you visit. Holiday shop now! Some local shops may not make it to the holiday rush. Buy your gifts now & give them a boost! Tip well many servers, baristas, & delivery people have been out of work at some point this year. If you can afford it, leave a big tip & make someone’s day! Schedule and pay for future services. Some salons & massage parlors will allow you to pay for services in advance. You can pay for haircuts now & have the salon withdraw from your account as you go. Leave a positive review online. Many people are looking for safe places to eat & shop. Leave a positive review of your favorite restaurants & local shops to tell your community how they’re keeping customers safe & healthy during the pandemic. Mentioning outdoor seating is a plus. Redeem your New Mover Offers. If you’re a new mover who recently received your Our Town America Welcome Package, be sure to redeem your local business Gift Certificates. The businesses included in Our Town America Welcome Packages reach out to new movers each month as they want to welcome residents, like yourself, to your new neighborhood! Return the favor by patronizing these businesses – whether in-store, curbside or delivery. Remember: For every dollar spent at a small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community. Shopping local when possible is what’s best for local economies nationwide. The Our Town America franchise system wants consumers and business owners nationwide to know that we’re here to support you during this time by offering various methods to relay business offerings to locals. Both local business owners and consumers will benefit from banding together to strengthen local economies. Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days per year. If you’re a local business looking for a way to reach out to new or current customers, reach out to Our Town America at 1-800-497-8360 to get connected with your local representative. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
CBS 58 | Milwaukee, WI – The Coronavirus pandemic is causing a tremendous and unprecedented strain on local small businesses and, unfortunately, many won’t survive. Some businesses reopened and were recovering and now must close again or limit customers. This rollercoaster is wreaking havoc for those who spent their entire lives building their businesses. Here are some facts to consider when analyzing the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic: 23,981 Restaurants are out of business 27,663 Retail Stores are closed forever 15,384 Salons and spas are permanently closed 5,589 Fitness Centers and gyms will never open again The local founder of the ‘Save Our Town’ movement, better known as Allen Busse Our Town America of Wisconsin, believes that small businesses are the fabric of our community and we can all do our part to help ‘Save Our Towns’. Busse urges people to find creative ways to help businesses in their communities. Watch CBS interview below for ways to help. Buy a gift card or start a tab! You can give local restaurants more money now by buying gift cards you can use later when the restaurant is more stable. Or you can pay $100 upfront for future purchases and ask the restaurant to withdraw from your tab when you eat there. Holiday shop now! Some local shops may not make it to the holiday rush. Buy your gifts now and give them a boost! Tip well many servers, baristas, and delivery people have been out of work at some point this year. If you can afford it, leave a big tip and make someone’s day! Schedule and pay for future services. Some salons and massage parlors will allow you to pay for services in advance. You could pay for haircuts for the rest of the year now and have the salon withdraw from your account as you go. Leave a positive review online. Many people are looking for safe places to eat and shop right now. Leave a positive review of your favorite restaurants and local shops to tell your community how they’re keeping customers safe and healthy during the pandemic. Also mention when a restaurant has outdoor seating. Redeem your New Mover Offers. If you’re a new mover who recently received your Our Town America Welcome Package, be sure to redeem your Gift Certificates from your local businesses. The businesses included in our Welcome Packages reach out to new movers each month as they want to welcome residents, like yourself, to your new neighborhood! Return the favor by patronizing these businesses – whether in-store, curbside or delivery. Remember: For every dollar spent at a small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community. Shopping local whenever possible is truly what is best for local economies nationwide. Both Our Town America of Wisconsin and the Our Town America franchise system as a whole want consumers and business owners nationwide to know that we’re here to support you during this time by offering various methods to relay business offerings to locals. Both local business owners and consumers will benefit from banding together to strengthen local economies. Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days of the year. If you’re a local business in Wisconsin looking for a way to reach new or current customers, reach out to Allen Busse at 262-364-7675 or abusse@ourtown.net. If your business is located elsewhere in the U.S., you can reach Our Town America corporate at 1-800-497-8360 to get connected with your local representative. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
Modern Restaurant Management — When you own a restaurant, you’re often considering and painstakingly planning new entrées to add to the menu, but are you spending the same amount of energy thinking about the new customers who may soon be ordering from it? When you own a restaurant, you’re often considering and painstakingly planning new entrées to add to the menu, but are you spending the same amount of energy thinking about the new customers who may soon be ordering from it? Likewise, you could be losing a lot of Millennial customers, too, if they’re moving to a house that’s far from your place of business. You may not often think about it, or notice, but people are likely moving in and out of your neighborhood all the time. We’re a very mobile society. Estimates suggest that 35.5 million Americans move every year, far more than many countries such as those in Europe. That means you often can gain customers (new movers) and lose them, too (customers who move away). If you aren’t already marketing to new movers, the transient nature of our society is something you and, well, every restaurant owner should consider when marketing. After all, we’re all creatures of habit. You probably have a lot of loyal customers –but you may struggle to attract new people who have lived in the area for some time because they’re loyal to your competitors. It’s just human nature. People find a routine that they like, and they stick with it. But new movers? They don’t have habits and routines yet. They also don’t have a favorite restaurant –yet. That’s the argument for restaurants –or any local business, really –marketing to new movers. You want to find potential loyal customers and bring them in to try out your place, and hopefully get them to return a second and third time before they put down roots and start picking their favorite restaurants, which may or may not end up becoming your