How Is Your Company Out-Smarting The Recession?

This Friday May 22nd we will be sharing at least two stories about companies outsmarting the recession in a TV interview. If you have an innovative, inspiring or pragmatic tale to share please leave it in the comment section below. We'll be selecting two brief stories to share with millions of viewers as part of our interview on how social media has been a useful tool for uncovering the good news that is lacking in mainstream media.

If we don't pick your story don't worry, we'll compile a blog that has many of the testimonials collected and share it next week with over a million LinkedIn members. Our last blog, "Fighting The Recession: How 28 LinkedIn Professionals Are Fighting The Recession" had thousands of views and inspired many professionals across dozens of countries.

Leave your innovative, inspiring or pragmatic tale in the comment section below.

Please do not leave comments that are only sales pitches and self-promotion as they may be deleted. This volunteer exercise is a genuine effort to raise awareness about companies that are heroes and leaders during challenging economic times. We recognize many of these stories don't make it to the headlines of mass media the way sensational bad news does and are doing our part to help move the economy back to better times.

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Comments

[Yves Neidlinger]

One of the few benefits of a down economy is that it is actually a good time to start a business. Use the time to lay the groundwork, focus on fundamentals and when the economy turns around, execute.

In December, I started www.iPhoneCTO.com the authority on iPhone in the enterprise. It's a site dedicated to covering iPhone's evolution from a consumer to enterprise device.

[Tina Tehranchian]

I am a certified financial planner and I am sure it is no secret that the financial services industry has been one of the hardest hit in this recession. While the focus of my practice is financial planning for business owners, I think that the recession and the resulting massive layoffs also present a great business opportunity in my industry.

I have implemented some strategies along these lines and I thought I'd share a recent interview on this subject that I was quoted in that was posted on wallstreetjournal.com:
Practice Mgmt Canada: Brokers Target Laid-Off Workers
April 23, 2009
The Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090423-716887.html

Here's a link to the article I wrote on severance and early retirement packages that was referred to in the above story:
http://www.professionalreferrals.ca/2009/01/severance-and-early-retirement-packages/

[Yoram Shalmon]

Hi from Yoram at AskKinjo, a Canadian wireless company.
AskKinjo helps it users to save money on gasoline. We inform drivers what will be Tomorrow’s Gas Price.
Knowledge is power and with this information, drivers can decide if to fuel now or wait. In this crazy times, with gasoline prices going like yo-yo, every penny counts...
Everyday, after 5:30 PM, callers to AskKinjo service can find what is Tomorrow’s Gas Price.
Moreover, when the price is about to increase or decrease by 2.5 cents (or more) we send drivers a text message and email.
On average, price changes above 2.5 cents threshold once a week. A "typical" driver who is aware of tomorrow's gasoline prices may save $75 to $100 and, best of all, feel great about getting the best prices!

Two easy ways to receive the information.
1. Call the service and check the price tomorrow, as well as location of cheapest nearby gasoline stations.
2. Register and we will send you Gas Price Alerts by email and Text Message.
The service is available in GTA (Toronto and surrounding) by calling #KINJO (Bell & Telus Mobility) or 647-476-6468 (Rogers & Fido).
The service, including registration and usage are free. There is no catch … Check it at www.AskKinjo.com

[Charles Fajgenbaum]

Since the economic headwinds set in last year, our business has increased over 30%- Grapemasters offers private winemaking services to individuals from grapes we source from selected farms in Chile, Italy,and California. As certified Master winemaker, Wine Judges of Canada, people trust Grapemasters to custom produce wines that regularly outscore $20.00 plus bottles from the LCBO. The cost: around $8.00 per bottle. By using our services, we are able to help clients avoid the myriad of taxes, fees, charges and levies that more than triple the cost from the winery to the LCBO, while delivering an exceptional product that reflects the taste of the client, becauae we seek out client feedback tastes and preferences during the winemaking process, allowing them control of the wine from grape to barrel to bottle.

[Rebecca Boenigk]

I am pleased (and relieved) to report that my company, Neutral Posture, Inc. is weathering this economic storm while others in the furniture industry are experiencing significant drops in revenue. Back in November of 2008, my team met to discuss how to make sure that 2009--which marks our 20th anniversary-- would be a good year.

We decided it was critical for the company to remain focused on our niche and not try to be all things to all people. We remain committed to what brought us to the table in the first place: high-quality "true ergonomic" seating solutions. We target customers who understand the importance and benefits of ergonomics whether they're looking to alleviate or address aches and pains; tackle obesity; and/or finding the right fit for big & tall individuals. Wellness is playing such a major role with companies looking for way to reduce medical and insurance costs. Fortunately for us, an increasing number of companies are realizing that ergonomic seating is a way to increase productivity, improve wellness and reduce workplace aches and pains.

[Dan MASCA]

Greetings from Transylvania, Romania ( yeah The Land of Dracula :) )
We develop in last months few startups in partnership with US entrepreneurs :
www.cellit.com
www.ordergroove.com
and on development www.humanitycalls.org and others 2 which are not online.
We produce our first documentary fiction in and from Transylvania www.povestidintransilvania.ro

and we develop a special online magazine for kids in 5 languages with poems, stories, comics , games and free access.

Of course that is not easy to keep the 100 specialists new media shop, but we try our best to raise money in partnership with our entrepreneurs partners from USA.

