Time is money, and Marge Murphy has built her company on the idea that hiring her will save businesses both. In the last year, she hired 2 full-time employees and 8 consultants. Murphy hopes to double her business in the next 3 years. What Acadia does is follows up on any type of leads a company may get, and finds the contacts that might turn the leads into sales. "The economy and the downturn -- it has actually been an upturn for us, because we can help people find clients," said Murphy, owner of Acadia based in Dayton, Ohio.
For example, when a company goes to a trade show, it leaves with a bowl full of business cards. Murphy and her team will go through the cards, call each contact and gauge their level of interest. Then they provide the company with a list of which sales leads are "hot," so it can focus its energy -- and dollars -- efficiently. "Companies can bring us in when they need us," she said. "We do the behind the scenes work."
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