Each year, Guidant Financial surveys over 1,000 small business owners and publish their findings in The Small Business Trends Report.
Topping the list? Recruiting/Retention and Inflation/Price Increases.
The younger generations entering the job market have different priorities and DEFINITELY have different expectations. They want more flexibility, work-life balance, and a sense of purpose in their work. Many want to work from home, which is a real challenge in the manufacturing environment.
We have a local stables as a client. We manage their website, do their social media and email marketing, and supply them with signs and other printing. They asked us to help boost sales for their summer camps and we turned to direct mail for the answer.
First we pulled a list within a 5-mile radius of the stables. We selected families with a presence of children aged 5-15yrs, and an annual household income of $175K +. That netted 2,585 addresses.
We created a 6X11 postcard highlighting the camps. Camps are sold for $499 per child. Cost to purchase the list, create, print, and fulfill the mailing, with postage totaled $1,200.00. Our client received 19 summer camp registrations from the mailer, that totaled $9,481.00 in sales. That represents a 790% Return. No matter how you look at it, Direct Mail Works.
From all of us at Business Extension Bureau, have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!
The USPS has requested another rate hike to take effect on July 9th. Click below to see a rate comparison chart of current first-class rates compared to the proposed rates.
And the industry takes another hit from the USPS with the second rate hike of 2023. See below for a chart showing current postal rates compared to the proposed July 9th rates for marketing mail.
The USPS has filed for another rate hike set to take place on July 9, 2023. Click below to see a rate comparison chart for current nonprofit rates compared to the proposed July rates.
BEB NON PROFIT COMPARISON CHART JULY 2022 VS JAN 2023
Non profits need to incorporate this significant rate hike in their budgets for the balance of 2023 and anticipate another 4-6% rate hike at the start of 2024.
From all of us at BEB-Business Extension Bureau, have a safe and happy Easter weekend.
We attended the annual Mailing and Fulfillment Services Association conference in Grapevine. Our Joy Zehrbach took the helm as the 2023/2024 President and BEB will be hosting the conference in Houston next Spring.
From all of us at Business Extension Bureau, have a safe and happy President’s Day holiday.