Maryland-based Jerry Strauss has worked as a business executive for over 20 years. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Maryland College Park. His experience spans a variety of industries, giving him a strong set of skills in project management, marketing, team building, and business development. The current CEO of Remarkable Charities, Strauss is always striving to bring innovation and growth to each business he helps build.
Business Focus sat down with Jerry Strauss to discuss his success in keeping local businesses flourishing against their national competitors.
Q: What do you think sets local businesses apart from bigger corporate chains?
Jerry Strauss: I think a local business’s connection to the community gives them an edge when it comes to competing with larger chains. They are directly part of the conversation about what a particular community needs and wants. For me, I can go home and talk to friends and family about what issues they are currently facing. Being able to adapt to the needs of your community is crucial when working against bigger competitors. I also think building personal relationships with customers and clients is a huge draw for many people. Knowing customers by their first name and being invested in their well-being creates the human touch that many national chains can’t replicate.
Q: What is the biggest challenge you have faced when competing against national companies? What did you do to overcome those challenges?
Jerry Strauss: In my work with Remarkable Charities, we partner with local non-profits. Our goal is to support and empower these organisations to reach their goals. It is easy to see what a national organisation is doing right, and copy their marketing tactics, but this approach is not going to set you apart from those organisations. At Remarkable Charities we always strive to take the approach of innovation. We want new and effective ways to reach potential supporters. What has set us up for success is monitoring and evaluating the progress of campaigns and new tactics. If something isn’t working you can’t be afraid to let it go and try something new.
Q: How important is community outreach when serving a local area?
Jerry Strauss: Community outreach is extremely important. I believe that the relationship that we have with our community goes both ways. They support us, and in turn it is our responsibility to support them. By giving back we are fostering relationships of trust and loyalty. When it comes to working with nonprofits, outreach is probably one of the most effective ways to see engagement. In my work I try to prioritise community engagement over brand awareness when it comes to strategic planning for company growth.
Q: What role does social media take on for local businesses? Is it a useful tool and how much does it attribute to gaining new clients?
Jerry Strauss: So much has changed over the last 10 years when it comes to marketing and advertising for a business. I do believe that social media is a necessary part of the conversation when it comes to reaching new clients. If we don’t use online marketing we know that our bigger competitors are, which puts us in a very compromising position. While I think social media or Google ads can be great tools, what makes running a local business so special is the ability to reach people through word of mouth and door to door marketing.
Q: With constant changes in technology, do you think the need for local business will diminish over time?
Jerry Strauss: Honestly no, I don’t think local businesses will ever be completely pushed out of the door. While we are seeing more and more online and international businesses pop up, there is nothing that beats being able to connect with a local team in person. I would argue the personal and human touch that we provide at Remarkable Charities is the kind of thing that people will appreciate until the end of time. What is great about technology is that we have been able to integrate it into what we do. Whether it is giving people the option to have a meeting online, or setting up online donation campaigns so people can make a difference even from their couch, I think technology has given us an advantage.
