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Category: Business Management

Business Management

Finding Her Franchise Fit

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Become an Entrepreneur with Our Town America Franchise

There are times in life when we all need a change of pace. For Our Town America franchise owner, Wendy Baird, that change of pace occurred in 2016. Baird is now a successful owner and operator of Our Town America in Asheville. “I have never regretted joining the Our Town America family – not even for one second,” Baird says. “It was a lifestyle change that I needed. It was the best move I’ve ever made.” Asheville has been Baird’s home for nearly two decades. She knows the area well. Baird was born and raised in a town about a 45-mile ride outside of Asheville. She landed a job at a local insurance company while still in high school. “I started there when I was in 11th grade,” she says. “I started out filing paperwork and answering the phone.” Upon high school graduation, Baird earned a Property and Casualty license, taking her part-time job into a full-time career in insurance. Baird worked in the insurance industry for a total of 29 years. Fifteen of those years were spent working as a commercial lines agent. Job functions included writing general liability, property coverage and workers’ compensation for restaurants, apartment complexes and other commercial entities. While it paid the bills, the career had run its course. “I was in it for a long time,” says Baird. “I got tired of sitting behind a desk. I reached the point where when I asked my boss for a raise, I was granted one, but not really enough to make much of a difference. I was scared to make the change, but that pushed me over the edge.” Baird was about to take a journey she had, up to this point, never experienced. With no previous experience with entrepreneurship, she made the bold move to retire from insurance and join the ranks of America’s small-business owners. “I discovered Our Town America through a friend of the family who said I would be good at it,” Baird says. “He kept talking to me about the benefits of being a franchise owner until I knew I was ready to transition away from the insurance business. After several conversations about Our Town America, I was excited to tell him I was ready to start my new career”. Any angst and apprehension about joining Our Town America were soothed when she met with Bassam Safi, the owner of Our Town America in Wilmington, North Carolina. Safi showed her the ropes, allowing Baird to join him as he canvassed and fulfilled appointments. “We spoke in depth about how it had changed his life and how nice it was to be able to work hard but still be able to set your own schedule for time off,” says Baird. “After a few appointments, I was sold. I knew I wanted to become part of the OTA family.” What began as a curiosity has turned into two years of a dedicated commitment by Baird to provide a service that connects Asheville’s new residents to the area’s favorite businesses. When people move, they leave everything they’ve established in their old town behind,” she says. “They need a new hair salon, pizza place, steakhouse, etc. My job is to help both new movers, and the small-business owners providing the services, establish new relationships.” The transition from selling insurance to B2B was a minor adjustment, but Baird’s friendly disposition and dedication to working hard never wavered. “Working in the insurance business, people needed me, they came into our business for services,” she says. “This is different. I go out and search for these businesses. It’s my job to explain how I can help their business gain new loyal customers.” Baird says the experience she had selling insurance gave her the necessary confidence when she had to become a full-time saleswoman outside the office. She’s thankful for the 29 years of experience she accumulated but isn’t second-guessing her decision to go the entrepreneurial route. “I love the freedom that comes with owning an Our Town America franchise,” says Baird. “I love that there isn’t a limit to the money I can make. I love that I can take time off to visit my grandbabies, keep them for a week, travel anytime and anywhere without asking for time off because I’m THE boss!” She understands being a business owner isn’t for everyone, but she encourages those giving it serious consideration to go for it! “Take the leap like I did. If I hadn’t, I’d probably still be sitting behind a desk somewhere, looking out the window wishing I had taken the opportunity when it was presented to me.” Baird believes Our Town America is the perfect lily pad for those contemplating making the leap. “The corporate office staff is very supportive and helpful in every way to help you reach your goals,” she says. “It’s like we are all one big happy extended family. We have annual conventions and we go on vacations together. They mix a lot of fun in with a lot of information to help you achieve more sales and reach your goals.” Are you looking for a change of pace like the one Wendy has achieved? 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. […]

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New Mover Marketing makes a Lasting Bottom-line Impact for Veterinarians

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Our Town America Veterinarian New Mover Marketing

One of the best ways to gain the attention of potential customers and hopefully earn their long-term loyalty before your competitors is to implement a campaign that delivers a quality, high-value offer to pet owners new to your community Veterinary Practice News (August 2018) — Pursuing the entrepreneurial dream of small business ownership is a challenging but rewarding endeavor, particularly in the veterinary industry. Inevitably, there will be speed bumps along the path to success, not the least of which is attracting new clients. One of the best ways to gain the attention of potential customers is to capitalize on new movers. Successfully implementing new-mover marketing campaigns can make a notable difference in a veterinary clinic’s long-term success. New-mover marketing professionals partner with local businesses to create an enticing welcome package for new movers. As a family settles into a new home, they will find a convenient collection of special offers delivered right to their door that encourage the family to patronize local businesses. Even in today’s increasingly technological world, marketing offers for new movers that are delivered directly to mailboxes consistently outperform email and mobile offers. Market trends indicate Americans are on the move More than 40 million Americans will move this year alone, and one in three renters move at least once each year. Today’s economy is quite robust—meaning companies are hiring and people are frequently moving to pursue new job opportunities. Boomerang buyers also are coming out in full force. Those who may have had to foreclose on their homes during the Great Recession have had the chance to rebuild their credit. Now that they’ve regained their footing, those buyers are ready to purchase a home once again. As consumers gain confidence in the job market, their discretionary spending increases. Families have more money to spend on non-necessities, including pet ownership. In years past, every spare penny was devoted to making ends meet; however, in today’s economy, many families find themselves ready to adopt new pets. New-mover marketing leads to long-term profit In the veterinary industry, each new client can be worth thousands, or even tens of thousands, of dollars long term. Once a customer is established, it’s likely she will continue to bring her pets back to that same clinic for years to come. Many pet owners will have several pets, either simultaneously or over the course of their lifetime, further increasing the earning potential for the clinic. This means each new customer acquired has the potential to bring a tremendous amount of revenue to the clinic. Baxter Veterinary Clinic located in Fort Mills, S.C., has seen this long-term payoff firsthand. Co-owner and operator, Kelly Baete, DVM, has used professional new-mover marketing campaigns since first opening her practice in 2011. Currently, Dr. Baete is offering new residents a complimentary pet exam, valued between $45 and $65, depending on the pet. “[New-mover marketing] has helped us establish countless long-term relationships,” said Baete. “An average customer brings in approximately $500 per year, so each long-term customer we establish is incredibly valuable.” While that initial visit may be free or discounted, the program can easily pay for itself with just one new loyal customer. According to the 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), families will spend an average of $731 on veterinary bills for dogs and $427 for cats each year. Beyond annual checkups, surgeries, and teeth cleanings, many customers will use such services as grooming or boarding, depending on what the clinic offers. Upsells from this additional business that might include food, treats, shampoo, supplements, and further increase the income potential from a single new customer. Reach customers ahead of your competition Pets are an integral part of many family units. According to APPA, 68 percent of households in the U.S. include a pet, translating to roughly 85 million families. Many of those families are looking for a veterinary clinic that will provide quality care for their companion at a reasonable rate. Through new-mover marketing, veterinary clinics can provide those potential customers with a starting point for their search. When it comes to pursuing new business, movers are an ideal target. Families new to the neighborhood are easier to reach than families who have an established presence in the community. This is because the new family has no loyalty to any local businesses. As a family settles in, they will have to find staple businesses in their new community, including a grocery store, a doctor’s office, and a veterinary clinic, to name a few. Finding a well-respected veterinarian is one of the top priorities for families with pets. By reaching those new movers right away, veterinary clinics will immediately establish credibility, build brand awareness, and generate an all-too critical competitive advantage. This can prove to be vital as new movers are one of the few target audiences in a predictable state of transition. Establishing first contact with a family can be crucial. It’s ideal to get your brand noticed before the family even has a chance to interact with your competition. It is much easier to attract a brand-new customer to your business than it is to pull one away from a competitor. However, if your offer isn’t interesting or lacks value, likely the customer will toss the offer aside and consider your competitor instead. Both the timing and quality of the offer matter tremendously when appealing to new movers. Incentivize new movers through quality offers The key to implementing a successful new-mover marketing campaign is the offer. It’s imperative to entice new customers to visit your location through something of value. Customers can see through a cheap incentive and will be turned off by a proposition that comes with hidden fees. If customers see an opportunity for a quality discount, they are far more likely to give your clinic a chance. That initial trial is extremely desirable because getting clients in the door is often the hardest part of expanding a business. Present customers with something that catches their […]

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Allen Busse on Work-Life Balance with Our Town America

