Russ Bremner This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. JacksonCountyPilot.com - News

   www.livewiredesigngroup.com/ne - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/13/2001   Last Visited: 12/30/2001

   The group, headed by Russ Bremner, a facilitator for the Southwest Minnesota Foundation, has had two brainstorming sessions so far. A select panel of individuals from the committee will review suggestions and finances to select a viable option and make their recommendations.
   
   The SRDC board justifies its request by reminding counties of the economic impact the group has had on the nine-county area. The SRDC has brought $61 million into the area from the programs they have administered over the years. Plus, the SRDC was instrumental in the development of the Southwest Housing Partnership and Prairieland Economic Development, both of which are now independent. When Prairie Expo was being planned, each of the nine counties also passed two resolutions in favor of the tourist attraction.

2. 2. SWMF News

   www.swmnfoundation.org/visionN - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/20/2001   Last Visited: 11/22/2002

   All true says Russ Bremner, consultant for the Southwest Minnesota Foundation's (SWMF) One-on-One Marketing Program. But the definition he prefers is, "Whatever is needed to profitably sell a product or service." "Furthermore", he adds, " the lack of real marketing is the biggest single obstacle to business success throughout rural Minnesota. So many businesses know how to make a great product or provide a service, but just don't know how to profitably sell what they make or do"
   
   Bremner should know. After 34 years in marketing management at the 3M Company, he took early retirement and began his consulting activity. In 1998, the Southwest Minnesota Foundation asked for his help to work with some clients in near default with their loans. His success with these clients led to the formulation of the One-on-One Marketing Program, now an important initiative of the SWMF. Since then, he has worked with approximately 75 businesses and non-profit agencies in southwest Minnesota. He points out "from garage start-ups to multi-million dollar firms, I hear the same questions…‘How can I sell more product' and ‘How can I improve my profit'?" His answers always involve "know your costs" and "have a plan."
   
   One-on-One Marketing begins with a client agreement and one to two hours of questions, which he later distills into an analysis and step-by-step action plan. Says Bremner, " I will then stay in touch with the client by adding them to my ‘trap line' of previous clients, each of whom I will visit three to four times to help implement their plans. I won't spend more than ten hours per client and I won't spend any hours if I can't be of help."
   
   An interview typically begins with ‘tell me about your business' and the follow up question ‘why should I buy your product or service?' It then moves to ‘strengths and weaknesses', ‘personal and corporate goals', a ‘five-year vision of sales and profits', and a lengthy discussion of ‘strategies and action plans'. It concludes with ‘other' and questions such as ‘do you have a will?' (surprisingly, many do not!), ‘are your records backed up?', and ‘contingency plans.'
   
   The subsequent analysis usually includes a benefits work sheet, in which the business owner lists the features of his/her product and explains why each one will ‘save money, make money, or solve problems.
   ...
   Over 90 percent of the businesses that Bremner worked with gave him a good or excellent rating. Bremner says, "I judge success in three ways. First, I always ask for a 1-10 rating of my strategies and input from the client; not for applause, but so I can fix anything less than a five. Next, when I am offered coffee on my first visit and cookies are added on my follow-up calls, I know I'm on solid ground. The real key, however, lies in results. Sales for some have doubled within a year, profits for most are improved, and confidence for all is enhanced by knowing that someone is interested enough to help."
   
   Bremner adds, "One-on-One Marketing may not be for everyone and may not work if the client chooses not to make it work, but if I can distill 50 years of sales and marketing experience into ten hours and offer it to a client who needs it, every business should at least consider it. Any benefit to the client is immediately translated to the entire southwest Minnesota economy and helps fulfill the business and economic development goals of the SWMF."
   
   "Besides," says Bremner, "The ratings, the cookies, and the many successes (in that order) are all fine, but the real bonus for me is the many friendships I've made throughout the southwest Minnesota area. Helping a good friend achieve business success is the best of all worlds and gives me the most satisfaction."
   
   ...
   "My work with Russ has been a huge success. I now have more orders than ever before and the business is thriving."

3. 3. JacksonCountyPilot.com - News

   www.jacksoncountypilot.com/new - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/13/2001   Last Visited: 11/13/2001

   The group , headed by Russ Bremner , a facilitator for the Southwest Minnesota Foundation , has had two brainstorming sessions so far. A select panel of individuals from the committee will review suggestions and finances to select a viable option and make their recommendations.
   
   The SRDC board justifies its request by reminding counties of the economic impact the group has had on the nine-county area. The SRDC has brought $61 million into the area from the programs they have administered over the years. Plus , the SRDC was instrumental in the development of the Southwest Housing Partnership and Prairieland Economic Development , both of which are now independent. When Prairie Expo was being planned , each of the nine counties also passed two resolutions in favor of the tourist attraction.