David Cox is thriving in the Valley of the Sun as the proud owner of a pair of Our Town America franchise locations. He opened his first location with Our Town America, the nation’s fastest growing new mover marketing franchise, in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Hard work, a dedicated staff and perseverance allowed Cox to return to his Southern California roots, where he’s cooking up something special in San Diego with his second franchise location. David Cox’s Our Town America San Diego franchise is a pseudo-homecoming. Southern California is where Cox was born and raised. It’s also where he got his first taste of entrepreneurship. He left the area after he sold his initial business and headed to Arizona where he enrolled in graduate school. After a successful stint in corporate consulting work, the entrepreneurial bug came roaring back to life. “I was starting to feel the urge of being a business owner again,” says Cox. “There’s always risk involved, of course, because you never know how it’s going to turn out. However, I wanted to be in control of my own operation.” Ever the student, Cox proceeded to do his homework, researching what business opportunity best fit his requirements of sales and marketing. A four-month project of due diligence reached its tipping point when a friend’s brother introduced him to Our Town America. In January 2014, David purchased the rights to become the Our Town America franchise owner in Metro Phoenix and he hasn’t looked back. “It’s a very independent operation, you have the ability to work from home and work on your own hours,” says Cox. “Success is dependent on your work ethic and your organization skills. It’s also imperative to manage mandatory networking with community members, chambers of commerce and fellow business owners. The Our Town America business model presents each franchise owner with fantastic income potential if they’re willing to get out in their community and create relationships.” Our Town America helps businesses reach out to residents just moving in to their new community, creating long term, loyal relationships before they connect with competitors. And according to Cox, he couldn’t have chosen a better area than Phoenix to build his first Our Town America business. The Phoenix metro is one of America’s fastest growing areas. In fact, the latest data from the Census Bureau says the area adds 88 people per day on average. “There’s a lot of franchisees and small businesses who moved from other parts of the country here for a new life in the desert,” says Cox. “There are quite a few people in the same boat as me – working hard and trying to make a living. That makes it easier for me to meet with them, strike up a conversation and hopefully establish a new business relationship.” What was once a calculated risk has paid off big time for Cox. “I went in thinking six to seven percent growth a year would be good, and I’ve been close to that if not spot on each year.” He credits a dedicated staff, who have followed his “cookbook.” “My cookbook lays out exactly what it takes to be successful as a salesperson,” says Cox. “The number of calls you make, how you approach folks, your ability to knock on doors, networking, plus your attention to details, your propensity for datamining. Following the cookbook produces sweet results.” Cox says finding that right personnel takes time. Thankfully for him it didn’t take long to make that discovery. A successful two years in Phoenix had David eyeing expansion, and he knew San Diego was the perfect spot to deliver Our Town America. “It is a wide-open market, a huge area with tons of different people and businesses,” says Cox. Plus, as he points out, it’s San Diego. “It’s a beautiful city. If I need to spend some time to relax and gather my thoughts, might as well do it in sunny San Diego.” Our Town America is giving him the opportunity to appreciate a good work-life balance. He says it’s a great franchise for those looking for a healthy challenge. “Be curious, work on your communications and sales skills. Also, realize it’s all about being consistent out there. Doing a few things right every day will go a long way.” What’s in store for David Cox? 20 years from now, he says retirement. As for right now, the father of a seven-year-old daughter is focused on personal growth as well as making sure his two Our Town America franchises continue to flourish. Do you want to realize your business ownership dreams like David Cox? Does the Our Town America franchise opportunity sound like it could be for you? If so, learn more at https://www.ourtownamerica.com/franchise-us/. 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:
Right now, thousands of moving trucks are crisscrossing the country, hauling furniture and other belongings to new locations. Summer means making “the move” for many single professionals, couples, and families, so they have the time to get used to their new homes before the job and/or school year starts. During that all-too-critical time when new movers are actively searching for new go-to restaurants, grocery stores, dry cleaners, hair salons, etc., what’s the best way for local businesses to reach them first in ways that cultivate long-term relationships? […]
