Category: News

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During & Post-Crisis: Preserving, Rebuilding & Growing Business Value

You need to address the urgent needs of keeping your family safe and healthy. You need to address the critical issues around employees, payroll, managing your cash and other realities of the current crisis. Period! Absolutely! If you haven’t spoken to your bank about the financial relief bills that congress is about to pass, call them now!

 

You also need to get back to business to the greatest extent possible as you address these – hopefully – short-term issues, even if you are doing it from your home kitchen table in your pajamas. During the last recession, I saw too many business owners slow down when they should have been redoubling their efforts.

 

You need to get back to basics and plan out how your business may change (opportunities!) and how you are going to ramp up as quickly as possible. You need to get back on The Value Track and back to exit planning – creating your future: your exit / succession / transaction. Make sure that you are integrating your short-term crisis management decisions into your planning. They will impact your business and its value just like any other decision.

 

How can you keep to your timeline for the sale of your business or get back to family business succession planning for the transfer/sale to your children or other family members? It may be delayed but don’t assume it will and don’t slow down working toward it.

 

What can you learn from what other companies are doing? What is likely to change as we come through this period that you can adapt your product or services to address. (Hand sanitizer in happy meals? McD’s, I want royalties!) I am very serious about this. My clients have been hit hard like everyone else, in a variety of ways. They are all getting creative in the short-term and I know that these decisions and detours are going to make them stronger and more valuable companies.

 

You need to have a clear, but flexible plan that considers the “what-ifs”. Whether here in the Spring of 2020 or in every year since you started your business. You won’t always know what those “what-ifs” are, but they WILL occur. Hurricanes, recessions, competitors, regulations, your own illnesses, tariffs, hacking, lawsuits…

 

Here are 4 brief blogs I have written over the last 10 years on the topic of business risk. These business management and leadership issues did not start today. Take a few quick minutes: Thoughts to Consider on Risks to Your Business

 

In the meantime, I am reiterating my offer of a one-hour conversation with you, your clients or other business owners who could use a sounding board at this time – whether for input on urgent problems, thinking through strategy in order to come out of the crisis or to focus on building/rebuilding value if working toward a sale.

 

This year of challenges marks my 20th year in practice as a consultant, coach and exit strategist; helping clients grow, solve problems, build value and work on exit strategy. I would be happy to explore how my 20 years of experiences with other clients – and how they are addressing this situation – might provide insights and help your business survive & thrive!

Stay Healthy & Safe!

David Shavzin

 

David Shavzin, CMC
Exit Strategist – Value Growth, Exit Planning, Succession Planning

Founder and President, The Value Track, Atlanta, Georgia

Partner, ITB Partners

 

 

Building Transferable Value for Sale
770-329-5224 david@GetOnTheValueTrack.com
Our BLOG // LinkedIn // www.GetOnTheValueTrack.com

 

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Needed: Agents to Market Cash-Back Benefits Program

Passive Income Opportunity

Phil Davis, of Retail Benefits, is looking for Agents to Market the Retail Benefits Cash-Back Program.

Retail Benefits (RBI) is the leading provider of organization sponsored B2B “cashback shopping” programs.  RBI engages over 4500 on-line retailers in providing an average of 4% to 5% cashback on everyday purchases.  The types of organizations that sponsor RBI include Banks and Credit Unions, Church and Charities, Not-for-profits, Retailers, and other organizations.

Just like newspapers and other media advertising, Cashback programs are designed by retailers to attract shoppers to their online portals.

You may have heard of Rakuten/Ebates, the biggest cashback provider in the direct to consumer space. Retail Benefits, Inc. (RBI), is the biggest provider in the business to business space.

Organizations that sponsor RBI include:

  • Banks and Credit Unions
  • Church and Charities
  • Delivery Services
  • Franchisors
  • Grocery Stores
  • Insurance Companies
  • Multiple Level Marketers
  • Political Parties
  • Power and Gas Companies
  • Resellers
  • Retailers
  • Social Media Providers
  • Unions

People say, “It’s not what you know, but WHO you know that matters.”  Clearly it takes both, but the value of what you know is often realized through who you know.

As we all know, not all relationships are created equally.  The referrals I seek share the following characteristics:

  1. With an organization that regularly communicates to 10,000 or more consumers who may shop on-line.
  2. The Partner’s relationship is with one or more senior executives in the organization. The closer to the C-Suite, the better.
  3. And, it is a relationship of trust between you and your contact.

