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Tag: Local Business

Nominate a Resilient Small Business in Your Community

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Small Business Resilience Award 2021

Come November, Americans nationwide will be shopping locally to celebrate Small Business Saturday, but per usual, Our Town America is extending the holiday by honoring local businesses through their 2nd Annual Small Business Resilience Award. Community members throughout the nation can nominate a neighborhood business that they believe deserves this distinction. Unfortunately, many small business owners are now facing a labor shortage. In June 2021, the number of open jobs reached an all-time high of 10.1 million, up from 9.2 million in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. At least half of small businesses reported it is harder to find qualified employees than it was last year. As the cost of finding and retaining employees increases, supply costs are also rising. Seven out of every 10 businesses are seeing a rise in supply costs, according to a report by CNBC. Numerous factors play into the labor shortage, but small businesses are tackling the issue by increasing wages, adding benefits and offering signing bonuses to attract employees. Improving workplace satisfaction by offering job flexibility and rethinking job requirements to widen qualified candidate pools has been effective for many small businesses across the country. Help Our Town America Applaud Small Businesses Small businesses are the heartbeat of the American economy. There are more than 30 million small businesses in the United States employing 60.6 million people, according to the U.S. Small Business Association. Our Town America is once again searching for local businesses who are beating the odds; those who are successfully conquering the challenges of 2021 to provide a valuable service to their local communities. Last year, we rolled out our Small Business Resilience Award to honor local businesses who triumphed during 2020, and we are continuing the tradition in 2021 by searching for local businesses who found a way to conquer the labor and supply cost hurdles of 2021.  We need your help. There can only be one winner in each listed community. Simply being nominated is an accomplishment to be proud of and is a symbol of hard work during this difficult season. If you are wondering which small business in your community to nominate, Our Town America has some suggestions to get you started. Nominate a dry cleaner that still makes on-time deliveries despite driver shortages. Nominate a restaurant that has servers working double-time to deliver meals during the lunch rush. Nominate a local business that keeps prices down for customers even though supply costs are rising. Nominate a Small Business Shop Local, Shop Small, and Support a Business in your community by nominating your favorite establishment for Our Town America’s 2nd Annual Small Business Resilience Award at the button below. Voting ends November 19th, just before Small Business Saturday.     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 Helps Dental Clinics Maintain Customer Relationships

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Dentistry Today Our Town America New Mover Direct Mail Marketing

Dentistry Today — As dentistry offices slowly reopened their doors after closing during the initial days of the pandemic, many relied on direct mail marketing to help recoup losses and maintain customer relationships. The outbreak of COVID-19 sent a shockwave through the healthcare industry. While hospitals were grappling with sick patients, other healthcare professionals were forced to close shop to help flatten the curve. At the end of March 2020, nearly 95% of private dental practices were closed or only seeing patients with an emergency issue, the ADA reported. After adopting new safety precautions, dental offices were able to reopen and resume servicing their local community. Many offices employed a variety of direct mail marketing strategies to help reassure existing patients and add new patients to their rosters. Direct mail marketing also helped them maintain customer relationships when people were nervous about scheduling in-person visits. Here are just a few direct mail marketing strategies implemented by dental offices during the pandemic. Remind Patients of the Importance of Regular Visits Many patients canceled appointments or neglected to schedule a visit during the early days of the pandemic. The World Health Organization reported that oral health services were among the most affected essential health services because of COVID-19, with 77% of countries reporting partial or complete disruption. Regular dental care not only keeps teeth and gums healthy, but dentists are often the first line of defense against serious health issues, like oral cancer and bone loss. To encourage patients to reschedule missed dental appointments, dental offices sent direct mail postcards to their current lineup of patients to remind them about the importance of preventive dental care. Alert Patients to New Safety Protocols Despite being dubbed high risk, fewer than 1% of dentists nationwide were found to be COVID-19 positive, according to data collected by the ADA. These figures indicate that the rigorous safety practices implemented by dental offices across the country were successful in keeping both their employees and patients safe. Some of the new guidelines include screening patients for COVID-19 symptoms by taking their temperature, installing plastic barriers in the reception area, and requiring dental hygienists and dentists to wear proper protective gear, including face shields. To make patients feel safe at the dentist, many offices used direct mail marketing to promote their new safety procedures. Understanding the precautions dental offices were taking helped to reassure patients and prompted them to reschedule missed appointments. Offer Add-On Deals or Discounts To help recoup lost revenue, some dental practices decided to offer special deals, like a discount on tooth whitening for patients who come in for a cleaning. Dentists used direct mail marketing to blanket the local community with their special offers in an effort to increase foot traffic. Postcards are easy for customers to handle and provide a tangible tool to increase volume of appointments. Many dentists turn to postcards when looking to promote a special deal, especially when the direct mail postcard company offers the mailing with no long-term commitment. Tout New Online Services During the pandemic, some dentists implemented telehealth services as an option for patients unwilling or unable to visit the office in person. Teledentistry can be used for monitoring, like retainer checks, as well as providing education and screening for emergency care. Direct mail marketing has been an important tool to alert people about teledentistry services during the pandemic. At the same time, dentistry offices used direct mail marketing to encourage patients to follow their practice’s social media pages for important urgent updates. New Mover Marketing Helps Add New Patients As the vaccine rolls out across the country and COVID-19 numbers drop, dentists will benefit from continuing to use direct mail marketing as a component of their marketing strategy. While nearly 60% of private dental practices are currently open and operating as usual, 41% are still seeing a lower volume of patients than normal, the ADA reports. One effective direct mail marketing strategy that dental offices can implement to bolster patient counts is new mover marketing, which provides a proven offer to new residents before they establish loyalties to other providers. It’s an easy and effective method for dentistry offices to increase patient counts during this unique time as each month advertises to a brand new audience. Dental offices can work with their local new mover consultant to decide on their one-time-use housewarming offer. This turkey program allows practices to set it and forget it, so they can focus on servicing clients and fostering customer relationships. Direct mail marketing helps dentistry offices maintain relationships with current patients and add new patients as they continue to navigate this challenging season. 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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The Small Business Marketing Strategy to Take up Right Now