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Work Life Balance Choices

“I’m all about watching my kids in their athletic endeavors.” Allen Busse is afforded the opportunity to watch his kids grow because he owns an Our Town America franchise, the nation’s premier new mover marketing franchise. Busse, who owns and operates Our Town America of Greater Milwaukee, is dedicated to family, church and work. The order of those three can change on any particular day, but for Busse, life is good. The busy schedule that comes with being a husband and father comes with some unexpected, but welcomed, “consequences”. In March, at Our Town America’s annual convention, Busse earned the company’s “Highest Percentage of Revenue Growth from March 2017 through February 2018” award. That earned he and his family a trip. “The hardest thing about this is trying to determine when we’ll be able to take the trip,” says Busse. “It’s hard to imagine when our schedules will align. Between school, and camps, and practices, life can sometimes get in the way of us having fun – but that’s OK!” For Busse, it’s one of those “good” problems to have. He’s been with Our Town America for 12 years. Prior, Busse sold packaging equipment in the food and pharmaceutical industry. The job paid the bills, but it came with a steep price. “I was away from my family all of the time,” recalls Busse. “My kids were very young and here I was travelling, on the road two weeks out of the month at times.” He wound up switching jobs. The desire for a more consistent work-life balance, coupled with an ambition to increase his income eventually lead him to the decision to become an entrepreneur. “My list of criteria wasn’t particularly long but there were a few non-negotiables,” Busse says. “That included excluding any brick and mortar type business. I wanted minimal to no employees. Finally, my business opportunity required I worked from home. I had been in sales all my life. I knew owning a business was something I could do.” Research quickly revealed that Our Town America cleared the bar on his list of criteria. Before long, Busse purchased the territory to open his Our Town America franchise in the Greater Milwaukee area. Owning a business was a new experience for Busse, personally, but it wasn’t a foreign concept to him. “My father was a business owner,” says Busse. “He was a hard worker. I knew if I worked hard and did what I was supposed to do, things would turn out just fine.” Busse was particularly confident because he believed in franchises, particularly the Our Town America model. “The corporate office in Tampa has a very good formula for success,” Busse says. “Our Town America provides a road map for success. If you follow their plan, you should be successful. Their external product and services, what we present to businesses, are excellent. Their internal services, how they treat me and other franchise owners, is superb as well.” Unfortunately, life tends to throw curveballs. The game of life stared down and threw a curveball in 2009. Three years after becoming an owner, Busse, like the rest of America, was dealing with the economic downturn. “When the market crashed, we lost a lot of business,” he says. “I was second guessing my decision to own a business. Hardships included making sure we had enough cash flow to pay the bills. It was a very stressful two or three years, but we made it through”. Busse remembered the lessons learned from his father, to always work hard. That, plus he leaned on his faith. “It gives me a lot of strength to always keep on doing what I’m supposed to do. I’m tasked with making sales every single day in this business, or at least prospecting. Faith helps me get through that process.” With that tumultuous period behind him, Busse is now enjoying the perks that come with being an Our Town America owner. Mainly, more time with his wife and kids. “It’s been very rewarding,” he says. “I enjoy my work-life balance.” Personally and professionally, things are going quite well. “I’m meeting my goals,” says Busse. “You have to work hard to reach them, that’s why they’re goals. Some years you reach them, some you don’t. No matter what, you must set goals. The great news for me is that my revenue has been trending upward the last few years.” Which, of course, was made evident by his recent Revenue Growth award. “The Our Town America business model is great. If you check off the items on the list needed to be a successful Our Town America franchisee, you will certainly prosper. By staying motivated and meeting new business owners each day, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t succeed.” Are you looking for a better work-life balance such as the one Allen has achieved? 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. […]

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Entertainment Centers Use New Mover Marketing to Grow Business

Written by Brittany N. Johnson

Implementing New Mover Marketing campaigns can give entertainment centers (i.e. bowling center, movie theaters, go-kart places, etc.) a tremendous competitive edge. In today’s world, most people who move to a new house either have children or are young married couples who are likely to have kids in the coming years. Thus, new movers are prime potential customers for entertainment centers across America! Our Town America, the nation’s first and fastest-growing New Mover Marketing franchise, specializes in helping local businesses capitalize on the goldmine that is new residents. By delivering gift certificates with personalized offers right to a new resident’s mailbox, Our Town America helps local businesses get noticed. The moving industry is growing, so appealing to new movers continually draws in customers. Businesses just need a way to get their foot in the door; fortunately, Our Town America has the keys. The Moving Industry is Thriving A growing economy correlates to an increasing number of movers in the U.S. As companies begin to hire more and more employees, families are uprooting and moving to new areas to take advantage of those job opportunities. New, higher-paying jobs mean that families will likely have more expendable income. Local entertainment centers are a prime opportunity to get out of the house and do something fun as a family, so it’s no surprise that entertainment centers are keen to draw in those new residents. In addition, boomerang buyers are coming out in force. These buyers are the portion of the population who foreclosed on their homes during the recession and have been working to build their credit back up ever since. We’ve just about hit that point where those buyers are now able to jump back into the world of home ownership, and that often means a move to a new community. Regardless of why a family has moved, they are inevitably on the hunt for things to do in their new neighborhood. New movers mean new opportunities to draw customers in to your establishment. Why Target New Movers? As families move into new neighborhoods, they are naturally looking for the nearby necessities such as grocery stores, hair salons, auto mechanics and more. Finding safe, family-friendly activities is sure to be high on the list of priorities as the family settles in. The key is to draw those new residents into your establishment before they come across your competition. Grabbing new mover attention early will help you build brand awareness and loyalty. It’s much easier to get customers in the door if you aren’t trying to lure them away from competitors. According to the Harvard Business Review, acquiring a new customer can cost five to 25 times more than retaining a current customer, depending on the industry and market. This is because you are not expending as much time and resources to target new clients. Instead, you focus on building out the quality of your establishment and work on keeping your current customers happy. In fact, according to research done by the Frederick Reicheld of Bain and Company, if you increase customer retention by just five percent, your profits may increase between 25 and 95 percent!   Why Our Town America Works Through Our Town America’s New Mover Marketing programs, you are ensuring your company is seen immediately upon a family’s arrival to the neighborhood. That initial awareness shows your company is active in the community and will help establish your credibility. The next step is to provide the customer with the incentive to come visit. Our Town America’s personalized gift certificates do just that. Our Town America’s success lies with the expertise of our corporate staff and franchisees. Our Town America will work with your entertainment center one-on-one to devise the perfect marketing campaign for you and your market. Our Town America gift packages deliver personalized and valuable offers that are geared specifically toward your target demographic. That customization, attention to detail and years of experience will make all the difference in your bottom line. Testimonials Our Town America has a proven track record when it comes to capturing the interest of new movers on behalf of entertainment centers.   Consider… The innovative New Mover Marketing campaign has had a profound impact on businesses such as Royal Cinemas in Royal, VA. Rick Novak, the cinema complex owner, has used Our Town America’s services for more than seven years, calling it “the best Return on Investment for a business.” Unlike ordinary coupons, Our Town America evaluates each market and comes up with a custom strategy based on valuable offers built for that region. For Royal Cinemas, Our Town America capitalized on the trend of people migrating west of Washington, D.C. As a result, Royal Cinemas has seen an average monthly response rate of 11 percent, with some months exceeding 17 percent. Those numbers speak for themselves! New Mover Marketing campaigns work.   Rob Suess, owner of The Alley at Southshore in Riverview, FL, has seen tremendous results from Our Town America’s new mover campaigns. Suess offered one free hour of bowling plus free shoe rental. He says, “This is probably one of the best redeeming offers I’ve ever seen go out in my 20 years of this business. Dozens more new customers are entering our doors each month.”     The same is true for Robb Tacelosky, owner of Ultimate Play Zone in Cockeysville, MD Tacelosky has worked with Our Town America for years and could not be more pleased with the results. Since 2014, he has been offering new movers a three-for-one admission rate to his entertainment center. He has seen “an exponential amount of new movers who redeem the gift certificate to become repeat, long-term customers.” Tacelosky believes that Our Town America has been invaluable to his long-term success. If you’d like to take your business to the next level, visit OurTownAmerica.com to learn more about Our Town America’s New Mover Marketing Programs. You can complete a contact form or give us a call at 800-497-8360. Be sure to mention this article! […]

