General
Connecting with People Through Loyalty
OUTdrive Episode 129 with Mark Ross-Smith Every loyalty program should be designed to do one primary function: connect people; connect people to the things they want, to the rewards they can earn, or the status they want to attain. For example, we see commercials all the time for companies emphasizing their points, miles, and perks…
Read MoreWhy Your Brand Matters
Your brand is one of your most valuable assets. Although not tangible, it is seen, recognized and shared amongst the public. Your brand should invoke feelings from your customers. It is why shoppers will bypass the competition and choose your product, even if the price is higher. Your favorite sports team has a uniform. People…
Read MoreFinding the Honey Hole
OUTdrive Episode 128 with Brian Sowers “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” There are very few things you can do throughout your whole life, but fishing is one of them. And, there is hardly a…
Read MoreA Business Approach to Marketing
OUTdrive Episode 125 with Darren Grove At Callis, we take pride in putting together a great marketing team to develop and execute the best insights and strategies for our clients. Part of that comes from finding people with all types of business-related backgrounds, like sales, finance, or communications. Darren Grove, one of our account executives,…
Read MoreAgriculture Education | Teaching More Than Farming
OUTdrive Episode 124 with Keith Dietzschold Did you know that Missouri youth involved in agriculture education courses directly contribute to the state’s economy? In 2021 alone, Missouri FFA students generated over $58 million dollars of income through their supervised agriculture experience and work-based programs. And, those work experiences are not just farming-based, they are in…
Read MoreBenefits of Rural Community Colleges
OUTdrive Episode 123 with Dr. Brent Bates Community colleges offer accessible and affordable training and education to a diverse demographic of students. This brings value and economy to the rural communities in which they serve. In this episode, Cliff chats with Dr. Brent Bates, the president of State Fair Community College, to discuss how community…
Read MoreMarketing Authenticity
OUTdrive Episode 122 with Lorin Fahrmeier Today’s market is lacking in what consumers crave most: authenticity. However, a recent surge in agritourism has many Missouri farmers opening their gates for visitors to buy locally sourced products, support small businesses, learn about agriculture firsthand and enjoy a family-friendly outing. It really doesn’t get more authentic than…
Read MoreGetting the Most Out of Life
OUTdrive Episode 121 with Dr. Doug Kiburz Some people just know how to get the most out of life. You know the ones – who are always pursuing a new hobby or interest. They are involved in community boards and organizations. They are always in the know about the next big thing in town, most…
Read MorePursuing the Higher Good
OUTdrive Episode 120 with Andrew Dawson Local governments address issues that have an impact on nearly everyone who lives, works or plays within city limits. If you look around rural communities, you’ll see that many public servants are our neighbors, co-workers, and local business owners. Unlike federal lawmakers, these individuals actually have skin in the…
Read MoreBrand, Customer, and Employee Loyalty
OUTdrive Episode 119 with Kyle and Kelsey Weymuth The long-term success of a business hinges on loyalty. Every day, companies are competing for brand loyalty, customer loyalty, and employee loyalty. This might be most evident in the car industry. Purchases are few and far between and a customer usually has their mind made up before…
Read MoreLesson 35 – Focus on What Makes Sense
Over the years, we have tried to identify companies and organizations that we felt might make great partners, based on our experience, expertise, values and interests. When we have found one, we want them to know so they can get to know us, hopefully like us and eventually trust us with a project or business.…
Read MoreLesson 34 – Be Welcoming and Be Sincere
When it was first announced that Nucor Steel was coming to town, it was a big deal, and the entire community was excited at the possibilities of what this might mean in growth for the region. The Nucor folks came in slowly and it was obvious that they were committed to selecting the right people…
Read MoreLesson 33 – Look Beyond Your Core
We are strong proponents of niching down and focusing on your core competencies with your products and services. It makes you better at it, it increases your efficiencies and you become known for it. But from time to time, you should look outside your core for things that you could make or offer that just…
Read MoreConsulting in Rural America
OUTdrive Episode 116 with Rebecca Mankin CEO’s have a lot on their plate, and managing finances is a critical part of running a business. Many small to medium-size companies can’t justify a full-time CFO, meaning this responsibility often falls on the owner. But, there are financial support options for businesses that just need a little…
Read MoreCultivating Consumer Relationships
OUTdrive Episode 115 with Stacy Dohle A visit to the Gerken Dairy Center is a tradition for many who attend the Missouri State Fair. Ice cream, milking demos, and, of course, the butter cow sculpture, are just a few of the great things you can find inside the dairy barn. But, it also serves a…
Read More2022 Agritourism Conference Presentation
In July of 2022, the Callis team was tasked with presenting at the Agritourism Conference in Joplin, Missouri, presented by Missouri Farm Bureau and Missouri Grown. The annual event, held at various locations around the state, provides resources, tools, and networking opportunities to those working in the agritourism industry. These are often small or family-owned…
Read MoreLesson 31 – Do Your Research
Whenever we have the opportunity and budget to do research for a client, we’re enthused! It makes the results of our job so much better. Of course, not every project demands research and not every client can justify it. One who does though is Bothwell Regional Health Center. We’ve been working with Bothwell for many…
Read MoreMarketing Missouri Agriculture
OUTdrive Episode 114 with Taylor Tuttle We believe some of the best agriculturists come from the state of Missouri; not just farmers and ranchers, but bee-keepers, winemakers, orchard owners, and many others, as well. The Missouri Grown program was established to share the stories and the farm-to-table experiences available to rural and urban communities statewide.…
Read MoreAccess to Fiber Internet in Rural America
OUTdrive Episode 113 with Rick Lashley Rural Americans and their operations are what keep the world running. Just like anyone else, these business owners, manufacturers and farmers need access to reliable internet, but many rural areas lack a reliable connection or wifi. GoNetspeed, a fiber internet provider formerly known as Otelco, is out to change…
Read MoreLesson 30 – Over-Communicate
We’ve found over the past 35 years that you can’t communicate too much. Sure, you can wear people out with boring stories about all your travels, but when you’re working on a project, especially highly-technical and complicated ones like we work on, you can’t communicate enough. Going back a few years, we were fortunate to…
Read More