Our Town America Logo
Skip to content

Category: Franchise

Franchise

Our Town America Named 2022 Best Advertising Franchise by Franchise Business Review

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
2022 Top Advertising and Sales Franchise Our Town America

Clearwater, FL – Our Town America has once again been named Best-in-Category in the Advertising and Sales sector on Franchise Business Review’s list of the Top Franchises for 2022. This is the 17th annual ranking of the 200 best franchise opportunities as rated by franchise business owners. The list is available here. Since 1972, Our Town America has been welcoming new movers with one-time gifts, inviting them to sample neighborhood businesses upon move in. This unique advertising model has helped local establishments across the nation grow loyal customer bases while allowing Our Town America to thrive for five decades. Franchise Business Review, a market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and employee engagement, provides the only rankings and awards for franchise companies based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of the top 200 franchises in its annual Guide to Today’s Top Franchises. Our Town America was among over 300 franchise brands, representing more than 30,000 franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research. Our Town America’s franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training & support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, and financial opportunity. In 2022, Our Town America has also been recognized as a Top Franchise in the following categories: Overall Top Franchise Top Low Cost Franchise Top Franchise for Women Overall Brand Culture Our Town America has also been recognized in 2022 for their Rockstar Franchisees, Scot and Amy Hecht of Boise, ID. The Hechts, a husband-and-wife team, have run the Our Town America of The Treasure Valley franchise for eight years. “They’ve done a wonderful job of introducing local businesses to our New Mover program, Saturation and Targeted postcards, and our digital apps,” said Brittany Johnson – Chief Marketing & PR Officer of Our Town America. “Everyone in our system values their input, hard work, consistency & arguably most important during the past few years – their optimism.” “While the pandemic impacted various business sectors differently, the last 18 months have clearly demonstrated the inherent strengths of the franchise business model. The old franchise adage of ‘being in business for yourself, but not by yourself’ has never been more important,” said Franchise Business Review founder & CEO Eric Stites. “Thanks to fast innovations, significant support, and responsive crisis management, many franchise brands have emerged stronger from the pandemic, and that is reflected in high franchisee satisfaction.” “We are honored to be named the Top Advertising & Sales Franchise by the Franchise Business Review,” said Our Town America President/CEO, Michael Plummer, Jr. “While we appreciate each and every achievement, this one – being named Best in Category – is really special to us as this is our forte. For 50 years now, we have been helping local businesses gain new, loyal customers and it never gets old!”     ### About Our Town America For 50 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. The franchise is also the #1 Advertising & Sales Franchise as ranked by the Franchise Business Review. 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. Visit ourtownamerica.com or call 1-800-497-8360 for more information.   About Franchise Business Review Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures the satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,100 leading franchise companies. FBR publishes free and unbiased franchisee satisfaction research reports throughout the year on their website. Click here to read their publications. 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. […]

Read More…

Our Town America Rolls out Digital Program to Celebrate 50th Anniversary

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Our Town Digital by Our Town America

