Are You Short Term or Long Term?

How long are you and your business planning on staying around?

Are you here for the short term or long term?

That’s an important question that we as consumers want to know.

As we enter the holiday season there are certain types of businesses that are seasonal and by the very nature of their type of business are short term.

Others plan on being long term but the business fails and they end up being short term.

Those aren’t the types of businesses I’m talking about.

Recently a tent and truck came to Fort Wayne, Indiana, set up in the parking lot of a shopping mall with a sign that advertised 20 ribeye steaks for $25.

Instant scam alerts went off in my head and most people.  But not all people.

First off, this is a scam and I have no idea how the company behind this has stayed in business.

Maybe it’s a loss-leader?  You know where a company sells something at such a low price that it seems unbelievable, but it’s just to get you to also buy something that they make money with.

Maybe, but, no.

Sunday I did my research by simply Googling 20 ribeye steaks for $25 and found the company behind this short term stunt. Homestead Steaks out of Missouri.  Here’s a link to the Better Business Bureau complaint page about them.

This company has been around for 10 years so you might think they are a long term company, but don’t be fooled.  They operate with a short term business plan.  Come to a city, like Fort Wayne, set up shop and advertise online and elsewhere to get as many suckers as they can for a few days and then leave town before their sucker customers discover they were scammed.

Their business plan is simple. Con as many people into buying sub-quality frozen “meat” that is worthless and probably dangerous to consume.  Keep moving from town to town so your customers can’t get their money back when they discover your offer of 20 ribeye steaks for $25 really was too good to be true and all the food you sold was a rip-off.

Now let’s look at an honest business that sells meat.  Jamison Specialty Meats in Fort Wayne.

Jamison’s is a prime example of long term.  In business since 1946, they were the place my parents went for corned beef when I was growing up and we still visit for the good stuff.

The whole business model at Jamison’s was built on quality, and trust.  They have earned that trust now for multiple generations because of the quality and the way they run their three locations in Fort Wayne.

That’s long term thinking, not short term.

There are some long term businesses that might seem short term because they are seasonal.  A couple of examples are Darlington’s Holiday Warehouse which is only open in the couple of months leading up to Christmas.  There are also some temporary Christmas tree lots that pop up but some of them I consider long term because they return year after year and develop a loyal customer following.

The determining factors I look for in determining if a business is long term or short term is the honesty and integrity of the people in charge.

A short termer is only looking out for themselves.  Get as much money as possible fast and they could care less about the customer.  Like the 20 ribeye steaks for $25 people.

A long termer is also looking to make a profit, but not by ripping people off and scamming them.  A long termer wants to build a positive reputation with their customers and make money because they are honest and offer a good product or service.

Mr and Ms Business Person, which one are you?  If you have the long term mentality, even if you are just a few years old and want help growing, let’s talk.  And if you are a short-termer, please just go away.

I do my best to protect my WOWO radio listeners from short termers and welcome long termers with open arms.