When Gotham City needed help, it looked to its caped crusader, Batman.
Downtown business owners in need of help will soon be able to turn to the OXBAT team.
While not a collection of superheroes, OXBAT (short for Oxford Business Assistance Team) will be available to offer ideas and advice on topics ranging from financial issues to marketing to lease space.
‘It’s a team of people that will meet with business owners to discuss their concerns, issues, anything that involves the running of their businesses on a day-to-day basis,? said Jerry Dettloff, owner of Downtown Management Strategies, a private consulting firm working for the Oxford DDA.
He will be pitching the BAT concept to businesses owners at the May 24 Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce meeting at Devil’s Ridge Golf Club.
Dettloff said OXBAT will consist of himself along with representatives from the DDA, Oakland County Small Business Development, Oxford Bank, Chase it.? Bank, Chamber of Commerce and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).
The team’s first formal meeting with downtown business owners is set for Wednesday, June 6.
Letters introducing the BAT concept along with applications to schedule appointments with the team will be sent out to downtown business owners ‘probably no later than the second week in May,? according to Dettloff.
Owners who make appointments will be able to meet face-to-face with the team June 6 and discuss ‘the challenges they’re facing . . . whatever keeps them up at night when it comes to the day-to-day running of their business,? Dettloff explained.
‘We’ll do some brainstorming and come up with some strategies,? he said, noting each appointment should generally last about an hour, maybe an hour and 15 minutes.
‘None of us are there to sell what we do,? Dettloff noted. ‘We’re there to collectively brainstorm with that business owner to find out what are their issues, what are their challenges are and how the Village of Oxford along with the DDA can assist them in those efforts.?
Often times the solutions to problems are ‘real simple,? according to Dettloff, but business owners have trouble seeing them on their own because they’re usually so busy all the time.
‘A lot of solutions may be staring them in the face, but they’re so overwhelmed with other issues on a day-to-day basis, they’re not able to focus,? he said. ‘That’s where we as a team can identify some things and put them in touch with individuals and resources.?
Dettloff said ideally he would like to see these BAT meetings held at least twice a year.
‘This isn’t just a one-shot effort,? he said. ‘We want to make this a regular part of the Oxford DDA’s Main Street program, so businesses will know there is an effort in place to provide outreach and improve communication.?
BAT is a way for Oxford to be ‘proactive rather than reactive? when it comes to retaining existing businesses because it ‘improves relationships and communication? between businesses, the village, DDA and chamber of commerce.
‘Business retention should be a majority priority for any government entity,? Dettloff said.
Most importantly, BAT shows there is concern for businesses within the community.
‘It’s always nice when you get a new business in town ? you celebrate with the big ribbon cutting ? but don’t forget about the businesses that have been part of the effort, that have been with you for year after year through the good times and the bad times,? Dettloff explained.
The BAT idea started in Royal Oak, where Dettloff previously served as downtown manager, about four years ago. ‘A lot of other communities have now picked up on the idea,? he said. ‘Berkley, Rochester, Wixom, South Lyon and Hazel Park are all doing it. Novi’s getting into it.?
Dettloff said he just did a BAT meeting in Wixom and it had to be ‘spread out over a couple days? because 19 businesses requested appointments.
If a downtown business owner can’t make the June 6 OXBAT meeting, Dettloff said assistance from individual team members will be available on an on-going basis.
They can call either himself or DDA Director Carolyn Bennett to determine which individual team member would ‘be the best resource to address? the issue or problem at hand.
Dettloff said initially, OXBAT will focus solely on the businesses in the DDA district.
However, at some point in the future, it could be expanded to all Oxford businesses.