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Tag: New Mover Marketing

Turn Baby Boomers into New Customers

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
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 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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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. […]

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The Triangle is Welcoming Thousands of New Residents Monthly

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
The Triangle is Welcoming Thousands of New Residents Monthly Our Town America New Mover Marketing

Spectrum News Raleigh — A little over a year ago, the Raleigh area known as The Triangle, began experiencing the effects of what would soon be known as the global Covid-19 pandemic. Fast forward to today, Triangle-area locals have noticed something else quite shocking: a large number of new residents coming to town! Not only are new residents moving to the area for the health, education and technology opportunities it has to offer, but there are also big developments in the works that will bring more life to the already vast metropolis. While the area is already home to one Amazon distribution center, two more are on the way in addition to Apple opening their only East Coast campus there soon. This is expected to add 20,000 jobs investing $430 billion in the local economy.  In fact, The Triangle area is amongst a list of cities being referred to as a “Zoom Town” — referring to the video conferencing platform, as many companies across the country are granting employees the flexibility to work remote. 56% of all workers have the ability to do their jobs from home Microsoft just released a survey showing flexible work is here to stay Cary is listed as one of the top cities in the country to work remotely According to a new survey from Neighbor.com, 72% of Americans say they are looking forward to meeting their new neighbors. The same survey found 46% would like to get more involved in local events. People are jumping at the opportunity to move from big cities like New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles yet have the ability to keep their current jobs. Our Town America, the nation’s premier New Mover Marketing program, has been studying these national trends. As moving industry experts, we keep a close eye on the market year-round. These statistics should be taken into consideration – especially if you own a business and are considering reaching out to new residents to welcome them as new customers. Every month, Our Town America is seeing around 5,000 people moving into the Triangle area.  This influx of new residents is just a preview of what The Triangle will continue to see as Amazon and Apple continue to bring more new movers to the area. Bassam Safi, franchise owner of Our Town America of Wilmington/Cary/Raleigh/Durham, and one of his loyal New Mover Marketing program clients, Dr. Hesham Baky of Triangle Family Dentistry, met with Spectrum News Raleigh to discuss the trends they’ve experienced over the past year and what the area has to look forward to in the coming months! — Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation by welcoming new movers to town and bringing that new customer through your business doors. If you’re a local Raleigh-area business looking to reach new or current customers, contact Bassam Safi at ‭‭910-352-5776‬‬‬‬. If your business is located outside the Raleigh area, contact Our Town America corporate 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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New Mover Marketing Helps Restaurants Reach Potential Guests

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Eateries Reach New Customers with New Mover Marketing

Modern Restaurant Management — This year could be a strong one for restaurants as people relocate to new cities across the country in search of a change of scenery and a quieter life. Experts predict home sales will continue to skyrocket in 2021 as Zillow forecasts this year to be the best year for home sales since 2005, with 6.9 million homes expected to sell by year-end.  The spike in remote working last year untethered people from their corporate offices and prompted many people to relocate. Restaurants can take advantage of this moving trend by implementing marketing strategies that help build lasting relationships with customers. How Do I Form Relationships with New Residents? The moving surge provides an avenue for restaurants to increase their customer base. New Mover Marketing helps restaurants capitalize on the housing boom by building relationships with new residents in their community. Restaurants can welcome new residents by participating in a one-time-use housewarming gift filled with offers on behalf of local businesses in the community. Inviting new residents to eat at your restaurant with a proven offer encourages them to become regular customers before they have a chance to form loyalties to other establishments. This is an impressionable time for consumers, and thankfully for those businesses that capitalize on it — new movers spend more money than established residents as they are working to turn their new house into a home. New Mover Marketing allows you to make a great first impression and marks the beginning of a lasting relationship. With some New Mover Marketing companies, restaurants can even track their ROI when new movers redeem their offer. New Mover Marketing Captures Customers Online One of the best ways to form long-lasting relationships with customers is to reach them where they spend their time. At least 37 percent of customers have three or more mobile phones at home, according to a survey of 2,000 people conducted by SAS Institute, a multinational developer of analytics software. Potential customers surf the web and many spend time on social media each day. The Informed Delivery® service offered by the United States Postal Service offers an integrated marketing approach to meet current consumer demand by allowing people to see their mail on their smartphones before it is delivered to their mailbox. Combining New Mover Marketing and Informed Delivery gives restaurants multiple touchpoints for their message. It lets businesses generate online buzz and still reach new movers with the tactile experience of physical mail. It also provides ways to bolster your online presence, too. Businesses can add ride-along content at an additional cost to spark interest. The ride-along content is in color and includes a link, which can be used to drive traffic to your social media accounts. It also allows restaurants to entice customers with videos to tell people about specials, or about the welcome package that will be arriving in their mailbox from your new mover marketing campaign. As Covid-19 numbers continue to drop, the outlook for foodservice is trending up and customers are excited to return to dining rooms, especially as they get to know the restaurants in their new cities. The International Franchise Association predicts increased consumer savings, as well as the rollout of the vaccine and a government aid package helping erase last year’s losses. Franchising is projected to open more than 26,000 locations and add nearly 800,000 new jobs in 2021. Eating and drinking establishments added 285,900 jobs in February on a seasonally-adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Restaurant Association reported. New Mover Marketing can bring new residents who are eager to start dining out again to your restaurant, but the rest is up to you. The key to building long-lasting relationships with customers is to serve high-quality, consistent cuisine that is of good value. If those standards are met when new movers are brought into your restaurant via New Mover Marketing, you’re already on your way to forming loyal, long-term relationships with the customers in your community.   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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Las Vegas Low-Cost Living attracts Out-of-State Remote Workers

