Community Business Consulting
COSIFE searched for a new business in our community that was struggling to establish solid customer relations. We found the Tatman’s Fine Jewelry Boutique. COSIFE discovered that we could teach Mike and Betty Tatman how to use technology to achieve their goal of regularly contacting customers. We developed a four-part database system with information from the Philanthropic Educational Organization, Branson Chamber of Commerce, Branson Rotary, and recent walk-in customers.
A month after COSIFE created the database system, the Tatman’s along with COSIFE and a local charitable foundation invited community members to an evening event. The event drew approximately 200 community members and resulted in positive profits for the new business.
After helping the Tatman's overcome their obstacle of introducing themselves to the community, COSIFE offered to teach basic computer skills. Once a month, COSIFE visited Tatman’s to teach new skills such as how to update the current database system, organize files, produce documents, and create promotional publications.
Recognizing the benefit of this project, COSIFE quickly began to integrate the same model for another small business in Branson. COSIFE helped revitalize Reflections Art Gallery with the same database technology. Unlike Tatman’s, Reflections had already established their presence in the community, but COSIFE recognized the potential to track current customer activity with the same technology. COSIFE taught small business owners, Mel and Liz Bilbo, the advantages of tracking customer activity with a database system. COSIFE developed and regularly produced reports of customer buying activity. The business then used the reports to target customers when similar new products arrived. As a result, Reflections Art Gallery doubled their expected sales of the new painting titled, “Mountain Paradise.”
Empowering two small businesses to create efficient target markets, COSIFE renewed our commitment to promoting sustainable local business and rebuilding confidence in the local market.
