“BUSINESS BUZZ”

Overcome

To

Survival Strategies

ECONOMIC Times

(See full story on page 2)

To

The Challenging

Volume 1:Summer 2009“Eye for Perfection”

Company e-Newsletter

“Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequences of consistently applying basic fundamentals” -Jim Rohn -

A strong economy means job security, career growth and opportunities to increase business earnings. Currently, we aren’t able to talk about a strong global economy. The increasing costs of health care, higher unemployment and daily necessities force people to think about their existing patterns. Due to the declining economy, the stores are closing, rewards are getting cut, etcetera. It is not the time to cut back on your marketing, but instead the time to regroup and refocus on those efforts with the maximum return on investment.

In these times of slow economic growth we recommend 5 tips to survive: Tip 1: Maintain Customer Service & Product Quality. Never skimp on your service or product, first try all other ways of reduc-ing expenses. When you skimp on service, it quickly ruins your reputation among current customers as well as with your potential cus-tomers. Tip 2: Don’t Abandon Marketing Efforts. Test Test Test! During these times, your market-ing dollars need to pay off, so your strategies should be much more refined to target for the highest return. You should be doing a great deal of market research and segmenting your customer base even further to find the pock-ets of profitability - they do still exist! Tip 3: Illustrate Your Long-Term Commitment. Promise your customers that your company will exist for the long-haul.

Tip 4: Intensify your Retention and Rec-lamation Efforts. Several businesses are wondering why their customers are leaving. The answer is that they don’t have an ECM (existing customer marketing) strategy or effective retention strategy. Plans for the company need to in-clude life cycle marketing, to keep your cus-tomer engaged and involved with the company. Tip 5: Offer Enhancement Products or Services. Several ways to increase the stickiness with your best customers are great ways, like up-selling, cross-selling and upgrad-ing. This can provide a new revenue stream for your business and enhance the value you provide in the minds of your customers. Bonus Tip!! Consult with outside experts like IMC to get objective and expert advice.

IMC’s New Website Launch

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As part of our re-branding effort, IMC is pleased to announce the re-launching of our new and improved website, located on the web at www.eyemc.net. IMC’s new website offers a more creative introduction to our company’s philosophies, services, and clients, and will also serve as a resource for general marketing information. This newly developed website will also feature valuable services such as relevant market information, which can also be found in these e-newsletters, as well as updates on exciting happenings, and various career op-portunities throughout the Caribbean region. IMC’s goal is to make a powerful first impres-sion on all web visitors, and hence should be engaging, professional, insightful and crea-tive. Given the technological era, the public expects businesses to have a website. With a well-designed website, a company is able to

gain international exposure through which the potential clients develop some awareness of the products and services. Additionally, the exposure of websites spans the globe, and can potentially generate international interest and attraction to markets that are generally unreachable with traditional media.

visit www.eyemc.net

Business Survival Strategies to overcome the challengeing Economic Times: 5 Tips

Tourism is the primary engine of St. Maarten’s economy. With the growing concerns about the current economic climate, we are forced to stra-tegically plan and prepare our island, our busi-nesses and our workforce for the imminent finan-cial crisis, as well as the growing competition on the international market. With an estimated 85% of all employment directly and/or indirectly re-lated to tourism, to SURVIVE, we have to revamp our tourism product; the people who live and work in various industries throughout the island. As the official local agent for St. Maarten Su-perhost, IMC is working to ensure that our local businesses and organizations have a professional, well-trained workforce, and a strong tourism product. As a result, this enhances the experi-ences for customers and visitors, and also, mo-tivates them to return. Over the long-term this helps build the sustainability of our local economy. The St. Maarten Superhost customer-serv-ice training and certification program is available to all businesses concerned with protecting their long-term investments; in their staff, as well as their customers.

IMC and St. Maarten Superhost is also in the proc-ess of forging partnerships with major businesses and organizations like the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), who understand the importance of improving our tourism product, and moreover, support the strength of the St. Maarten Superhost Training and Certification program with official endorsement. Contact IMC for a hassle and cost free presenta-tion about how St. Maarten Superhost can help you improve your business!

Just for Fun!

Test your marketing knowledge!

+ Win a PRIZE!

Answer these two questions correctly

and win a Special Gift from IMC: Email

your answers to info@eyemc.net

1. Differentiated target marketing is?

A) Where the organization aims its product/

service at the whole market

B) Where the organization concentrates its

marketing effort on one particular segment.

C) Where the organization decides to target

several segments

D) Where the organization mass markets it

product

2. Advertising is?

A) A personal paid form for communication

B) A non personal paid form of communication

C) Using coupons to obtain discounts

D) Sending publicity material to named

respondents.

3Our success is a direct result of knowing how to market a brand and having the right people representing the brand. -Greg Norman -

IMC and ST.MAARTEN SUPERHOST raise the bar for Customer-Service

Are You Trying To Grow or Market your Business?

Having Trouble Getting New Customers?

Sending Things Out Hoping Something Will Stick?

Don’t Know What Your Customers Want?

Just Making It Up As You Go Along?

Are Your Sales Going Up And Down?

No Marketing Plan?L E A R N H O W TO E X PA N D Y O U R

B U S I N E S S AT

I M C B U S I N E S S & M A R K E T I N G W O R K S H O P“Using Technology to reach the Global Economy”

LEARN HOW TO: Make yourself a brand

Use the six components of marketing

Use the 7 points of a good ad

Create ads that get response

Bonus session on how to do internet marketing

Position your business

For More Information:

Visit our Website: www.eyemc.net

Send us an E-mail: info@eyemc.net

or Give us a Call at [599]543-2150/ 2151

SAVE THE DATE!October 29-30, 2009

Early Bird Registration Fee:$60 p.p.(Normal Group Rate: $75 p.p)