What is Project REV?

Project REV is a yearlong marketing lab created by Deluxe and SCORE to help small businesses discover and learn how to use marketing tools that will lead more customers to them.

How has Project REV evolved since it was first introduced?

During Project REV’s inaugural year, nine small businesses were selected to participate from across the U.S. Each business owner was assigned an expert marketing advisor from Deluxe to help analyze their business situation and create customized marketing plans, with access to $5,000 in Deluxe marketing products and services support.

In Project REV 2012, 10 small businesses will receive up to $15,000 in marketing products and services from Deluxe to support their plans. Plus, participants will be offered an even broader range of marketing products and services to grow their businesses.

Why did Deluxe create Project REV?

We know from extensive conversations and research that marketing can be frustrating and intimidating for small business owners. Marketing can be expensive, and many small business owners have hit-or-miss results. Moreover, many business people don’t know if their marketing is producing results or not.

We are dedicated to helping small businesses identify the marketing programs that produce results for them, and Project REV serves as a great marketing lab where we can interact with small businesses on an intimate level. We learn as much from them as they learn from their Project REV experience. Last year’s participants each created uniquely tailored marketing plans that increased their visibility and brought them more customers. See the blogs written by the original participants.

Why don’t you just offer companies the chance to receive cash?

There are no silver bullets in growing a business. Project REV requires a 12-month commitment from the participants so they can determine how different marketing techniques will work for them. Participants must commit to sharing business information with Deluxe including trends over a 6-month pre-program base period (if available) as well as during the 12 months of the program.

How will the selected businesses benefit from Project REV?

Every business will benefit from a focused effort to improve the results of its marketing. Each company participating in Project REV will learn some of the “secrets” of making marketing decisions that lead to positive results. The media is interested in the progress of small business as well as Project REV, resulting in local and national coverage, both in traditional and online publications. Previous Project REV participants reported that they actually gained customers from the publicity they received in association with Project REV. Follow along with their progress, and you, too, can learn from their successes, frustrations and revelations.

How is SCORE involved in Project REV?

Deluxe has partnered with SCORE, a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and has been mentoring small business owners for more than 40 years. SCORE counselors complement Deluxe’s expertise in marketing by supporting the participants of Project REV in the areas of finance, accounting, cash flow, training, new product development, hiring and resource planning.