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Our Town America Celebrates June’s Immigrant Heritage Month with Bassam Safi

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Bassam Safi Our Town America Franchisee Immigrant Heritage Month

America has several monikers, including “The Land of the Free,” “Home of the Brave,” “The Melting Pot,” and “The Land of Milk and Honey” among others. Bassam Safi’s road to success is comparable to most Americans’; he worked hard, faced some setbacks, persevered and is now thriving in the Our Town America system as a Regional Developer and owner of franchises in Wilmington and Raleigh, North Carolina. It’s the journey to where he is right now, that has Safi fond of one particular nickname for America, “The Land of Opportunity.” “I’m extremely grateful and appreciative to this country,” Safi says. “My appreciation for the opportunity of what we enjoy here is endless.” Family comes first for Safi. He is a husband and a father of two teenagers. He loves to travel, loves to learn and enjoys playing and watching sports of all sorts. At the age of 50, Safi considers himself amongst the nation’s retirees. “I’m already doing something that I enjoy so I’m already retired,” he says. Working with Our Town America is something that he enjoys because becoming an owner and regional developer is something Safi worked so hard to attain. Safi’s personal and professional journey has roots overseas. Safi was born to Lebanese parents who moved to Kuwait at the time of his birth. “Growing up in Kuwait was a wonderful experience,” Safi says. “It was a small community in the sense that people knew each other and cared about one another. The culture was hospitable. People would go out of their way to help you and others out if you needed direction or advice. It’s similar to what we call ‘Southern hospitality.'” Safi got a taste of ‘Southern hospitality’ when he moved from Kuwait to America after graduating from high school. The time was 1991. Iraq invaded Kuwait. For America, it meant leading a coalition of nations to wage war against Iraq. For Safi, the impact was also extremely personal. “I was enrolled in college in Wilmington when the war broke out,” Safi says. “At the time, my parents were funding my college tuition. However, Kuwait’s assets were frozen, meaning the money I was receiving from my parents was unexpectedly cut off. I had to get two, sometimes three, jobs to make ends meet.” That also meant Safi’s pursuit of a college degree was on hiatus. Instead, he was now a student at the School of Hard Knocks. Safi seized the opportunity presented to him and ran with it. Safi snagged a job delivering pizza part-time. That job became a career. “I went from deliverer to manager, to general manager to district manager, to an executive in the corporate office,” says Safi. “I spent a total of 17 years with the company. There’s nothing I didn’t do. I worked my way from the bottom to the top.” Climbing the corporate ladder within a pizza franchise would be enough for most. Safi is cut from a different cloth. “My goal was to own franchises along the coast. Unfortunately, none were available. I would’ve had to move to the Midwest.” For the first time in nearly two decades, Safi was looking for a new professional opportunity. Our Town America stood out above all others. “I had previous experience working with Our Town America as a client of theirs, so I was familiar with their services,” says Safi. “It was an excellent service that delivered on what they promise. They welcomed new people to the area and capitalized on the concept of hospitality.” Safi was ready to experience Our Town America from the other side, as an owner. He has been with Our Town America going on 11 years, and says he hasn’t looked back. Safi says, “It has been rewarding in every sense. Knowing that I’m able to make a difference in the community by easing the transition for the new movers and replacing the lost sense of belonging with a personalized and hospitable gesture and a gift from a local business.” The road hasn’t always been smooth, but Safi takes it all in stride. “Some businesses have canceled on me, and some have tried not to pay,” says Safi. “I’ve learned how to deal with collections by cutting losses early. I’ve also learned to not take it personally.” What he does take personally are the relationships he’s formed since joining Our Town America. That includes the bonds he’s developed with the communities he now calls home. “There’s so much growth here in Raleigh, as well as Wilmington,” he says. “They’re both such hot markets. Both consistently make the top of the lists of cities where Americans are relocating. They’re full of small businesses and owners who appreciate and understand Our Town America’s unique concept.” Safi is also appreciative of the unique relationship Our Town America’s corporate office offers, including how Michael Plummer Jr. manages to treat everyone as a member of the family. “As an Our Town America franchisee, you have all the necessary tools, the system, training, technology and support to succeed,” Safi says. “The corporate culture, from the CEO to our staff, makes you feel like family. They go out of their way to help you – which is reassuring. I don’t know many CEO’s who will pick up their phone on a Saturday or return a text on a Sunday.” Safi has worked hard his entire life to reach his current status. He’s capitalized on the opportunities and is appreciative of what they have produced. “I am incredibly grateful to this country and all that it has given me. I would never take this life for granted. I lived in a different world. Things that we enjoy here in America may be a given to many people, but they’re not everywhere. I appreciate the opportunity I’ve had here.” Do you want to realize your business ownership dreams, like Bassam Safi? 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 […]

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Our Town America’s Franchisee Success Series: Clint Finch, Houston TX

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Entrepreneur Our Town America Be Your Own Boss

Clint Finch loves to travel with his wife, Michelle. Cruises are their go-to. “We do at least two cruises a year,” says Finch, of Houston, Texas. He says it’s one of the perks the family enjoys now that he is a successful owner and regional developer with Our Town America, the nation’s premier new mover marketing franchise. Michelle is getting ready to embark on a cruise to celebrate their youngest daughter’s high school graduation. “I won’t be joining them this time. It’s a ‘girls only’ trip,” Finch says. It was the thought of spending more time with his daughters that propelled Finch’s transition from the corporate setting into the world of entrepreneurship. “I remember it clearly,” he says. “We were living in the Dallas area, and I remember taking my then eight and five-year-old daughters to vacation bible school. While I was simply dropping the girls off, other parents were staying to serve as volunteers. Between work-related travel obligations and other office commitments, I couldn’t join in the fun. That’s when I decided it was time to take control of my schedule.” Before Our Town America came along, Finch was thriving as a corporate executive, spending two and a half decades in advertising and sales for publishing companies. It was advice from his first boss, who remains a mentor to this day, that Finch will always remember. “He told me ‘you never get rich working for someone else.’ I have always had a drive to do my own thing, manage my own time and finances.” In 2005, with Michelle’s blessing, Finch acted on his intuition and branched out on his own. “I was considering another franchise system, along with a local business in the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” Finch says. He chose Our Town America, because of a previous interaction. “When I moved into my home from Houston to Dallas, I remember receiving a welcome package from Our Town America. I was new in the area, I had yet to establish any relationships with local businesses, and the welcoming package gave me that opportunity.” With his business partner, Finch was ready to join the Our Town America family with a purchase in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Immediately, he felt at home. “First thing when I met the Plummer family, including Michael, Sr. and Michael, Jr., I knew these were people I could trust,” Finch recalls. “The industry was one with which I was familiar and comfortable.” That wasn’t the case for his wife Michelle. First, a school teacher, and then a stay at hone Mom, to raise their two daughters, she wasn’t initiated in the world of sales. Finch says that didn’t slow her down one bit. “When I was at the corporate office in Tampa for training, Michelle called me to inform me she was going to set up sales appointments,” Finch recalls. “I was a little concerned. She had never experienced the rejection that can happen in sales, but I definitely underestimated her, because the very next day she scheduled three appointments for me the day I returned back home.” Michelle was particularly instrumental with their success in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; specifically, when Clint took an assignment with a former employer back in Houston. Clint was pulling double-duty, operating as both a corporate executive as well as Our Town America owner, but he says it was his wife who was carrying the heavy load during that period. Finch says it’s Our Town America’s brilliantly designed business model that helps owners become prosperous, no matter their previous sales experience. He credits the residual income that Our Town America produces, as well as the magnificent support from those on the corporate team, that makes operating the business efficient and profitable. “I can’t imagine another company providing this amount of support. You can earn money on day one.” However, he cautions, the system requires one major sacrifice. “You have to put in the hard work,” says Finch. “The opportunity for income, the opportunity to dictate your own schedule and lifestyle, it is there. However, you can’t have the mindset of ‘I own a business, so I am going to make money.’ No. you have to be ready to hustle.” The pay-off has certainly been worth it for the Finch family. Clint and Michelle work together. “She handles the tough side of the business: the appointments, the operations. I simply talk to people, something I truly enjoy.” Finch says the key to his success is not actually selling Our Town America to clients. “The key is to not think of it as how many people can I sell. The key is to show people how I can help grow their business. Our Town America has created the perfect product for new movers, business owners, as well as for us as franchisees.” Being in Houston also doesn’t hurt, according to Finch.  “Our move rates are always good, and the people are extremely nice here,. We have a diverse base of businesses which is particularly good for us, because we can help them grow.” Clint and Michelle Finch have grown together for more than three-plus decades, including 28 years of marriage. Working together at Our Town America has afforded them the opportunity for a better work-life balance together, but more time with their family. There are hopes the Our Town America business stays in the family when it’s time for Clint and Michelle to retire. “That’s the ultimate goal, to keep it in the family. Everything I do and have done is for my family. Our Town America has provided a great living for my family.” While he’s a little disappointed he won’t be with his family on this latest cruise, not all is lost. “While the cruise would be nothing short of awesome, I will spend some time on the golf course, so it all works out.” Time he’ll get to enjoy, all because of his decision to join Our Town America. Do you want to realize your own business ownership dreams, […]

