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Category: Local Business

Our Town America Tampa and Fort Myers Give Hurricane Irma Relief Checks

Written by Brittany N. Johnson

Local Businesses Receive Relief Checks from Our Town America November 2017 – Hurricane Irma was projected to cost the US an estimated $172 billion worth of damage – including the devastating spoiled food product and revenue losses suffered by countless local restaurant owners in Florida. Power outages shut down restaurants all over town for a week or longer following the storm, costing restaurant owners, and their employees, tens of thousands of dollars. This inspired Michael Plummer Jr., CEO of Our Town America – a national New Mover Marketing company headquartered in Clearwater – to host a Hurricane Irma Facebook fundraiser that raised more than $2000, all raised by their very own corporate employees and franchisees. Our Town America divvied up the money equally (roughly $500 for each) to four Florida businesses who needed a post-hurricane boost – Jets Pizza in Dunedin, Brix 33 and Ice Cream Palace in New Port Richey, and Great Clips in Fort Myers – after losing a combined $40,000+ in spoiled food and potential revenues. Our Town America’s Tampa-area franchise owners, Mike and Julie Fisher,  as well as Fort Myers franchisee, Sally Hanson, personally visited their partnered businesses to give them their checks. 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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Shop Small Business – 7 Reasons To Shop Small

Written by John Guerra
7 Reasons to Shop Small by Our Town America

Shop Small to find unique things, while supporting your local economy In the 1920s and 1930s, cities and towns from the Appalachians to the Pacific Northwest had a busy shopping district, with independently owned businesses like shoes stores, clothing stores, jewelers, barbershops and other establishments serving the locals. A couple decades later, in the 1950s, the interstate highway system routed traffic away from downtown America, which led to the construction of shopping malls near exit ramps. This drained the commerce from downtowns. In the last 15 years, the explosion of e-commerce hurt shopping malls and big box stores the way highways harmed small-town shopping districts. Small Business Saturday, launched in November of 2010, has become a great way to support small business owners in your local town or neighborhood. The “Shop Small” program supports local economies and promotes vibrant, diverse communities, but there are other practical reasons to shop locally every day, not just on Small Business Saturday: 1) Small businesses give back to the community When you spend money in your neighborhood, your sales tax stays in your neighborhood. You help fund public education, parks, and street improvements, not to mention vital services like firefighting and mosquito control. 2) Local store owners create local jobs The Small Business Administration reports that local businesses added 8 million jobs to the American economy since 1990 while the expansion of large chains reduced jobs by 4 million. 3) Local owners buy local services themselves Independent local businesses go into their local community to buy the supporting services they need, including architects, designers, cabinet shops, sign makers and contractors for construction and accountants and lawyers to keep themselves operating within the guardrails. 4) Local establishments provide great customer service Business owners rely on great customer service to build a loyal customer base, so it is comforting to know you will be shopping in a store that is genuinely happy to assist you. 5) Small businesses create a sense of community Human beings seek a feeling of belonging and familiarity in the towns in which they live. It is only natural to seek connections with those we share our neighborhoods with. It’s always a comforting feeling to see that poster of the local Little League team in the coffee shop window. 6) It feels good to help neighbors and friends succeed There’s something special about knowing the owner of the store when you walk in. You can ask about family, congratulate them on their anniversary, and feel the comfort of familiarity. 7) It’s about preserving the community The American Independent Business Alliance has another great reason to shop locally: “The disappearance of local businesses leaves a social and economic void that is palpable and real — even when it goes unmeasured,” AIBA says. “A community’s quality of life changes in ways that macroeconomics is slow to measure, or ignores completely.” We hope you’ll shop locally year-round, as well as on Small Business Saturday, and when you’re visiting those businesses, make sure to thank the owner for keeping his or her doors open. After all, small businesses are what built America, one neighborhood at a time. John GuerraJohn is a guest blogger for Our Town America and previously worked in national sales at our Clearwater, FL corporate headquarters. www.ourtownamerica.com […]

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Cash-Strapped After Hurricane Irma, Local Businesses including Jet’s Pizza Receive Surprise – ABC News

