I have already decided it is time for me to reach out to my automobile dealership clients and offer to proactively reduce my recurring fees, although it is clear I am helping them drive business over what their competition not using my software have. The idea is to ask my clients to get me into another store owned by a "friendly dealer" (not directly competitive to my clients), and they both get my services for a "billing rebate" of maybe $150 (my average store pays $400/month).
A $150 per month reduction is not going to make or break a store. But their other computer vendors are actually increasing their fees, and of course their insurance premiums, taxes, interest for business lines of credit, utilities, etc., are all going up just as their revenue streams are getting clipped at every turn in a rapid downward spiral. I figure if I put myself out there in a helpful manner, and get more clients (albeit at a reduced rate), my own revenue stream overall is in a better position of being preserved from too many clients spinning out, they get some valuable solutions for an even price, and I get to do a little more work to help prevent me from being so bored <g>... Actually, I am stretched thin now in terms of time, but I can always once again start putting in 10 hours per day instead of 7 - 8. This is not just me being altruistic. If any of my clients (new or old) do slip out, I could have a broader base to draw revenue from. I have only one dealer in trouble so far, an RV store. So far my other dealers are doing far better than their peers, and some are actually doing quite well even now. It is these clients that credit my marketing software for their ability to continue doing as well as they have, even if business is off a bit overall. On the other hand, my clients all know I take my responsibilities when working with them very seriously. I think they would see a "help me help you" billing rebate as me trying to help where I can in this tough period. Time will tell if this works out or not. I hope so. Then again, this whole business model in the US could truly get fully destabilized and nothing will save us other than a socioeconomic reboot after the vast majority of us hit rock bottom. Gil > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Michael Madigan > Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 6:52 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [NF] Economic tidal wave nearing our company too > > > It's time to identify the businesses that will flourish in a depression. > > Cheap food, cheap software, perhaps even refurbishing computers > to make them last longer. > > Instead of 3 years of use out of computer, companies will try to get 5. > > > --- On Tue, 11/18/08, Paul McNett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > From: Paul McNett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Subject: Re: [NF] Economic tidal wave nearing our company too > > To: [email protected] > > Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 6:14 PM > > MB Software Solutions General Account wrote: > > > LOL...except for VFP developers...you know that's > > a terribly hard one to > > > find! ;-) All the reason to expand your toolset!!! > > > > Not to rub salt in the wound, but I get at least a call or > > email a week from someone > > looking to fill a Python-related position. > > > > I also just got out of a meeting with my client basically > > saying "you are clear to > > continue through the next phases of the project into > > 2010". > > > > But I feel for you, Micheal. Even with the nod from my > > client, I'm still on edge > > because of the economy. If their business fizzles, so will > > mine. > > > > Paul > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Post Messages to: [email protected] > > Subscription Maintenance: > > http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox > > OT-free version of this list: > > http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech > > Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox > > This message: > > http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are > > the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or > > medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for > > those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious. > > [excessive quoting removed by server] _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[EMAIL PROTECTED] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