Fabricare (July/ August 2017) – Let’s face it – the dry-cleaning industry has taken a hit in today’s modern working world. According to recent statistics from IBISWorld, dry cleaners are currently experiencing a marked decline in revenue and traffic. More people are working from home and more employers are relaxing dress codes at the office – meaning fewer people are taking suits, shirts, dresses and slacks to the dry cleaner each week. Of course, for most dry cleaners, this isn’t news, but some strategic dry-cleaning business owners are beginning to fight back. They’ve realized that it’s more imperative than ever to establish credibility and brand awareness with new movers as soon as they get to town so they DO know where to turn when they need a dry cleaner. Their solution? Targeted, category-exclusive New Mover Marketing campaigns that help them gain a critical competitive edge over other dry cleaners in their communities. Why Is New Mover Marketing Powerful? Businesses spanning a wide variety of industries have discovered that direct marketing programs that target new movers are outperforming other tech-based marketing programs, such as eMarketing and mobile offers. Even in today’s increasingly technological world, timing is everything and nothing is more powerful than reaching new movers first as soon as they come to town. New movers are actively searching for replacements to their old “go-to” grocery store, dental practice, and yes, dry-cleaner, as soon as they get to town. The business owners who reach these impressionable new movers first with valuable offers delivered directly to their mailbox are the ones who are top of mind in times of need. From a dry-cleaning perspective, take the example of Keith Kocher, owner of Star Brite Cleaners in Austin, TX, who says his New Mover Marketing program generates a 10:1 or better ROI per month. Numbers/results like that outpace the average ROI of marketing efforts like email, social media and newspaper advertisements. One of the biggest reasons New Mover Marketing has proven to be so powerful in recent years is the uptick in US migration. The US Census Bureau recently stated that migration rates in 2015 approached pre-recession levels, indicating a nearly-recovered housing market following the great recession. Also, just over 35 million Americans moved in 2016, which translates to several million businesses losing and acquiring customers. With so many people on the move, it’s clear that businesses who deliver a compelling offer to new movers as soon as they get to town have a higher chance of converting them into loyal customers. Consider that, according to Data Mentors, new movers will spend about $9,000 on their new moves, and they will look for new vendors of goods and services in the first six months surrounding their move-in. Additionally, these new families will be four to eight times more likely than established residents to respond to offers from local businesses. The bottom line for dry cleaners? It is crucial that you connect with new residents before your competition does. Why New Mover Marketing Works for Dry Cleaners The dry-cleaning industry is not seeing the growth it once experienced. This is due to several concurrent trends, including a relaxation of workplace dress codes, the proliferation of low-maintenance fabrics and the increase in people working from home. Dry cleaners are also seeing more competition than before, from services like self-service laundromats, laundry valet services and household laundry appliances. Because the customer pool is shrinking for dry cleaning businesses, it’s more important than ever to take advantage of effective marketing programs like New Mover Marketing. Here are three examples of dry-cleaning business owners who have used New Mover Marketing to help their business thrive despite today’s industry challenges. Each of these owners has been working with our team at Our Town America for years to battle back against the “dressed-down” working world and cultivate long-term, loyal relationships with new movers who still do need dry-cleaning services. Keith Kocher – Star Brite Cleaners (Austin, TX) – To gain a competitive advantage over four different dry cleaners on the same block, Keith Kocher has been offering new movers a $10 gift certificate on any purchase for more than 10 years. Kocher says he sees an average of 10-12 new movers redeeming their $10 gift certificate each month. He believes he receives a 10:1 ROI or better every month as each new customer spends an average of $100 per month. Jeff Levine – ZIPS Dry Cleaning (Alexandria, VA) – Ever since taking over the ZIPS location in January 2007, Jeff Levine has stuck with New Mover Marketing because he knows he’s reaching a brand-new audience each month…and it’s working. His new mover offer of five free dry-cleaning garments brings in a consistent stream of new customers each month and has helped his business grow 10% year over year in each of the last 10 years. Lee Haskin – Martinizing Dry Cleaning (Dallas, TX): Owner Lee Haskin has been offering new movers $40 worth of free dry-cleaning since June 2015. Haskin says the first customer he received from the New Mover Marketing program spent $400 in his first visit and has since become a loyal customer. Additionally, he says he typically sees five or more new customers per month redeeming their $40 new mover gift certificate in-store. How You Can Get Started with New Mover Marketing Consistently sending greetings and deals out to new movers by hand would be a Herculean task for any small business owner…and no owner has time for it. A New Mover Marketing partner, like Our Town America, already has vendor relationships, on-the-spot tracking infrastructure, graphic designers, and mailing lists in place, so businesses simply need to work with them to define their goals, specify their offer and select their targeted zip codes. Equipped with that information, your New Mover Marketing company will be able to accurately target new residents in your area with valuable welcome packages designed to introduce them to the services they need to feel at home following their move. Here are three […]
