A candidate running for Governor of the state of Oregon asked me what could be done to make the state more small business friendly? And what could be the catalyst for economic recovery in our great state? My answer is “grow the dot.com industry, starting right here in Portland…”
1. We are a scalable start up. Portland needs a business like ours to flourish because we are planning multiple stages (phases) of growth in mobile and socialized shopping, non-profit and urban projects, and develop a completely virtual experience. As an Internet retailer (and global online marketspace), our ability to capture 1% of the known eCommerce market makes us a Billion dollar investment opportunity and a healthy Oregon taxpayer.
2. We are a dot.com company (for lack of more sophisticated explanation) in a sea of empty manufacturing buildings. Portland needs a flagship dot.com company that is workforce relevant and could employ 50+ creative people (educated + employed in an income tax state) and create work for a number of local marketing agencies; the Columbia River is already powering the largest dot.coms not headquartered in OR (why not ours); introduce a new industry in Portland besides China facilitated manufacturing, microchips and lost sustainability companies; and show a small business friendly commitment by complimenting our willingness to give back to our vendor community.
3. We are in a epicenter of the farmers market + handmade products + neighborhood services. With an unemployment rate of closer to 18 – 20% (lost benefits, self employed without benefits), Portlanders have embraced entrepreneurship. People can start a service business with online marketing tomorrow! Handmade artisans represent the state’s new manufacturing base. We can help “inventors | artists | designers | carpenters…” become the next big idea, and subsequently growing Oregon small businesses into recognizable brands!
Our “Think Global + Shop Local” vision is social shopping for small business products anywhere in the world, and sharing the best local services in your neighborhood. And as CEO and co-founder of Public Marketspace, I welcome your comments and your help sharing this message.
That is certainly not a call to action, rather something to consider when setting the low bar of constructive criticism.
The truth is business hecklers come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes from the one you least suspect. You will meet them at a conference presentation, or at the next network gathering. Look past the person and the sting of the NO, and there is value in any stalled elevator pitch.
We get so caught up in the good we think we’re bringing the world, that sometimes we need that person that ‘just doesn’t get it’ to help us get our mojo back—the relevant differentiator that can determine the fate of your business.
If you’ve ever read any Guy Kawasaki, he has a point about “Make Meaning.” It’s not how cool you think you are… do people believe in your product, care about your mission, and trust in your sincerity?
In the moment you may want to strangler the nay-sayer, but an unwavering commitment to make meaning is why you are in business. Figure that out and there is nobody that can talk you off the value you deliver!
Casual Thought Friday… in a social media world, it is not enough just to be something—your web presence should be something to do.
If Facebook and Twitter have taught me anything, its that people are looking for something to do online. People want to shop, share and socialize. And they need a reason to come back every week… or every day.
Amazon is great if you are researching products offline and then buying them online, but who goes to Amazon or eBay just because they are bored? These sites lack in ‘the draw’ what was so cool about shopping malls in the 80s—sometimes browsing, just being seen and interacting with others is the reason for being there.
The next big thing will be an online public market that is a relevant shopping destination and a compelling user experience.
Be on the lookout for PublicMarketspace.com They have some ideas on how to create something to do.
Over the past few months I’ve learned a few things while starting a global online business.
One insight is that the story of the “Three Little Pigs” rings true when crafting a business plan. And emerging entrepreneurs should consider this when pitching their idea to investors.
A good start up needs a prototype of straw, and a plan built of sticks. Something flexible, but sturdy enough to withstand the first wolves at the door. However, in the launch phase the business better have a brick foundation to generate revenue… or else market irrelevance will blow you down.
Keep dreaming about creating a business, and don’t stop building your vision into something worthwhile. But never underestimate how your business idea needs to stand up to the time tested measure of durability against adversity.
And don’t worry… if you’re an entrepreneur at heart, you already have a four letter word going for you. NEXT
Is anyone else tired of talking about this Marketing Land of Oz? Social Media is communication phenomenon, but it’s not the yellow brick road to success and clicking three times will not get you home.
Why? Because if you need a social media strategy to be authentic, maybe you have a brand disorder?
The lofty new authors of “Social Media or Die” are not talking to the real people that are on these channels. If they stopped to have this conversation, they would discover a growing discontent for advertising on Facebook. The low entry cost and viral potential makes it attractive to marketers, but consider what your profile would look like if every brand in the world was marketing on social media… a big, noisy NASCAR page.
How marketing showed up and ruined the social media party…
Of course there are case studies and success stories out there, but the percentage of replicable success is low. The bell curve (something we all learned in grade school) remains true, and the early adopters that failed quickly and refined their strategy are winning. Unfortunately, a big wave of newbies is coming. This will over-saturate the medium and leave a mess in the wake.