There are twelve distinct verticals that fit the Retail Benefits, cashback model. We will explore those sectors in the coming months.  Because it’s an election year, let’s focus on “Political Parties.”

A political party that adopts the Retail Benefits cashback fundraising app and makes it their own (The Democrat Cash Back Shopping App) will realize the following advantages:

  • Year-Round Fund Raising – Cashback is automatic and on-going. Once the donor signs up and downloads the shopping app, everything happens automatically.
  • No out-of-pocket expense for donors – Cashback donations to the Party are from the money that has always been spent shopping. Therefore, no new donor expenditures are required
  • Drive engagement in the Party – A portion of cashback can be directed to the donor as “donor bucks” to purchase special offers and merchandise (such as hats, shirts, pins, etc.)
  • Designated the donations to multiple purposes –  The donations can be subdivided to support designated candidates and/or party levels (national, state, and county).

For more information about Retail Benefits, please contact Phil Davis at:  pdavishr@Comcast.net  or  678-977-5578.

In our next article, I will be talking about the special advantages of Associations.  Associations is a broad category that includes professional organizations, fraternities and sororities, and college and university fundraising.

 

I the meantime, if you need more information or if you think you might have a referral, contact me so we can explore the possibilities together.

 

Phillip Davis

Philip Davis

Philip Davis

Referral Partner

Retail Benefits, Inc.

pdavishr@Comcast.net

678-977-5578

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Can I Be of Help? Offering a One-Hour Conversation…

David Shavzin

…to you, your clients or other business owners who could use a sounding board at this time: Input on urgent problems (surviving); Thinking through strategy in order to come out of the crisis (thriving); Focus on building/rebuilding value if working toward a sale. Happy to share insights from 20 years as a consultant, coach, and exit strategist; helping clients grow, solve problems, build value and design their exit strategy & succession planning. Working together, we WILL get through this! Stay safe and healthy!

 

David Shavzin, CMC, Exit Strategist

Founder & President, The Value Track // Co-Founder, Exit Planning Exchange Atlanta

LinkedIn Profile // Our BLOG // 770-329-5224 // David@GetOnTheValueTrack.com

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Complimentary Offer For Coaching, Consulting, and Mentoring During Pandemic

Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners

This is a difficult, even unprecedented time.  There is great uncertainty, and many are fearful.  Some are suffering through this alone. Thankfully, this pandemic comes at a time when our technology makes forced isolation bearable.

In difficult times the American Spirit shines brightest because we face our challenges together.  Given the strength of our relationships, the value we place on one another, I am confident that we will overcome this scourge.  We may be bruised, but we will emerge stronger.

 

From a personal perspective, I believe my life’s mission is to help however I can.  My goal is to focus on what I can control and avoid dwelling on issues beyond my control.

I know that my core strength is helping people navigate the new normal for employment and career management. In many respects, this was the genesis of ITB PARTNERS.

I want you to know that I am here to help you. In fact, I am happy to offer my services free of charge to help you through this difficult time.

There are many things we can discuss, but I may be most helpful in the following areas:

  1. Navigating the quarantine.
  2. Developing a Personal Recovery Plan.
  3. Maintaining relationships with your customers, clients, and network.
  4. Viable Job Search Strategies.
  5. Key considerations to anticipate from the recovery.
  6. Significant trends to consider in your planning.
  7. Evaluating options and setting priorities.
  8. How to start a business.

Ultimately, I’m available to talk with you even if to bounce around some ideas or offer introductions from my vast network.

So, here’s my offer:

If you would like a free 30-minute consultation, email Jim.Weber@itbpartners.com  with this subject: “I Want  to Schedule a Free Consultation.”   I will respond back with my calendar tool to schedule a telephone or video call.

I hope you find this useful and will schedule a call.  If nothing else, I would enjoy an update from you to know how you are coping.

Best wishes for your continued health and safety.

Thank you for visiting our blog.

Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners

 

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April 14 ZOOM Meeting of The BENG Atlanta Chapter

The BENG Atlanta Chapter April 14 Meeting Will Be Held Via ZOOM!  To join the meeting, follow this link:  https://zoom.us/j/334822051

Register for The BENG April 14 ZOOM Meeting!