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Las Vegas Out-of-State Movers

NBC Las Vegas — Call it a “Zoom Town.” Working from home is bringing some big benefits to Las Vegas. As companies stay remote, Las Vegas is making the top of the moving list. More than 20,000 people have moved to the Las Vegas valley since January. People from places like New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles can stretch their dollar further while working remotely with their same companies. “Las Vegas is such an ideal place to live. We have the mountains, we have the great weather.” Susan Nagi with Our Town America, a new mover marketing program said the Las Vegas branch has been busy sending out welcome packets to new residents. “So many people are moving out of places like Seattle and New York because they can now work remotely,” Nagi said. You can also add New Mexico to the list. In February, Spotify announced its “Work from Anywhere” program. Giving employees the opportunity to choose their work mode. Whether that be at the office or at home as well as their location. Microsoft, a company also pushing a hybrid work option, released a survey saying flexible work is here to stay. With more than 70% of workers wanting flexible work options to continue, citing a better work-life balance. If you turn to job sites like LinkedIn, remote opportunities are endless. New residents are also giving a boost to local small businesses around the valley. “The lunch rushes are picking up in the residential areas because people are working from home and they don’t travel as far out,” Nagi said. In the last few weeks, Ori’Zabas in Centennial Hills has seen new faces. “We see a lot of, not big groups, but solo diners. They used to come with limited time but now it seems like they’re working from home so they don’t have a lunch limit,” said Julit Molena, general manager. As well as an uptick in delivery orders. “We had to go through some changes, we had to adjust and we came out pretty good,” Molena said. Molena said they’ve developed a new system that can now cater to a booming population.             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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Phoenix Welcomes Telecommuting New Movers

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Phoenix Telecommuting New Movers

CBS Phoenix — About a year ago, Phoenix started seeing the effects of what would become a global pandemic. Now, locals are starting to notice something else: a lot of new people moving to town! Phoenix is being called a “Zoom Town” as people move from big cities like New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles in search of a better life. “Zoom Towns”— named after the video conferencing platform — are becoming popular as more companies across the country allow employees the freedom and flexibility of remote work. 56% of all workers have the ability to do their jobs from home (Global Workplace Analytics) Microsoft just released a survey showing flexible work is here to stay Arizona is one of the most popular destinations for new movers during the pandemic. The Grand Canyon State saw the fourth highest percentage of inbound migration at 61% (United Van Lines) According to a new survey from Neighbor.com, 72% of Americans say they are looking forward to meeting their new neighbors. The same survey found 46% would like to get more involved in local events. These remote workers are leaving the high rents and heavy traffic behind and flocking to cities like Phoenix to live, while keeping their high-paying jobs in other parts of the country. Our Town America — the nation’s premier New Mover Marketing program — is studying this trend nationwide. As moving industry experts, we always keep a close eye on the market, and since the beginning of 2021, the numbers have been striking! Since January 2021, Our Town America has mailed to over 21,000 Phoenix new movers. This influx of new residents effects everything from local businesses, to children’s school availability, to home prices and more. Susan Nagi, the owner of Our Town America of The Valley, connects local businesses with new movers by way of New Mover Marketing each and every month. Check out Nagi’s interview with CBS via Zoom (imagine that!) to hear more on this trend.       Our Town America supports small businesses across the nation 365 days per year. If you’re a local Phoenix business looking to reach new or current customers, contact Susan Nagi at ‭480-678-1366‬‬. If your business is located outside the Phoenix 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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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. […]