What if the best social media channel for marketing is yet to come?
I’m not discouraging social media marketing, but a simpler theory is you don’t need a strategy to be on social media—just be real, build a healthy presence, and have a relevant and compelling word of mouth message. Your fans will do the rest.
If you’re out there already, then keep playing. Trying to catch up on strategy is about as effective as worrying about the next thing. What will you do then?
Simon Cowell is a saint. He is polarizing, opinionated, a great judge of talent, and arguably the most patient man in the world.
Could you sit through thousands of dreadful auditions and months of follow up presentations to pick the diamond in the rough, only to have an electoral board make the final decision? How about doing that year over year?
The percentage of great companies to work with out there is less than the number you will pitch, and you have to work hard at being “Why you, why now?” relevant to a constantly changing audience.
In business we can be on either side of the audition table given the situation, and understanding that should help you draft a sustainable B2B sales strategy… skip the dud clients, make it a point to audition for the companies you really want to work with, and be prepared to shine when given the opportunity.
It’s been an incredibly interesting year, if the word interesting is a substitute for dreadful. The universal relevance of the new century recession was that it somehow touched us all—lost jobs, mortgages and icons (Michael Jackson). And when the going get’s tough, the tough rely on their strengths and prioritize their decisions.
This holiday season I think we all remembered what is really important, and that is a reason to celebrate.
Books I’ll be reading this year:
“Living the Dream… the secret to being jolly is working one day a year” an autobiography by S. Claus.
“You could even say it Glows… learn how to stand out in a crowd” a self help book by Rudolph R. Nose.
“Catch Me if You Can… tips from a global environmentalist and talking snowman” by Frosty.
The common theme in these selections is do what you’re good at and aspire to do what you love. An ongoing professional development plan to create a brighter future.
If 2009 was the year of the RESET BUTTON, then let’s wrap it up, stick it under the tree and dream of possibilities coming this new year. It’s not world peace, but it’s a start.
Though it’s been said many times, many ways… Merry Christmas.
Give credit when credit is due. Some brick-n-mortar retailers will be relevant and smiling this December.
The brand recognition goes to Bass Pro Shop. When it would be easy to be slashing prices and touting sales, the Bass Pro ads suggest something more meaningful; that Christmas (and Christmas shopping) is an experience worth remembering.
They show vintage video that warms and reminds us of a time before the marketing + media blitz. And kids… come in and create a handmade ornament for Mom, the perfect gift. See a snowy village electric train and get a free photo with Santa.
What really makes it special? Instead of competing on price or trying to convince us that the perfect gift is waiting to be discovered in the aisles, the welcome surprise was that Bass Pro didn’t mention a single product.
Sales by the numbers will go to Craft, Consignment and Discount Stores. These are the stores that live somewhere between Walmart, Michaels, Nordstrom Rack and the Dollar Store. What they lack in sex appeal they make up for on unbeatable margins, and location is part of a marketing strategy.
HGTV has taught me that the companies that spend the least on holiday advertising also hold some thoughtful gems and last minute gifts that budget strapped shoppers will looking for with mid-month paychecks.
Casual Thought Friday… “Beware of any endeavor that requires new clothes.” H.D. Thoreau
As I listened to the founder of Patagonia speak about the worthless organizational value of the wordsustainability and his ongoing work to influence Walmart, the 11th largest economy in the world, it became apparent that he never wanted to be a businessman. His passion for creating a better product and asking the right questions just made him that way.
Business is relevant to what you are trying to accomplish, and it can be anything you want to inspire. It’s one thing to expect to grow 15% every year – which will eventually outgrow the market and get bailed out by the government – and another to build great products that are part of something bigger.
If you wait to respond to your customers, then you’ve already missed the opportunity. But take it from Yvon Chouinard, check your global growth expectations and build your business around making things better. Leaving more behind with less impact ensures that future generations will have their health and the resources to continue your legacy, and that’s what it’s all about.
Casual Thought Friday… you can’t have everything, so why not find the one thing?
This holiday season, the winning retail strategy will be helping people gift their loved ones with something they really want.
Last year it was easy to predict that companies like Ebay and Overstock.com were going to be runaway favorites. This year people will be looking for a deal, but even more savvy about how to find that special something vs. settling for anything.
The relevance of social media in our lives will be a game changer in the lingering economic aftershock this Christmas. If you are paying attention to the signals like Facebook’s “How well do you know Me?” and what I’m assuming will come to pass as the Xmas List app for the iPhone, then you know exactly what to get that special someone.
It’s not the gift, it’s the thought that counts. But why can’t you have both plus the shopping experience?
As I’m searching online or wandering out into the cold this December, don’t pitch me what’s on sale—help me find the one thing I’m looking for… getting it down the chimney is negotiable.