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Our Town America: Helping Gyms & Fitness Centers Boost their Bottom Line

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Our Town America Helps Fitness Centers and Gyms Get Customers

Club Insider — A revamped economy is fueling a recent surge in wages, new homes and America’s migration habits. The pendulum of homeowners on the move, stagnant throughout most of the decade, is gradually swinging upwards. New Mover Marketing firm Our Town America, the nation’s first and fastest growing new mover marketing franchise, is happily connecting residents to the local businesses that are the lifeblood of their new communities. As people move and adjust to their new city, Our Town America discovered that fitness centers are playing a major role in uniting new residents with friendly faces. The full gamut of fitness centers – ranging from national gym chains to CrossFit centers – are capitalizing on the uptick in moving. Our Town America is the perfect platform and partner for fitness centers looking to get a jump on new residents, and ultimately, new clients. They offer a strategic model that provides New Mover Marketing solutions through direct mail for local businesses eager to welcome new residents to the neighborhood. This includes gyms and fitness centers trying to replace members that have moved away with the people that moved into their homes. Each month, Our Town America helps gyms and fitness centers reach thousands of new movers across the country settling into their new neighborhoods. Those residents are sent warm, personalized offers from gyms and fitness centers in a customized Welcome Package that allows owners and managers to track and monitor their return on investment. But don’t take our word for it. Here are three gym owners who have dealt directly with Our Town America and are enjoying the results: Kristen Iuppenlatz – Pilates Collective in Sebastopol, CA: “Our Town America is the most effective local marketing program I’ve used in my eleven years in business because it generates long-term customers,” says Kristen Iuppenlatz, owner of Pilates Collective in Sebastopol, CA. Iuppenlatz has been offering a free introductory session (up to $85 value) to an average of more than 130 new movers each month since January. In fact, she says Our Town America introduced her to more than a dozen new movers within the first year who signed up for a five-session introductory offer and became loyal customers.     Michael Murphy – Anytime Fitness in Saint Petersburg, FL: Saint Petersburg, FL Anytime Fitness franchise owner, Michael Murphy, has been offering one free month of unlimited membership PLUS a free personal training session and thank you gift to new movers since September 2014. He says the key to his success is using the Our Town America program to get movers in the door which allows him to engage the entire family with the same offer. “I reach up to 1,000 new movers per month with Our Town America,” says Murphy. “I extend the same offer to ALL immediate family members when a new mover redeems the gift certificate.”     Brian Vest – YMCA in Charlotte, NC: “Our Town America is the most intentional and impactful marketing we’ve ever done at the YMCA,” says Brian Vest, Associate Executive Director at the Morrison Family YMCA in Charlotte. Vest offers one free month of membership. “Hundreds of new movers are finding the YMCA on purpose now, not by accident.   Our Town America is a strong partner for fitness centers across the country. Contact Our Town today to “work out” a deal that will help you replace those who’ve moved away with new, loyal members! Contact: sales@ourtownamerica.com or 800-497-8360 ext. 226 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. […]

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Franchisee Success Series: Chris Beer on Family-First Culture