place. You also need those new movers, to make up for the loyal clientele who moves away. Fortunately, the good news, according to the Our Town America new mover survey, is that new movers are very interested in finding restaurants when they move in. You just need to make sure that you make it clear that you want them to find you. Marketing to the New Mover There are a variety of factors that appeal to any new mover when they move to a new city. When asked in Our Town America’s new mover survey for the reasons a city becomes their dream city, 33.1 percent of respondents listed “affordability” as being important, 59.7 percent cited “good scenery” as being important to them and 54 percent said “good weather.” As for how the dining and hospitality industry did, over a third of respondents (38.2 percent) said that it’s important to them that the “restaurants are phenomenal.” In other words, if the restaurants are top-notch, that helps make a city a dream city. Market your restaurant as one that has phenomenal food and atmosphere, and if you can make it affordable, that’s all the better, at least judging from the results of the survey. But the main takeaway from the survey is that Millennials moving to your neighborhood are as eager as you would hope to discover amazing local restaurants. The question that you should be asking yourself as a restaurant owner is –are you doing enough and are you equally eager enough to find new customers? Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
NBC WRAL News – Since the pandemic started, thousands of restaurants — many of them local, have shut their doors permanently across the United States. 23,981 Restaurants are out of business 27,663 Retail Stores are closed forever 15,384 Salons and spas are permanently closed 5,589 Fitness Centers and gyms will never open again But Our Town America of The Triangle franchise owner Sally Hanson says, “We all have a role to play in saving our local businesses. We can change our habits just a little – such as shopping local when you can instead of buying from Amazon, for example.” For every dollar spent at a small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community. Franchises employ roughly 8 million people nationwide, and even they are typically locally owned. Hanson suggests a few tips to help ‘Save Our Town’: Consider paying for your gym membership even if it remains closed. Roughly 28% of all gym-goers are expected to cancel their memberships this year. Some gyms have already filed for bankruptcy! Buy a gift card or start a tab! You can give local restaurants more money now by buying gift cards you can use later when the restaurant is more stable. Or you can pay $100 upfront for future purchases and ask the restaurant to withdraw from your tab when you eat there. Holiday shop now! Some local shops may not make it to the holiday rush. Buy your gifts now and give them a boost! Tip well many servers, baristas, and delivery people have been out of work at some point this year. If you can afford it, leave a big tip and make someone’s day! Schedule and pay for future services. Some salons and massage parlors will allow you to pay for services in advance. You could pay for haircuts for the rest of the year now and have the salon withdraw from your account as you go. Leave a positive review online. Many people are looking for safe places to eat and shop right now. Leave a positive review of your favorite restaurants and local shops to tell your community how they’re keeping customers safe and healthy during the pandemic. Also mention when a restaurant has outdoor seating. Redeem your New Mover Offers. If you’re a new mover who recently received your Our Town America Welcome Package, be sure to redeem your Gift Certificates from your local businesses. The businesses included in our Welcome Packages reach out to new movers each month as they want to welcome residents, like yourself, to your new neighborhood! Return the favor by patronizing these businesses – whether in-store, curbside, or delivery. Both Our Town America of The Triangle and the Our Town America franchise as a whole want consumers and business owners nationwide to know that we’re here to support you during this time by offering various methods to relay business offerings to locals. Both local business owners and consumers will benefit from banding together to strengthen local economies. Click below for the WRAL News clip. Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days per year. If you’re a local business in The Triangle area looking for a way to reach new or current customers, reach out to Sally Hanson at 919-349-7611 or shanson@ourtown.net. If your business is located elsewhere, you can reach Our Town America corporate at 1-800-497-8360 to get connected with your local representative. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
NBC WRAL News | Raleigh, NC (June 2020) – As the United States begins reopening amidst the busy summer moving season, Our Town America of The Triangle franchise owner, Sally Hanson, joins WRAL to discuss the current housing market. A recent survey commissioned by the Our Town America franchise shows that many people are considering moving due to Coronavirus, as well as other reasons. Of the 1,000 people surveyed, more than 40% would consider moving now. Some people are looking to move out of hot spot states altogether, while others are looking to flee major cities and move into more suburban areas. South Atlantic states rank as the top areas people would move to. Many people want to live in warmer climates to lessen the chance of contracting the Coronavirus, others want their children to attend different schools, and many are seeking areas that are rich in parks & greenways – such as The Triangle of North Carolina. Many areas in North Carolina are highly sought after due to their excellent cost of living and job availability. Many people also have more time at home to fix outstanding home repair issues, put their house on the market and search online for a new place to call home. Nationwide, it’s expected that moving rates will rise due to extremely low interest rates and changes in finances for many Americans. Hanson stated that many of her partnered local business owners are looking forward to getting back to ‘normal,’ consumers are eager to support local businesses and, as mentioned, looking to move into new homes for various reasons. Hanson expects and hopes to see the economy strengthen in the coming months. Both Our Town America of The Triangle and the Our Town America franchise system as a whole want both consumers and business owners nationwide to know that we’re here to support you during this time by offering various methods to relay business offerings to locals. Pandemic or not, it’s a win-win when small business owners and local consumers ban together to strengthen the local economy. Click below to see the full NBC News clip ft. Sally Hanson. Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days per year. If you’re a local business in The Triangle area looking for a way to reach new or current customers, reach out to Sally Hanson at 919-349-7611 or shanson@ourtown.net. If your business is located elsewhere, you can reach Our Town America corporate at 1-800-497-8360 to get connected with your local representative. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
