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Hometown Values

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Hometown Values
Industry: Media
Member Since: May 2003

“BizX is a win-win for all parties.”

In this value-driven economic climate, small businesses are looking for ways to maximize their limited advertising budgets and still get the same ROI they always have. One of the tactics that has proven to be effective is the use of coupons and promotional offers to entice consumers to try their products or services.

Hometown Values coupon magazine (HTV) was launched in February 2004 to help businesses reach new customers and increase sales. With publications mailed to 15,000 to 30,000 homes quarterly in 40 different Puget Sound mailing zones, HTV gives merchants the ability to target their primary market. They can increase sales without wasting time and money on consumers outside their main operating area.

According to the US Chamber of Commerce, 95 percent of retail customers come from a five-mile radius surrounding a business. HTV allows merchants to select specific zip codes or mailing zones and deliver their sales message for pennies per home. “Postage stamps cost 44 cents if you buy it yourself, but with HTV we will professionall

y design, print and mail your ad for two to five cents per address,” said

Jim Lee, Founder of HTV. “It’s the answer for a local merchant’s marketing need.”

In addition to direct mailing coupon magazines to homes, HTV uses rack distribution at strategic locations in each market to supplement exposure for their advertisers. According to Lee, “The main reason the magazines are so popular with advertisers is simple….they get read.” Using bright colors and kids on the cover to catch people’s attention, and adding a local events calendar in each issue, HTV breaks the mold of other direct mail products to increase readership. Lee adds, “We fill our books with relevant offers from local businesses, no

national junk mail, so consumers can support their local economy and save money doing it.” As a result, HTV publications have a long shelf life that extends the merchant’s sales message.

HTV also has a high traffic website, www.myhometownvalues.com, where consumers can print the same coupons found in each magazine for free. “We realize the trend is to have a web-based presence, so our user-friendly site gives merchants more exposure and consumers more ways to save,” states Lee.

Hometown Values and BizXchange:

Within the last six years HTV has been able to rapidly expand from three mailing zones in Washington to nearly 55 editions in 10 states. One of the reasons this was possible is because BizX was able to help them fill any unsold ad space and supplement their revenue to cover the cost of expanding and growing the business.

BizX members enjoy advertising with HTV because it gives them a way to convert their trade currency into new cash customers. And with 13 HTV Area Publishers in the Puget Sound region who provide local support and service to BizX members, it’s an easy thing to do. “We find that businesses like using their BizX dollars to advertise and promote their business,” said Lee. “BizX is really a win-win for all parties.”

HTV Area Publishers are happy to accept BizX and have been able to use it to cover a variety of business and personal expenses including, printing services, corporate gifts, maid service, event tickets, vacation travel and dining out. These expenses are all offset with new business that is driven to them by BizXchange Account Executives.