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Family Culture

God, football and his franchise – it sounds like something straight out of a “Welcome to America” pamphlet, but these things are essential to Chris Beer’s livelihood. He has carried a passion for sports, for as long as he can remember. “We are a football family. It stems as far back as my Grandfather who played without a helmet, to my Dad who played with a leather helmet and now I’ve passed it down to my children,” Beer’s passion for football is surpassed by his love for God and family. And it’s his work with Our Town America, the nation’s premier new mover marketing franchise that allows him to fully enjoy his life’s passion to the fullest! The Virginia native graduated from James Madison University with a marketing and business management degree. Beer applied the same discipline and mental toughness needed on the athletic field. He ran track and played football during his high school and collegiate years. Several injuries and a family illness kept Beer from playing his senior year in college. “This is when I decided to buckle down and direct my energy toward gaining success in the business world!” says Beer. “After graduating from college, low on funds, and in need of employment, I had an idea to stand in front of a grocery store and approach every sales representative that walked through the doors,” says Beer. “Thankfully, after telling him I was fresh out of college and in debt, the grocery store manager respected my gumption and approved of my plan. I got a bunch of business cards and made several positive connections. I was really close to landing a job when a headhunter put me in touch with my first employer. It was an experience that taught me, at a young age, that capturing an opportunity is possible through reaching out to people and clearly communicating goals and objectives.” Beer is a proud husband and father of three grown children: two sons and one daughter. He is also the successful owner of Our Town America of Atlanta. For 20 years, he has enjoyed connecting new residents with a wide variety of businesses in the Southeast’s largest city. Beer says his connection with his family has never been stronger because of his Our Town America franchise. “For the first 18 years of my professional career, I didn’t have the opportunity to control my time, my income earning potential or, most importantly, the time I spent with my family and my quality of life,” says Beer. “That all changed when I invested in myself and joined the Our Town America family.” Beer joined Our Town America in 1999, after a nearly two-decade-long run with two prominent consumer products companies. He excelled in corporate sales and marketing, but the job, and the rigors that come with being on the road, were wearing him thin. “There are very few things more valuable than quality of life, but unfortunately, my professional career was interfering with my ability to spend quality time with my family,” Beer says. “I reached a point where I needed to step away from working for corporations and strike out on my own.” The Beer family was quickly introduced to the perils that come with working for big conglomerates. “Two weeks after our honeymoon, I learned I was being transferred from Roanoke, Virginia, to Charleston, South Carolina,” recalls Beer. “We were in Charleston for under a year. Thirty days after buying a house there, I was transferred to Atlanta. That’s when my wife jokingly asked if this is what our life was going to be like forever.”   Married for 33 years, Beer credits his wife for his success. “I have the most supportive wife in the world,” he says. “Her belief in me and my desire to be an entrepreneur during the early years is the main reason why I am here today. You have to have a spouse who is supportive because making the transition from employer to entrepreneur is scary.” Family lineage also played a huge factor according to Beer. He is a third-generation American — his grandparents first arrived in the US via Ellis Island. “Both sets of grandparents instilled the need to work hard, set goals and look for opportunity,” Beer says. “My great-grandfather spoke five different languages, but no English. They were humble beginnings, and I learned how to listen and learn from them.” Beer says his dad also played a role in sacking any apprehension he might have had about leaving corporate life to become self-employed. His dad actually left a corporate position in Michigan and moved the family to Virginia in an effort to realize his personal dreams and improve the family’s quality of life. “It was a tough decision leaving a comfortable salary, benefits, and a corporate vehicle,” Beer says. “But I inherited a leap-of-faith mentality from my dad. I knew it was time to better control my quality of life.” After a brief experience as an owner with a different, less targeted direct mail marketing franchise, Beer wasn’t satisfied. That’s when he conducted even more research and got in touch with Our Town America’s founder Michael Plummer Sr. It didn’t take long before he knew he had found the perfect match with the nation’s premier new mover marketing franchise. “I was on the verge of rejoining the corporate work force after my first crack at entrepreneurship didn’t turn out the way I wanted,” Beer says. “Michael and I talked, and he sent me some information. After a lot of soul searching and praying with my wife, I called Michael back and we had a tremendous conversation. Sixty days after our initial conversation, I was signing the paperwork to open an Our Town America franchise in Atlanta.” Beer flew down to corporate headquarters in Tampa, but he wasn’t traveling solo. “My wife and three kids joined me during my first training session,” Beer says. “That’s how amazing Our Town America is as a company. The fact that […]

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Boise Business Owners Teach Middle Schoolers a Valuable Lesson

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
We Dine Together Our Town America Boise

KTVB Boise (April 2018) — The cafeteria—the loneliest (and scariest) place for any anxious middle schooler—but not at Eagle Middle School Thursday,  April 12th morning. Armed with dozens of free donuts, a few icebreakers, and a little encouragement, two local business owners teamed up to help students make new friends and feel less isolated. “My family moved around a lot, so I know what it feels like to always be the ‘new kid,’” recalled Amy Hecht, a former Eagle Middle School teacher, turned local business owner. “As an educator, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact of bullying and loneliness on children who are doing their best to fit in at school. We want them to know that we see them, and we care about them.” Making new residents feel welcomed in Boise is the mission of Hecht’s successful business Our Town America, a new mover marketing franchise. After learning about the “We Dine Together” movement — a national student-led initiative that helps students from all walks of life feel included— from a recent “Seven’s Hero” feature by KTVB’s very own Maggie O’Mara, Hecht joined forces with Prum Nouhem, the owner of DK Donuts. Together, they lead by example. With a passion for activism and youth, both entrepreneurs are inspiring Boise’s youngest residents to embrace newcomers and learn more about their community. “Our kids represent the best of Boise, and it’s up to the grownups to support them,” said Nouhem, an immigrant who now calls Treasure Valley home after escaping political persecution in Cambodia. “We want a world where everyone can work toward peace, and that starts with encouraging our kids to believe in themselves.” Dozens of students enjoyed freshly baked donuts and friendly conversation with their classmates and teachers Thursday. Hecht and Nouhem have issued a challenge to other local business owners, asking them to donate food, supplies, and lessons in leadership for future “We Dine Together” events. “We can’t just tell them to make new friends, we have to show them how to do it,” said Hecht. “That means giving them space and the resources to make our world a better place.” Watch the KTVB Boise clip below for full story. To contact Amy Hecht of Our Town America of Boise, ID, complete a Contact Form or call 208-866-9540. 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. […]