Digital Journal — Our Town America, the nation’s premier New Mover Marketing franchise, is celebrating its 50th year of helping local businesses create and maintain relationships with customers who are new to the area. Since 1972, Our Town America has been welcoming new movers with one-time gifts, inviting them to sample neighborhood businesses upon move in. This unique model has helped local establishments across the nation grow loyal customer bases while allowing Our Town America to thrive for generations. Unheard of in the marketing industry, the franchise is partnered with businesses who have been employing their marketing strategy for over two decades. These businesses, with the outreach of the New Mover Marketing program, cultivate relationships with a new audience of new movers every month. “Not many business owners are able to say their business has been around for 50 years,” said Michael Plummer Jr., Our Town America’s President/CEO. “My father started this company with a simple idea to help local small business owners while he was running his own retail company. We’ve been able to take his simple idea, add in technology, and run with it for five decades and that’s something we are proud of.” Over the years, Our Town America evolved into a data-driven company using the latest technology available to help small business owners target specific geographic areas, interests, or even income levels. This creates a high return on investment for local businesses looking to maximize their marketing budgets. And for those small businesses who don’t have a large marketing budget, Our Town America built their Budget Billing program allowing them to spend within their means by capping their monthly invoice. This year, the company is proud to introduce its newest program, Our Town Digital, which combines a direct mail push with digital marketing to target consumers in different spaces at the same time. “This service greatly enhances our direct mail offerings. Our Town Digital allows businesses to share their message via direct mail, social media ads and Informed Delivery emails. And, for those businesses who want to stick with just a direct mail postcard or our trackable New Mover package – that option will always be there as well,” says Plummer. Expanding their offers is something they’ve been eager to do, but Our Town America remains steadfast in their data-backed belief that direct mail holds unparalleled potential to reach consumers where they’re at. “As a consumer, there’s just nothing like holding that piece of mail in your hands and yet, in the same token, digital ads impact your subconscious,” says Brittany Johnson, Chief Marketing & PR Officer of Our Town America. “So, it just makes sense to pair the two and get the best bang for your buck”. “You see an ad for Pete’s Pizza on Facebook, you open your email and see a Pete’s Pizza postcard coming your way, you receive a tangible postcard in your mailbox, & days later you see that ad again on Google?,” says Johnson. “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to be craving pizza that night, and the first place that comes to mind will be Pete’s”. Aside from pizza, the fusion of direct and digital marketing is what customers are craving today – and Our Town America is proud to deliver. For more information on Our Town America, please visit ourtownamerica.com. For information on Our Town America franchising, please visit ourtownamerica.com/franchise.     About Our Town America For 50 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. The franchise is also the #1 Advertising & Sales Franchise as ranked by the Franchise Business Review. 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. Visit the Our Town America website at ourtownamerica.com or call 1-800-497-8360 for more information. 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. […]

Read More…

Celebrating Our Town America’s 50th Anniversary | NBC News

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Gayle Guyardo and Michael Plummer Jr of Our Town America 50th Anniversary

WFLA News —After decades of success connecting local businesses with new customers, Our Town America is celebrating their 50th Anniversary. The President/CEO of the successful national franchise, Michael Plummer Jr., has continued to level-up the company each year by introducing new technologies to this tried-and-true marketing strategy, but how did they get here? In 1972, Plummer Jr.’s father, Michael Plummer Sr., opened a pizza shop in Newton, Iowa. He soon realized that people moving to town didn’t know where to get good pizza. Using a list of names retrieved from the power company, Plummer family members personally delivered free pizza certificates to new neighbors by foot. After seeing the success, Plummer Sr. started doing this for other businesses and the rest is history. Fast forward to today, twelve years after the unfortunate passing of his father, Michael Plummer Jr. has stayed loyal to this simple concept of welcoming families to the neighborhood and helping local businesses gain new, loyal customers each month. Businesses like restaurants, dentists, salons, veterinarians, and others want to gain new customers. They are losing approximately 15-20% of their customers, whether they realize it or not, simply because they just moved. New movers are a lucrative market as they don’t have established habits yet, and Our Town America gives businesses the opportunity to make a great first impression with a strong one-time offer before their competitors have a chance. This type of marketing is powerful and people appreciate being noticed upon move-in. Month after month, year after year, is a new opportunity for businesses to reach a new set of new customers. Article continued below video… Click the Play button below to watch NBC Bloom Interview.   Our Town America’s 50-Year Evolution While Our Town America started as just a small print shop with a list, they evolved into a data warehouse that personalizes every piece that is mailed out. They went from only being able to segment by a ZIP code, then homes and apartments, to being able to hyper-target into neighborhoods and demographics like age, income, and family size –thus maximizing a business’ reach within its budget. And not only does Our Town America offer New Mover Marketing, but they also offer Postcard Marketing — both Targeted and Every Door Direct Mail® Postcards blanketing the neighborhood.  Their mobile app presents analytics and information such as who responded, written feedback, and the best types of offers, follow-up postcards, and social media targeting. Our Town America’s developments are always proprietary and printed in-house at their Clearwater, FL headquarters. “What we offer now is worlds away from what wasn’t even a dream decades ago, or even when my father passed,” says Michael Plummer Jr. “I believe if you aren’t innovating, you aren’t going to grow. We went from just a few cities to mailing in 28 states with 65 franchisees.” Plummer Jr. says Our Town America is in the relationship business. “From the families to the companies we serve. From the businesses and the franchisees and even ourselves at corporate,” he says. “We have businesses who have been marketing with us for a decade, some even two. Even people at our corporate office have been there that long. Our kids have grown up seeing this – just as I did.” What was once just his father’s legacy is now a part of his and many others within the franchise system. Our Town America enters their 50th year with gratitude for their success, hope for the future and an everlasting remembrance of their founder Michael Plummer Sr. —       Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days per year. If your business is looking to gain new customers, please contact Our Town America corporate at 1-800-497-8360 to be connected with your local representative.   Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