WBTV Charlotte (July 2017) – As Independence Day celebrations came to a close, Our Town America of Charlotte and all franchisees and employees of Our Town America began gearing up to help movers during the busiest time for new moves (more than 40 million moves will occur this year, most of which will be completed in July and August). As the nation’s first and fastest growing new mover marketing franchise, Our Town America is excited to help thousands of local businesses welcome millions of new movers to their new homes and new communities this summer. In honor of Our Town America’s 45th Anniversary, we are celebrating the 45 fastest growing American cities with the “Top 45 Fastest Growing American Cities” list. Our Town America has identified the “Top 45 Fastest Growing Cities in 2017” – the 45 cities with the highest mover activity in the last 12 months (May 2016 – April 2017) when compared to the previous 12 months (May 2015 – April 2016). This list, ranked in order with the fastest growing at the top, is comprised of the 45 fastest growing cities and neighborhoods nationwide. Each of these cities is filled with forward-thinking business owners who are eager to form long-term, loyal relationships with impressionable new movers of all ages. Fortunately, most of these cities are also served by an Our Town America franchise owner who helps local business owners spark those relationships by delivering personalized and thoughtful offers direct to new residents as soon as they move to town. Below are the North Carolina cities that made the list. Rank City-Neighborhood 2 Charlotte, NC 4 Raleigh, NC 11 Wilmington, NC 14 Fayetteville, NC 17 Durham, NC 20 Greensboro, NC 22 Winston-Salem, NC 27 Jacksonville, NC 31 Gastonia, NC 34 Huntersville, NC 36 Concord, NC Our Town America applauds each of these cities and neighborhoods for generating the highest mover activity over the past 12 months. Clearly, local political leaders, business owners, and established residents from each of these places have worked hard to make their city or neighborhood a great place to live and work. Charlotte-area businesses looking to team up with Our Town America of Charlotte can contact the McElhaney’s at 704-341-4982 or complete an online Contact Charlotte Form. Small businesses in any U.S. market can reach out to Our Town America’s corporate team to get in touch with their local representative. Call by phone at 800-497-8360 or complete a Contact Form. Jane McElhaney, owner of Our Town America of Charlotte, was featured on WBTV Charlotte discussing these moving trends. Watch full clip below. —– Methodology The “Top 45 Fastest Growing American Cities in 2017” list was determined based on data derived from Our Town America’s new mover database that tracks new moves (including property deed transfers, change of address, new utility connections and other proprietary sources). As the nation’s first and fastest growing new mover marketing franchise celebrating 45 years in business in 2017, Our Town America has established itself as the leading expert on moving trends and statistics. Our Town America worked with its industry leading IT team to compile highly targeted new mover data that serves as the foundation for these rankings. Equipped with this data, Our Town America identified the 45 cities with the highest mover activity in the last 12 months (May 2016 – April 2017) when compared to the previous 12 months (May 2015 – April 2016). This list is comprised of the 45 fastest growing cities and neighborhoods nationwide and is in rank order with the highest at the top. The ranking criteria was restricted to the amount of moves into or within each city and does not take into consideration any other factors. 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. […]
As we approach the first day of summer (June 21), all employees and franchisees at Our Town America are gearing up for the busiest time for new moves (more than 40 million moves will occur this year, most of which will be completed in June, July, and August). As the nation’s first and fastest growing new mover marketing franchise, Our Town America is excited to help thousands of local businesses welcome millions of new movers to their new homes and new communities this summer. […]
creditcards.com (May 2017) – Starting a business, paying for education and even financing a once-in-a-lifetime trip – sometimes credit cards allow people the freedom to take a risk they couldn’t otherwise afford. “There are times when making a charge that is beyond your ability to promptly repay makes sense,” says Martin H. Lynch, director of education for Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., in Agawam, Massachusetts. Financing a dream is one such case, but while dreaming big is good, having a repayment plan is better. After you’ve exhausted other payment options such as low-cost loans, crowdfunding and asking loved ones for help, funding a risky or dream venture with a credit card may be your best option. Here are seven rules to help you determine if the risk is worth it, and how to avoid ruining your financial life in the process. 1. Determine the value of the risk. Make sure you’re spending your money on something that has value. One example: Paying for a training course that could increase your future earning potential. There may be intangible benefits to using credit to finance a risky venture to consider, too. Investors often look favorably upon those who are willing to take on debt themselves for their businesses, says Clifford R. Ennico, small-business expert and author of “Small Business Survival Guide.” “As one investor once told me, ‘Don’t ask me to put my house at risk if you are not willing to do so yourself.’” 2. Consider your credit history. Your credit score influences the amount that new debt will cost you. With a high credit score, you can take your pick of loan offerings with low interest rates. Case in point: Susan Nagi of Tempe, Arizona, took out $52,000 in personal loans and used credit cards for living expenses when she started a business in 2014. She says owning an Our Town America franchise – a company that helps local businesses connect with new residents in a community – was a success partially because with a credit score in the 800s, “Everybody wanted to give me money.” 