Jay gets in the paper.

[Steve]

Jay got a nice article write up about his business. Good for him. I am going to try to find out how he got this article written and what type of response he received from it.

Business name: J's Custom Projects. (http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/12022006news81306.cfm) - Owner: Jerry, Loraine and Jay Hofer.

Address: 3507 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver.

What the business does: Custom landscape services including installation of grass, plants, brick pavers, patios, and natural rock and block retaining walls, irrigation and design, plus residential and commercial landscape maintenance.

Greatest challenge: Dealing with increasing costs of doing business while maintaining a competitive price for customers. Licensing and insurance costs, as well as increases in the need for specialty equipment are part of the equation.

What's ahead: This year, the business will sell noble fir, Douglas fir and grand fir Christmas trees. People can pick out their own or give specifics over the telephone. Living Christmas trees will also be offered. J's Custom Projects also provides tree delivery service, starting at $10. Tree prices start at $20.

In the next one to two years, the Hofers plan to build display gardens for marketing purposes.

[Steve]

Quote[/b] ]Greatest challenge: Dealing with increasing costs of doing business while maintaining a competitive price for customers. Licensing and insurance costs, as well as increases in the need for specialty equipment are part of the equation.

This is very insightful. To give yourself a competitive advantage you have to find a niche and that may involve purchasing specialty equipment to do specialty jobs.

These are things to think about. What are you doing to give your business a competitive advantage?

[Steve]

I talked to Loraine at the company and she said they had an immediate response to the article that featured them.

She said one of their customers had contacted the newspaper about their company and then the newspaper contacted them.

It helped pick up the sales of their Christmas trees and also it helped line them up some landscaping jobs for next year.

Pretty neat!

It's amazing what some publicity can do.