Written by Brittany N. Johnson

Our Town America Surprises Deserving Hurricane Irma victims ABC Action News (October 2017) – Hurricane Irma is expected to cost the US an estimated $172 billion worth of damage – including the devastating spoiled food product and revenue losses suffered by countless local restaurant owners in Florida. Power outages shut down restaurants all over town for a week or longer following the storm, costing restaurant owners, and their employees, tens of thousands of dollars. This inspired Michael Plummer Jr., CEO of Our Town America – a national New Mover Marketing company headquartered in Clearwater – to host a Hurricane Irma Facebook fundraiser that raised more than $2000 ($1500 in the Bay area), all raised by their very own corporate employees and franchisees. Plummer is donating the money equally (roughly $500 for each) to four Florida businesses who need a post-hurricane boost – Jets Pizza in Dunedin, Brix 33 and Ice Cream Palace in New Port Richey, and Great Clips in Fort Myers – after losing a combined $40,000+ in spoiled food and potential revenues. Our Town America’s Tampa-area franchise owners, Mike, and Julie Fisher, matched the raised amount Jet’s Pizza received, as they know the struggles owner Jim O’Connor and his employees went through as a result of hurricane.  Here’s the catch – O’Connor, is giving the full amount to his employees. On Halloween, Our Town America gave O’Connor his check at the local Jet’s restaurant (located at 1350 Main Street, Dunedin Florida 34698). Watch video below for full story.   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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Clearwater Marketing Firm Grows

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Our Town America Moving Headquarters to Clearwater Florida & Hiring

83 Degrees Media (October 2017) – The 45-year-old Our Town America, a marketing firm that targets new movers, has moved its headquarters into 44,000-square-feet of office space in Clearwater — and is making plans to hire 15 to 20 additional staffers. “I’m anxious to get them in here and give them an opportunity to grow with our company,” says CEO Michael Plummer Jr. The company is in a growth mode by working with businesses that want to advertise to new residents. Such businesses are often grocery stories, restaurants, hair salons and auto repair shops, or doctors and dentists who want to develop new business relationships. Businesses pay on average $200 a month to target potential customers by things like age, size of household, income, and other demographics. About two to six weeks after move-in, residents receive an envelope offering “housewarming gifts” such as gift certificates for a free pizza or haircut to entice them to drop by and check out the neighborhood businesses. “When people move in, they’re still searching for those business,” Plummer explains. “They want to know where to go.” Our Town America disseminates about half a million envelopes every month — or more than 8 million each year. With some 63 franchises nationwide, they focus primarily on neighborhoods rather than zipcodes. “A lot of it is designed … to get you off the couch and into those locations,” he says. Once the initial contact is made, businesses may choose to follow up with another offer, a simple thank you, or a request for feedback. Our Town America moved last week from smaller rented space in Pinellas Park to its own headquarters at 13900 U.S. Highway 19 N. Clearwater. Built by local contractor Mike Sinwelski, the facility features a 2,700-square-foot, high-tech conference room, a huge breakroom, and LED lights, plus a roof with solar power options. The company, which employs about 58 locally, was founded by Plummer’s father in Des Moines, IA. After relocating to Omaha and Houston, the company moved to the Tampa Bay Area in 1990. It began selling franchises in 2005, and sold a record-breaking 12 this year. Despite its growth, it continues to be a family-based business with a welcoming atmosphere, which includes catered lunches, potluck dinners, company cruises and other perks. “The vast majority of our folks have been here for a very long time,” he adds. Our Town America is hiring for both part-time and full-time positions, with openings in customer service, appointment setting, inside sales and possibly production help for mailouts. Learn more by visiting the OTA website or calling 1-800-497-8360. Source: 83 Degrees Media 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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How These 99 CEOs Create A Great Work Culture

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Our Town America Work Culture Maximize Retention

If you want your employees to stay and thrive, a healthy work culture is essential   Huffington Post (October 2017) – Companies are always looking to improve employee retention. Every employee represent an enormous investment on behalf of a company and when a good employee leaves it can be a big blow to a company’s morale, bottom line, and brain trust. I reached out to as many CEO’s as I could to learn what they do to create a work culture that improves employee retention. Click HERE to read input from all 99 CEOs.  67. Remember to Have Fun We are a family-owned company whose mission is to literally connect new movers with local businesses in their area. Therefore, we know what it takes to build a strong relationship between folks. It’s no different in the office and we understand the key is having fun and doing things differently. Few companies, if any, can rival our amount of team-building exercises and fun team-outings. We ensure that everyone at our company, regardless of role or tenure, feels a strong connection to our company and our leaders, including myself. Here are a few things we do: Annual company cruises with staff and franchise owners “Mandatory Fun” days where we leave work early and go to sporting events Countless potlucks that inspire whole families to interact Dress up parties for Halloween, July 4th and other holidays…and 80’s Day, Superhero days and others just for fun Lunch for all full-time employees almost daily To further extend the impact our culture has on employees, we are moving into a brand new 44,000 sq ft building this fall that will allow for employees to be much more comfortable in their work environments. Whether it be window-offices, offices in general (as some were previously in cubicles), a larger lunch room, larger conference room, etc. The new building will provide for a much more comfortable work environment, thus, happier employees. – Michael Plummer, CEO of Our Town America, the nation’s premier New Mover Marketing franchise Source: Huffington Post , written by Yitzi Weiner 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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Our Town America Moves to New Headquarters

