Have you been running your business for a decade or more? Imagine running it for 3 decades like Frank Di Bartolo has been doing with Pacific Hi-Fi. You’ll have seen the drastic evolution of marketing trends. How do you adapt to the ever-changing times?
The Blueprint Answer
Pacific Hi-Fi was established in 1988 by the Di Bartolo brothers. Frank knew that in order for their business to grow, they had to open himself up to new possibilities. But where could they find those opportunities? He found the answer when he joined Business Blueprint.
Business Blueprint is a revolutionary program for business owners, which is rapidly becoming Australia’s leading business education and mastermind program. When Frank signed up to become a member, he was able to take advantage of live events and webinars featuring some of the sharpest business minds in the country.
Utilising step-by-step training videos and hands-on support, Frank was able to help Pacific Hi-Fi gradually transition from traditional to the more modern digital ways of doing business.
From Traditional To Digital
In the 70s and 80s, Pacific Hi-Fi spent half a million dollars for advertising. It was a significant advertising budget that involved press, tv and radio advertisements. In those days, there were only 5 TV stations, 3 of which ran advertising. These days, there are 15 or more TV stations and they’re all running advertising.
“The market is really defrayed. It’s really hard to get through that clutter,” Frank shared.
One of their biggest challenges was how to get to the young people in the market. Unlike the previous generation who spent a lot of time watching television, the younger generation was online. They also didn’t read newspapers in the traditional print media format.
To get these people, Frank and his brothers actually had to look at new ways. “Blueprint has made it easier for us to understand how we could actually get to that market.”
New Skills And Confidence
“Business Blueprint has actually given me some of the skills, training and confidence to change my ways and learn something new,” Frank confessed.
He was amazed at being in a room with 200-300 like-minded people, all wanting to create a business. They were all willing to share skills and knowledge to help each other. Frank found comfort in realising that he was not alone. Others also had business issues, family issues and other stuff that entrepreneurs experience.
“Just finding positive people around me helped build that euphoria,” Frank shared. “That good feeling compels you to just go out and make it happen.”
Embracing Change and New Strategies
Since joining Business Blueprint, Pacific Hi-Fi now boasts of having the what is probably the biggest website in the industry. It has over 1700 products, an active Facebook page and a great layer of security on the site.
“We’ve changed the way we actually promote within our own website,” Frank revealed.
Before they used to have a bible of electronics specifications and product information. But after Business Blueprint, they realised they should tailor it more to the individual person. They needed to talk to the person.
One of their strategies now includes making a recommended list of top 100 products. This list will have a couple of paragraphs that are reviewed by their own people. Another change that Frank has been considering is accounting software like Xero. They’re also looking at a new point of sales system.
Over 100% Growth
Frank shared that in the past, they would have simply made do instead of exploring new systems. But now that they have opened their minds to change, the results have been phenomenal. “We’re more than 100% up from last year.”
The Pacific Hi-Fi owner also shares his experience with other training organisations or business development programs. Business Blueprint is no cheaper than any of the other ones but the big difference is the results that he gets from it.
“I can take much from what they preach and use to my benefit, which is fantastic.”
