nonblogger.

Want to kill off your brand? Start by cutting your prices…

According to a new report by The Futures Company, companies that lower the prices of their products during the recession may risk damaging long-term brand perceptions because suspicious consumers assume something is wrong with the product or brand if it’s being discounted.
70% of the consumers will say “the brand is overpriced”. Another 62% of consumers said ”the product is old, about to expire or about to be updated, and the company is trying to get rid of it to make room for the new stuff.”
Results from the Dollars & Consumer Sense 2009 study show that maintaining prices even in a down economy may actually be the best way to protect brand image.

The Bailout comes to Main Street at last…President Obama and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner announced three important initiatives that will help small businesses survive and thrive this near-depression.

1. Small business loan fees will be eliminated from 7(a) and 504 loans – up to $75,000.
2. The SBA is raising the maximum amount of these loans it will guarantee up to 90% – from a 75% ceiling.
3. And with Geithner’s Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, an additional $15 billion of the TARP fund will be used specifically for small-business loan-backed securities, starting this month.