Utilizing partnerships to grow your business

I refuse to think about Fall. Say what you will, but I’ve been loving the weather this summer and am not ready to be writing an article about a fall sport. However, if I have to be completely honest, I am pretty excited about the start of 2015-2016 Portland Trail Blazers season.

“Are you crazy? Haven’t you heard about all the players we’ve lost?” Yes I have. And I’ve mourned. But you see, my excitement stems from another reason: Better Business Bureau is a proud sponsor of the team and win or lose, our partnership is one that I can only describe as a success.

BBB and the Blazers entered into a partnership last year sharing a common interest in educating, community support and consumer protection. One of the major highlights happened in the spring when we awarded a high school student a $10,000 scholarship check in front of 20,000 cheering fans during the Blazers halftime show. It was a huge moment for this young man, BBB and the Blazers because it reinforced the commitment that both organizations made to improve the lives of young consumers.

Like the Blazers, BBB strives to stay relevant—which has been increasingly difficult in today’s digital world. Our partnership put BBB back into the mix. Last season, the Blazers connected BBB with 950,000 fans across the Northwest. With the support of our Accredited Business partners, BBB’s brand and mission was showcased in front of fans during every home game, in the community, at an exclusive watch party, during the first-ever Blazers/BBB Business Summit at the Moda Center and the playoffs.

So as you think about new and creative ways to grow your business, expand your brand and reach new markets, consider partnerships. Reach out to other companies that share the same mission as you and see how you could pool your resources into a mutually beneficial relationship. Two is definitely better than one and at times it has exponential results.

If you’re a BBB Accredited Business and want to join our partnership with the Blazers, it’s not too late. Shoot me an email if you’re interested in learning more. We’d be happy to have you join our team. Go Blazers!

Oregon AG’s Office Puts Magazine Subscription Scam Out of Business

Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon State Attorney General

We received big news this week from the Oregon Attorney General’s Office when Ellen Rosenblum announced a $3 million settlement with Publisher’s Payment Processing.

According to the AG’s office, the White City company had operated a nationwide scam through a newspaper and magazine subscription ruse.

The numbers are staggering.

Better Business Bureau has received more than 800 complaints against the company within the last 3 years. These include sales and delivery issues as well as problems with service. The most common complaint was billing and collection issues. The volume of complaints, as well as the company’s failure to respond to many of them, have contributed to an F rating for the business.

Consumers told BBB they received bills from the company for magazines they already have subscriptions for, implying it was time for renewal. However, those consumers told us the subscriptions had not expired and they did not originally order from Publisher’s Payment Processing. What’s more, some consumers said the company claimed to have the lowest renewal fee, but they found they could get a better price if they ordered through their magazine’s publisher directly. Many told BBB that Publisher’s Payment Processing would charge a $20 processing fee just to cancel renewals.

The AG’s office says the settlement is not an admission of guilt, but Publisher’s Payment Processing will have to pay up to $500,000 in restitution to Oregon consumers who overpaid or did not receive their magazines. Service fees will also be refunded to Oregonians who have previously received refunds.

“This was a sophisticated operation that generated millions of dollars each year from consumers across the country who thought they were doing business with a reputable magazine or newspaper publisher, but were instead working with a company that made its money by scamming them,” Rosenblum said. “It’s a particular embarrassment to the legitimate Oregon business community when national companies based here don’t play by the rules. The only option was to shut them down—and we have.”

Read the complete Assurance of Voluntary Compliance here.

How My Dream Wedding Gown Turned into a Nightmare

Image courtesy of Rosen Georgiev | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I love to save money. So when it came time to buy my wedding dress, I was determined to get the deal of a lifetime.

My quest took me to the Internet where I dutifully typed in the designer and style number of the gown of my dreams. Immediately tons of search results filled my screen with prices that were incredibly cheap. All of a sudden, my $3,000 gown could be mine for a mere $400. Done! I entered my credit card information, name and address and hit the “Buy” button. The website warned me that it would take up to a month before my dress arrived. No problem—I’d placed the order well in advance, so I figured I had plenty of time.

