The REALITIES of BUSINESS.... by Alfonso Todd

Everyday The Epicenter is contacted by people with new business ideas/events who desire to utilize our marketing/promotional services and few are from Allentown, PA (our base of operations) originally. Many are coming with this creative mindset due to the "gold rush" or "renaissance" momentum that "A-town" has been exuding for the past year or so. Now, in all honesty, these are not the desired corporate or Fortune 500 business  the "powers that be" are hoping to attract when it comes to our fair city; these individuals/groups are entrepreneurs with vision, upstarts, and limited budgets, which in my opinion, are just as valuable. (Those world-wide conglomerates have to start from somewhere). 

The downside is that many pre-existing businesses that have weathered the storm of Allentown's depression are feeling the squeeze due to needed upgrades, local politics, or just lack of relevancy. 

 I have spoken to numerous surrounding business  owners about  the promotion of their establishments for a while and many stated they would be fine. Most didn't have a marketing budget, continue to pass out paper flyers, and hope "word of mouth" will help them continue to obtain revenue so they can stay open and re-gain traction in the public eye.

 I have offered many the opportunity to come and speak on our local internet platform,  PROLIFICK RADIO / www.prolifick.com  or to assist in creating annual fundraising events. Unfortunately, many were "chained" to their business and never made it to the station and no ideas were ever cultivated about re-introducing their brand to the customer base.

 I believe it IS a travesty and will be a huge loss for the city if many of these historical and "one of a kind" businesses are allowed to shut their doors permanently, but it is a sign of the times. We can't depend solely on local support especially with the internet and/or world wide web at our disposal. Many of The Epicenter's clients are from outside of the Allentown, PA area, Atlanta, GA, North Carolina, New York, Florida, etc. 

The days of the guaranteed success of the brick and mortar plan are over and, unfortunately, many are finding out too late that BUY LOCAL is a great slogan, but in the end, it may not be what the public actually does.