Small Business is Big: How to Survive as the Assault Continues.

Posted by jake on 16th February, 2010 ·

small business survival in tucson is threatened by city hall

City Hall Tucson, Arizona

Local business is in big trouble here in Tucson. Living here for almost 11 years now I have been amazed at the anti-business attitude of the city council and the ridiculous waste of funds when the good times rolled. Now that lean times are upon us it breaks my heart to see what is happening. And because I deal with clients all over the world I know it is not a isolated situation. My wife loves to drive the government motors, opps, GM Avalanche we bought for a song last year and I get to sit and write.

But sitting in the passengers seat and staring out the window as we drive down Grant, Speedway, Broadway, 22nd Street and Golf Links is pretty depressing. I shut my eyes at the corner of Craycroft and Broadway. Once a thriving hub of the East Side it’s now almost completely vacant. What happened? Honestly, I could spend days explaining that as I lived through it in Ghana, W.Africa but let’s do that over a cup of coffee.

So, Local Business person what are you going to do? I have been the venture capitalist behind the scenes of multiple businesses here and they are all doing well. Why? Because our business plan from the beginning included the world not just Tucson. And we didn’t ANY debt. Zero. Many businesses don’t have that luxury and since the big banks only want to lend money to the government you are screwed. Oh and while I’m on it. Why do public workers who we pay for make 71K bucks a year on the average and the private workers make only 41K? But I digress.

Having cut my teeth as a phone jock starting out in Dallas, Texas in smoke filled boiler rooms selling home improvement, credit cards, advertising, and I don’t even remember what else I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when I arrived here and found it to be a bi-lingual, cheap labor mecca for telesales businesses. Bringing money into Tucson from places like NYC and LA was always exciting but baby the thrill is gone.

I have dedicated my efforts to helping the “mom and pops” simply survive. I think I just ran out of adrenaline. So that’s enough about me. What about you small business person. When I open the yellow pages that you are spending thousands a year on I have to ask are you getting a good bang for the buck. I don’t think so. In fact I know you are not cause I talk to Small Business Person everyday and as my painter friend who has been in business for 22 years said “Nothing’s working”.

Well, that’s because you are going up against the giants on their terms and that won’t work. And you are fighting with sticks and stones that went out about 12 years ago. Junk mail got that name for a reason. They invented the DVR. Newspapers have their hand out to the government. And have you ever been driving and heard an interesting ad a hundred times and sat there and tried to write it down at the red light. And somehow you never really get around to it? By the way if you need a “round 2 it” I have a white cue ball I can send you that says “to it” so you can have your very own “round 2 it”. Marketing, advertising, promotions, specials have all radically changed in how they are being delivered. At least the ones that are getting results. And especially if your budget is tight.

You have to understand that the business environment we are in is a David and Goliath moment. Number one. Is there not a cause. Yes, Sir! Small businesses are under attack and I don’t even have to say another word about that do I? So David, how are you going to slay them. One way and one way only by harnessing the power of your customer base. Are you capturing the emails of your customers? What is the special you sent them on your newsletter this week? You know you are the best plumber, a/c man, interior designer designer, roofer, or pool guy but who else does. And what does make you so special? You have to answer that question and quick or you might as well go to Taco Bell. Oh, they’re not hiring. I actually asked out of curiosity. Man, that is bad. No offense Taco Bell I’ve been eating there once a week for 30 plus years. Anyhow, how in the heck is anybody going to know that with any advertising efforts you are doing. THEY AREN’T. But with the new style of using the internet and the new mentality that you should consider I promise you will survive. Provided you have are a person of integrity and are providing a needed service.

Look, people are going to need an adjustment, brake pads replaced, a/c fixed, tires put on, divorced, teeth replaced, and kitty taken care of : it’s just a question of whose going to do it. Everyday, there are new people moving here especially from California and guess what the Michigan contingency has started back again. They are escaping even worse situations and they are going to need all of the above.

Everyday, people are quitely making up their mind to change dentists, move to a new area of town and buy a suit from a different tailor. Is it going to be you or your competitor? In times like these it will be truly be a situation where the strong survive and the weak die. And by utilizing the new almost free technologies available and understanding the new mentality. You stand a much better chance of survival than death. Look, just take a few minutes and examine your last ten purchases outside groceries and gas and I think you’ll get it. Word of mouth, price or small business or a combination of all those? Feedback and link back please.