Read More…

Data-driven Marketing Company, Our Town America, Celebrates 49th Year in Business

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Data-driven Marketing Company, Our Town America, Celebrates 49th Year in Business

Franchising.com — Our Town America is celebrating its 49th year of helping local businesses create and maintain relationships with customers who are new to the area. Since 1972, Our Town America has been welcoming new movers with one-time gifts, inviting them to sample neighborhood businesses upon move in. This unique model has helped local establishments across the nation grow loyal customer bases while allowing Our Town America to thrive for nearly five decades. “My Dad started the company while running his retail business,” said Michael Plummer Jr., Our Town America’s President/CEO. “He had a simple idea, and it worked really well. We are still using that simple, yet powerful idea today – with some added bells & whistles to tie-in technology, which has only made our program that much stronger. Even with all of the marketing options available in 2021, welcoming new residents with a kind gesture continues to be extremely effective.” Over the years, Our Town America evolved into a data-driven company using the latest technology available to help small business owners target specific geographic areas, interests, or even income levels. This creates a high return on investment for local shops, restaurants and other businesses looking to maximize their budgets. And for those small businesses who just don’t have a large marketing budget, Our Town America built the Budget Billing program to allow them to spend within their means by capping their monthly invoice. The company has also integrated multiple smartphone apps, such as TruTrak®, which gives partnered businesses access to data showing just how effective the marketing campaign is in real-time and even provides the ability to trigger a second mailing to really seal the deal. Their other mobile apps cater to the consumer and the Our Town America franchise owner.  Really, the franchise has thought of each person the brand works with on a daily basis and has made life simpler through technology. That being said, it’s not surprising that Our Town America is a recession-resistant company that’s weathered two major economic downturns in the last 15 years. The company’s recent success earned it recognition from Franchise Business Review as a Top Recession-Proof Franchise, and as the #1 Advertising & Sales Franchise in the U.S. Our Town America is also consistently honored as a Top Low-Cost Franchise, Top Franchise for Women, and a Top Culture Franchise. “I’m proud of this company we’ve not only built, but enhanced over the last 49 years,” said Plummer. “This is a strong and resilient model, and our franchisees benefit from a proven system that generates results.” Our Town America is excited about the future and the chance to continue to innovate and take advantage of new technologies while staying true to the model that’s led to decades of success. Source: Franchising.com 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. […]

Read More…

Our Town America Ranks as a Top Franchise in 2021

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Our Town America a Top Franchise 2021 Franchise Business Review

Our Town America, the nation’s premier new mover marketing program, is being recognized by Franchise Business Review as one of the best franchises to buy in 2021. Each year, FBR surveys thousands of franchisees confidentially and compiles a list of top franchises based on the results. This year’s survey put Our Town America near the top in several categories, listed at No. 25 in the overall “FBR Top 200 Franchises” rankings along with a Top 5 placement in the “Small” category. “Earning such high rankings in the FBR survey is a great accomplishment each year,” says Michael Plummer Jr., Our Town America President/CEO. “We’re pleased to continue to get internal validation from our franchisees, especially after a tough year for so many businesses in 2020.” The FBR Top 200 Franchises Ranking is the most comprehensive list of the nation’s top franchise opportunities based on actual reviews of more than 28,000 franchisees across more than 300 of the nation’s leading franchise companies. The franchisees are asked nearly three dozen benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, like training and support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations and financial opportunity. Below are Our Town America’s FBR survey rankings for this year: 25 overall on the 2021 Top 200 Franchises list Top 5 in the “Small” (under 55 units) Category #1 “Advertising and Sales” Franchise Our Town America also made all three lists, including: Top Low-Cost Franchises Top Franchises for Women Top Recession-Proof Franchises You can view the complete list of the 2021 Top Franchises at FranchiseBusinessReview.com. The publication showcasing all rankings is now available.         ### About Our Town America For over 48 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. For more information, visit the Our Town America website or call 1-800-497-8360 ext.236.   About Franchise Business Review Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures the satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,100 leading franchise companies. FBR publishes free and unbiased franchisee satisfaction research reports throughout the year.   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. […]

Read More…

Why Are Home-Based Businesses So Popular?

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Home-based Businesses Our Town America Franchise Work From Home Low-Cost Franchise

Even before the pandemic, home-based businesses were extremely popular. Working from the comfort of your own home provides flexibility and comes without the high price tag of office or retail space. The pandemic aided in increasing the appeal of this business model. While businesses across the country were forced to shut their doors, those working from home were able to remain open and available to customers. Many businesses had no choice but to lay off hardworking people who are now among the many searching for new ways to escape the grind and instability of corporate life. Franchising can be a great option for those looking to take control of their future. Most of the time when people think of franchising, they picture a fast-food restaurant or retail store. Each of these options comes with high costs and requires a large staff to be successful.  Luckily, the franchise industry offers a plethora of options for people on a budget, including business opportunities you can tackle from the comfort and safety of your own home.  Top Reasons to Choose Home-Based Businesses Here are just a few reasons home-based businesses are here to stay.   Create Your Own Schedule. Operating a home-based business puts you in the driver’s seat. You are in charge of your schedule and can adjust your schedule to attend dance recitals and baseball games. Being your own boss allows you to create the work-life balance you and your family need to flourish. Less Risk. Low-cost franchises require a smaller investment. You won’t need to commit to a lease, and many small franchisees do not require you to keep inventory on hand, which helps reduce the risk of your new business venture. Tax Deductions. Home-based franchises offer valuable tax advantages. If you meet guidelines stipulated by the Internal Revenue Service, you can take numerous home-related deductions and even save money on making home repairs. New business owners should work with a specialist to make sure they are maximizing their deductions. Job Security. While job security is always sought after, the onset of the pandemic opened many Americans’ eyes to the importance of having control over their own destiny. According to The Commonwealth Fund, at the outset of the recession in April, nearly 18.2 million of the 23.1 million workers who were unemployed were temporarily laid off or furloughed. Nobody wants to lose their job at the blink of an eye — especially after years of dedication and loyalty to a company. When deciding on what line of work to go into or what type of business to open, the ability to support your family through tough economic times or personal life changes is crucial. For those in search of this type of business, it’d be a disservice to not mention that Our Town America is one of just 100 companies to be rated a 2021 Top Recession-Proof Franchise. Owning your own business provides that opportunity for you. Owning a business that allows you to work from home – without any overhead of rent, an additional mortgage or employees – is even better.  Our Town America Offers Low-Cost Franchise Opportunity Once you are up to speed on the advantages of a home-based franchise, it’s time to start the search for an option that ticks all the boxes. Our Town America offers a home-based franchise that plays a vital role in helping businesses in your local community thrive. From your home-based franchise, you can help mom-and-pop businesses build their loyal customer base and increase sales. Our Town America specializes in new mover marketing by gifting new residents with an exclusive welcome package designed to introduce them to area businesses by providing a proven offer. As an Our Town America franchise owner, you offer our multiple direct mail services to local businesses. Our Clearwater, Florida-based headquarters takes care of all of the printing, list compiling and mailing. Combine your desire to succeed with Our Town America’s proven process to create a winning strategy that offers flexibility, unlimited earnings potential and low risk. If you are ready to be your own boss from the comfort of your own home, contact Our Town America today to learn more about our franchise opportunities. 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. […]