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New Mover Marketing Program is Key to Drive Summer Traffic

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Market to new movers this summer and gain new cusotmers

If you want to tap into the new mover market this summer, it’s important to rely on an established new mover marketing program to get results. The summer months are a busy time for movers. Nearly 60 percent of moves in the United States take place between May and August, according to MoveBuddha, an online resource for movers. Families take advantage of the school break to relocate and get settled in their new homes. Summer is traditionally a slower time at the office for many American workers, making it easy to devote time to a move, reported Allied Van Lines, one of the nation’s largest moving companies. The warm weather months also make relocating easier for many families concerned about travel delays owing to winter storms. “Summer is one of the busiest times of year for moving and it’s essential for local businesses to be prepared to tap into the new mover market this year,” said Michael Plummer, president and chief executive of Our Town America, the nation’s leading new mover marketing franchise. “As your business scrambles to comply with new social distancing guidelines to protect customers and employees, opt to add a new mover marketing program with a long history of delivering results to help get your business back on track.” As stay-at-home orders are lifted and states begin to reopen, people are moving forward with their plans to relocate this summer. The rising number of people who left their offices to work remotely this spring is also prompting many Americans to consider moving from large cities to smaller communities. A survey conducted by Harris Poll of 2,050 Americans reveals 39 percent of urban dwellers are considering moving to a less crowded area during this unprecedented time. A recent survey conducted by Our Town America reveals new residents are ready to enjoy local businesses in their new towns this summer. More than 70 percent of new movers reported that they would be willing to try out new businesses in their new community.  As COVID-19 restrictions loosen, 49 percent of people will take advantage of takeout and curbside pickup options from local restaurants and 35 percent of new residents will enjoy a meal in a restaurant dining room. Social distancing gave people who need to move more time to get organized before packing up. After donating old clothes, furniture, and unused toys, they will need to tap into small businesses in their new communities to help make their house a home. Tapping into the new mover market this summer can help your business recoup losses and rebuild a loyal customer base. An essential component of any new mover mailing list is a complete new mover marketing program. Companies who provide a new mover mailing list are a dime a dozen and, while the list itself provides an opportunity to target new residents, it puts the burden of developing a plan on you. A turnkey new mover program can help you succeed on a shoestring marketing budget. Our Town America has the tools your business needs to create a successful new mover marketing campaign. “New movers are nobody’s customers, so a strategic new mover marketing program can introduce people to your business before they’ve established loyalties to your competitors,” Plummer added. Target Your Demographic. A turnkey new mover marketing program can finetune your message and target your specific customer demographic for you. No matter who your business caters to, Our Town America has the data experience and technology to help your business succeed. Welcoming Customers with Attractive Offers. Our Town America greets new movers with a Welcome Package filled with proven offers and category exclusivity for partnered businesses. The package welcomes people to their new home and introduces them to local businesses. “One of the best avenues to get the word out about my business is Our Town. I’m the only pizza guy in there, and it’s a free product. If I give a free pizza, that costs me $2.75. If that customer ordered $20 every week, they’re spending $1,000 per year at my restaurant” said Ben Finley, multi-unit Marco’s Pizza franchise owner in Florida. Technology Helps Get the Job Done. Innovative technology allows you to track results on your smartphone. Our Town America developed a digital system, known as TruTrak®, that records redemptions and automatically triggers a secondary, follow-up mailer – leaving a lasting impression. Additionally, SponsorWeb allows partnered businesses to check their activity, view realtime new mover feedback and customer demographics.    Supportive Team Ensures Success. Having a support system is essential during this unprecedented time. Local businesses are busy complying with new operating guidelines, so partnering with the #1 Advertising Franchise in the country (https://franchisebusinessreview.com/franchise-reviews/our-town-america/) that has 49 years of experience can provide peace of mind. Our Town America can finetune your marketing/ advertising campaign while you concentrate on running your business. To start gaining new, loyal customers, visit Our Town America 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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Franchise Consultants turned Our Town America Franchise Owners