Three months later, I was still waiting for my gown.

Panicked, I started emailing the company, asking when I would receive my dress. No response. I called and got the runaround—not to mention the language barrier that comes with buying from an online retailer overseas.

Then, by some miracle, the dress finally arrived at my doorstep. But my relief quickly vanished when I saw that the gown was stuffed into a dingy bag barely bigger than a freezer bag and smelled like a musty basement. Inside I found a cheap, counterfeit dress that looked nothing like the pictures of the gown I had seen online. The material was flimsy, the sewing was poorly done and it didn’t fit.

Sadly, it was too late for me to get another dress, and of course no one returned my calls when I tried to get a refund.

Learn from my mistake. Get your gown from a trusted bridal shop—or if you order online, do your research first and read reviews. I wish I had known back then that BBB has a list of Accredited Businesses specifically in the wedding industry. That would’ve saved me a lot of trouble and heartache.

Counterfeit gowns are just one of the many areas engaged couples need to beware of as they’re planning for their big day. You can read all about the latest wedding scams and how to avoid them here.

What stresses you out the most when it comes to planning your wedding? Take our Facebook poll!

Seeing BBB Through the Eyes of a Newbie

Have you ever wondered what Better Business Bureau is all about? Words like “trust” and “ethics” may come to mind, but what is BBB really like? Well, let me give you an insider’s look from the perspective of a newbie.

I joined the Public Relations team at BBB in August. Before that, I had spent 10 years in broadcast television as a news reporter. Back then, I had seen BBB as a source for scam information, fraud alerts and the authority on ethical business practices.

None of that has changed. Now as an employee, I see that indeed BBB places marketplace trust at the top of its priorities list. But there are some things I’ve learned about the organization that surprised me.

1. Having fun is a priority.

One of the first things I was told as a new hire is that BBB wants me to enjoy coming to work. And they mean it! There’s a sense of humor here. People play pranks on each other, dance, joke and laugh. In the summer we have a Fun Day, where the entire office goes to a park to play, eat and enjoy each other’s company. And come Halloween, we have the most elaborate costume contest ever. It’s cut-throat!

2. BBB is a not-for-profit.

In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve learned that BBB does so much for the community. We host Secure Your ID Day events twice a year, where consumers can shred their documents and recycle old cell phones for free. We provide mediation services between businesses and customers. We have a foundation that’s giving away a $10,000 scholarship to a local high school senior this year. Not to mention the countless people who have stepped foot in our office looking for help because they’ve been ripped off.

3. Employees are valued here.

There’s a big board in my office that lists BBB’s core values. Around that list is a circle of words that reads, “Our People: Talent Acquisition, Retention and People Development.” BBBers actually have a name for this circle: They call it The Hug. That’s because BBB believes it’s the people who hug and hold the success of the organization together. That makes us a valuable and treasured commodity.

4. BBB is led by a man who believes in doing the right thing.

I’m talking about our CEO Tyler Andrew, who will undoubtedly read this. Obviously it’s awkward and embarrassing for me to write about him since he’s my boss, but I felt compelled to add him to this list because he truly is one of the most surprising things about BBB.

Let me be clear: I’m not the “kissing up” type.

Tyler is the kind of guy who goes out of his way to make you feel welcome, to push you to not settle for second best and is always open to new ideas. Basically (and amazingly) he’s a guy you’d like to grab a drink with. And you know what I’ve discovered? The kind of culture he fosters makes employees enjoy working for him. It’s like we all want to go the extra mile for him because we know he’d do that for us.

It’s a simple formula, if you really think about it. It’s a shame it’s so rare.

Recently Tyler came down for a surprise visit to our Oregon office. He brought balloons and gifts and revealed the theme for our new year: Onward and Upward. I look forward to seeing what new surprises 2015 will bring!