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Small Business Marketing Strategy New Mover Marketing

The pandemic has changed the way many American consumers operate in their daily lives, but Our Town America is here to help your small business evolve your marketing strategy to meet them where they’re at and effectively bolster sales in 2021 and beyond. Following the outbreak of the pandemic, businesses were forced to adapt to new ways of operating. Notably, restaurants expanded or implemented curbside pickup and free delivery. Car dealerships offered virtual selling and home-delivery of new cars. Many retail businesses moved to contactless purchasing and online sales to ensure customer safety. During this time, small businesses focused much of their marketing efforts on these changes.  Now, as COVID-19 numbers continue to fall, it’s a great time to take a close look at your marketing strategy to fully take advantage of a society that is ready to get back out into the world. Our Town America is the nation’s premier New Mover Direct Mail Marketing company and is available to help your small business achieve high return from your marketing efforts. Here are some simple marketing strategies to employ in the post-pandemic economy. Capitalize on the ‘new mover’ market. 2020 caused people to reevaluate what is important and many chose to use the time to move to a new home. More time spent at home means more opportunity to enjoy the backyard, so some people moved to get a bigger yard. More people cooking at home means the realization that a bigger kitchen is needed. Others were awarded the ability to work remotely long-term, granting many people the opportunity of a lifetime to finally move to a new city or state yet keep their current job. Whatever the reason, people were moving – and still are.  The U.S. Postal Service reports more than 30 million change-of-address forms were sent in last year. This surge of new residents is a perfect opportunity to attract additional customers to your business.  Our Town America specializes in targeting this unique population. Our New Mover Marketing Program is much like the game of chess as it allows you business to be a step ahead of your competitors. It’s the perfect way to get new residents to try your business before they establish new habits and form loyalties to other businesses. Our Welcome Package includes a one-time housewarming gift for new movers which gives them the incentive to visit your business. This method allows you to reach a new audience each month and gradually add to your customer base.  Pick strategies that generate results. Every small business owner knows they shouldn’t put all of their eggs in one basket. While utilizing e-mail marketing and social media to engage consumers can be effective, it’s important to add in tried-and-true advertising strategies to build your customer base. For most small businesses, radio and tv ads are a bit over budget. So, what other avenues are there to explore? Direct mail is an extremely successful, proven form of advertising. A recent survey from the U.S. Postal Service showed 54 percent of those surveyed tried a new product or business within a 6-month period of receiving a piece of mail. Our Town America can help you get started with this process. We offer multiple options to help you reach your marketing goals, and each can target different audiences.  Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM®), commonly referred to as Saturation Postcards, can help you reach potential customers in the neighborhood near your business, customers with a median income or other designations. No mailing list needed for this option. You simply choose the areas you wish to mail to. Another option is to personalize your message to target an audience based on your own specific criteria. This option is best known as Targeted Postcards as you can mail to pet owners or families with children, for example. Our Town America allows you to choose your delivery schedule and fully customize your direct mail experience.  You can also mail out birthday mailers or, as mentioned earlier, mail to new movers in your area – but the second time around do it with a postcard. Really, the options are endless and each has a different objective. Our Town America helps pinpoint which option is best for you depending on your business needs.  If you’re ready to learn how New Mover Marketing or our other direct mail options can help your small business thrive in the post-pandemic world, visit Our Town America. 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 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. […]

