Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing

I don't know who wrote this; it's been around for years. But it may apply here.

The Man Who Sold Hot Dogs
There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes so he read no newspapers. But he sold good hot dogs. He put up signs on the highway telling people how good the hot dogs were. He stood by the side of the road and cried, "Buy a hot dog mister?" And people bought.

He increased his meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out.

But then something happened.

His son said, "Father, haven't you been listening to the radio? Haven't you been reading the newspapers? There's a big recession. The European situation is terrible. The domestic situation is worse."

Whereupon the father thought, "Well, my son's been to college, he reads the newspapers and he listens to the radio. He ought to know."

So the father cut down on his bun orders, took down his advertising signs and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway selling hot dogs. And his hot dog sales fell almost overnight.

"You're right, son," the old man said to his boy. "We're certainly in the middle of a great recession."

Ted, I couldn't agree with you more.

Also, what type of businesses were they really surveying here? Consider the following two quotes

"The Discover Small Business Watch is a monthly index of the economic confidence of the nation's 22 million businesses with five or fewer employees."

It then goes on to discuss the research methodology
"The Discover Small Business Watch is compiled each month by Rasmussen Reports, LLC, an independent research firm, based on telephone interviews and survey responses from approximately 1,000 small business owners and 4,000 potential users of small business products and services. "

So they found 1000 small businesses with 5 or fewer employees that had time to take a survey? Some weeks I can hardly find the time to even talk to people I know, much less take a survey. It sounds to me like these businesses aren't putting forth the effort to be successful.

Also, the statistic wasn't there, but I would be curious how many small businesses refused or did not have time to participate in the survey? Was this factored into Discover's Watch?

Can you explain what a "small business recession" is?
Howe is that different from a normal recession?

Thanks very much.
Rick

No wisdom to share, but I would like to get your opinions. I was planning a start up Fine Art Gallery. I am borrowing no money and own most of my inventory out right (with the rest on consignment). My demographic is high end. Do you think the art collectors will keep buying or hold on tighter to their money in these creepy ecomonmic times? Thanks, Oliver