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Yes, you can grow your business in a re…
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Friday, July 17, 2009
Yes, you can grow your business in a
recession
Jacksonville Business Journal
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There’s an old saying that you learn more from your
failures than your successes. This week, consider what
you can learn from other people’s successes, in the
hope of avoiding failure.
This week’s edition features our 18th annual Business
Journal 50, a tribute to the 50 local companies that
have grown revenue the most in the past three years.
We know this is a tough year, and 2008 was no picnic.
The companies that can grow revenue in this recession
are worth some study. Here are some takeaways from
the 2009 winners:
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Health Designs Inc.
Provide exceptional customer service: This is the most
common advice, and arguably the most important. Provide
y our customers with extra v alue, and try to develop long-term customer relations based on trust.
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“We try to come up with the best solution for the customer, and that is not necessarily the
best revenue producer for iVenture,” said Ben Keene, controller of iVenture Solutions,
Inc. a computer services company.
“When the customer has a question, all of our employees are capable of giving them an
answer,” said Teresa Myers, the CEO of MPS Rental LLC. “That is a customer service
that is really helping us.”
Hire good people, treat them well: “We look for people who don’t just have a particular skill
set, but really have the right attitude around teamwork, leadership and a strong focus on
service,” said Ann Sabbag, founder of Health Designs Inc.
And good managers keep their employees focused on the right goals.
“If you focus on doing a great job, chances are you’ll be making money,” said David Miller,
CEO of Brightway Insurance. “Our entire team is dedicated to that. The focus is on
quality and adding value to the customer experience.”
Avoid excessive debt: “Anybody who operated on credit and really strung themselves out
leading up to this downturn are the ones who are really struggling, won’t make it or have already
closed their doors,” said Brian Putzke, CEO and founder of Momentum Transportation USA.
…bizjournals.com/…/editorial1.html?sur…
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7/3/2010
Yes, you can grow your business in a re…
n Innov ate in changing times: “Instead of a consumer saying, ‘I’m going to spend $100 or $75
or $50,’ we have to understand that now they’re going to spend $20,” said George Schuetz,
president of Natural Life Collections Inc. “We’ve tried to focus on that sweet spot, and it was
successful.”
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And finally, keep a positive attitude. As the Business Journal 50 show, there are
opportunities waiting to be found, even in a tough recession like this one. Find them and
grow.
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