NEW ORLEANS – Bobby Jordan has only left New Orleans once – because Hurricane Katrina gave him no other choice. But after six weeks, his passion for playing music brought him back to New Orleans, which perhaps more than any other city is defined for the music played in its venues, its homes and its streets.
For the past 25 years, Bobby and his wife Lisa have led Bobby J & Stuff Like That, a popular band that can be found playing weddings, corporate events and an array of other parties and venues. Bobby is lead singer and convened the musicians, while Lisa handles booking – in addition to also singing in the band.
Now, Bobby J & Stuff Like That is getting national attention from Deluxe Corporation’s Small Business Revolution documentary project.
The Small Business Revolution, which also features "Shark Tank" star Robert Herjavec, is a yearlong campaign that celebrates the vibrancy, variety and community impact of small businesses across the country. Its latest story is a short film profiling Bobby J & Stuff Like That, one of 100 profiles of inspiring small businesses that will debut throughout 2015 at SmallBusinessRevolution.org.
Only 12, however, are being showcased in a video like Bobby J.
As the new video shows, it takes passion and perseverance to sustain a successful band as a small business for a quarter century. But the music is in Bobby’s blood – and he knows how inextricable music is from both New Orleans’ culture and its economy. Bobby J & Stuff Like That is emblematic of the power of a small business to impact its community on multiple levels – and that’s one of the many reasons they attracted the Small Business Revolution.
Deluxe developed the Small Business Revolution to focus on the importance of personal touch and local involvement in an era when business is becoming increasingly impersonal. The campaign is capturing the stories of small businesses and their customers, families and friends – all of whom are a crucial part of what makes our communities whole.
“The hands-on customer service, the entrepreneurial spirit and the deep community involvement people find in the small businesses they frequent make all the difference,” said Amanda Brinkman, chief brand and communications officer for Deluxe Corp. “Telling these moving, inspirational stories and putting a spotlight on these owners is our way of celebrating the best parts of American business.”
The Small Business Revolution will unfold throughout 2015, as a part of Deluxe’s 100th anniversary celebration. Since 1915, Deluxe has helped small businesses and financial institutions grow and thrive by providing a range of business services, from websites and logos to social media and email marketing to checks and other financial services.
The Small Business Revolution will also award $25,000 to one small business later this year. Anyone can nominate their favorite small business at SmallBusinessRevolution.org, and Shark Tank's Herjavec will help Deluxe choose the winner who best exemplifies the Small Business Revolution spirit. The person who nominates the winning business can see how it feels to be a "shark" by personally delivering the $25,000 prize.
Deluxe Corp. is a growth engine for small businesses and financial institutions. Nearly 4.6 million small business customers access Deluxe's wide range of products and services, including customized checks and forms, as well as website development and hosting, email marketing, search engine optimization and logo design.