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Time to Franchise John Groppoli Peter Carlson Our Town America Franchise Consultants

John Groppoli and Peter Carlson aren’t typical Our Town America franchise owners, but talk to enough Our Town America franchise owners, and you start to get the idea that nobody is typical. Everybody has their own unique tale. That’s because Our Town America is a franchise that appeals to entrepreneurs from all different backgrounds. Still, Groppoli and Carlson’s story is different than most. As Groppoli explains it, “Peter Carlson and I are business partners, and we came out of the franchise consulting world. That was the world we lived in. We helped individuals find the right franchise to invest in, as well as guide franchisors with their sales process. That was our background, and that was how we came across Our Town America.” Groppoli and Carlson wound up helping a couple of their clients invest in Our Town America. Thus, they noticed that there wasn’t much of a presence in their state of Minnesota. This sparked an idea, and they started discussing the possibility of becoming regional developers. In October 2009, the two purchased the RD license for Minnesota with the vision of developing Our Town America regionally. Today, Groppoli and Carlson have awarded four territories in Minnesota to franchise owners — and kept one in St. Paul for themselves. We caught up with Groppoli — Carlson was out of the office, no doubt working hard for Our Town America — and we got his take on, well, just about everything. As you can imagine, Groppoli has a wealth of advice for anybody thinking of buying an Our Town America, or any franchise. What drew Groppoli and Carlson to Our Town America? “There were several attractions,” says Groppoli. “For one, ‘this is a lifestyle business’. You make your own hours. If there is a sporting event for one of your kids that you want to attend, you schedule around that and make it happen. Given the fact that this is a home-based business and you don’t have to worry about a brick and mortar location, it allows for a lot of flexibility”. Groppoli also said that they liked that this is a business, “in which you have the ability to develop a recurring revenue stream”. He explains that when you land new clients, business owners sign 12-month agreements, in which they’ll be targeting new movers. “So you aren’t chasing clients every single month and trying to re-up them, so to speak,” Groppoli says. “We have clients that have been mailing with us for eight years.” He also likes that there’s very little overhead. “You can ramp up quickly. Franchisees can make money after the first client they sign up, which is very unique. With many other direct mail businesses, you’ll need a base of clients to cover your overhead costs before you start making money.” Groppoli also says that he and Carlson simply liked the fact that it’s a community-oriented business. He imagines that it wouldn’t be fun working in direct mail if you were selling products and services to people who had no interest in them. “But with Our Town America, you’re helping new families and individuals get acclimated into their new neighborhood. People establish purchasing habits after living in their community for a while, new movers are actively looking for businesses that offer products and services in their new neighborhood, replacing the others that they left behind. When you’re new to an area, you want to know where to take your vehicle to be fixed, quality restaurants in the area or which dentist to go to. That was a big initial draw for us.” What makes a successful Our Town America franchise owner? “The people who are going to thrive with the Our Town America franchise are those who consider themselves social and extroverted. You need to be able to build business relationships. Experience in sales is also a no-brainer, “ Groppoli says. “The program has a 47-year track record of successfully introducing new movers to their local community businesses,” Groppoli adds. “So as long as you can explain to a business owner how the New Mover Program will help increase their bottom line, you should be successful”. Advice for people thinking of buying a franchise in general? “The most important thing to do, when you look at any franchise, is to take the time to call existing franchisees and make those validation calls,” Groppoli says. In other words, call people who own a franchise with the brand you’re looking at and ask them if they’re happy with their investment. “Most franchise owners will tell you the good, the bad and the in-between,” Groppoli says. “They’ll tell you their challenges, successes and struggles. I’d definitely encourage people to reach out to some Our Town America owners. They’re very approachable, and they’ll take the time to answer your questions. Remember, they were once in your shoes, looking at various investment opportunities”. Groppoli believes that anyone who takes his advice and connects with existing franchisees will likely walk away with the feeling that Our Town America is a ‘family-type franchise system’. He continues, “People are very close – always talking and supporting one another. Additionally, that same mindset and culture exist in the Our Town America corporate office as well”. “There’s very little turnover. Many employees have been with the company for over 10 years,” Groppoli says. “That tells you a lot about the culture and the type of company you’re working with”. 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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