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Monday, October 13, 2014

Hot Metro Finds Ted Cantu Looks At Failed Michigan Businesses in Metro Detroit

The 2014 Fall months have not been kind to a number of failed businesses in Metro Detroit. This is due to a lack of patrons. Some of the owners blame the economy and others suffer because of lack of branding and marketing knowledge. There are three in particular that will be the focus on a new branding series for Michigan based businesses.

One of these businesses had a truly outstanding product. It was a sub like sandwich with superior ingredients and many of them were locally found. But they lacked the initiative to market it properly and to get the word out. Despite the use of Yelp, Facebook and they mostly relied on word of mouth. I drove by this place today and found it to be completely empty. I was unsure if the city had confiscated all of the kitchen equipment like they so often do. If that is the case this is most unfortunate.

There was another business just two doors down in this Wixom shopping plaza that sold fish and chicken. The reviews on this place were never really good and some of them hint that the product was from freezer to table. I walked into this place a couple of times and was not impressed. The service was mixed. When they weren't busy they would wait on you. The second time when I went into this place they were very busy and people were standing out in the lobby. There was maybe 10 people waiting while the radio blared on some metal station.

The last example for the series focuses on a women's clothing company. This one example in particular is an interesting one since the owner was reluctant on how to brand it. There was never any clear cut audience demographic outlined for the store so marketing it to any particular group proved difficult. There was also a problem with how to market this kind of company on the web and through social media with no demographic. The idea was that the clothes were basically for anyone who wanted to wear them.

The idea here was that it would appeal to anyone who found their taste in clothing, "Fun and Fantastic!". The age group was never defined because the owners thought it would alienate any potential sales and they didn't want to be offensive.

Unfortunately something else happened along the way. The woman that ran the place used to crank up the radio very loud and was usually in the back on the phone talking and ignoring who ever walked in. This sort of thing turned people away and also became part of the brand. The idea was not only are we fun and fantastic but we couldn't care less if you walked in or not. This place closed after just 14 months.

THE POWER BRAND SERIES

Ted Cantu of Hot Metro Finds will be looking at what makes a retail store front work and what makes a business tick in these troubled times. Each one of these businesses could have been saved regardless of a perceived recession or the state of the economy. In each case of these businesses could have been saved.

A lot of this comes back to the owners and their willingness to take a failing business and to apply some basic principles. This gets right down to the following areas:

1. Who Is The Audience?

2. What Are They Buying?

3. Identifying Price Point

4. Addressing The Needs Of Your Demographic

And a whole lot more....

Being number one on the search engines is not necessarily going to get your business. It will only amplify your business and get more exposure. Things like addressing your audience, identifying your customer and building rapport with them, (social media) still needs to be taken under consideration.

For more information on the series and how it can apply to your business:

Contact: Ted Cantu 248-277-6141

Oakland County, MI

Look us up on http://www.TedCantu.com

http://www.HotMetroFinds.com

HOT METRO FINDS: The Best Of The Best - & Riot Fest Links To Boot

Hey -- here are the recent concert reviews and events you might have missed.
We just came back from Riot Fest and covered over 40 bands in three days. We also covered the classic 1976 Punk band Slaughter and the Dogs as well as the recent appearance of Agent Orange at the Double Door. 


Metro Detroit Music| ENTERTAINMENT | Nightlife, Eating

www.officialdetroitdoors.com/
CHICAGO RIOT FEST 2014 | Janes Addiction |The Cure|Weezer |Hot Metro Finds | Ted Cantu|The Descendents. Detroit Hot Metro Finds Will Be Covering The ..


HOT METRO FINDS: Agent Orange 2014 At The Double Door




September Events - Riot Fest - the Full Three Day Line Up
Hot Metro Finds covers Cheap Trick, Tegan and Sara, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

TED CANTU: Hot Metro Finds Looks At The Fabulous Return Of The Libertines In The UK - Pete Doberty and Carl Barat Are At It Again


  1. Ted Cantu Hot Metro Finds Ted Cantu

    hotmetrofinds.com/metrodetroit/?tag=ted-cantu-hot-metro-finds-ted-cantu
    Sep 25, 2014 - This was the punk band that got away. Back in the day I found this little album for $8 bucks at School Kids Records, “Milo Goes To College”.
  2. tedcantu.com/hotmetrofinds/?tag=ted-cantu-hot-metro-finds
    Aug 30, 2014 - THE RUINERS — LIVE IN ANN ARBOR We were there FIRST….!!! This goes back to 2010 http://www.hotmetrofinds.com Ted Cantu returns to ...
  3. lowmortgageratesmichigan.blogspot.com/.../hot-metro-finds-ted-cantu-o...
    3 hours ago - HOT METRO FINDSTed Cantu On Location - The Great Chicago Fire Festival. ROCKTOBERFEST 2014: The Best Hard Rockin' Shows and ...
  1. HOT METRO FINDS: The Replacements Are Back at 30 ...

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAlLfSVt8Sw
    Sep 8, 2014 - Uploaded by Ted Cantu
    HOT METRO FINDS: The Replacements Are Back at 30 Rock -Ted .... .com ...



Saturday, October 11, 2014

Ted Cantu On CHICAGO RIOT FEST: MOTHER !!! "Do You Like $12 Steak and Cheese?"


AH CHICAGO RIOT FEST 2014

Even rock and roll hooligans get hungry. Once you are roped in the big gates at Humboldt Park you are at the mercy of the concert promoters. And that means paying out huge prices on commonly decent food items. I admit... I shelled out money for a $12 steak and cheese during the Chicago Riot Fest concert in Sept. I was still hungry after I ate the thing. Then I got thirsty later and shelled out more dough on some decent beer.... this was $7 each. Rock and roll isn't exactly a cheap hobby.

From a marketing stand point this gets pretty interesting. Putting a fence around your customers and then giving them a series of options that they need. I guess the most important thing here is giving your customers EXACTLY what they need.... The food variety at Riot Fest is not for the health conscious. It is for the rock and roll crowd and that basically means deep fried everything, lots of BBQ items, burgers, big lamb gyros, kabobs, and even giant turkey legs, ( I actually found some giant turkey leg bones on the ground).

My marketing advice?  Give your people plenty of everything.... lots of variety... and always leave them hungry for more !!

Ted Cantu is an online marketer who helps companies grow their brands online -- and is always hungry for more.  Chicago 2014

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