One of the most important elements of growing a small, locally-owned business is to make sure you capture new customer growth in your own zip code and surrounding areas. Having an established presence oftentimes means competing with national chains that have millions of advertising dollars supporting their famous brands.
An interesting statistic from the United States Postal Service tells us that over 43 million new address changes are processed in a year! In other words, new customers are moving in within your business address area every day. These new residents will have a need for many different types of services and products but may not even know that your business exists. Even worse, they may not know how to reach you.
This is where Julie and Matthew McCord, franchise owners of Welcomemat Services, should be added to your Rolodex as soon as possible. Why so?
Research shows that families and individuals moving into your area are a group of potential customers like no other you have approached before. These customers are actively seeking to discover new neighborhood stores, specialty shops, ice cream and yogurt shops, family restaurants, car repair shops, grocery stores, pet care, cleaners, dentists, doctors, hospitals, and other local resources that they will use to fill their daily needs. And, these new residents will spend 5 times more in their first year of occupancy than the average consumer. If you render the service and they have a good experience with your business, statistics show they will become your most loyal customers. In today’s world, shopping within your own zip code is much preferred.
SO WHAT DOES WELCOMEMAT OFFER?
Welcomemat Services is a marketing strategies and technology company providing monthly direct-mail packages to individuals and families who have recently changed their addresses. Their Welcome to the Neighborhood program is designed to target new residents by presenting professional information on your particular business and location, with a come-see-for-yourself reward of a lovely gift certificate.
“Moving is never easy,” says Julie who worked as a successful real estate agent after she and her architect husband, Matthew, moved to Fishers. “I know what it’s like to feel like a fish out of water. You want to belong, be involved, and to get settled in your new neighborhood. Along with this, you need to quickly find those important businesses and services that your family needs. It can be a daunting discovery experience,” she states.
Welcomemat Services was launched with one goal: To help small businesses think like big businesses. “Our service directly fills the discovery mode for individuals and families when they find themselves in a new area,” said Matthew.
“Welcomemat provides one of the nation’s most technologically-advanced and sophisticated neighborhood welcome packages, which is mailed directly to the new homeowner. It is a nationally recognized and respected neighborhood program that immediately exposes your business to a prospective new customer,” adds Julie.
You can tailor this service to one zip code or several, depending on the desired reach of your business. Different packages contain gift certificates that are limited to one per business per category. This policy allows value and exclusivity for your business, as you are not lumped in with other competitors who also are looking for new customers. To new residents, this quickly identifies a local merchant’s existence (address, product, service, website/Facebook/Twitter) and helps them to quickly become acclimated in their new surroundings. When the gift certificate is presented for redemption, a data program is delivered to the business owner and this action initiates a follow-up “Thank you for your Business” postcard, with another promotional discount offer. “We call it a 3-step program that works … and our research is available to show how successful this program is,” adds Julie.
Matthew and Julie decided to become franchise owners when they discovered Welcomemat Services and the opportunity to own their own business and to grow the business at their own pace. It opened the door for them to become a family business unit that provides a superior business product with the freedom to work together, as well as the flexibility to be really present in their kids’ daily lives.
If you are a small business owner and want to learn more about this service or find out if your exclusive business category is still available, we suggest you visit www.welcomematservices.com or give Julie a call at: 317.418.2865 or email her at: jmccord@welcomematservices.com.
And from their point of view, the Welcome Mat is always out!
Welcomemat Services
Matthew and Julie McCord, Franchise Owners
jmccord@welcomematservices.com
317.418.2865
www.welcomematservices.com
