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Des Moines Volunteer Wins $3,000 from Marketing Franchise | NBC

2023 New Mover Survey Winner Beth Vitiritto, Our Town America Marketing Drawing

NBC Hello Iowa — A local Des Moines woman known for giving back is getting more than she ever expected in return. Beth Vitiritto, who relocated last year, has become quite a familiar face in the Ankeny community. Beth inspires the younger generation in her everyday work as a teacher, serves on the Iowa board, frequently contributes to local causes and volunteers whenever she can. Beth is the kind of person who pours her all into everything she does and deserves the world but would never ask for it. The type of person who, even when faced with cancer, woke up every day with a positive attitude and a smile. So, when Beth’s name was drawn to win $3,000 amongst tens of thousands of people nationwide, it seemed more like Good Karma than luck.  New Mover Welcome Package The drawing Beth entered is the Our Town America Annual New Mover Survey Drawing. She was entered by providing feedback on local businesses who welcomed her into the Des Moines area through Our Town America’s New Mover Package. The package welcomes residents who have just moved into their new neighborhood and introduces them to nearby reputable businesses with free one-time-use housewarming Gift Certificates. Little Ceasars Ankeny, Portofino Italian Ristorante, The Chicken Coop, and ACE Hardware were among the businesses that welcomed Beth to the area. “I used a Gift Certificate right away and took a friend out to lunch!,” Vitiritto said. Beth says that Our Town America’s Welcome Package played a significant role in helping her feel immediately connected and informed about the community. “The support network is incredible,” she says. “From local businesses to community events, everything is designed to help newcomers integrate smoothly and feel at home.” “Our package helps people get settled in, find their way around and get connected with local businesses,” said Tim McGrath, Our Town America of Iowa franchise owner. “In addition to being an aid for new movers, our franchise is a marketing resource for local businesses. We’ve been helping businesses thrive by bringing them new customers for over 50 years,” said McGrath. “It’s a feel-good business that I’m proud to be a part of.” Community Impact Local TV show Hello Iowa hosted Beth, McGrath, and Little Caesars Ankeny store owners Katrina and Brad Loney in-studio to hear this heartwarming story. As expected, Our Town America presented Beth with her $3,000 winnings and, to nobody’s surprise, Beth’s students and friends joined the event to support her. In the spirit of supporting the local community, on behalf of Beth and her late father, former Ankeny Chief of Police for 30 years, Our Town America donated $500 to the Ankeny Police Foundation. Additionally, Katrina and Brad of Little Caesars Ankeny, who are also known locally for their volunteer efforts, donated $500 to the John Stoddard Cancer Center on Beth’s behalf as well. Our Town America and Little Caesars of Ankeny are honored to have had the opportunity to give to someone so deserving. Press play below for the full Hello Iowa interview. Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days per year. Iowa businesses looking to gain new customers, can contact franchise owner Tim McGrath at (515) 240-6845. Businesses in all other U.S. states can contact Our Town America HQ at (727)345-0811 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. […]

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Turn Baby Boomers into New Customers

Turn Baby Boomers into New Customers

Our Town America’s New Mover Marketing program is one of the most effective and efficient ways for your small business to attract new customers in the lucrative demographic known as the baby boomers. As baby boomers retire, many are packing up their belongings and moving to new towns to be near their grandkids. At least 25 percent of this demographic plans to move near their children when they retire, according to a report from Meyers Research. Some of the top markets targeted by baby boomers are Texas, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The outbreak of the pandemic last year helped fuel the moving trend. The pandemic isolated the elderly and forced them to make tough decisions about their future. Many boomers made the decision to move closer to their grandchildren to help with remote schooling and childcare. Despite the end of the pandemic being near, many baby boomers plan to stay near their families, The Wall Street Journal reported. Baby boomers are big spenders, and businesses that successfully corner this demographic flourish. Baby boomers range from 55 to 73 years old and peaked at a population of 78.8 million in 1999. They remained the largest living adult generation until 2019 when they were surpassed by millennials, according to Pew Research. Despite being outnumbered by millennials, baby boomers are still a force to be reckoned with when it comes to spending as they represent a 33 percent share of aggregate spending by 2025! Essential Businesses for Baby Boomers on the Move After locating the post office and closest grocery store, there are a number of businesses new residents need as soon as they get settled. When baby boomers relocate to new homes, here are five essential businesses they look for as soon as they settle in.  Home Services. After unpacking boxes and settling into their new residence, baby boomers will rely on various home service providers to help turn their new house into a home. In addition to installing an alarm system, they likely will need to secure a reliable handyman, home cleaning service, landscaper, pest control company and more.  Medical Needs. Arriving in a new city requires finding a new doctor, dentist, and pharmacy. While baby boomers are living longer than previous generations, they are also experiencing higher rates of obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. Baby boomers are health conscious and proactive in their medical care, according to the AMA Journal of Ethics. As a result, finding the right providers will be top of mind for baby boomers when they move to a new city. Personal Care and Fitness. Part of moving to a new community is finding a reliable hair and nail stylist, as well as a favorite clothing store. Baby boomers are active community members who are on the lookout for a fitness center that will help them stay in shape to keep up with their grandkids. Baby boomers were one of the first generations to embrace exercise. They flocked to group exercise classes to take after their generation’s fitness “influencer” (aka. #fitspo), Jane Fonda.  The Centers for Disease Control recommends people 65 and older get 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, as well as two days’ worth of muscle-strengthening activity. Fitness centers help baby boomers meet these fitness goals.  Pet Care. Pet ownership continues to be on the rise. Baby boomers spend $34.4 billion on their pets annually, according to Pet Food Processing magazine. Moving to a new town requires finding the right veterinarian, pet food supply store and kennel to provide the best care for their four-legged family members. Fun. Baby boomers will make socializing and seeing all their town has to offer a top priority. They want to spend time with their grandkids, but they also want to enjoy their retirement. It’s a great time for restaurants and local entertainment venues to turn these new residents into loyal customers.  New Mover Marketing Attracts Boomers It’s time to make New Mover Marketing a priority. Our Town America has spent the last 49 years helping small businesses connect with new residents by using up-to-date lists and proven offers to turn them into loyal customers. Our Town America sends new residents a Welcome Package that is personalized and well-designed shortly after they settle into their new home. It’s filled with category-exclusive offers to entice baby boomers to visit your local business.  As an added bonus, tracking your return on investment is at your fingertips at all times when you’re partnered with Our Town America. Our TruTrak™ app also allows you to gather customer demographic information and trigger a second mailing to people who redeemed their first offer.  Our Town American can help your business target baby boomers as they move to your community. For more information about New Mover Marketing, visit www.ourtownamerica.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. […]

