Jackson, MS, May 21, 2010 – On Tuesday, May 25, one of our nation’s top real estate agents, Libbi Logan will be our guest on ResultsRevTV at Noon CDT on the ResultsRev Ustream channel (http://www.ustream.tv/user/resultsrev). Logan will share her marketing experiences and insights gained from starting and growing a real estate business during an economic downturn.

In 2009, Libbi Logan, a 2008 REALTOR™ Magazine “Top 30 Under 30 Realtor” in the n

ation, partnered with three other broker/realtors to start Cleveland, Miss. based Partnership Properties (http://www.partnershipprop.com). Despite a shaky national economy, the group has prospered greatly since its start.

Logan is a Mississippi-licensed agent/broker and small business partner an independently owned and operated real estate agency. She is a graduate of the Bolivar County Chamber Leadership Class of 2002 and a Graduate of the Mississippi Association of Realtors LeadershipMAR of 2004. She is former president of the Cleveland Board of Realtors and former chair of TEAM Cleveland, Cleveland’s Main Street/downtown redevelopment initiative. Currently, she is chair of Community Development for the Cleveland/Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, and she has maintained multi-million dollar sales level since 2002.

In this episode of ResultsRevTV, we’ll talk to Logan about she works with several business partners to achieve success, how they market to win in a down economy, and how they manage to maintain such a high level of cu

The agents at Partnership Properties work together to bring success to their real estate clients.

stomer loyalty for their business.

ResultsRevTV is a weekly 30-minute broadcast featuring a successful small business owner interview. Small business owners and managers from across America tune in each w

eek to learn helpful advice from the marketing experience of other successful small business owners. ResultsRevTV is one initiative of the Results Revolution project.

The Results Revolution is a nationwide initiative seeking to create strong economies based on locally owned & operated small businesses. We encourage consumers to shop local, equip local independent small businesses to do effective marketing, and facilitate networking in the local business community. The Results Revolution was founded by small business marketing experts Marianna Hayes Chapman and Andy Chapman. Learn more at www.resultsrevolution.com or www.facebook.com/resultsrev.

Next week on ResultsRevTV Live, Luke Abney, owner of the Rogue & Good Company and 4450 will be our guest.  The Rogue, which has been in business for 42 years, has been owned by Luke and his wife Alison for the past five years.  After the purchase of the Rogue, these parents of two opened Forty Four Fifty, a women’s retail store, in September of 2008.

In addition to the stores, the couple owns the property they are on, including the property that houses a restaurant adjacent to the businesses. With a motto of, “Yes is the answer, what is the question?” Abney realizes what makes his stores special is the experience customers have while shopping there. “We believe that our associates make the difference in why we have repeat business,” Abney says. And with close to 200 years of combined retail experience among his associates, Luke Abney knows his two stores strive to provide the best in quality and customer service.

Abney also says not only should the customer experience be special, but so should the merchandise.  He hopes the selection of merchandise, the shopping experience, and the efforts of the associates will help his customers achieve their desired clothing needs and wants.  “[Offering] that experience is definitely an advantage in our marketplace,” Abney says.

Tune in to this episode of ResultsRevTV Live to hear more from this experienced businessman as we ask him about the ins and outs of retail merchandising and his marketing approach.

Interview with Serial Entrepreneur & Publisher, Jack Criss

Jack Criss chatting with ResultsRevTV hostess, Marianna Hayes Chapman.

Yesterday, I interviewed 20-year publishing industry veteran and serial entrepreneur, Jack Criss. Criss is currently publisher of locally-owned and operated Greater Jackson Business magazine. Here are some of the questions we discussed and my paraphrases to his answers. For precise quotes, please watch the full interview on ResultsRevTV here (30 minute video).

Marianna: As a news insider, explain how small businesses can get their business covered in the media? What approach would you recommend?