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Our Town America Awards $3,000 to New Movers at Big Daddy’s BBQ

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Boise, ID New Mover Survey Winner 2020 Our Town America

New movers, Cory and Samantha Fuller, certainly have their hands full. They have two young daughters, both still in diapers, and they started a Boise business right in the heart of the pandemic. So, a surprise phone call from Our Town America could not have come at a better time. The Fullers are the winners of this year’s Our Town America New Mover Survey, which comes with a grand prize of $3,000 – no strings attached!  Cory and Samantha moved to Boise, Idaho from North Carolina in 2020 and received a Welcome Package from Our Town America when they arrived to town. The Welcome Package is a personalized collection of useful one-time offers from local businesses. Roughly five million new movers receive the package each year and a portion take the time to complete the New Mover Survey found within. This year, the Fullers were amongst roughly ten thousand U.S. new movers across the country who completed the survey. “I was nearly in tears when we got the call,” said Samantha Fuller. “We started our business in 2020, and we plan to use the money to help the business grow. We could not be more appreciative of this unexpected gift!” Scot and Amy Hecht, Our Town America of the Treasure Valley franchise owners, presented the Fullers with the check in late March at Big Daddy’s BBQ in Meridian, Idaho. Big Daddy’s is extremely popular in the area as the founder, Hoss Grigg, was known as a hometown hero in Treasure Valley for many years. Unfortunately, he passed away in December leaving the business to his wife, Khaseta, and daughter, Kersten. These two hard-working women are proud to carry on his legacy.  “Big Daddy’s BBQ is a staple in the Boise area and is a big part of our Welcome Package,” said Amy Hecht. “We know they have been going through a tough time, so we thought it’d be the perfect place to present the check to the Fuller family. The Fullers, too, requested to meet here as they were very impressed with their delicious barbeque and friendly service. It really did bring a smile to everyone’s face.” Our Town America has been helping businesses across the nation capture the attention of new movers for 49 years. Capitalizing on new residents gives local businesses a competitive edge. By providing new movers with unique coupons and deals straight to their mailbox, Our Town America helps stimulate the economy on a local level.  If you’re a local Boise-area business looking to reach new or current customers, contact Scot and Amy Hecht at ‭‭208-866-9540‬‬‬. If your business is located outside of the Boise area, 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. […]

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As U.S. Reopens, Coronavirus Concerns Could Lead to Mass Exodus

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Survey Reveals People want to Move due to Coronavirus