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Direct Mail Still Works: How To Use Tech To Elevate Traditional Marketing

Written by Michael Plummer, Jr.
Direct Mail Still Works: How To Use Tech To Elevate Traditional Marketing

Forbes — Direct mail may sound old-fashioned and outdated in today’s technological world, but if we only utilized new forms of advertising, there would be no Super Bowl ads — or TV ads, period (television has been airing for the masses since the 1940s). There would be no radio ads (America has been listening to radio programs since the 1920s). We wouldn’t do trade shows (those have been around since the 1800s). Even some modern-day marketing strategies are growing gray hairs, as email has been around since the early 1970s and internet advertising was launched in the 1990s. Direct mail — especially niche-based, targeted direct mail such as the new mover marketing program we offer at Our Town America — has endured because it works. Helping local businesses create valuable, long-term relationships by delivering thoughtful and personalized gift certificates direct to new mover doorsteps is what we do. It’s in our DNA. Sure, it’s old-school, print-based advertising, but it’s effective because it can reach a niche customer base when they’re interested in finding new, go-to solutions for everyday needs (groceries, hair care, restaurants, etc.). That’s the key to effective marketing, both online and offline: the ability to reach customers when they’re actively searching for answers. And in today’s world, technology plays a pivotal role in determining who those customers are and where/how they’re searching for solutions. You must always be open to embracing new technology — even if it’s in conjunction with an old-school form of advertising — that helps you efficiently reach and influence target audiences. So what if you own a direct mail company and know you need to evolve? Or perhaps you’re a business owner considering direct mail marketing and you want to be sure the company you choose “gets it.” Keep these three things in mind: Technology Is Still Essential To Key-In On Target Audiences Direct mail efforts without demographic-based strategies can be a waste of money. These days, you can use technology to pinpoint target audiences. If your core customer group is within two miles of your place of business, don’t send to a 10-mile radius. If your products are best-suited for senior citizens, don’t send offers to millennials. And if you want apartment dwellers, it’s silly to send direct mail to McMansions. Too many businesses throw money to the wind because they aren’t specific about reaching their core audiences at the right time. Technology affords us the ability to only send to specific zip codes, neighborhoods, etc. Create Human Connections With Customers Ready To Act … And Track Redemptions That is, when you send potential customers gift certificates to try out your business, include a tracking mechanism (like a QR or barcode on the certificate that you can scan). This should be done so that if they redeem your offer, you will know it’s being used. This also helps you secure their contact info, so you can follow up with an additional offer, thank them for being a customer and invite them back. All customers want to feel appreciated. But they don’t just want discounts or coupons — they want real, thoughtful offers (such as a free pizza, not just 10% off). That’s the key to inspiring action and increasing redemptions — getting them in the door when they’re ready to act and delivering an unbelievable in-store experience that keeps them coming back for years. This is the human factor of direct mail that technological advancements don’t compromise — the opportunity to send a real, tangible, personalized offer delivered directly to someone’s doorstep. Don’t Let Technological Advancements Scare You Away From Direct Mail Look, it’s easy to think that direct mail doesn’t work because everyone’s using the internet to find out where they’re going and what they’re buying. But that’s actually a reason direct mail could be beneficial. Potential customers can be overwhelmed by all the information they find online and don’t know where to turn. You’ve got that person’s mailbox, sometimes to yourself, and you can use technology as a facilitator to help connect with potential customers in a direct way. So it’s important to remember that technology is your friend. Implement tiny aspects of it to create a personal touch and avoid bombarding potential customers with emails and push notifications. The internet is a technological marvel, but everyone uses it. Seeing an ad on the internet is like looking at the night sky and picking out a favorite star. They all look the same after a while. But that’s where direct mail — if you use it properly — can separate your business from the crowd … especially when you’re using technology to elevate the reach and impact of direct mail programs. And, besides, as the saying goes: Everything old is new again!   Michael Plummer, Jr.Michael Plummer, Jr. is Our Town America’s President and CEO. Michael strategically leads Our Town America while maintaining our core principals of connecting new residents to the local businesses in their communities. www.ourtownamerica.com […]

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