We will see if our startups was a clever investment and if in this period we will have the luck to build great online profitable projects.

take care,
Dan MASCA
CEO www.reea.net , Romania
www.inmures.ro
www.povestidintramsilvania.ro

[Maureen Bagg]

Corporate Images, Inc. anticipated the recession's impact - a big increase in new start-ups fueled by the frustration and persistence of laid off skilled workers. We started a separate division to cater to these people and offer five different modules that, when taken together, combine to allow people to establish a company and have it totally up and running within a few weeks.

The five modules are: 1) a professionally created web site for $999. 2) strategic market consulting that delivers a marketing action plan with a focus on social marketing, especially Linkedin, 3) a corporate identity package including logo, business cards and go-to-market materials such as business forms, letterhead, etc., 4) a professionally produced TV commercial, and 5) an additional collateral item such as a direct mail piece, brochure or point-of-purchase display.

Each module costs just $1000. So if a person were to start a company and was serious enough to invest $5,000, they would be able to have a turn key marketing presence in all the important areas.

[Johna Burke, BurrellesLuce]

You should definitely contact Mark Raper, CRT/Tanaka for your story. He provided some inspiring examples of how they are treating their employees at the Bulldog Media Relations Summit that would be a great fit for your story.

[Mark Moline]

My firm, IRTH Communications, LLC provides investor relations and communications services to public companies primarily. We focus on the ‘clean technology’, ‘natural and organic products’ and ‘alternative energy’ markets, which despite the recession are continuing to expand.

My business partner and I decided back in late summer of 2008 to move from being ‘generalists’ to focusing more on companies that are addressing the areas mentioned above. Both of us live ‘green’ lives, eat organic and promote sustainability in our daily lives, so the transition was very easy. Almost immediately we secured a client who manufactures emission control equipment and another that is in the natural products space.

Our focus has been on staying lean and mean internally. It’s the 2 of us for now, with a support staff of 2 part-time. Our success has come through helping our clients implement Social Media strategies to enhance their brands and spread the word about their products.
Both clients are public companies. Each has seen their market capitalization double since they began working with us. Is it solely a result of Social Media, probably not, but it is a factor. We have YouTube channels, Facebook Fan Pages, Delicious bookmark sites, Wikipedia entries and Twitter accounts for these clients, which we manage and attend to. It’s proven to be quite useful in identifying and mobilizing our client’s consumer base. It engages them in a way they had not been before and it creates a sense of loyalty, which in these times is important.

We are about to get a first round of funding from investors, which in this environment is not easy. Our focus on ‘clean, green and natural’ has been a boon for us, as well as the decision to get our clients involved in the Social Media arena. We’re hopeful that things turn around soon in general, but meanwhile with a little flexibility and creative thinking there are still opportunities out there.

[Theo Priestley]

Hmmm...difficult to post something without being self-promoting in a way.

If I start by saying that my primary skill is in Business Process Management consultancy and through using my personal skills within social media I've created a new venture that capitalises on providing companies with a managed social media presence does this count as diversification in a difficult climate ?
I'm based in Scotland but already have a couple of international clients and am working on a couple of very big catches right now which could be serious for exposure and credibility, so much so that I could swap my companies about and go full time with the media agency and leave the BPM side as a part-time option.

I've mailed my clients to hopefully back this up with their experiences of how social media has helped their exposure and marketing efforts so watch this space I guess. If they do pop up they'll link to me hopefully.

http://bit.ly/qNW4J gives a business article review also from last week.

If it's shamelessly promotional then apologies and happy to take the rap on the knuckles.

[Monte "G" Crofts Jr]

Millions of views! Hot Topics! Hope I'm not too late on this, just saw your post...~mgc

Here is a very timely and relevant experience we'd like to share - with outstanding value to readers - Tar Productions has had phenom-success experimenting with viral video projects. Our "Ollie Skate" video has had multi-millions of views on Youtube, myspace, and many more (all planned and recorded in a timeline over the course of the project - which still continues to grow - the latest caveat this week has been being listed in the "Top 40 Most Watched" - at the MSN video site (along side of National news and sports) - the shear impact of being able to have this kind of success rate is par none - and, yes, there is a story behind it all, and one that any company, brand, marketing, advertising guru can learn from (any genre - not just action sports) - Even Nike w/Kobe Bryant ripped this concept - and aired it on National television (apparently to ride the wave of traffic) - something were not happy about - but flattered non the less - our story would be of great asset to company to ride into the future of marketing, advertising, and brand management in the digital, mobile, and viral realm. Tar Productions is also currently embarking into digital mobile media...~mgc

PS: We are also in the process to create a series of articles on how business and brands can benefit from our experience(s) - to share and to promote the future of marketing, and media production.

Please contact me @ mgcrofts@tarproductions.com - for more info - and to partner on your series. Upon receipt of an inquiry, I will contact you promptly! Best Regards, Monte "G" Crofts, Jr.

[Dick Olenych]

Hi I'm Dick Olenych,

I'm a WAS.

I also own a printing company. Boy, this recession has not been kind to the print industry.

I'm selling "Happy". My staff, I have a great staff and I know that everyone around us is in the dumps, so our job is to make them happy.

Since we're the "Home of the Happy Printers" that just makes sense. Currently we have a free $1,800 diamond ring raffling going on. In a few weeks will start our summer campaign of Free Sno-cone Fridays.

Did you know that there are three National Hug a Printer days in 2009? Just check out my calendar.

Cheers
Dick

Dick Olenych
Writer, Author, Speaker
Spectrum Printing
4716 Virginia beach, VA 23462
757 490.2964