Franchising.com (May 2020) – Call it the Epicenter Exodus. As the U.S. starts reopening in time for May’s National Moving Month and the busy summer moving season, a just released survey reveals a good chunk of residents from coronavirus hot spot states would voluntarily pack up and move out to areas not as crippled by the virus. It’s not only the city slickers in cramped quarters who want out. Spread-out suburbanites want to hit the road, too. The Our Town America national survey of 1,000 Americans reveals a large percentage of residents living in the ten states with the most Covid-19 cases would consider moving – even though many have lived in their state for more than twenty years, or even their whole lives. The states with the most coronavirus cases are New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Louisiana, Connecticut, and Florida. The survey, commissioned by Our Town America, the nation’s leading new mover marketing franchise, reveals: More than 40% of folks polled say they’d consider moving because they live in a coronavirus hot spot state. More than half polled live in the suburbs and more than 30% live in the city. Of those who would move, more than 1/2 (53%) say they say they would move to an area of the country less affected by the coronavirus for peace of mind (44%) and because there’s less chance of a resurgence of coronavirus (40%). Some also say it’s important to live somewhere their kids will be able to start school sooner. When would they move? Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) say they’re ready to move NOW – as quickly as possible. More than 3 in 5 (64%) say they’d want to move by the end of the year. Numb Nation The new survey of 1000 American adults from the 10 hotspot states reveals a country shell-shocked by Covid-19. As America reopens, more than 3 in 4 polled (76%) say they’re still worried about the virus. Nearly 2 in 3 (64%) say they’re also concerned about the future and 1 in 3 (33%) said they don’t believe the state they live in will ever get back to pre-pandemic normal. Folks are most worried about their families, health, and finances. More than 1/3 (35%) say they or someone in their family lost work or a job. And almost half (46%) say they want better mental health. Those with kids also ranked their children’s well-being as a top worry. The South Atlantic states rank as the top areas people would move to right now- states on the east coast from Florida up to Delaware. (DE, MD, DC, VA, NC, SC, WV, FL) More than 1 in 4 (28%) eager to move say they’d move to a warmer climate. More than 1/2 (53%) of those folks say warm weather is better for their physical and mental health and more than 1 in 6 (17%) believe the virus has less chance of spreading in warmer temperatures. Pandemic Prisoners Want Out! Folks polled say the country can’t open soon enough. Nearly 1/3 (30%) say the Stay-At-Home orders in their state were too severe. They describe their neighborhoods during quarantine as the “Apocalypse,” “Armageddon” and “Hitler-esque”. Nearly 2/3 (65%) of respondents are ready for the country to open now! And when asked if the lockdowns were necessary, more than 1 in 4 (28%) say they would have preferred NO Stay-At-Home orders and would have taken their chances on contracting the virus. Almost a third (27%) of those eager to move say they’d relocate as a chance to move on from the virus in a new place, for a fresh start. “It’s clear the coronavirus has scarred people physically, mentally, financially and geographically. We could see a mass exodus of people leaving these hot spot states to begin a new chapter of their lives for different opportunities for them and their families,” says Our Town America’s CEO Michael Plummer. “Our new mover welcome packages stuffed with certificates to try out new area businesses is more critical than ever because social distancing may keep neighbors away from new families so there won’t be anyone to welcome them.” Covid Concerns In fact, in the survey, people who want to move from hot spot states fear new neighbors will keep their distance for fear of contracting the virus. More than 2/3 (68%) say they worry neighbors might stay away because they come from a state heavily infected with the virus. More than 2/3 (69%) say receiving a housewarming gift would make them more comfortable, but more than half (60%) also say the best way for neighbors to welcome them is to flag them down in the front yard and introduce themselves following social distancing guidelines. “In this coronavirus era, we probably won’t see neighbors welcoming new families with dinner invitations and home baked goods because people will keep their distance,” says Plummer. “A free meal, haircut or service that comes in our envelope, will be the boost and welcome new movers need to feel part of the community.” The survey suggests Americans agree with Plummer as respondents say they’ll continue supporting local businesses after the Coronavirus chaos dies down, especially the places that stick to curbside/takeout and share more information online. More than 4 in 5 (81.4%) say they’ll take advantage of a proven offer (i.e. free meal, haircut, etc.) from a local business that welcomes them to their new community but nearly 1/2 (49%) say they’ll be sticking to takeout and curbside when they do. The responses also prove folks are craving a new online directory that lists restaurants open for takeout and delivery. More than 7 in 10 (70.6%) say they would have used that type of directory while living in quarantine and even more (73%) say they’ll use it when the quarantine is lifted. *Editor’s Note: *Please cite Our Town America as the source for this survey *This online survey of 1,000 American men and women was conducted by a third party and commissioned […]

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North Carolina Local Businesses Begin to Safely Reopen

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
North Carolina Local Businesses Begin to Safely reopen

Spectrum News (May 2020) – Bassam Safi of Our Town America shares how local businesses in North Carolina are preparing to reopen since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. Local businesses have been largely impacted by the Coronavirus, and need support now more than ever. Safi’s partnered local businesses continue to take precautions in order to ensure employees and consumers are safe. Triangle Family Dentistry of North Carolina, for example, are “going above and beyond all ADA and CDC guidelines and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of their employees as well as their patients” according to Safi. Safi encourages consumers to consider shopping at local businesses whenever safe and possible. Our Town America wants small business owners, as well as consumers, impacted by the Coronavirus to know they aren’t in this alone Watch the full Spectrum News clip below. — Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days per year. If you’re a local business in the Wilmington, Cary, Raleigh, or Durham, NC area looking for a way to reach out to new or current customers, you can reach Bassam Safi at 910-352-5776 or safi.bassam@ourtown.net. If your business is located outside the Wilmington, Cary, Raleigh, or Durham area, you can reach Our Town America corporate at 1-800-497-8360 to get connected with your local representative. Source:   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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Local Businesses Adjust their Services due to Coronavirus | KQCA Sacramento

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
local businesses sacramento