Written by Brittany N. Johnson

Nation’s Premier New Mover Marketing Franchise Opens Brand New 44,000 Square-foot Facility in Clearwater, FL, Launches Search for 15-20 Employees   PRWeb (October 2017) – Our Town America, the nation’s first and fastest growing new mover marketing franchise and one of Tampa’s largest and most successful franchise companies according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2017 Book of Lists, is moving this fall. The company will open a brand-new, state-of-the art, 44,000 square foot facility located at 13900 US Highway 19 N, Clearwater, FL 33764-7238 on October 20th, 2017. 2017 has been a landmark year for Our Town America as the local company celebrates 45 years in business. Our Town America has generated 26% franchise system growth in the past two years and is on pace to set a record in franchise sales this year with 12 new locations. To accommodate this rapid growth, Our Town America is actively recruiting 15-20 appointment setting and sales representatives to help new and existing franchisees thrive in markets around the country. Our Town America’s CEO, Michael Plummer, Jr., says this sustained growth is the primary catalyst for the company’s relocation and believes the new Clearwater facility gives them room to grow. “As a company committed to new movers chasing big dreams, we’re excited about moving to a new facility custom-built to fuel our future growth,” says Plummer. “Our new Clearwater headquarters is more than double the size of our current Pinellas Park location, giving us an opportunity to hire dozens of talented Tampa-based residents in the coming months/years. We can’t wait to move to the new facility that’s been designed to remind us of fond memories while pushing us to reach new heights.” Our Town America is a family-based business (Plummer’s father, Michael Plummer Sr., started Our Town America in 1972) that prioritizes long-term, loyal relationships, so it’s no surprise the company partnered with Mike Sinwelski (Plummer’s childhood friend and a highly reputable local general contractor) to build the new Clearwater facility. Plummer remembered driving Sinwelski to school during their Catholic school days and already knew he could trust him. So, when the Mike Sinwelski Construction, Inc. team came in with a great plan and reasonable price, it was a no-brainer partnership. The partnership has worked out beautifully as the new facility will open on time despite the challenges presented by Hurricane Irma. When the doors open on October 20th, Our Town America employees will be greeted by fantastic new features, including… A high-tech, 2,700 square feet conference room large enough for company-wide meetings A massive break room perfect for collaboration and company events Energy-efficient LED panels and lights throughout the building and a massive roof area offering solar energy options Windows lining the entire building offering all employees great views And a large pond and fountain at the entrance creating an inviting ambiance Plummer says the expansion and design are all about helping each Our Town America employee thrive. “It sounds cliché, but we truly are committed to our culture and our people at Our Town America,” says Plummer. “First of all – the central county location keeps us out of flood zones, something that’s particularly important after Hurricane Irma, and offers a more convenient commute for most current employees. Plus, the design itself embraces our core values with large, well-lit spaces encouraging creativity, interaction, and growth. And of course, we have plenty of room for the pot lucks and holiday parties that bring our team together at the office. We truly are a big family over here at Our Town America and we’re excited about our new home!” For more information on Our Town America and what we do for new movers and local businesses, please visit https://www.ourtownamerica.com/. For more information about the Our Town America franchise opportunity, please visit https://www.ourtownamerica.com/franchise-us/. About Our Town America For 45 years, Our Town America has been providing new movers with traditional hospitality by mailing warm housewarming gifts from local neighborhood businesses in a premium welcome package. Since the company started franchising in 2005, Our Town America has consistently been placed in the Franchise Top 50, ranking top in their category for franchisee satisfaction. Our Town America’s dedication to the “sponsor exclusivity” concept, meaning Our Town America will only recommend one of each business type in any specific zip code within its welcome packages, has been one of the key catalysts for the company’s long-term success. In addition, sponsors consistently rave about other unique aspects of the new mover marketing program – such as their ability to reach a brand-new audience of impressionable new movers each month and the insightful data/metrics delivered by Our Town America’s innovative pinpoint tracking system. Due in large part to Our Town America’s devotion to those concepts, thousands of satisfied business owners throughout the United States attest to the success and effectiveness of the program. Additionally, dozens of locally owned franchisees validate Our Town America’s concept as a viable business opportunity. It is Our Town America’s mission to assist new movers adjusting to their community, help businesses gain new and loyal customers and provide franchisees with an excellent opportunity. The eight million households who receive Our Town America’s welcome packages each year prove that Our Town America is committed to following through on that mission statement. Source: PRWeb 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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Now offering POS integration

