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CITY OF RAMSEY <br />RAMSEY RESIDENT ADVERTISING PROPOSALS <br />- PROS and CONS - <br />PROS <br />CONS <br />Wheels of Thunder (Current) <br />Established Relationship with Firm. We have worked with this <br />vendor since 2010. There may be some efficiencies in the process <br />gained with established work history <br />Does not require written contracts with advertising clients. There <br />has been conflicts with clients regarding the terms of the sale and <br />approval of ad sales. Without a written contract, the city is unable <br />to support /dismiss conflicts. <br />Local Company. Wheels of Thunder is located in the city of Ramsey. <br />Advertising sales promoted through Wheels of Thunder website. <br />Their website is primarily focused on promoting Midwest Wheels of <br />Thunder All Motor Sports Magazine (see attached example). The <br />city of Ramsey does not have a dedicated page to explain and <br />promote the Ramsey Resident. Some potential clients may be <br />deterred from purchasing advertising space after visiting this <br />website due to confusion or lack of confidence in our product. <br />Poor communication. The city has received complaints that the <br />communication with this vendor is poor. Complaints include but <br />are not limited to assuming the ad will re -run in succeeding issues <br />without approval and confusion of ad size. <br />Decreasing Sales: The number of ads sold for the last Ramsey <br />Resident was only 9. Need at least 20 ads to support the costs of <br />production. <br />The city handles accounting. The city invoices all ad sales and <br />collects all payments. Additionally, the city calculates the 50% <br />revenue payable to Wheels of Thunder. It is administratively <br />cumbersome for a service we are outsourcing. <br />Frugal Shopper <br />Requires written contracts with advertising clients. The <br />relationship between Frugal Shopper and Ramsey Resident <br />advertisers will be clear and defined so there is no confusion on <br />approvals, layout, payment, etc. <br />Potential conflict of interest between the Ramsey Resident and <br />Frugal Shopper in competition of sales revenue. A circumstance <br />may occur where an organization is faced with a fixed advertising <br />budget and they can only purchase ad space in either the Ramsey <br />Resident or Frugal Shopper. How would the sales efforts play out in <br />this circumstance? <br />Established customer base from "Frugal Shopper ". This vendor <br />produces a discount magazine circular with the local area. They <br />may be able to leverage their current client -base to solicit new ad <br />sales for the Ramsey Resident. <br />No online presence. Firm does not have a website to promote <br />sales. May limit exposure to future clients. <br />A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Highest rating possible with no <br />recorded complaints. <br />Handles accounting. The firm would handle all billing and payment <br />collection. <br />Prime Advertising & Design <br />Requires written contracts with advertising clients. The <br />relationship between Prime Advertising and Ramsey Resident <br />advertisers will be clear and defined so there is no confusion on <br />approvals, layout, payment, etc. <br />Potential conflict of interest between the Ramsey Resident and <br />competing community newsletters Prime works with. A <br />circumstance may occur where an organization is faced with a fixed <br />advertising budget and they can only purchase ad space in either <br />the Ramsey Resident or another local city's newsletter. How would <br />the sales efforts play out in this circumstance? <br />Established customer base. This vendor works with other cities (Elk <br />River, Champlin, Anoka, Andover, Coon Rapids, Brooklyn Park, etc.). <br />They may be able to leverage their current client -base to solicit <br />new ad sales for the Ramsey Resident. <br />Do not offer Sales Only service. Prime only offers a turnkey <br />newsletter product where sell ad space, design /print the <br />newsletter, mail the newsletter, and perform accounting. We <br />currently have a staff member trained to perform the designing of <br />the newsletter. This individual spends approx. 20 hours per issue on <br />the design work. A turnkey service would be at a greater expense <br />without an offset of savings in- house. it may be more of a service <br />than we need or are prepared to pay for. <br />A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Highest rating possible with one <br />recorded complaints with product /service. <br />Ad Sales: Retain 80% of all sales. Currently city retains 50 %. <br />Online Presence. This firm has a professional website with a section <br />dedicated to community publications. Ad sales may be positively <br />influenced after clients visit the site and research the firm and the <br />process. <br />CITY OF RAMSEY <br />RAMSEY RESIDENT ADVERTISING PROPOSALS <br />- PROS and CONS - <br />