Email To:  Jim.Weber@itbpartners   Subject: Yes, Reserve My Place for The BENG Atlanta Chapter April Meeting viaZOOM

Remove What’s NOT Working from Your Networking

Description:

According to a LinkedIn survey in 2017, almost 80 percent of professionals consider networking to be important to their career success. Not only that, but 70 percent of respondents said they were hired at a company where they had a connection.

Whether you are networking to find new clients, a better job, or the love of your life, your results will definitely improve if you remove what’s not working and replace it with more effective actions.

Invest one hour of your time in this session and leave with:

  • A clearly defined goal for your networking
  • Identification of your ineffective networking activities that are holding you back
  • Options for less common activities that have been proven more effective
  • A revised networking “game plan” you can start using today

Our speaker:

Richard Kirby

Richard Kirby is “The K Factor”. His formula for client success is Inspirational+Analytical=Inevitable.

For the past 18 years, Richard has coached corporate executives desiring career improvements inside or outside their current employers. He is also the author of Fast Track Your Job Search (and Career!), an eBook available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. A critical component of his individual coaching programs and his book is business networking. More information can be found about Richard at https://www.richardkirby.net or https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardkirbyatl.

Register for The BENG April 14 ZOOM Meeting!

Email To:  Jim.Weber@itbpartners.com   Subject: Yes, Reserve My Place for The BENG Atlanta Chapter April Meeting viaZOOM

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Impact of Cashback Shopping on Shoppers, Retailers, and Sponsors

Particularly in the era of “social distancing”, on-line shopping is growing at a rapid pace and with it, the opportunity presented by “Cash Back Shopping.”  Cashback shopping taps into the normal marketing budgets of on-line retailers.  Just like newspaper and other media advertising, Cash Back programs are designed by retailers to attract shoppers to their on-line shopping sites and to make purchases based on their standard pricing, discounts, reward, and customer service policies and the new dimension of cashback shopping.  You’ve probably heard of the biggest cashback provider in the direct to consumer space which is Rakuten/Ebates. On the other hand, the biggest provider in the business to business space is Retail Benefits, Inc. (RBI).

Retail Benefits markets only through 3rd parties such as banks and credit unions, businesses (with large direct to consumer marketing reach), churches and charities, and political parties.  Retail Benefits is an invisible partner to its sponsor organizations as RBI provides the downloadable app that connects the sponsor organization with its potential shoppers and over 4,500 on-line retailers who participate in the program.  The RBI app is always customized and branded to each sponsor using the sponsor’s own marketing message and its standard “look and feel”.  Using Retail Benefits is a one time download of the app onto the shopper’s desktop computer and/or mobile device.  Once the installed the shopper shops as always and receives cash back on every purchase.

The cash flows from the retailer to RBI to the sponsor.  Each sponsor then uses the cashback to advance its mission.  Examples include charities that keep all or most of the cashback as a tax-deductible donation; banks and credit unions that add the cashback to enhance their existing cashback programs on the credit cards they are already offering, and business that keeps a portion of the cashback to enhance net income and convert the balance into “business bucks” to pay for the services they normally sale.

To learn more about how cashback shopping can create a strategic advantage for you and/or your contacts, contact Phil Davis, Retail Benefits Partner.

Phillip Davis

Philip Davis

Referral Partner

Retail Benefits, Inc.

pdavishr@Comcast.net

678-977-5578

 

 

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ITB Partners Announces the Opening of its Company Store: www.shopitbpartners.com

Many thanks to Ron Weinstock, of Weinstock Marketing and ITB Partners for facilitating this Partnership.

What is a Company Store?

A company store is an on-line, fully integrated e-commerce site that gives you complete control over your branded merchandise program.

This is not a new concept as many printers have expanded their services, providing companies an outsourced solution for the logistical management of marketing collateral and branded products.  A dedicated company store provides employees, dealers, franchisees, agents and even consumers the ability to easily purchase branded merchandise.  “The more people who see our logo, the greater the likelihood they will call ITB Partners to resolve their problems.”

“Symphonix Solutions will handle everything for us, from acquiring and warehousing the merchandise for our store to maintaining the web-portal and executing order fulfillment.” 

 

SYMPHONIX SOLUTIONS CLIENT BRAND MANAGEMENT PLATFORM IS CALLED  “ONBOARD”

From this customized web portal, you can oversee brochures, displays, promotional products and digital brand assets, control and track projects, costs, create reports control inventory and send direct response emails.

