by Rabbett, your Webmeister
November 2nd, 1995 - 12:20 a.m.
One of the major major banks and some of the other big players in town started a very controversial promotion recently - designed, as they explain it, to stimulate a positive outlook regarding Hawai`i's current bleak economic situation. They're hoping that spending 1.3 million dollars in re-allocated ad revenues might stimulate a business upswing in our state. (For those of you who don't know, Hawai`i is in a deep recession right now, and thanks to our last governor, the state itself is currently in deep kim chee financially.)
So now, almost every day, we find these cutesy "Thumbs Up Hawai`i" Logos all over ads in our newspapers and on our TV screens and we're bonused with some cutesy little radio spots telling us to stick up our thumbs and spend some more dough...especially with some of our larger companies' hotels, banks, stores, golf courses, etc....
The criticism of the Thumbs Up program was immediate and loud...vicious and shrill. The critics suggested spending the money by giving employees raises or creating new jobs, or helping small companies but, that only made the Thumbs Up people more determined. Their print ads broadsided back - a positive outlook is better than a negative one or no outlook at all or something like that and soon even downtown lit up one afternoon with a rally at Tamarind Park! "THUMBS UP-Oom Pah Pah!!!
At first, I stayed out of the whole scene. I watched and I thought about all of this a bit. Small Business Hawai`i's Sam Slom blasted the campaign right away...in fact you can read his feelings online here Here and Orson Swindle took a poke in the same Small Business NewsletterHere.
I watched and I thought about it all and then it hit me!
I called down to Thumbs Up Headquarters and tried to sell them an ad or two. I figured, hey, I'm a small business. One of the big reasons that I have gone into deep hock to build this site, is to help promote our state and it's people and our small businesses...sincerely....and yes, I am trying to create a new career for myself at the same time. I am a communicator, and this is my new medium and so far people by and large think that I am doing a good job here with the H4, or so I thought.
To make a long story short, it took me a week and a half to find the right department to speak with. It then took a week to find the right person in charge to pitch. Then I had to track her down.
When we spoke, I was pleasantly surprised..she was nice and receptive and said she even liked the H4 and had been on here several times. We chatted and I proposed a small buy of about a thousand dollars for a year online here to show good faith and support on their part.
(Why a grand would pay for both the H4's connectivity and frame relay bills for two and half months!...what a boost that would be!)
"Please send me a proposal and some rates," she said.
I did.
A week went by.
Then I called.
"We won't be making any new advertising purchases at this time" .... etc.etc.etc.
So yeah, now I feel bummed - kinda like Sam and Orson but, hey guys, I tried to take the higher road. I have tried to build the H4 to be a reputable, comprehensive, loving, adoring pro-Hawai`i site, and I have worked slavishly and spent all my own money for 15 months on this project and still, I wasn't good enough to get a grand out of 1.3 mill in re-allocated ad money.
Hey, let's face it, I'm small potatoes. I don't golf, I don't move, shake or schmooze with the right crowd. I tried to take the high road and thought I'd give the Thumbs Uppers a shot at proving their word with a little positive action down here in the Cyber-trenches and let's just sum it up this way folks.
Aloha no,
Rabbett
PS: interesting to note...none of my fellow Small Business Hawaii member businesses have patronized or supported the H4 yet and darn the luck if my dues for another year aren't due and ya know...I'm more in debt this year than last...go figgah!?
PPS: two nights in a row now I have walked outside to gander up at our beautiful Hawaiian sky and I've caught a shooting star - you gotta believe folks - miracles do happen, at least that's what I keep telling myself... goodnight all.