Read More…

Our Town America Ranks on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for the 3rd Time

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Our Town America Ranks on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500® for the 3rd Time

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 – Our Town America, the nation’s leading new mover marketing franchise, recently ranked as #394 in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Placement in the Franchise 500® is a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry making it one of the company’s most competitive rankings ever. Recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees, the Franchise 500® ranks Our Town America, for the third time, for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power. “2020 was a challenging year for everyone, but it was also a year of unusual opportunity,” says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur editor-in-chief. “Franchises were able to be nimble and innovative, serving the needs of franchisees and customers in ways that will resonate for many years to come. We believe that, when we eventually look back on this time, we’ll see it as a moment when many brands defined themselves for the future.” In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s 42-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The key factors that go into the evaluation include costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order. Throughout its 42 years in existence, the Franchise 500® has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Our Town America’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity. “Our brand making this distinguished list for the third time despite the challenges of the 2020 pandemic – including business closures and some scaled-back marketing budgets – is a testament to our resilient business model as well as the hard work and dedication from our system as a whole,” says Our Town America’s CEO Michael Plummer. “We are very proud of this accomplishment and are looking forward to another fantastic year helping businesses gain and retain new customers through our new mover marketing program, postcard programs and various other direct mail offerings”. To view Our Town America in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2021 issue of Entrepreneur. — About Our Town America For over 48 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. For more information, explore our website or call 1-800-497-8360. 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. […]

Read More…

P.T.’s Grille Wins the Wilmington Small Business Award for Resilience

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
P.T.'s Grille Winner of Wilmington, NC Small Business Resilience Award by Our Town America

Spectrum News | Wilmington, NC – Aaron Hyatt has worked his way up in the P.T.’s Olde Fashioned Grille family from manager all the way to owner, but this past year has put his business to the test. The restaurant is one of the most popular in the Cape Fear area, but Hyatt is quick to note that doesn’t make them immune to the hardships everyone is facing. “There was a time when we weren’t sure if we were going to be able to get meat, I think we all got scared then that we might have to shut down,” says Hyatt. That’s why Our Town America, a national marketing franchise that specializes in helping small and local businesses gain new customers, created the Small Business Resilience Award. Presented to just one business in each community, this annual award honors small businesses for overcoming the many triumphs of the previous calendar year. This year, however, holds extra merit due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the many challenges it brought. P.T.’s Olde Fashioned Grille was nominated, then won the popular vote with an overwhelming majority! Local community members were eager to vote for P.T.’s as they adapted to the pandemic and consistently maintained their quality of service, while ensuring customers and staff felt safe. Hyatt says the award makes him feel like everything he and his employees have been through has been worth it. “It’s an honor from the community that acknowledges the hard work of the past months and makes all those bad days feel worth it,” he says. “It shows that our hard work and adapting with this new work style hasn’t gone unnoticed, so it makes you feel good,” says Hyatt. Unfortunately, he says they’re not out of the woods yet though. Business is still down 15-20% each month and he expects it will take another six months at the minimum to recover. Hyatt says he’s fortunate that he’s been able to keep all of his employees during the pandemic, but without their regular customers he says they would all be looking for new jobs. Hyatt hopes that friendly faces, good burgers and proven service can help people take a break from everything going on in the world outside. Hyatt and local Our Town America owner, Bassam Safi, met with Spectrum News to discuss winning the Wilmington Small Business Resilience Award.  Click here for information on how to be nominated for the Our Town America Small Business Resilience Award.  Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days per year. If you’re a local Wilmington business looking to reach new or current customers, contact Bassam Safi at 910-352-5776‬. If your business is located outside of the Wilmington area, please contact our corporate office at 1-800-497-8360 to be connected with your local representative.       Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

Read More…

Which type of Direct Mail Campaign is right for my Business?

