Greetings!
It’s been slightly over a year since we lost a good friend… November 9, 2012, was the day that Progressive Talk died in Portland. Yes, KPOJ continues as an automated feed of sports talk, but the KPOJ we all knew is gone. As everyone waits for the new XRAY-FM to come on line early next year I still have a couple KPOJ-related issues on my mind to close out 2013. The first is our country’s crippling lack of balanced information and its effect on our democracy. This month’s “DENY KPOJ” article will tell you about the petition we started last month to deny their license renewal, why we did it, how it’s going, and how you can help. The second issue may not have the nationwide importance of media consolidation but it may have an even greater impact on us here at the shop…
KPOJ was a beacon of solid information, but another thing that made it special was the fact that it was a LOCAL station. Today many radio stations’ content is fed to them from afar, and they fill in local traffic and news reports to make it sound like they’re local. As a real local station KPOJ was an excellent venue for LOCAL businesses, especially Progressive ones, to advertise. Over the years KPOJ introduced us to hundreds of new clients, helping our business grow. Now it’s gone, and that stream of new clients is gone with it. It’s a cut that in itself has been hard to deal with, but it’s not the only challenge we’re facing.
You certainly know that the Sellwood Bridge Project sits right on our doorstep. Although the bridge is safe and open, the project has still meant a drop off in business as people avoid the construction. While there are traffic slowdowns, the inconvenience shouldn’t stand in the way of anyone who wants to use our service. Nevertheless, we’ve seen a drop in people coming in. We made plans to weather the bridge rebuild, but the reality of the impact is worse than we had expected.
We are known for quality auto repair, our extraordinary service and being involved in local causes, but something basic can’t be overlooked: we’re a business, and the life of any business depends on new clients. That’s why I’d specifically like to ask for your help. Your personal referrals have always been our number one source of new clients and they are needed now more than ever… To make it easy to refer someone new to us we’re offering a 20%-off-labor coupon for YOU if you buy a Gift Certificate for $50 or more before the end of the year, which could easily save you more than $50 when you do your next repair! And keep an eye out for more rewards… in January and February we’re planning a “Client Referral Roundup” to encourage referrals and benefit some of the non-profit groups featured in our past Charitable Giving Calendars.
With help from our many loyal clients we will make it through this bridge nightmare so that we will be able to continue our tradition of impeccable service for years to come.
Take Care and Make a Great Holiday season!
