Category Archives: recession

Does business suck now? Is it your fault?

Posted on September 14, 2011 by

I recently wrote about how actions have consequences, and that your present business prospects have much to do with your past actions or lack thereof.  In short: good times always end, and when they do it gets very hard for … Continue reading →

Posted in competitive advantage, customer service, recession | Leave a comment

Now is the time to hire

Posted on December 5, 2010 by

I ran into a friend today who had been a union carpenter for as long as I’ve known him.  Of course work has been scarce the last two years, and it finally got to the point that he took a … Continue reading →

Posted in competitive advantage, Down economy, recession | Leave a comment

Is it value-added or just a cost-add?

Posted on May 3, 2010 by

In every recession the customer gets motivated to see where the value is really being added, and where it isn’t. This happens due to an effort to stretch smaller budgets (at home and at work). We try lower cost solutions to see … Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, recession | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

It’s an attitude

Posted on October 26, 2009 by

As I mentioned in a recent post, I went to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival a week ago. While the La Bamba experience sucked, I did see a great sign in a jewelery store that I wanted to share … Continue reading →

Posted in promotion, recession, retail | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

I’m confused

Posted on October 21, 2009 by

Last Saturday we went to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival. To avoid sitting in 2 hours of traffic we leave the house at 7:00am drive over and eat breakfast in Half Moon Bay prior to the festival opening. We went … Continue reading →

Posted in customer service, recession | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Value is always the name of the game

Posted on July 28, 2009 by

The San Jose Mercury News ran an article today on opening a business during a recession. The writer did a good job of profiling various businesses, especially retail businesses, that open during a recession and the thinking behind how and why … Continue reading →

Posted in Pricing, recession, retail | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

11 Secrets to Marketing in a Down Economy (Part 9)

Posted on July 15, 2009 by

A year ago we published a paper on marketing in a down economy. We identified 11 key tactics. I have been sharing them in this blog over the past several weeks, but if you want them all at once you can download the paper … Continue reading →

Posted in Down economy, recession | Tagged | Leave a comment

What’s with high end brands?

Posted on February 9, 2009 by

Unlike prior recessions, this one is really hitting the high end hard. Usually it’s the middle market products that get creamed as people move to the low end and the affluent stay with the high end, but this time something(s) … Continue reading →

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Was I wrong, or just premature

Posted on January 28, 2009 by

I have been surprised that since January 21, the press has not put a more positive spin on the economy. (I did predict that on this blog and even noted that it had appeared to start even before the inauguration.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Down economy, recession, retail | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s about value not price, even in a downturn

Posted on January 27, 2009 by

I am reminded again that in any market customers look for value and that does not necessarily mean low price. (For more on my discussion of the miuse of the term “value priced” you can download a free white paper.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Down economy, Pricing, recession, retail | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment