Local Businessman Weighs in on Economy, Town and Gown Issues
Chris Kuntz | Contributor
Last Updated:4/30/09 Section: Features
The president and founder of a successful local advertising and marketing firm, Mr. Timothy Andrews took the time to answer the Informer's questions about living and working in Williamsburg, as well as how the national economic downturn has affected his small local business.
"The poor economy has had an undeniable impact on businesses all across the spectrum," said Mr. Andrews. The latest unemployment numbers from March show that unemployment has risen 40% from this time last year, from 5.1 to 8.5%. At the same time, national GDP went down 5.8% from the third to fourth quarter of 2008.
"One of the things that has impacted my business very directly," Mr. Andrews continued, "and I've seen it throughout both large and small businesses in the last six months, is that one of the first things businesses cut is advertising, public relations and marketing."
Although perhaps the easiest choice to slice the budget, Mr. Andrews insists that cutting advertising and marketing in an economic downturn is precisely the wrong response. "This is in fact exactly the wrong thing to do. At the precise moment that businesses really should be investing in promoting themselves and bringing business in, more often than not the heads of those organizations are so concerned about the short-term bottom line that they sacrifice a nominal investment that can and will have long-lasting benefits to the company." Mr. Andrews says five of his own clients in the Williamsburg and regional area have either completely cut their budget for advertising or dramatically slashed it.
A Williamsburg resident since 1997, Mr. Andrews enjoys the small town feel. He moved from just outside Washington, DC, because he wanted to get away from the traffic and crime. "It's a great atmosphere to raise kids," said the proud father of two.
However, he knows that Williamsburg has its warts. Many students would agree with Mr. Andrew's assessment that there exists a certain "sense of entitlement" among local residents and businesses. "Sometimes they operate as if they're doing you a favor, that customers are bothersome to the people working in the stores."
He also notes a certain "tension" exists between residents and students. "As someone who has lived and worked right in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg, and as someone who has worked closely with students from the College and local residents, I've had an opportunity to see both sides of the equation pretty well."
Mr. Andrews attributes the tension to those outspoken local residents who believe that young college students simply do not fit in with the "elite" image they want to maintain. "I've never quite understood it because this town exists in no small measure because of Thomas Jefferson and the College of William and Mary. An awful lot of us wouldn't be here today if the College and its students hadn't been so exemplary throughout all the years of teaching and learning."
"The poor economy has had an undeniable impact on businesses all across the spectrum," said Mr. Andrews. The latest unemployment numbers from March show that unemployment has risen 40% from this time last year, from 5.1 to 8.5%. At the same time, national GDP went down 5.8% from the third to fourth quarter of 2008.
"One of the things that has impacted my business very directly," Mr. Andrews continued, "and I've seen it throughout both large and small businesses in the last six months, is that one of the first things businesses cut is advertising, public relations and marketing."
Although perhaps the easiest choice to slice the budget, Mr. Andrews insists that cutting advertising and marketing in an economic downturn is precisely the wrong response. "This is in fact exactly the wrong thing to do. At the precise moment that businesses really should be investing in promoting themselves and bringing business in, more often than not the heads of those organizations are so concerned about the short-term bottom line that they sacrifice a nominal investment that can and will have long-lasting benefits to the company." Mr. Andrews says five of his own clients in the Williamsburg and regional area have either completely cut their budget for advertising or dramatically slashed it.
A Williamsburg resident since 1997, Mr. Andrews enjoys the small town feel. He moved from just outside Washington, DC, because he wanted to get away from the traffic and crime. "It's a great atmosphere to raise kids," said the proud father of two.
However, he knows that Williamsburg has its warts. Many students would agree with Mr. Andrew's assessment that there exists a certain "sense of entitlement" among local residents and businesses. "Sometimes they operate as if they're doing you a favor, that customers are bothersome to the people working in the stores."
He also notes a certain "tension" exists between residents and students. "As someone who has lived and worked right in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg, and as someone who has worked closely with students from the College and local residents, I've had an opportunity to see both sides of the equation pretty well."
Mr. Andrews attributes the tension to those outspoken local residents who believe that young college students simply do not fit in with the "elite" image they want to maintain. "I've never quite understood it because this town exists in no small measure because of Thomas Jefferson and the College of William and Mary. An awful lot of us wouldn't be here today if the College and its students hadn't been so exemplary throughout all the years of teaching and learning."
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