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Traditional Direct Mail vs. New Mover Marketing

New Mover Direct Mail Marketing offers small businesses a cost-effective option for expanding their customer base and, in many cases, generates better response rates than blanketing your community with direct mail ads. So, why is that? Customers tout customer service and value as some of the top influencers for making their shopping decisions, according to Invesp, an online marketing resource. But before you can woo them with your exceptional customer service and uneatable products, you have to first get them through your door. Bolstering sales by adding new customers can be an expensive, uphill battle for small businesses and, typically, it costs five times as much to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one. To further thwart small business advertising efforts, only 36 percent of Americans say they love trying new brands and products, Nielsen reports. Therefore, catching the attention of new customers before they establish loyalties to your competitors is crucial. Our Town America offers a unique twist on traditional direct mail advertising. “We welcome new residents to the community with housewarming offers to local businesses. Moving is stressful, so receiving these offers provides a welcome solution for new movers,” says Michael Plummer Jr., president of Our Town America. By targeting residents new to the area, Our Town America not only enables your business to reach impressionable new movers, but also makes it possible to keep your marketing costs low. Better yet, the U.S. Data Corporation found that 39 percent of consumers try a new business for the first time as a result of receiving a direct mail piece. So, it’s no wonder why many small businesses utilize direct mail marketing. Traditional Direct Mail Marketing However, while businesses can mail to an abundance of recipients, most standard direct mailers require postage fees, are not targeted to a specific demographic, and the results are not trackable. Many times, recipients of repeat direct mailers become immune after seeing the same piece multiple times – especially if they have pre-established habits to competitors. In these cases, it’s unlikely they will choose the “new” business over the one they have loyalty to – which is a recipe for a low response rate. The average response rate for traditional direct mailing lists (not targeted to new movers) was only 4.9 percent last year, according to Fundera, a small business resource. This is one big differentiator between traditional direct mail and New Mover Marketing. New Mover Marketing As mentioned earlier, New Mover Marketing is a cost-effective alternative to blanketing a community with direct mail advertisements and, because of the targeted approach, recipients are actually in need of the tailored one-time use offers. In fact, your business is put in front of a brand-new audience each month – made possible by a thoroughly scrubbed new resident mailing list compiled from multiple reliable sources, such as utility connections, deed transactions, etc. More than 10 percent of the U.S. population, or 32 million people, moved in 2018, according to Moving.com, an online resource. Our Town America’s welcome package reaches these new movers shortly after their move or change of address — before they’ve formed loyalties to other businesses. The program also allows you to lock out your competition in your chosen ZIP codes – meaning you are the only business in your industry in those welcome packages! The company, which opened its doors in 1972, sends residents an enticing, personalized package that compels the new mover to look inside. Each month, Our Town America prints more than 1 million personalized gift certificates and welcomes over half a million new movers across the country to their new communities by introducing them to local businesses. “We spent $20,000 for a direct mailing. The mailing only brought in 20 to 30 people,” said Brian Scott, owner of Village Wines and Spirits. “Why are we going to spend that type of money on a [traditional] direct mailing when we could spend less money, give them something for free, and have more people show up? We can give them decent customer service, and they will come back.” Our Town America’s proven offers are digitally trackable so you can view your response rate. With the TruTrak™ mobile app, businesses can track their return on investment, gather detailed demographic data of new customers, and trigger a follow-up mailing offering a secondary gift or simply thanking the new mover for their first visit. If you’re ready to save money and increase your customer base with a new mover marketing program, visit Our Town America to learn more. 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. […]

Read More…

Trackable Marketing via Direct Mail Barcode

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Trackable Marketing via Direct Mail Barcode