At Symphonix Solutions, we have a variety of solutions to make it easy for our clients.

The ITB Partners’ Portal is

www.shopitbpartners.com

 

To learn more about Symphonix Solutions and how we can help promote your brand and your client’s brand, contact Michelle Mehnert at mmehnert@symphonixsolutions.com.

 

 Contacts:

Symphonix Solutions

PRINT  MARKETING  TECHNOLOGY  FULFILLMENT

9825 Marina Blvd, Suite 100

Boca Raton, FL 33428

Michelle Mehnert <mmehnert@symphonixsolutions.com>

Rob Finkelstein <rfinkelstein@symphonixsolutions.com>

Boca Raton: 561-826-3242

Charlotte: 704-372-7888

info@symphonixsolutions.com

 

Symphonix Solutions

 

Since 2008, Symphonix Solutions has been helping clients manage their marketing and sales materials providing customized solutions that improve the production, distribution, and control of their assets.  “Our proprietary technology provides each client with a customized portal to track inventory, costs, and delivery from anywhere in the world.”

“Our clients want the best quality, cost-effective, easy solutions, and Symphonix delivers.” With the highest level of service and a dedicated team you can trust, Symphonix partners with the best provider network to produce the best results from people who care about your projects and consistently deliver because they love what they do.

 

Symphonic Solutions stands ready to help you and your clients with their printing needs as well!

 

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Jim Weber Completes COO Search for Casual Dining Franchiser

Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners

Prior to forming New Century Dynamics Executive Search in 1999, Jim Weber spent 22 years with Fortune 500 companies in the Food Retailing Industry where he developed a broad-based portfolio of “hands-on” line and staff experience in growth and turnaround situations. A proven executive with exceptional leadership skills, Jim has a strong financial background and heavy operations experience in specialty retail stores, quick-service restaurants, manufacturing, and distribution.

For more information about Jim Weber and New Century Dynamics Executive Search, call us at 770-649-7051 or email  JimWeber@NewCenturyDynamics.com

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ITB Partners March 20 Meeting Featuring David Shavzin

David Shavzin, CMC, Will Present “Riding the Wealth Transfer Wave, Helping Clients Maximize Their Exit… As We Grow Our Practices”

REGISTER NOW

About this Event

David Shavzin

David Shavzin, CMC, is a Certified Management Consultant, and a passionate and experienced exit and succession planning expert. He created The Value Track to help business owners improve profitability, build value and maximize their business transaction. A frequent speaker on these topics, David is President and a co-founder of Exit Planning Exchange Atlanta and past president of the Institute of Management Consultants – Georgia Chapter. David has over a dozen years of experience senior corporate roles followed by nearly 20 years of consulting to privately held businesses. His industry experience includes manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, and professional services firms: law, accounting, architecture, engineering, and design.

Date And Time

Fri, March 20, 2020

7:30 AM – 9:30 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Location

Bella’s Gourmet Kitchen

350 Embassy Row Northeast

Sandy Springs, GA 30328

View Map

REGISTER NOW

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Wendy Ellin to Present to The BENG Atlanta Chapter March 10, 2020

“It’s one thing to love what you do, and another to LOVE THE WAY YOU DO IT!” Wendy Ellin

About this Event

Wendy Ellin

Wendy Ellin is a Workplace Productivity Consultant, International Speaker, & Author of Enough Is Enough, Get Control of Your Stuff. Her insights into living an organized life are shared in her presentations with irreverence, humor, and a level of passion that motivates her audience to TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION!

Wendy talks about real-life challenges that we all experience such as email overload, being on time (or not), reasonable expectations for getting things done, and much more. It is from Wendy’s 20 plus years in the corporate arena that she drew from her own successes by working smart, not hard—that inspired her to develop the tools and techniques for increasing workplace productivity and ultimately a renewed sense of peace of mind.

“It’s one thing to love what you do, and another to LOVE THE WAY YOU DO IT!” Wendy Ellin

Date And Time

Tue, March 10, 2020

7:30 AM – 9:30 AM EDT

Add to Calendar

Location

Bella’s Gourmet Kitchen

350 Embassy Row Northeast

Sandy Springs, GA 30328

View Map

REGISTER NOW!