Broadcast Interview, Minneapolis, October
2003
Business Reporter Rita
Maloney Interviewers Marcia Jedd,
President, MJ & Associates
Rita Maloney (KCCO
Radio Host): This morning we learn about MJ & Associates
and President Marcia Jedd, joining me on KCCO. Marcia, welcome.
Marcia Jedd (MJ & Associates President): Good morning, Rita.
RM: It's great to talk to you.
MJ: Thank you.
RM: Now tell me about MJ & Associates. What you do for a living?
MJ: My business, MJ & Associates, offers three primary services. These are writing services, marketing research, and public relations or publicity. These activities assist clients they help them to uncover and leverage their hidden or underutilized marketing assets. It all comes to down really how can I communicate my message?, say it more effectively, or even to discover, dig up information to better understand their markets, a product, service or their end users.
RM: So who are
your clients then?
MJ: They run the
gamut. They are marketing firms, research companies, like a large
research company might hire me as a subcontractor, advertising
agencies, PR firms. Then as well, the corporate world: companies,
probably from small- to mid-cap companies would be hiring me. It
tends to be B2B (business to business). And these would be
manufacturers, software companies. I have kind of an oddball
specialty of transportation and logistics also.
RM: An oddball
specialty. Marcia Jedd is joining me, President of MJ &
Associates, here on the KCCO Business Focus. How did you get
into this? What is your background? And then what was it that you
said to yourself I should have my own business?
MJ: Primarily
research. In my professional jobs, I was in mergers and acquisitions
at The Pillsbury Co. and then I went onto a small research department
at a B2B ad agency. It's interesting. In the last big economic
downturn, in very early 1991, I was jobless and I had just started to
get some freelance writing in the trade journals. And that's how I
started MJ & Associates.
RM: So you've
been around since then?
MJ: Indeed. I've
been around since 1991, so I am indeed a full-fledged consultant.
RM: You
mentioned the last economic downturn. What about this most recent
downturn? Is it times like that, like economic downturn, where your
type of business thrives as companies are cutting back in-house and
contracting more work out?
MJ: A little bit of both. I did suffer,
2001, 2002, a little bit. A lot of companies weren't hiring or
outsourcing at all, and that did affect me. So, sometimes, to use a
euphemism, our cheese moves, and we have to go there. And
sometimes we can be a little bit behind, not so behind the eight
ball, where our markets are changing and we don't realize it. So it
was tough. But now I think companies are coming back and realizing
they have a lot of unfinished marketing and outsourcing they need to
do to get going again.
RM: Sure, sure. Marcia, let me ask about
your associates. Do you do this on your own? Do you
subcontract out?
MJ: Very occasionally, but I like to think
that I can be an answer person. If I can't handle something, I can
easily refer the individual, company or business to others. I can
use, tap into a variety of services, such as, I have a great graphic
designer so I can make a brochure and materials, and make it all look
seamless to deliver it to the client.
RM: So that I wouldn't have to worry
about it. I could get all these things done through you?
MJ: Yep, exactly. And I also like to think
of it that I rely on my far-flung network. Just like co-workers help
you, my associates help me. Colleagues and all sorts of people: past
clients, current clients and colleagues help me to get my work done
so companies can benefit.
RM: If folks want to learn a little more
about MJ & Associates, you have a web site they can look at?
MJ: I sure do. It's
www.marciajedd.com.
They can reach me at my office phone at 612/805-1425.
RM: Marcia, thanks so much for your
time. It was great to talk to you.
MJ: Thank you.
RM: That is the President of MJ &
Associates, Marcia Jedd, joining me on the KCCO Business Focus.
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