3. Make sure you understand the downside. Credit card interest rates are rising in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes, so know that paying for your dream will cost you more in the months ahead. Also, taking on debt will likely lower your credit score. Talk over your plans with loved ones, too. If you’re not single, “Make sure your spouse and family are on board before you do this – they may not have the same appetite for risk that you do,” Ennico says. 4. Imagine the worst-case scenario. Think about what you would do if your dream failed. Would you be able to pay the debt you’re getting ready to take on? When Dallas-based small-business funding expert Myra Good used credit cards to finance a handbag line back in 2010, she was still working full-time so she knew she’d have a salary to help pay off the debt even if the venture did not succeed. Having multiple streams of income or the ability to pick up contract work in a pinch can also minimize the risk of going into debt. 5. Start with the end in mind. Calculate a time frame to pay down your credit card balance quickly by paying more than the minimum. Josh Skolnick used credit cards to spend $75,000 on advertising and marketing costs for his southeastern Pennsylvania tree removal business Monster Tree Service in 2008. He paid off all of that within six months out of the profits he made from his business. “When I put the charges on the credit card, it was never meant to be a long-term play,” Skolnick says. 6. Look for a promotional rate. Shop around for a business credit card. Your best bet is a business card offering 0 percent for an introductory period, which is basically a temporary interest-free loan. Several business credit cards currently offer 0 percent interest for nine or 12 months. Matthew Blackmon of Long Beach, Mississippi, used credit cards to help cover living expenses while he got his pool service franchise, America’s Swimming Pool Co., off the ground in 2012. “If you have 24 months of 0 percent interest, make a plan to get it all paid off, or a large majority of it paid off by the time that interest kicks in,” Blackmon advises. 7. Find tangible things to sacrifice. When Good used credit cards to finance her handbag line, she gave up trips to Dubai and other exotic locations she enjoyed visiting. Look for ways to cut back in order to speed up the repayment process. Ask yourself: “Are there expenses that you could significantly reduce or eliminate, at least temporarily?” Lynch says. “Make those cutbacks now to make paying yourself back easier.” Read article on creditcards.com. By: Tamara E. Holmes — Looking to open your own Our Town America franchise? Call 800-497-8360 ext. 236 or complete an online Franchise Application. 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. […]
Chaska, MN (May 2017) – Local Chaska resident, Meghan Cazel, has recently been named the 2016 New Mover Survey Drawing Winner by Our Town America, the nation’s premier new mover marketing franchise. Last year, after her move to Chaska, Cazel was one of thousands of new movers across the country to complete the annual survey found within the Our Town America welcome package – a personalized collection of thoughtful one-time offers from local businesses, like Tommy’s Malt Shop. And just this past week, Cazel was notified she would be taking home the first $3,000 check Our Town America has ever awarded a winner. While the company has been in business for 45 years, they have been awarding their annual New Mover Survey Drawing Winner $1,000… until now. After being selected as this year’s big winner, Cazel can use the $3,000 to buy additional goods and services from local businesses! On April 30th 2017, Kristen Lundgren, Our Town America’s Eden Prairie-based franchise owner, partnered up with Brett and Emily Geselle, the husband and wife team who own and run Tommy’s Malt Shop, and hosted an in-store event presenting Cazel with her $3,000 check. Like all other Our Town America franchise owners around the country, Lundgren is committed to her local community and wants to celebrate the new movers and local businesses that help the Greater Minneapolis area thrive. At a time when housewarming traditions are fading fast, Our Town America believes that it’s important for local business owners to reach out to new movers who appreciate a helping hand in their new community. Other businesses included within the package that Cazel received included: a dentist, a wine shop, an auto service shop, a vet, a pizza delivery place, a fast food restaurant, a bar and grill, a casual dining restaurant, and a breakfast spot. Eden Prairie area businesses interested in the Our Town America program can complete a Contact Form or call franchise owner Kristen Lundgren at 612-709-3859. For more information on the annual New Mover Survey, we invite you to explore our website. Watch video below. Want to see who last year’s winner was? Click Here. 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. […]
“As the nation’s premier new mover marketing franchise, our continued success hinges on our ability to support our franchisees and connect new movers with reputable local business around their new home,” says Plummer. “And considering our unprecedented growth in recent years, it’s imperative we find and hire passionate and talented people who can help us do just that. Additionally, it’s equally important that we continue to evolve our service offerings and go above and beyond to show our appreciation to our loyal sponsors.” […]
Grab the Consumer’s AttentionDirect mail marketing pros and local business owners will tell you that crafting a mail piece that doesn’t get thrown away is the greatest challenge they face. According to 41pounds.com, a group that measures such things, Americans receive 41 pounds of direct marketing mail each year. Not only that, but 44 percent of it ends up in the trash without being read. […]
Our Town America celebrates its 45th anniversary this year and it’s just about to close a deal on a new 44,000 sqft space for its headquarters in Pinellas Park just outside of Tampa. The pending move and the milestone anniversary are just two elements of what promises to be a busy year for the franchise. Our Town America connects people who have just moved into a neighborhood with local businesses in that neighborhood by direct mailing the new resident a welcoming envelope filled with gift certificates from the local businesses. […]
