Bates: In tough times, creative businesses stand out
Published: Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 5:30 a.m. CDT
I really enjoy sharing about the creativity of chamber members. Creativity that takes advantage of opportunities can be the difference between success and failure.
One such innovative entrepreneur is Glen Gilmer, owner of True Blue Coupons and Glen’s Lawn Service. Gilmer established Glen’s Lawn Service as a successful lawn care company during the 1990s. Diligent and reasonably priced with references to boot, Gilmer was and is well thought of by those who use him. Yet when 2008 hit, Gilmer found his business, Glen’s Lawn Service, needed new customers to replenish some lost through the recession. That was when Gilmer followed the old adage “adversity is beset with opportunities” and True Blue Coupons was born.
Gilmer creatively spearheaded True Blue Coupons, an affordable coupon flyer, as a way to advertise Glen’s Lawn Service to the community with other organizations sharing the cost. He distinguished his flyer by its unusual blue color and 11-inch by 15-inch size that cradles all other mailers. Kudos to Gilmer for developing a cost-effective way to get the good news to the community about Glen’s Lawn Service and other companies using True Blue Coupons.
Couponing Saves You Time
One of our favorite ways, here at True Blue Coupons, to evaluate whether a money-saving idea or technique is worth your time is to evaluate it in terms of an hourly wage. For instance, if it saves your family $30-$50 and requires an hour’s worth of work, it is totally worth YOUR time. Coupons are worth your time because when you put in an hour’s worth of time, you are usually saving $40-$75 for doing so. That sounds like a pretty good hourly wage to us!
If you're not among the 94 percent of Americans who use coupons when they shop at the supermarket, drug store, or department store, you're throwing money away. Americans still are using coupons, and in GREATER quantities. In fact, there has been a huge recent spike in usage, especially with sites like this one, allowing for almost instantenous results and savings and far easier than clipping the old-fashioned way.
In 2010, U.S. consumers spent an average of just 10 minutes per week clipping and organizing coupons, but reaped a whopping $3.7 million for their efforts, or approximately $416 per family per year. By doubling the time invested weekly to just 20 minutes, the average shopper could save as much as $1,000. Not too bad, eh?
A warm hello to you from True Blue Coupons,
At True Blue Coupons we pride ourselves on customer satisfaction and creating a dialogue with our customers. In regard to this we would like to extend a friendly invitation to you to provide us with some feedback. We welcome your valued opinions and suggestions.
Your testimonials are much appreciated and will be posted (with your permission) on our website accompanied by your company’s name.
- How has True Blue helped you?
- How often do customers bring the coupons found on our mailer into your business?
- Who is your target audience? How do you think True Blue can better serve you to reach this target audience?
- Are you interested in boosting your online presence?
- Would it benefit your company for True Blue’s design team to design your ad for you?
- What is more important to your business marketing: Online presence or every door direct mailings?
Suggestion Box:
A warm hello to you from True Blue Coupons,
At True Blue Coupons we pride ourselves on customer satisfaction and creating a dialogue with our customers. In regard to this we would like to extend a friendly invitation to you to provide us with some feedback. We welcome your valued opinions and suggestions.
Your testimonials are much appreciated and will be posted (with your permission) on our website accompanied by your company’s name.
- How has True Blue helped you?
- How would you rate our cost 1-10 (10 being great value, 1 being poor value)?
- Which new towns would you like to see us expand to?
- Are you interested in: billboards, business cards, brochures, logos, web design, social media help, car wraps, etc.?
- How often would you like to see your ad delivered to new homes?
- How often do customers bring the coupons found on our mailer into your business?
- Who is your target audience? How do you think True Blue can better serve you to reach this target audience?
- Are you interested in boosting your online presence?
- Would it benefit your company for True Blue’s design team to design your ad for you?
- What is more important to your business marketing: Online presence or every door direct mailings?
Suggestion Box: