It’s Your Business Survey Launches Today to Capture New Insight into the Dana Point Business Community

DANA POINT, Calif. – On the heels of its nationally recognized program, Hide It, Lock It or Lose It, the City of Dana Point, in conjunction with the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce and Dana Point Police Services, is pleased to launch It’s Your Business, an initiative created by the newly formed Dana Point Business Services Team. It’s Your Business aims to identify the needs of the local business community, address those needs in a timely and professional manner, take action to best serve businesses, and prepare for the future through proactive and ongoing dialogue.

It’s Your Business kicks off today with an initial survey asking local businesses for feedback. The survey will shed light on what businesses feel is going well, and in what areas there are opportunities for enhanced services. The team is committed to responding and taking action on the survey responses to make the Dana Point the best it can be for businesses.

“We recognize that Dana Point businesses have a voice and we want to hear from you,” said Mark Levy, Chief of Police Services, City of Dana Point. “This initiative started with a focus on business safety, and quickly grew into a comprehensive program designed to meet the needs of our local business community. The responses to the survey are just the first step in the process of fostering an ideal working environment.”

From networking or noise levels to code enforcement or business safety, no concern or compliment is too big or too small. The deadline for the It’s Your Business survey is Wednesday, November 9, 2011, but businesses are encouraged to submit their responses as soon as possible so the team can get to work on taking action. All businesses that participate will receive a response.

More information and the full It’s Your Business survey is available at www.itsyourdpbusiness.com. The Dana Point Business Services Team will also be making personal connections with the local business community over the next few months at networking events, office visits and through email communication. Businesses interested in learning more about It’s Your Business and obtaining a hard copy survey may contact Christy Teague at the City of Dana Point – (949) 248-3519; Cassie Levine at Dana Point Police Services – (949) 248-3581; or Laura Ouimet at the Chamber of Commerce – (949) 496-1555. Businesses can join in on the conversation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itsyourdpbiz and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Its-Your-Business-Dana-Point/232728180098505?sk=wall.

About the Dana Point Business Services Team:

The Dana Point Business Services Team is an alliance comprised of the City of Dana Point, the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce and Dana Point Police Services. The team is launching It’s Your Business, a program to evaluate the needs of local businesses in order to better serve them and foster their success. For more information, visit www.itsyourdpbusiness.com.

For a snapshot of all of Orange County’s cities, please visit OrangeCountyResource Guide.com

Orange County Advertiser welcomes today’s guest blogger, Susan Placek.  Owner and designer of The Creative Idea Shop, Susan Placek markets her endless creativity through her unique gift product lines for promotional uses, fundraising and gift giving. 

It was a beautiful late afternoon in Southern California and I was invited by one of my brokers to a small gathering, a business mixer bringing together people of our industry. I was very much looking forward to this event, hoping to meet a new customer or some promotional angel, who would bring a change into the misery of my business situation.

As I nibbled on a piece of delicious but smelly cheese and enjoyed a glass or great wine, I was introduced to a businesswoman of the group. We started off with the usual small talk before asking the inevitable question during a business mixer: “And what do you do?”

Links:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/susanplacek

http://twitter.com/creativemind

http://www.thecreativeideashop.com

** For a quick snapshot of the Welcome Express Family of Products: http://www.facebook.com/WelcomeExpress **

In recent years, we have heard comparisons as to our plight today versus those of the Great Depression.  Although one might argue this issue, it does bring to light an interesting story about the power of advertising.  Contrary to popular opinion, it wasn’t all doom and gloom during the Depression.  In fact, those that knew what they were doing made great strides, some even experiencing an economic boon.

Some companies, from Proctor & Gamble to Kellogg’s continued their current advertising efforts during these tough financial times.  Consumers didn’t stop spending, and those that kept their message in front of the masses made greater progress in market share than those that chose to slash advertising budgets.  In the 1920′s, Ford outsold Chevy by 10:1.  Chevrolet continued their advertising when Ford cut back and, by 1931, the “Chevy 6″ took the lead and maintained that lead for the next five years.

There are many such stories but the message is clear:  advertising brings you new business.

Advertising to new residents makes sense.  As they explore their new community, they are seeking new places to shop & dine, have a desire to decorate their new home, and need to replace the many services they left behind.  No need to do repeat advertising to attract customers away from your competition.  Newcomers are not yet someone else’s customer – and they could be yours!  Explore how your company can make a great first impression on this lucrative market by welcoming them to the community!   Take a look at the Welcome Express Family of Products.