Jack: Realize that the media love to be contacted and love to have their ego stroked. Recognize their work. For example, “Dear Jack, I read the article you wrote about the Two Lakes project – incredibly well written piece! I love what you’re doing with the new magazine… I have a story idea I think would fit well…” Address press releases or story ideas to specific people. Find their real name and correct spelling and send a personalized e-mail directly to that person’s e-mail address.  Be personal and find ways to connect with them unrelated to the need. Don’t mass send information to 50 journalists and address it to “Dear Sir/Madam” – those messages get trashed immediately.  If you don’t personalize a press release at least make sure it’s well written and correct and keep the information to one page as much as possible.

Marianna: How has technology played into having a successful business?

Jack: The demographic that the magazine is geared towards calls for a print magazine in addition to the website.  Jackson isn’t ready for a 100% online magazine yet, in my opinion. However, corrections can be made online within hours instead of waiting for the next edition to be printed.  We can supplement the print magazine stories, post video and photos not in the magazine and much more. Also, GJB is really a multi-media effort with the print magazine as the cornerstone providing readers and advertisers with a valuable and interesting long shelf life. But we supplement that with Facebook, a weekly radio show and vide on the web site.

Marianna: How have you overcome your fear of technology to keep up with the speed of news?

Jack: Facebook is often primarily used to communicate, network and make deals, in many cases more than e-mail. You have to get over your fear and get on Facebook.  Your competitors are on and you have to be too.

Marianna: How do you use Facebook to network while balancing your personal and professional life?

Jack: I’ve used it in incorporating my business and personal life. I’m just an ordinary guy who likes to run and has two daughters. I love being a father and a runner and a member of the community. I think being who I really am on Facebook helps me connect with others who share my interests and builds deeper relationships.

Marianna: How do you make time to do it all? Facebook, web site updates, sales, writing, events, networking and Twitter, too?

Jack: One way is that I’m leveraging the technology so that some things just happen automatically without me spending any time at all. For example, whenever a news article is posted to the web site, Facebook and Twitter are automatically updated with that information. You can leverage technology to make time to do it all without a big staff.   Facebook and Twitter all point to the magazine and help promote it.

Marianna: What do you do in your business to give back, even when cash is tight?

Jack: I can’t always give cash, but I can always give space in the magazine. Of course, certain “restrictions apply,” but non-profits that need advertising get free advertising in Greater Jackson Business – always. You’ve talked a lot about generosity in recent weeks, and this is how we do it at Greater Jackson Business – it’s important.

Marianna: What have you learned from failure?

Jack: Learn from your failures and be humble. You have to appreciate your customers more than ever.  Make friends with them and take time to develop a friendship. See them face to face on a daily or weekly basis as much as possible. Also, know when to say no and know when not to expand.

Jack talks much more on each point in the 30 minute ResultsRevTV broadcast…watch it now.

As editor of this little resource and promotional tool I like to call the Results Revolution, I have made it my prerogative that we should have at least a tiny bit of fun… As such, I’ll be occasionally – every other week or so… sharing a few snapshots and brief comments about my experiences shopping, dining or visiting locally owned and operated locations wherever we are in America.

Disclaimer: My photos are typically made with a VERY beat-up camera on my Blackberry, but hopefully you’ll get the idea. If you want REALLY fantastic photos for your commercial business, of course, you should call Tom Beck at Beck Photographic, my friend who is not always with me to save me from my camera phone shooting moments. (Disclosure: Tom has been a show sponsor but he didn’t pay me to say THAT.) Here goes…

Lots of custom options for baby doll beddinng at Javis Davis in Fairhope, Alabama.

