I love it when a business gives something back. It may not turn into cash in the pocket right away, but in the long run it's golden.
My friends at Tire Tires Tires in Sioux City and Sioux Falls are serious about being good citizens.
They just recently delivered their last "Angel Car" of the year. This was a promotion with a local radio station, a charity, and their community.
The radio station got listeners to donate vehicles for struggling families. As you can imagine, most of those vehicles aren't coming off the showroom - in fact, they usually are vehicles that need some work to bring them up to safety standards. Plus, being located in the Upper Midwest, they need to be extremely reliable so they will make it through the harsh winter.
Tires Tires Tires has, for the last couple of years, done the repairs for free. Parts, labor, everything. For a several dozen vehicles. And they ate every penny.
I was there last fall when a family came in to pick one of the vehicles. They turned the key and it started up like it was new. The family definitely was in need of reliable transportation, so it was a very nice moment.
So here's what they're doing now...
They're giving out two $1000 scholarships to students who will be graduating this spring. Plus another ten $200 scholarships to "runnerups." Students have to live within 50 miles of one of their stores, be of good character and have a safe driving record.
Cynics might think they're in it for the media attention
But when you look at the bills for fixing all those cars, the cash for these scholarships, and a lot of time administering the promotion, they could easily buy ads in their markets that would get them more immediate business than these promotions. But there's a little more to it.
Doing the right thing has a way of leveling things out
Anyone who hears about it and has a friend with a kid about to graduate is going to pass the word. They'll talk about it at work and they'll chat about it on Facebook. Not a lot, but just a little.
And when one of those people needs new tires, or the check engine light comes on, hopefully they'll know who they can trust to treat them right.
Oh, and people do notice - in fact their National Trade Magazine, Tire Review, named them North America's Best Tire Dealer just a week or two after they were given "Local Best" awards in a local consumer survey. Lynn McColley does Small Business Web Site Design, Local Internet Marketing and Email Marketing for Small Businesses. Are you seeing a trend? If you've got a small business and want to grow your business on the web, call McColley Marketing Media at 480-704-4286.
My friends at Tire Tires Tires in Sioux City and Sioux Falls are serious about being good citizens.
They just recently delivered their last "Angel Car" of the year. This was a promotion with a local radio station, a charity, and their community.
The radio station got listeners to donate vehicles for struggling families. As you can imagine, most of those vehicles aren't coming off the showroom - in fact, they usually are vehicles that need some work to bring them up to safety standards. Plus, being located in the Upper Midwest, they need to be extremely reliable so they will make it through the harsh winter.
Tires Tires Tires has, for the last couple of years, done the repairs for free. Parts, labor, everything. For a several dozen vehicles. And they ate every penny.
I was there last fall when a family came in to pick one of the vehicles. They turned the key and it started up like it was new. The family definitely was in need of reliable transportation, so it was a very nice moment.
So here's what they're doing now...
They're giving out two $1000 scholarships to students who will be graduating this spring. Plus another ten $200 scholarships to "runnerups." Students have to live within 50 miles of one of their stores, be of good character and have a safe driving record.
Cynics might think they're in it for the media attention
But when you look at the bills for fixing all those cars, the cash for these scholarships, and a lot of time administering the promotion, they could easily buy ads in their markets that would get them more immediate business than these promotions. But there's a little more to it.
Doing the right thing has a way of leveling things out
Anyone who hears about it and has a friend with a kid about to graduate is going to pass the word. They'll talk about it at work and they'll chat about it on Facebook. Not a lot, but just a little.
And when one of those people needs new tires, or the check engine light comes on, hopefully they'll know who they can trust to treat them right.
Oh, and people do notice - in fact their National Trade Magazine, Tire Review, named them North America's Best Tire Dealer just a week or two after they were given "Local Best" awards in a local consumer survey. Lynn McColley does Small Business Web Site Design, Local Internet Marketing and Email Marketing for Small Businesses. Are you seeing a trend? If you've got a small business and want to grow your business on the web, call McColley Marketing Media at 480-704-4286.
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