KQCA Sacramento Live (April 2020) – During the Coronavirus pandemic, local businesses must come up with creative ways to stay open and safely serve the public. Dave Frisch, owner of Our Town America of Greater Sacramento, discusses the ways that local businesses have implemented new service methods including curbside or contactless delivery, virtual appointments, or at-home workouts in order to safely reach consumers. Frisch’s partnered sponsor business, Pizza Guys, has incorporated these new methods by offering contactless delivery. Consumers can simply call in an order and it will be delivered in a protective bag on their doorstep, consumers will then be notified about their delivery through a text or knock on the door. Pizza Guy, along with other local businesses, is offering deals during this time to ensure that consumers are getting the most bang for their buck. Street Tech Auto Care has also adjusted their services during this time. By staggering appointments and taking extra sanitary precautions, they continue to serve their community and keep their customers safe.  Frisch encourages consumers to shop locally whenever possible. Some small business facts to consider:  The economy of Sacramento, CA employs 240k people About half of the state’s private-sector employees are employed by small businesses in California For every dollar spent at a small business, approximately 67 cents stay in the local community Our Town America wants small business owners, as well as consumers, impacted by COVID-19 to know they aren’t in this alone. Watch the full KQCA Sacramento clip below.           — Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days per year. If you’re a local Sacramento-area business looking for a way to reach out to new or current customers, reach out to Dave Frisch at 916-474-1494 or dfrisch@ourtown.net. If your business is located outside of the Sacramento area, you can reach the Our Town America headquarters at 1-800-497-8360 to get 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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Buy Local while Following Coronavirus Social Distancing Rules | Raleigh, NC

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Buy Local while Following Coronavirus Social Distancing Rules Raleigh Local Business Our Town America

WRAZ Raleigh Live (April 2020) – Sally Hanson of Our Town America of the Triangle based in Raleigh, NC, shares ways in which consumers can help support their local economy while still following Coronavirus social distancing rules. Hanson’s partnered local businesses are doing what they can to stay open during this time – curbside pickup, delivery, etc. She urges consumers to tip essential workers if able to help keep local businesses afloat through the global COVID-19 pandemic. “These essential workers are the backbone of our community right now,” Hanson points out. “You can go online, find out which businesses are open – we have fitness facilities that had to close, but they’re now offering online services. You can donate to these businesses,” Hanson says. “As a company, we’re actually mailing out postcards for these businesses letting people know that they’re still open for business. They need your business, so please come on in, but keep with the social distancing and keep safe, of course,” she urges. Some small business facts to consider: For every dollar spent at a small business, approximately $0.67 stay in the community. 28.8 million small businesses in the U.S. Small businesses account for 99.7% of all businesses in the U.S. Our Town America wants small business owners, as well as consumers, impacted by COVID-19 to know they aren’t in this alone. Watch full WRAZ Raleigh clip below. — Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days per year. If you’re a local Raleigh-area business looking for a way to reach out to new or current customers, reach out to Sally Hanson.  If your business is located outside of the Raleigh area, you can reach the Our Town America headquarters at 1-800-497-8360 to get 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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How to Support your Local Economy during the Coronavirus Pandemic | Denver, CO

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Support Local Economy during Coronavirus Pandemic

KUSA Denver (April 2020) – Unfortunately, Coronavirus (COVID-19) has made it’s mark on the US, but small business owner, Kurt North of Our Town America Northern Colorado, shares how partnered local businesses are supporting the economy during this global pandemic. North encourages consumers to shop virtually or over the phone – using delivery & drive-up methods. Houska Automotive, a local Fort Collins business who reaches out to new residents year-round through North’s New Mover Welcoming Program, is following all WHO and CDC recommendations in order to continue serving their community. “Automotive repair is necessary and needed, especially for those who are working diligently at hospitals, grocery stores, etc.,” says owner L.J. Houska. His shop is offering free pick-up & delivery from the customers’ homes, curbside check-in at the shop & even overnight envelopes in order to remain contactless and avoid human interaction. “We’re so grateful for our customers and want them to know that we’re here for them in the case of automotive issues,” Houska says. North encourages consumers to shop using delivery & drive-up methods at other local businesses as well. Some small business facts to consider: 97.6% of businesses in Colorado are small businesses. (Colorado SBDC) Colorado small businesses employ 1 million people. (Colorado SBDC) 97.6% of businesses in Colorado are small businesses, with over 572,546 in total. (SBA) “Other than Automotive Repair Shops, I’m also partnered with liquor stores & restaurants who are doing curbside & delivery,” North says. “Help your neighbor – even if we have to be physically distant – that doesn’t mean we have to be completely alone. We’re all in this together”. Our Town America wants small business owners, as well as consumers, impacted by COVID-19 to know they aren’t in this alone. Watch full KUSA News Clip below. — Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days per year. If you are a small/ local business looking for a way to reach out to new or current customers, visit 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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