How to thrive in a downturn economy?  This is what I am constantly hearing from many business owners as a main concern.  After the past two weeks with the media talk on economic outlooks and the stock market declines, I thought this would be a great subject to broach.  We, at EXHIB-IT!, do not take this lightly and have focused our strategies around an economy that may appear weak but, in fact, has made our business grow strong over the past several months.

With the recent bank sell offs, the DOW decreasing, and the media talking for months about possible recession, we are focusing on what could be the outcome of a good bounce in the economy with the money the Fed, US and World governments are putting back into the economy.  What effect that will have – nobody knows for sure but it will do something.  At least we shouldn’t see prices of almost every asset class continue to come down.  So, rest assured everything should work out OK and business will go on. There are opportunities all around – let’s seize the moment!

How is EXHIB-IT! handling this?  We have focused our attention on how we can service the small or medium business that has downsized with cut backs and cannot afford a full time marketing person.  We have taken on the load of handling many companies with marketing campaign strategy needs on an “as needed” basis or on a “planning stage” basis.  Since doing this, our business has grown 38.9%.  We have found a growing need filled by providing a full turn-key business that works with clients to develop marketing strategies to gain the attention and exposure they need to grow.  In addition we offer the services of three full time on staff designers that design logos, create branding strategies, rebranding strategies, brochures and all the collateral materials companies need to survive during tough times.  Now is when it is most important to continue marketing efforts for companies to survive during tough times.  However, companies tend to cut back and cut their marketing dollars when it is most important to continue their marketing efforts.  Do you remember after the 911 incidents and companies were cutting back?  EXHIB-IT! did not and we continued to market in an unsure market and yet we grew 122% over a two and a half year period.

Our graphic production department has been steadily producing graphics on the fly for large events and shows and when the dust settles, we will stand up, wipe ourselves off and continue focus on the needs of our clients – like we do best.

I wish each of your businesses a thriving year end and a successful planning year for 2009.