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Our Town America of Atlanta: Helping the Market One New Mover at a Time

Our Town of Atlanta on New Mover Marketing Business Radio X

Business Radio X (December 2017) – As one of Our Town America’s longest tenured franchisees, Chris Beer is an expert at helping local Atlanta businesses connect with new movers and create long term, lasting relationships. Listen to the clip below to learn more about New Mover Marketing, why your business should invest in it, what sets it apart from every day marketing tactics, and more! Click play to listen to clip below. Atlanta, GA area businesses looking to team up with Our Town America of Atlanta can contact Chris Beer at 770-655-2116 or complete an online Contact Form. Small businesses in any U.S. market can reach out to Our Town America’s corporate team to get in touch with their local representative.  Call by phone at 800-497-8360 or complete a Contact Form.     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 of Atlanta Joins Small Business Support Squad

Small Business Saturday Our Town America on WUSF Radio

WDUN (November 2017) – Like many other Our Town America franchise locations, Our Town of Atlanta joined in on the Small Business Saturday fun by starting the “Small Business Support Squad” in their local area. The “Small Biz Support Squad” was created by Our Town America, a national marketing firm that targets new residents and businesses, to thank small businesses. On behalf of Our Town of Atlanta owner Chris Beer, Marketing Executive Brittany Johnson of the Corporate Headquarters, met with WDUN to discuss what Our Town America does for small businesses. Click play to listen to clip below.   Atlanta, GA area businesses looking to team up with Our Town America of Atlanta can contact Chris Beer at 770-655-2116 or complete an online Contact Form. Small businesses in any U.S. market can reach out to Our Town America’s corporate team to get in touch with their local representative.  Call by phone at 800-497-8360 or complete a Contact Form. 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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Small Business Saturday by Our Town America Phoenix

Small Business Owners for Small Business Saturday

KNXV Phoenix (November 2017) – Phoenix’s small business owners are the backbone of our local economy. So, for Small Business Saturday, which took place on Nov. 25th, Phoenix’s “Small Biz Support Squad” celebrated some of their partnered local businesses. David Cox traveled through town to surprise local owners with balloons and stress-relieving gifts to thank small businesses them for everything they do for our community – create jobs, provide goods and services and keep our local economy chugging through good times and bad. American Express started Small Business Saturday in 2010 to honor local business owners in thousands of communities across the country.   In just seven years, the annual event has blossomed into a hyperlocal phenomenon as more than 112 million American shoppers helped local businesses generate more than $15.4 billion on Small Business Saturday in 2016. Phoenix is a perfect place to celebrate Small Business Saturday as brave entrepreneurs  work tirelessly to build reliable businesses in their community. Arizona is home to 511,828 small businesses and employs 955,194 workers, according to the S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  Forbes recently ranked Phoenix as the 35th best place for business and careers, and reported that the city saw 3.3 percent job growth in 2016. The Phoenix Chamber of Commerce reports that 9 out of 10 companies project revenues to increase in the coming year, while 98 percent of companies rated the business climate as excellent or good. Watch both KNXV Phoenix clips below for full story. To contact David Cox of Our Town America Phoenix, complete a Contact Form or call 602-923-7770. 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 of the Treasure Valley Supports Small Businesses

Local Business Our Town America

KTVB Boise – The long hours. The hard work. The aching back and feet! These are the hardships of Boise’s small business owners, the backbone of our local economy. So, for Small Business Saturday (Nov. 25), Boise’s “Small Biz Support Squad” celebrated some of their partnered local businesses. Amy Hecht traveled through town to surprise local owners with balloons and stress-relieving gifts to thank small businesses for everything they do for our community – create jobs, provide goods and services and keep our local economy chugging through good times and bad. American Express started Small Business Saturday in 2010 to honor small business owners in thousands of communities across the country.   In just seven years, the annual event has blossomed into a hyperlocal phenomenon as more than 112 million American shoppers helped local businesses generate more than $15.4 billion on Small Business Saturday in 2016. Boise is a perfect place to celebrate Small Business Saturday as brave entrepreneurs  work tirelessly to build reliable businesses in their community. Forbes has recently named Boise as the 11th fastest-growing city in America. The area’s population grew 1.83 percent in 2016, with a projected growth of 1.69 percent in 2017. In 2015, Boise made the top 10 cities for millennial entrepreneurs by Fast Company, coming in at number 2, and was ranked first on USAToday.com’s list of America’s 50 best cities to live in. Watch both KTVB Boise clips below for full story.   To contact Amy and Scot Hecht of Our Town America of the Treasure Valley, 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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Our Town America acts as Small Business Support Squad