Javis Davis in Fairhope, Alabama

While walking around downtown Fairhope, Alabama with our three kids, a small window on a side street caught the eye of my girls. They persisted, and we walked into the store – home of custom infant, child and doll bedding creator, Javis Davis. Owner Mary Lou Cothran is a jewel of a person and spent time with the girls, demo’d her web site for me, and talked to our art-loving son about the weekend Arts & Crafts Festival in Fairhope. Her store, her products and most of all, her web site, are an extraordinary experience sure to entrance the little girl in all of us. It’s a fun product, a fun experience created by a fun, charming person. The technology on her web site for this locally owned and operated small business is definitely worth a look. I hope that wasn’t the last time Mary Lou and I meet.

View of the front of the fabulous Windmill Market in downtown Fairhope, Alabama, a sustainable, local-friendly market.

Windmill Market in Fairhope, Alabama

The kids and I discovered the Windmill Market on our first Spring Break jaunt around downtown, and we took Andy back on Sunday after church for Moe’s BBQ at the Market. The Windmill Market is a completely sustainable property, with rainwater collection, composting machines, and gardens all around the building. Of course, wind powered energy from their on-site windmill also provides an easy landmark for anyone looking around downtown for the market. The market features locally grown produce, cheese, meat and prepared foods (including fantastic cookies and cakes) in the back and locally produced art, crafts and other product-based businesses in rented stalls throughout the front of the market. On weekends live music accompanies the very delicious and substantial servings from Moe’s BBQ – all can be enjoyed on picnic tables adjacent to the market. For me, the deep thought given to the “experience” of this business leaves a lasting memory. Table decorations are herbs grown in tin buckets. Borders to the dining area are straw bales  with vegetables GROWING in them. It is a truly organic, sustainable experience – fun and learning for the entire family!

Catching Fireflies in Rochester, Michigan

Catching Fireflies was looking especially "springy" on this March day.

Always a favorite of mine, I was thrilled to run right past Catching Fireflies downtown Rochester, Michigan location while out jogging and taking in above-average temperature day in Michigan. Catching Fireflies brightens this downtown in the snowy winter, but on this spring day, the flowers and bicycle out front said “Welcome Spring!” I also massively enjoyed catching up and comparing notes with Catching Fireflies owner, the very innovative and smart April McCrumb. Catching Fireflies does a lot of things right including e-commerce, e-mail marketing, blogging and a Facebook Page. I can’t help but pick up gifts for others and happies for myself here and there from this amazing business. But for today, I was thrilled to see the building up close and personal again and have it brighten my spring day. Does your building’s exterior do that for your community?

Spring Floral Design Class sign outside the Silk Worm in downtown Rochester, Michigan.

The Silk Worm

The other happy spot on my downtown Rochester, Michigan run was this great sandwich board outside of The Silk Worm. I love that this business has embraced the business trifecta by offering a value-added class as one arm of their marketing and outreach program. Can’t afford an arrangement? Okay, then afford to learn how to make your own! More businesses should be fearless and implement this tactic. The success would blow you away. It was also great to see Stanley and Christine Surratt owners of the Silk Worm later at our Rochester tweet-up.

The amberjack lunch special at Broad Street Baking Company welcomed us home in a memorable and delicious way!

Broad Street Baking Company, Jackson, Miss.

Last, but certainly not least, after Spring Break and a trip to Michigan left us road-weary, we were thrilled to walk into our hometown favorite (whose parent company sponsors the Results Revolution), Broad Street Baking Company. Chef Payton’s lunch special on this fine spring day was a grilled amberjack with a fresh corn salsa with the most delicious string beans and roasted potatoes I’ve ever put into my mouth. A truly stellar performance from the kitchen, this special treat made me take a deep breath out and thank God that great locally owned businesses are all over our great country – especially in my own backyard. What’s even better is that this great restaurant has an iPhone app that reports daily specials and a fantastic presence on Facebook and Twitter, and probably the strongest e-mail marketing effort in the Jackson metro market.

Disclosure: None of these businesses are sponsors of the Results Revolution OR our sister companies UNLESS otherwise noted in the text above. But since they’re cool places that would be considered for such a position. Regardless, they are definitely doing it right!!