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Our Town America POS Integration Great for Large Brands

PMQ Magazine (October 2017) – Every new resident who moves to your town is an opportunity for a new loyal customer. With 45 years of running an industry-leading New Mover program, Our Town America’s data shows this to be true. “It’s the bread and butter of what we do,” says Steven Sgroi, director of sales. “When families move, they are completely open to their new environment. They don’t have loyalties yet, but they will eventually become somebody’s regular customer.” And that business could be yours! Using a combination of proprietary technology and 12 primary sources, Our Town America locates new movers in the area every month. The company keeps careful track of those who have already received a New Mover Welcome Package to make sure it’s the first time they receive a package from Our Town America. The mailing is addressed personally to the new mover household and stocked with valuable gift certificates. “The initial offer is a gift. It’s not a discount. That’s why the response rates are much better than typical mass mailers,” Sgroi affirms. Through the use of their mobile app, Our Town America allows businesses to track who redeems their initial offer, as well as the option to follow up with a second offer. “Businesses usually choose to offer something smaller, such as breadsticks,” says Sgroi. “If you can bring a customer back a second time, it’s much more likely they will be back a third or fourth time.” Our Town America’s data shows pizza restaurants, both dine-in and delivery, as the most successful category for their New Mover program. Regardless of record-breaking ROI in the pizza category, Our Town America continues to stay ahead with technological innovations. Their newest advancement allows businesses to apply a one-time-use tracking code on each new-mover gift certificate, providing better accountability amongst staff as well as POS integration. Business owners can now see who is redeeming their gift certificates without using a mobile app. With the hospitality industry’s relatively high turnover rate, large chains and pizzerias are thrilled about the program now being POS- friendly, as they don’t have to repeatedly train staff on the mobile app. Since this POS integration, the company has seen an uptick in tracking and a more thorough use of the New Mover Program’s capabilities, putting Our Town America ahead of the curve once again. To learn how Our Town America can help you win new customers, call 800-497-8360 ext. 226 and mention the ‘October PMQ article’. You may also complete a Contact Form, or sign up online with our New Movers on Demand portal! Source: PMQ Magazine 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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Our Town America stands for Hurricane Harvey victim – CBS Houston

Written by Brittany N. Johnson

Deserving Hurricane Harvey victim Surprised with nearly $3,000 Check CBS Houston | Texas (October 2017) – After Hurricane Harvey destroyed her Houston home, Lucia Flores, a Mexican immigrant and single mother of two, has been desperate for a miracle.   And on Tuesday, October 3rd, she unexpectedly received thousands of dollars from an unexpected source. Our Town America, a national new mover marketing company with a local representative in Houston, recently raised nearly $3,000 through a Hurricane Harvey Facebook fundraiser.   The company donated the money to a local Houston partnered business, Shipley’s Do-Nuts, who suffered flooding damage during the storm. Here’s the catch – local Shipley’s owner, Mike Simon, didn’t take a dime.   He, along with Our Town America beside him gave it all to Lucia – a devoted employee who has worked for Simon for years.   Simon teamed up with local Our Town America franchise owners, Clint Finch and Mitchell Saulsberry, to surprise her with the check on Tuesday, October 3rd at the local Shipley’s store (located at 12403 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX, 77077). Few people deserve good news as much as Lucia.  She has been raising her two kids (21-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter) on her own and, without renter’s insurance, lost everything when Hurricane Harvey flooded her home up to her waist. Watch video below for the emotional moment as two local business owners present Lucia Flores with a much-needed check and something much more – a reminder that those closest to her recognize and admire her for being a wonderful and devoted mother doing her best under impossible circumstances. **This story was also featured on CW Houston & ABC Houston. 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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Our Town America’s Franchisee Success Series: David Cox, Phoenix, AZ

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
David Cox Our Town America Franchisee Success

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. […]

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Why Send Targeted Postcard Mailings During the Holidays

Written by John Guerra
Targeted Postcard Mailings Our Town America

Now is the time to develop a targeted postcard mailing plan for the upcoming holidays. The fourth quarter is vital – a make or break time that includes football season, Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. What you do to ensure a strong showing during peak buying season is up to you, but targeted postcard mailings are sure to grab the attention of buyers. […]

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