Duneland School of Emergency Response was supposed to be this weekend. This school used to host over 700 firefighters over two weekends. This year we were at 136 when our partner organization got cold feet at the last minute and pulled the plug on all but 5 classes. They were afraid of losing money. Rightly so but they didn’t do the school any favors by NOT MARKETING the classes. The DSER committee did what we could but we were limited on our resources.
In today’s world email is the way to communicate. You would think a state-wide instructor’s organization that also sells books would have a decent email list. I received ONE email from them. Thats all-ONE! What the hell is wrong with that picture? And they were worried about losing money? Maybe they need to attend the local community college Marketing 101 class. Or General Business 101. It would be well worth the $600.
Today we want what we want FAST! When you go online to buy something you want it now–click, click and thank you for your purchase. Savvy marketers and businesses know this (I know this–check out all the things I am selling on my site). They want you to find what you are looking for and click and buy it. No time to think about it. No phone calls. Click, click buy! This instructor’s group knows nothing of this. NO electronic registrations. They are in the early 80’s with their hi-tech faxing machine. They sell NOTHING on-line. Plus they apparently lost registrations or something (the faxes were blank on several they received). I am thinking this is bad for business–but what do I know with a business degree? And they tried to lecture me on profits and losses. Silly instructor’s group!
Anyway, as the class coordinator for the Duneland School of Emergency Response, I want to apologize for the appalling way things were handled at the last minute. YOU, the fire service personal, deserve better. Especially from an organization that is supposed to promote training and education (but you do have to tell people about it).
We will see you next year at the DSER without the instructor’s group. Hmmm…New class for DSER next year–Marketing 101!
Mike Bucy
Owner
Red Devil Training
