It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Project Rev first launched. In June 2010, nine small business owners were selected to participate in a year-long marketing lab where they also received $5000 in products and services from Deluxe Corporation. I was invited on board as a spokesperson and over the past year I’ve conducted media interviews on behalf of Project Rev, given webinars and presentations to the participants, written content for the blog, and consulted with many of the participants one-on-one. What a great experience!
We recently held our final event together in Minneapolis where we discussed results, participants received some additional training, and several dozen employees from Deluxe joined in on the fun. We were all treated to a dinner cruise on Lake Minnetonka, and the following night we had a celebration fondue dinner where participants received gifts (iPads!) and were honored for their participation.
What We Learned from Project Rev
The good news is that collectively the Project Rev participants’ businesses grew by leaps and bounds—despite the economy. Statistically one or more of them should have gone out of business. Not only did they survive, they thrived.
What surprised me most was how much the business owners were yearning for marketing support. They eagerly accepted all opportunities to learn and enjoyed building marketing plans with their Deluxe marketing advisors.
Participants also received many great products and services over the past year. They had new websites developed and logos designed. They also ordered promotional products and developed direct mail campaigns. (You can learn more about these offerings from Deluxe here.) In addition, they received professional media training and were featured in major media outlets across the country.
It was a rewarding experience all around, and after getting to know the participants personally, I found it hard to say goodbye. I also noticed a glimmer in the eyes of the Deluxe employees and Project Rev participants. The inspiration bounced around the walls of the hotel meeting room. All involved were touched by this experience, and we all look forward to tracking the success of the participants in the future.
What’s Next for Project Rev
Project Rev 2.0 is coming soon! Watch for announcements about the call for applications coming in August. It will be another fantastic opportunity for small business owners to get support for business growth!