MASS. MARKET
Excerpts from Business Editor Jon Chesto’s blog at massmarketblog.com
Cape campaign begins
The Cape Cod & Islands specialty license plate remains the most popular plate in the state – but it’s no surprise that it’s turning out to be tough to compete with the Red Sox in the popularity department. There are more than 48,000 Cape & Islands plates (with images of the Nauset lighthouse and Gay Head cliffs) attached to vehicles. But the Sox plate, which benefits the Jimmy Fund, is close behind, with nearly 43,000 distributed, according to the Cape & Islands license plate marketing committee.
The committee is ramping up a new campaign to draw attention to its plate, which has generated more than $17 million for economic development efforts on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket since it became available 14 years ago. Committee Chairman Paul Rumul tells me this campaign is aimed at recognizing the people who already spend an extra $50 every two years to display the plates on their cars. Spotters will hand out $5 Ben & Jerry’s coupons at certain spots on the Cape during the next few weeks to drivers with the Cape & Islands plate.
The committee is also conducting a contest through mid-August for a new tagline. Rumul says the committee might keep its current slogan – “Keep sand in your shoes all year long” – even if it adopts a new one. The entries are pouring into the committee’s Facebook page, but I have a feeling that one entry – “Cape Cod: No Tourists Allowed” – won’t be among the entries making the final cut.
Westminster Dodge wins
As the only Chrysler dealership left in the city of Boston, it sure seemed like a mistake when the Bickford family learned last year that it would lose the right to sell new cars at Westminster Dodge. That’s why it’s reassuring to see the good guys win in the end, as an arbitrator has ruled that Chrysler should give the Bickfords back their franchise. In From Chrysler’s perspective, the only mark against Westminster Dodge was that it only sold Dodges. Chrysler’s “Project Genesis” plan to cut models and consolidate dealerships had little room for solo Jeep and Dodge franchises.
When Congress created an arbitration process for dealers to try to get their franchise back, the Bickfords jumped at the chance. They were surviving as a used car dealership. But selling Dodges at the Morrissey Boulevard location was the primary mission since Charlie Bickford bought the business in the 1970s. His sons will now get the chance to build on that legacy. Jim Bickford, the dealership’s general manager, says he’s not sure when they’ll reinstall the Dodge Pentastar. But he expects it will probably be within 60 days.
Yodle hiring in Boston
There aren’t many businesses significantly increasing their workforces in Boston – or anywhere, for that matter. That’s why it’s great to see one New York firm preparing to San Jose Sharks more than quadruple its Boston staff.
Yodle Inc. plans to add nearly 80 people within the next year. That’s in addition to the 20 workers the firm currently employs at its new office on Lincoln Street, near South Station. Nearly 150 job candidates attended a job fair and open house at the Boston office on Thursday.
CEO Court Cunningham tells me Yodle has found a sweet spot in the online world by trying to bridge the gap between the traditional Yellow Pages still used by small businesses and the
Other articles:
http://trololo.co.uk/dayup111/2010/06/09/police-seek-man-after-bomb-thr/
http://yangxi.ambon-manise.com/2010/08/24/bikers-peak-performance/
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