Welcome Express Blog

WE have been surveying the newcomers who receive our welcome package to determine some of their priorities and preferences. Their feedback continues to be most informative and we will share those results with you periodically!

Data from the last two quarters show that survey respondents returned their survey within 2-3 weeks of receiving their welcome package. Approximately 70% moved a distance of more than 20 miles after having lived in their prior residence over 4 years.

Later survey results indicate that newcomers top priorities include finding a new Dentist, Doctor, hair stylist, fitness center and church.

Offers they are most interested in receiving include: restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops & breakfast cafes.

Survey results also show that the most important upcoming purchases these newcomers will make include: landscaping, appliances, decorating and window coverings, indoor & outdoor furniture, and barbeques.

 

 

WELCOME EXPRESS 2008 YEAR-END HOLIDAY NEWSLETTER
 

Regardless of whether it's too soon--or not soon enough--once again we're all in the process of closing out
another year of our business & personal lives.  And what a year it's been!

Economic gridlock triggered primarily by the consequences of a financial earthquake in the housing market
combined with non-stop politics surrounding a Presidential election has left many of us mentally drained and
wondering "what next" on both the business and personal side of our lives.  For us, as a result of expanded
services & products Welcome Express has made available this year, we have been fortunate in growing our
business during very tough times.  Growth is best achieved on a strong foundation, so the restructuring going
on at the local, state and national level is hopefully a result of "facing reality" without the facade created by
the housing bubble.

Especially during this season of Good Cheer, Good Wishes, and the blessings bestowed on us all, we would
like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the success of Welcome Express during 2008.  We value
our relationship with you and appreciate your input and support. 

As individuals, we can only do so much about the circumstances swirling around us.  A riddle in the words of
Dale Carnegie:

I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden.
I am completely at your command.
I am easily managed—you must merely be firm with me.
You may run me for profit or you may run me for ruin—it makes no difference to me.
Take me, train me, be firm with me & I will place the world at your feet.  Be easy with me & I will destroy you.
Who am I?  I am habit!

The winners in business have the habits and courage to remain winners in spite of circumstances beyond their
control.  We wish you the blessings that result from productive work, goal oriented habits, and positive attitude
as we journey into 2009……

Welcome Express, Inc.

Bad News:  The economy sucks.  Good News:  Now is the best time to grow market share for your product or service!  Differentiate yourself from your competition with continual branding, prospecting & customer loyalty programs.  In tough times, many companies elect to scale back on their advertising & promotion--some will eliminate it totally.  That's the worst thing you can do:  It is well-documented that companies maintaining or even increasing advertising during a recession clearly benefit vs. their cost-cutting peers.  A down economy is also the perfect time to re-focus advertising & marketing efforts on targeted, trackable campaigns that deliver results.

Consider the manufacturing sector:  They spend far more money on product research, development & promotion during slow times than they do during a strong economy.  Why?  Because they want to be shipping those new products during the good times, not developing them! They realize  growing market share is best  accomplished during slow times, when there is less competition.

We find ourselves in that strange interim period between the election and the swearing in of the new administration--both on a national and a local level. In the old days, this was called "the changing of the guard." We mull over the wins & losses, those we agreed with and those we didn't -- glad the endless campaigning noise is finally silent. Our system is unique in the world. We sometimes wonder about the process by which our elected officials get their message out.

In the world of advertising, there are strict rules for business relating to truthfulness. These are called the "Truth in Advertising" laws. But why on earth don't they apply to the political world? When it comes to politics, lies abound; there are no holds barred. Hence, the arrival on the scene 20 years ago of Project Vote Smart. Tired of all the petty campaign lies? Log onto www.vote-smart.org and get your own "Voter's Self Defense Manual."

Founded by Richard Kimball in the mid-1980s, the purpose was to combat the technology of television with its propensity for misleading portrayals--with the technology of computers--where the facts cannot be refuted. Vote Smart was born following Richard Kimball’s own bid for an U.S. Senate seat.  He had been directed by his consultants to verbally attack his opponent during a debate.  He rejected this and instead spoke from his heart about the duplicity of politics.  While it didn’t help him to win any votes, it became clear to him that he needed to ensure that citizens had at least one independent source to easily acquire accurate information about those who govern or those who wish to govern. 

This desire led to Project Vote Smart.  Their mission was to acquire the same kind of information that an employer would require before offering a prospective employee a position.  This information would be gathered with or without the candidate’s permission and would be gathered by those without an underlying motive to see one candidate succeed over another.  As the project grew, Richard Kimball saw the need to set rules and guidelines.  For example, no one can join the Project’s board without a political opposite to ensure balance and impartiality.  Also, the Project refuses financial assistance from all organizations and special interest groups that lobby or support/oppose any candidate or issue.

Now, Vote Smart provides A Voter's Self-Defense Manual - an 88-page digest of information on candidates and incumbents and The Vote Smart Website which includes information such as campaign finances, public statements, and voting records.   Project Vote Smart is truly a treasure trove of non-partisan information, devoid of any political agenda, and available for the voter who is interested in the issues.  For more information, go to http://www.orangecountyresourceguide.com/directory/listing.php?id=169974

Newcomers to Orange County want to connect with their new community. Not only do they need to find the best pizza & where to groom their dog, but they need to find all the civic services and who their new local elected officials are. Welcome Express has been welcoming newcomers to Orange county since 1986. Their official welcome package arrives shortly after the move and contains all that information. When they need more, they usually log onto www.OrangeCountyResourceGuide.com -- their source for "Everything OC" from dining & shopping to website links and phone numbers of all the local government offices. Who knows, someday in the future, one of those newcomers may end up running for their local city council!