Our Town America employs innovative technology designed to appeal to partnered businesses, new movers and franchisees to track advertising sales, drive business and ensure customer satisfaction. The nation’s leading New Mover Marketing company helps businesses attract new residents with an exclusive Welcome Package upon arrival to their new home. Filled with hand-selected proven offers, the Our Town America Welcome Package is known to produce industry-leading response rates. Nearly 31 million people moved in the United States in 2019, according to United States Census data, and Our Town America has been helping those people adjust to their new surroundings since 1972 by introducing them to area businesses. Of course, this also helps communities flourish, so it’s a win for everyone. While Our Town America is built off of traditional direct mail, the company has evolved with technology over the past five decades. Several mobile apps and tracking tools have been released throughout this time to provide partnered businesses with data and a reliable marketing strategy, new movers with great deals, and franchisees with the resources needed to drive results. “We were actually the very first New Mover Marketing company to offer trackable marketing and barcodes,” said Brittany Johnson, Marketing Executive at Our Town America. “We’re also able to help businesses target specific demographics and we can mail to actual neighborhoods – not just ZIP codes. We’ve got this down to a science,” Johnson says. Below is a quick overview of each mobile app, but be sure to reach out to an Our Town America representative if you have a question about a capability not mentioned; chances are.. we’ve got an app for that! Innovative App for Partnered Businesses Our Town America’s TruTrak® app allows partnered businesses to track their return on investment, gather detailed demographic data of new customers and trigger the second ‘follow-up’ mailing from their smartphone. TruTrak® instantly updates to reflect redemptions when businesses scan new mover gift certificates. It compares the trackable marketing certificates scanned to the number of mailings sent to determine an offer’s success rate, allowing businesses to see their return on investment in real-time. The app helps businesses form loyal relationships with new customers by providing the option to send a second mailer while the business is still fresh on their mind. An App to Assist Franchisees in Rolling out the Red CarpetOur Town America’s franchisees have the option to use the proprietary Sales Companion™ app to assist them in signing up new partnered businesses. It provides a built-in calculator that breaks down the cost of the customer acquisition program. Sales Companion™ also provides a detailed look at return on investment and demonstrates how one loyal customer literally pays for the program trackable marketing annually. In addition, Sales Companion™ gives franchisees the ability to show real-world success stories from businesses who use Our Town America to market their business by allowing them to pull up recent press and news articles on the spot. Businesses Can Cater to New Customers with this AppOur Town America helps alleviate some of the stress new residents feel when they change residences by offering the option to use their third mobile app, Our Town Deals™, in addition to paper gift certificates (or instead of – depending on the sponsor). Unpacking can be a headache, so having a free pizza delivery at their fingertips provides a welcome relief to a hungry new mover. “Direct mail isn’t going anywhere, but supplying the option to redeem trackable marketing gift certificates on your phone is a great complement to an already terrific program,” Johnson said. The mobile app benefits sponsors by giving them the option to push out deal notifications, extending the life of the program by offering ongoing specials for the new mover. The smartphone technology has the option of providing reminders to customers leading up to the expiration of a gift, effectively decreasing the response time and increasing the response rates for our sponsors. The app engages customers by giving them the opportunity to participate in surveys to give sponsors valuable feedback. It also allows sponsors to provide personalized touches down the road to fuel repeat business. Our Town America created their mobile apps with a goal in mind – make life easier for everybody involved. Whether you’re a new mover, a business owner or an Our Town America franchisee, we’ve got you covered. People are creatures of habit, so Our Town America encourages businesses to reach out to new movers before a competitor snags them first. And, because Our Town America offers category exclusivity to sponsors – meaning only one business of a kind in each Welcome Package, it’s important for businesses to claim their category. Automotive shops, dental offices, grocery stores, hair salons/ barbershops, pet care and restaurants are just some of the industries sought out by new residents. Learn more about how Our Town America can help your business gain new loyal, long-term customers today. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

Read More…