Orange County is poised for major job growth with local employers expected to add more than 100,000 workers to payrolls over the next 3 years, according to a 2011 economic forecast by Cal State Long Beach.  The forecast predicts Orange County will lead the region in hiring, adding a modest 19,000 new workers this year after losing that many in 2010. Next year, however, hiring is expected to more than double to 39,000 new positions and then grow by another 43,000 in 2013.

Orange County’s 8.5% unemployment rate is still high by historical standards, but 4 cities tied in June for having the most jobs opening in relation to residents who are out of work, according to an analysis done for the Orange County Register by SimplyHired.

Location          Unemployed: Openings

Aliso Viejo                        1:1

Brea                                   1:1

Irvine                                 1:1

Newport Beach                1:1

Aliso Viejo, Brea, Irvine & Newport Beach –   Each had one out-of-work resident per job opening advertised by employers in their town. The ratio is based on the May OC unemployment numbers and SimplyHired’s listings of job openings on company websites, job boards, newspapers, non-profit and government sites in June       Source: OC Register

To look for job openings or to place them, visit OC Jobs Link or to learn more about your OC city, visit OrangeCountyResourceGuide’s City Info Links

In a Few Areas, the US Economic Glass is Half Full!

What we’re going through today may evoke memories of 2008. This is not a repeat of 2008, however, because there are fundamental differences in economic and market conditions.

Here are some specifics from Edward Jones listed below. (View complete report at Why 2011 Isn’t 2008 Insight Report)

Economic  growth remains sluggish but positive. While the economy grew just 0.8% in the first half of the year, most economists expect it to pick up in the second half. Recent economic reports are consistent with slow, but positive, growth. While slower than many had hoped, economic growth is  expected to be positive in 2011. It shrank in 2008.

Job  growth has nearly doubled this year. Almost 1 million jobs were  added in the first seven months of 2011, about the same as in all of 2010.  The economy was shedding jobs in 2008, not adding them.

Corporate  earnings are on a record pace. Corporate earnings are  expected to reach a record high this quarter, while they were declining in  2008. S&P 500 earnings are up about 12% over the past year. Since  stock prices haven’t kept pace, the S&P 500 is trading at about 10 times forward operating earnings. This is well below its historical  average of 15 times earnings. While past performance does not guarantee  future results, we believe this represents an attractive value for  investors.

Oil  prices are lower. Oil prices have fallen  below $90, giving consumers some help. They soared to nearly $150 in 2008.

U.S.  financial companies in general are in better shape. Many companies are much  better capitalized and have reduced risks in their businesses, and  regulations have increased. While challenges remain, we don’t believe  risks within the financial system are nearly as high as in 2008.

In conclusion, doom & gloom makes for great headlines, but it needs to be balanced with the positive information as well.

Isn’t it nice to hear good news for a change?

If your business is located in Orange County, CA, you can take advantage of some FREE exposure by listing your company for free at:

www.OrangeCountyResourceGuide.com/listmybusiness

Orange County Advertising involves more than just getting our own company’s name out there for the consumer’s consideration.  We also need to look for causes to support and opportunities to give back to the community.  Today we present to you a worthy cause and invite you to engage in a number of ways.

Join us in supporting this year’s “Survive and Thrive Run Walk Health & Safety Expo”.

This year’s event will be on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at the Orange County Sheriff Regional Training Academy in Tustin, Ca. The purpose of this event is to bring awareness, prevention and survival to all surrounding communities while offering resources and services to victims of crime so they may walk away empowered with the tools to survive and thrive.

There are opportunities available for sponsorships, vendor booths, form a team or show your support and participate as an individual participant or volunteer for the cause.

Sponsorship Opportunities http://www.surviveandthriverunwalk.org/sponsorship-opportunities.htm

Vendor Booth Form http://www.surviveandthriverunwalk.org/vendors.htm

Registration Flyer – Pre – Registration guarantees you a shirt, goody bag, medal, chance for cash prizes, vendor booths- free samples, entertainment and much more. REGISTER TODAY!http://www.surviveandthriverunwalk.org/registration.htm

Charity Teams  http://www.surviveandthriverunwalk.org/teams.htm

Team Form  http://www.surviveandthriverunwalk.org/team-sponsor.pdf

Volunteer Information  http://www.surviveandthriverunwalk.org/volunteer.htm

For more information:
Crime Survivors, Inc, at (949) 872-7895

crimesurvivors@aol.com

http://www.crimesurvivors.com/

For a quick snapshot of the Welcome Express Family of Products: http://www.facebook.com/WelcomeExpress