Our Town America Support Local Business

WBTV Charlotte (November 2017) – The long hours. The hard work. The aching back and feet! These are the hardships of Charlotte’s small business owners, the backbone of our local economy. So, for Small Business Saturday (Nov. 25), Charlotte’s “Small Biz Support Squad” is celebrating some of their partnered local businesses. In the past, they have traveled through town to surprise local owners with balloons, gifts and stress relieving massages to thank small businesses for everything they do for our community – create jobs, provide goods and services and keep our local economy chugging through good times and bad. American Express started Small Business Saturday in 2010 to honor small business owners in thousands of communities across the country.   In just seven years, the annual event has blossomed into a hyperlocal phenomenon as more than 112 million American shoppers helped local businesses generate more than $15.4 billion on Small Business Saturday in 2016. Charlotte is a perfect place to celebrate Small Business Saturday as brave entrepreneurs who work tirelessly to build reliable businesses in their community. Forbes has recently ranked Charlotte as a top 10 place for businesses and careers and U.S. News & World Report ranked Charlotte as #14 in its “Best Places to live in the USA” list, and according to WalletHub’s May 2016 research on 150 large cities, Charlotte ranked #2 in average growth of number of small businesses and the #3 best place to start a business. Also, recent Charlotte Chamber of Commerce research shows Charlotte’s population is ranked #16 in total population among US Cities and has grown almost 40% in the last 10 years as a young and diverse population has flocked to the area for jobs, opportunity and quality of life. Watch WBTV Charlotte clip below for full story. To contact Jane and Tom McElhaney of Our Town America Charlotte, complete a Contact Form or call 704-341-4982. 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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Small Business Saturday: Area shops beat odds as they battle giants

Small Business Saturday Fort Myers Our Town America

The News-Press – Jennifer Williams has owned her Fort Myers boutique for a long time: 35 years, to be exact. Jennifer’s Boutique has done business in the same location on McGregor Boulevard in Cypress Square all that time. About half of all businesses don’t make it past five years and only one-third make it 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, highlighting how hard it can be to achieve success and stability. That’s one reason American Express started Small Business Saturday in 2010. It’s a way to recognize small business owners in communities across the nation, including Southwest Florida. Highlighting Small Business Saturday helped local businesses generate $15.4 billion the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2016. Williams thought back to when she started her boutique at the age of 23. “I was pretty directed and pretty focused,” she said. “I put my head down and kept going. I can’t even wrap my head around it’s been 35 years.” Now a change is in order. Williams is moving the store just north, to the Design Center, by year’s end. The center includes The Melting Pot, First Watch, Spada, Sweet Bean Coffee Café and other retailers. The new store is about the same size as the existing location, but has 20-foot ceilings. “I love the store, but I felt I needed to be in a shopping center that had partners more suited to what I do,” she said. “Everyone likes excitement and change and energy. It’s nice to offer people something different. It’s really close.” Sally Hanson is a new arrival to Fort Myers, recently starting Our Town of Southwest Florida. She also owns the Our Town at the Triangle franchise in Raleigh, N.C. Both are part of Our Town America. “We welcome new people that are moving into the area,” she said, adding that moving is a major stressor. “They don’t know the area. We make their transition easier for them and introduce them to local businesses.” Hanson and her Fort Myers Small Biz Support Squad will be visiting small business owners in Lee County on Small Business Saturday, handing out goodies. “This is just growing and growing and growing because small businesses are the backbone of our community and we just want to thank them for all the hard work that they do,” she said. While most people are enjoying time around the holidays with family and friends, many small business owners are putting in their longest hours of the year. “We’re going around with balloons and gift cards from local businesses to thank them for their service,” she said. “It’s going to be a surprise. I have some businesses in mind, but it’s kind of random. I know how hard these people work. Through good times and bad, they keep chugging along.” Speaking of “chugging along,” Williams thought back to challenges along her journey, including the rise of online shopping. One silver lining: it has helped that her clientele skews a little older. “They still want that experience of touching the merchandise, feeling the merchandise, having someone assist them, getting feedback,” she said. “The store is kind of like ‘Cheers.’ There have been a lot of friendships made. You’re not going to get any kind of camaraderie at 2:30 in the morning on Amazon searching for a pair of jeans.” Jennifer’s Boutique has a big event each November for the anniversary. This time of year, the focus is on holiday wear and small items that make nice gifts. On Small Business Saturday, customers will receive a gift with purchases and get an additional 25 percent off sale merchandise. “We definitely cater to our clients for the holidays,” she said. Naples businesses For Footed Friends, an all-natural pet food store in Naples, has participated in Small Business Saturday for about a decade, using the marketing materials and swag that come along with it, but not offering any special discounts geared just for the day. “We’re hoping that Small Business Saturday is as popular as it has been in the past,” said owner Rose Scarisbrick. “It has been busy in the past.” With predictions of more online shopping this holiday season, she’s not sure how that will affect her business. Though customers can’t buy products on her company’s website, she offers free delivery in Collier County, so customers can arrange orders and get products without making a trip to the store at no extra cost. Retail spaces revamp as digital disrupts At Ooh La La Jewels Du Jour in Naples there are always specials to be had on Small Business Saturday. This year deals will include 20 percent off sterling silver jewelry and savings of 20 to 50 percent throughout the store on a variety of merchandise. Offers will include buy three-get one free on ginger snaps. There will be sales on readers (three for $15) and sunglasses (three for $12). Black Friday sales, however, will be even better, and will include a $100 gift bag with a $75 purchase, said Tammy Kipp, one of the store’s owners. She hopes to see customers come in both days to take advantage of the different offers. “It’s nice that people think about the mom and pops instead of the big boxes all the time. We are locally grown here,” Kipp said. “We’ve been here for 46 years and it’s nice that the locals support the locals. Read article on The News-Press — Fort Myers-area businesses looking to team up with Our Town of Southwest Florida can contact Sally Hanson at 919-349-7611 or sign up online now using our New Movers on Demand platform. Small businesses in any U.S. market can reach out to Our Town America’s corporate team to get in touch with their local representative.  Call by phone at 800-497-8360. 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

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

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

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

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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