As I was searching for information relative to exactly who the board members of FUTURE BUILDERS in Fargo are, I came across something I think is pretty interesting for small business owners who would like to not only build their business with new customers, but retain the customers they already have.
It’s a direct marketing firm called LOYALTY BUILDERS, and I signed up for their free “white paper” of information on how to do exactly what they claim to do: advise on building LOYALTY from your customers, so they won’t jump ship when some new hotsy-totsy competitor comes along dangling gimmicks to entice away from you the customers you have worked diligently to build a rapport with.
Loyalty Builders website is: http://www.loyaltybuilders.com/user-authentication. I’ve read the material, and while a lot of it is basic “Common Sense in Customer Relations 101,” it never hurts to refresh the brain on things we know we know, but just forgot we knew. Know what I mean?
There are other issues many younger entrepreneur types may not have any clue about, such as “Aging your one-time buyers,” or how to “size” the problem at your company. These are tips on how to solve the issue of the “one-time buyers” and turn them into “always” or at least “consistent” buyers. Another issue I found very helpful was about “One-to-One Marketing.” This explains how communication with a customer can be a crucial deal breaker for many, and that it’s important to overcome such an obstacle for the future growth of your company. There are several other great tips on marketing a company as well. It may be worth a ‘look-see’ just to read the advice given.
NO THANKS! BLUE STEM SHOULD REMAIN FARGO’S HEADACHE—NOT MOORHEAD’S!
John Strand is the lonely voter on the Fargo School Board who voted against the Fargo School District handling its problem and obligations regarding Trollwood and BlueStem last week, not because he is anti-arts or because the facility sits in a another state, but because he doesn’t want the taxpayers in Fargo saddled with a huge bill for what he believes to be a “community” facility for the arts. And while John Strand’s idealism may be in the right place, the reality for many in Moorhead is—Trollwood originated in Fargo. This is FARGO’S “baby” and it should remain as such.
For reasons still unclear to much of the public, with the help of a local state legislator, the state of Minnesota granted to Trollwood five million dollars to build a new facility in Moorhead. Moorhead tax- payers had no say in any of the planning, location, cost of infrastructure, bonding to pay for said infrastructure, the name —old or new, and our students still pay full tuition to attend. Not only that, but Moorhead lost the once infamous “town and brown” golf course where all of Moorhead’s aspiring Tiger Woods golfers could go and play a nine-hole game without feeling the pressure of having to rush or do well or pay a fortune. This was a destination many young pre-teens rode their bikes to for an afternoon during the summer months. Not every child is interested in the arts or drama or learning how to build movie sets.
Moorhead could eventually find itself the owner of BlueStem by default, but so far, not very many taxpayers in Moorhead want it, and even fewer want to pay for it with their tax money. And something else many people (me included!) don’t want is to pay for one more “round-about” turn on 50th Avenue. The only time this will be beneficial to anyone is during a massively attended concert. Given that there is only one way in and one way out of the Trollwood/Bluestem facility –and a two-lane at that – yes, a traffic light alone may have a tendency to really slow down traffic coming and going out of Trollwood onto highway 75.
My feeling about that is “visitors, be- ware.”
Nope. Fargo, you keep paying for your cultural arts facility. Moorhead already has enough fiscal problems without taking on another one. Especially since the taxpayers of Moorhead had no say in any of the decision-making. And by the way…what happened to all those “FARGO FUTURE BUILDERS” who were so giving in the beginning to raise funds for Trollwood? WHERE are you now? Better yet, maybe it’s time to ante-up once more. It’s that, or find a private buyer for both entities who understands how to make a buck on a new enterprise and pay taxes all at the same time!
NEWS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Would you like some help in deciphering your taxes this year? Just call: 1-800-829-1040, or go online to the following website for the IRS: www.irs.gov.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ABSOLUTE MARKETING GROUP of Moorhead for snatching up not one or two, but TEN gold and EIGHT silver awards during this year’s American Advertising Federation of North Dakota ADDY Awards. Absolute’s 18 total awards spanned categories of print, outdoor advertising, promotional videos, illustration and interactive media (websites). For more information about Absolute Marketing, contact: Brian Meckler 218.284.1111 or brian@absolutemg.com.