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Direct Mail Marketing Options: Saturation Postcards, Targeted Postcards, New Mover Marketing

Direct Mail Marketing Postcards

Choosing the best platform to make the most of a tight marketing budget during uncertain times can be daunting for small business owners. Despite the increasing dependence on social media, one-click purchasing and online recommendations, direct mail marketing remains one of the most effective tools for boosting sales and developing loyal customers. Direct mail is said to be easier to understand and more memorable than digital media. It requires 21 percent less cognitive effort to process, and elicits a much higher brand recall, according to a study conducted by Canada Post Corp. Direct mail is also more likely to drive behavior than digital media, the study revealed. At least 70 percent of consumers say direct mail is more personal than online interactions, and 39 percent of consumers try a business for the first time because of direct mail, reported Fundera, a financial resource for small businesses. There are more than 30.7 million small businesses in the United States, according to the U.S. Small Business Association’s most recent report released in 2019. Small businesses created 1.8 million net jobs in 2016 and employed 59.9 million people. Our Town America offers a number of direct mail solutions to help small businesses promote customer loyalty, add new patrons and appeal to new area residents. But maybe you need some direction to figure out which type of direct mail program is best for your business needs. Easy & Affordable Method to Reach Community Members without a Mailing List Every Door Direct Mail® is a complete neighborhood mailer designed to reach every home and address in the selected ZIP codes without relying on a mailing list. EDDM® is a cost-effective saturation marketing method that allows you to filter by age, income and household size. Our Town America’s full-service EDDM® program includes printing, service preparation, postage and delivery. As people have been staying closer to home these days, EDDM® is a great way for local businesses to draw customers by delivering them a message directly to their home. Generate Customer Loyalty by Reaching out to Chosen Mailing List Targeted Postcards help celebrate existing customers by aligning with their motivations and goals. It’s a great method for businesses to send birthday specials, highlight new location openings and offer holiday specials. Targeted Postcards help form a connection between the customer and the business, building brand loyalty. During slow economic times, some customers rely on the brands they already trust, according to Harvard Business Review. It is important for businesses to reward their devoted customers with special offers or a simple holiday greeting or reminder of an upcoming sale. Our Town America uses your mailing lists to send Targeted Postcards. Make New Residents Feel at Home Moving to a new home during a time when social distancing guidelines are enforced can make it difficult to turn a new house into a home, but New Mover Marketing helps businesses make a great first impression on new residents by welcoming them to the area. It also gives residents the opportunity to support local businesses. “People are very loyal to their veterinarians. For us to grow just from people changing veterinarians would be a very slow growth,” said Dr. Sherry Weaver, owner of Animal Hospital of Towne Lake in Woodstock, Georgia. “Really, we’re much smarter specifically advertising to the people who are just moving in.” Our Town America’s New Mover Welcome Packages are filled with hand-selected proven offers. The 48-year-old company prides itself on offering the most accurate new resident mailing list in the country. Each Welcome Package contains only one business in each industry to ensure exclusivity. Our Town America also provides businesses with access to a proprietary mobile app that records redemptions, triggers an optional follow-up postcard and efficiently tracks return on investment. No matter the particular direct mail marketing method you choose, Our Town America will provide your business with an affordable solution to draw customers in. Learn more about how we can help your business grow 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. […]

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