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 June 2002, Volume: 5, Issue: e/6, ISBN 1527-5175

~~~SOLD OUT... Our Economic Development Marketer's Boot Camp was held last week in Chicago. "So many great ideas in such a short time!" "The course gave me tools to take a hard look at the marketing tools we use...then change those to get to decision-oriented information." "An interactive approach to developing a marketing program that is beyond ordinary. It also gave me the opportunity to use other groups' best practices." One controversial speaker stated that incentives rule in site selections! It's just one of the perspectives presented to charge up the mind. We're planning another in early December. Consider being one of the 25 participants! nblane@blanecanada.com

~~~biomednews... ETHIC 2002 (Emerging Technologies/Healthcare Innovations Congress) is being held this week in Washington DC. For those interested in this industry, check out: http://www.ethic2002.com

~~~Back it up!... weekly. With numerous virsues out there, you can't afford to have one infiltrate your system. Check into a product such as the Norton AntiVirus or McAfee to protect your system.

~~~"Economic development professionals... are more apt to ask permission than forgiveness." Quote: Jerry Wade, based on 14 years of experience.

~~~Team Alabama... is a new initiative to link communities with Hyundai suppliers. Hyundai is Alabama's third auto assembly plant. Team Alabama plans to recruit auto suppliers to Alabama by coordinating efforts of public and private interests. For viewing a website covering this and related stories, go to: http://www.al.com/business/?autos.html

~~~"Putting It Together"... is the title of an article on GM's new Lansing, MI assembly plant. In 2003, the Cadillac and other luxury cars will roll out. "There is less than 20 hours of direct and indirect labor per vehicle produced, particularly for a luxury car... (the) plant required about half of the capital investment of what a typical auto plant has required in the past." GM's investment: $559 million for buildings and equipment. Neatest aspect: "lean manufacturing" or modular assembly meaning fewer connections for the line workers to handle. Fewer parts, or more pre-assembled parts, leads to lower warranty costs. Source: Chicago Tribune, April 28, 2002, Transportation Sect.

~~~Creativity... has always been messy. You will never make your masterpiece if you don't first make a mess.

~~~Synchronist... the name of our business retention software. We receive annual reports and PR announcements from users across the US about the data generated from the survey and its analytical capabilities. A recent report from a Synchronist user included this interesting data: 30% of companies' primary market is international; 50% of companies plan to expand within next 3 years, 35 companies within this year; 21% have overseas production and 39 companies have an overseas facility; 61% expect a merger/acquisition/divestiture within the industry; 26% of companies' top management has or is changing in next 18 months. If you had this type of market information, would you be ahead of the competition? Check out our website for more info: http://www.blanecanada.com/frameset_synchronist.html

~~~Be a mentor... Pass this issue of ED Marketing Letter on to three people in your state who are new or have new economic development positions. They will appreciate your recommendation. Click on Forward, add a few (or more) addresses, put in a personal note, and you're good to go. You are a mentor!

~~~51 telecommunication companies... filed for bankruptcy since 2000. Too much fiber in the ground and too much capacity. If you are targeting telecom, do some research!! Source: Chicago Tribune, 4/23/02, Sect. 3

~~~Name one other... market where the number of suppliers grows while the market (number of buyers) is shrinking? Today, there are many more community and regional economic development groups. They are on average better funded, and more sophisticated. Yet, with the current economic uncertainty site selection consultants say their business is off over 30 percent. Gulp! Trying harder won't cut it today. Be smarter. Let us help with your marketing strategy. Call us.  630.462.9222

~~~Manufacturing network... To aid networking, one economic development organization which hosts a monthly networking session uses different color name tags for manufacturers, suppliers, and service vendors. Simple things can make a big difference.

~~~Follow up?... If you limit the e-mail address to your (organization's) generic address, how can people contact you? Be sure to let the reader know who you are. Don't leave them guessing your name. Include return info on your e-mail footer, just as you would if writing a letter.

~~~It's a "drive-through-world"... So, if you use a P.O. Box on your marketing pieces, make sure to add a shipping address (street address), e.g. in your e-mail signature block. Fed Ex, UPS, and other express mail services do not deliver to a P.O. Box. At 6:45 p.m., no one can reach your office to get the street address. Source: Laura Corbin, SC

~~~In the cards... one very creative approach to building a manufacturer's network comes from Jonesville, Arkansas. A note in our files states that economic development officials formed and manage a monthly, by invitation only, senior executive poker game. That's a smokin'!

~~~Strokes... those unsolicited compliments that make us glow inside. Even better than getting a stroke is giving a stroke. Try it today. You will feel better for it. Send someone a sincere compliment now.

~~~One formula that's working... There was a gap in pre-employment training options for entry-level workers in Hazelton, PA. Local leadership created a pre-employment training program. Participating companies help fund the program. In addition to specifying the training curriculum (math, English, work habits, etc.), employers contribute one employee to serve as a trainer. Prospective workers each pay $100 for training. This fee is later reimbursed by the hiring employer.

~~~4C's of a successful Regional Alliance... Connectivity, Collaboration, Communications, and Champion/Catalyst. Presented by Walt Plosila, Battelle Memorial Institute, at IEDC 2001 Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

~~~"When a planner sees the future, he's visionary. When an economic developer sees the future it's illusionary." Don Maxwell, VA

~~~Business value drivers... include technology, processes and intangibles. The international accounting firm KPMG is collaborating with the University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana's Dept. of Commerce to determine the value of these business drivers. We'll update you periodically on this development.

~~~"All relationships... in business and personal life are a function of time - the amount of time you spend in direct communication with the other person. You can increase the value of a relationship by increasing the amount of time you spend both talking and listening to the other person." Are you a good listener? Brian Tracy, author/trainer

~~~It's geek to 'em... but e-life is now an inevitable part of the business world. The language: m-commerce, legacy systems, virtual marketing, disintermediation, b2b, and b2c are only a symptom of e-life today. Based on our work and that of our clients engaged in retention and expansion, adjustment to technology challenges are topping the stress management barometer for executives. Most are well versed in their industry's technology, but feel adrift as to the business consequences of the structural shift technology is causing. If these companies are to be a strong part of your community's future, there is a role for the EDC. Are you helping, or just hoping? Tell us how you are helping companies adjust to technology changes. We will pass along ideas shared. info@blanecanada.com

~~~A few good sources... is all it takes to keep up with the ongoing ED calendar of events. For the northwest US and western Canada, Maury Forman is the person in the know. His extensive listing can be accessed at: http://www.oted.wa.gov/ed/cea/education/training_content.html

~~~Greatest compliment... we get is the hundreds of people who come up to us, long after reading our books, articles, or attending our training courses to say how they have applied ideas, concepts, recommendations to their personal advantage. Thanks for the feedback.

~~~Sales & Marketing Research... Blane, Canada Ltd. asked each participant to Boot Camp to complete a lengthy survey in order to evaluate the current and future marketing practices. Nearly every respondent completed or anticipates changes in their web sites. Good! Change should be embraced when it comes to providing better, more up-to-date data more quickly. If you are interested in completing the survey and to receive the results, send us your e-mail. We'll send the survey electronically. Results will be shared in early fall.  nblane@blanecanada.com