Port Richey company hopes to ring up sales

With the surging popularity of smartphones, Port Richey-based Envala hopes to ring up sales for its Chime mobile marketing product.

The company will demonstrate the system during a business networking event Thursday, Nov. 19. The event will take place 5:30 - 8 p.m. at the Wine Loft, 7813 Mitchell Blvd., Suite 102.

The Wine Loft uses Chime, a new opt-in mobile marketing product,

A combination of short message service, or SMS, texting, e-mail messaging and marketing consulting, Chime is aimed for businesses such as restaurants, retailers, car washes, kiosks, specialty stores, gourmet food and wine stores, fitness centers and golf courses.

Dan Stewart, Envala's president and CEO, cites experts who report that text marketing response rates can fluctuate from 10.5 percent to as high as 60 percent.

Direct mail usually has a response rate of 2 percent or less, Stewart noted.

When a Chime business client wants to target a specific group of opted-in customers, they simply point and click, or "ring the bell," as Stewart likes to say.

On a slow day, for instance, a restaurant might send out an offer with a 20 percent discount on all lunches, Stewart said.

Envala is offering an extensive text-only version of Chime, "Chime for the Holidays."

Envala strictly adheres to anti-spamming regulations in all of its products and services, executives emphasize.

Founded in 2007 by a team of entrepreneurs, Envala strives to aid small businesses by combining the web-based tools and strategic consulting services of its OSYS System -"Our System, Your Success."

Three of its products, OSYS Shine, Chime and Mine, are being used by companies in 29 states and four countries.