Judging the value of spending

Not labor, not product or ingredients, not what is required to open the doors on any given day -the spending to let people know you are in existence and know what you do / how you do it / and present them with a compelling reason to visit -- this spending is under consideration by the Sr mgmt at the BR.

Happily we have a huge advantage with all the people who know us, tell others about us and provide us with valid opportunities to participate in area "events" (like the Cranbury Craft Fair, placemat for Habitat for Humanity Pancake Breakfast, Princeton HS Jazz Festival brochure, and on and on).

Sponsorship on NJN (NPR) is the one paid expenditure we've made so far --perhaps you heard us in December?  

I have been an active participant in NPR stations wherever I've lived over the last 30 years.  So, it was a logical step to talk with the New Jersey station about participating as The Blue Rooster.  

You will hear us again over the next couple of weeks (both am & pm drive time --Morning Edition & All Things Considered as well as one Sat night shot -- during Prairie Home Companion.  

How do we measure the value of this participation?  Since the funds support NJN,  I feel the money is doing work important to all of us who listen as a start.  Hearing from new visitors and established customers that they heard our spot on the radio is also an informal measurement.  The formal way of measuring advert success costs tons more than we have to spend, so we go with the informal -- and we value the facts that the funds are being used to support NJN.

Now, what about the on air fundraising that the station does 2-3 times a year?  We are offering a challenge grant to other small businesses - this gets us airtime / exposure / and also helps the radio station raise funds.  So, another win / win from our perspective.

And a really amazing bonus came our way yesterday from NJN -- we were offered the opportunity to give tickets to a Sesame Street show to our customers.

Within 12 hours of sending the email to our distribution list -- all the tixes were given away.  The total # of tixes was over 40, so we feel good about that kind of gift to our customers and we hope this win win way of working with our partners continues.