Jim Bailey Shares Formula for Longevity

One hundred years is a long time to be in business, yet since 1912 The Daily Record has been bringing daily news and financial information to our fine city. We recently sat down with Jim Bailey, the caretaker for the last thirty seven years and grandson of the founder.

Publisher: Thanks for the conversation, Jim. Congratulations on your anniversary. 100 years in business is quite an accomplishment. You certainly are in select company. Not many get to this milestone.

Jim:  Yeah, I guess it is. You sure you want to write about this? People don’t really care, do they?

Publisher: If your story can help other business owners weather the storm and pass their business onto the next generation, then yes, they do care. 100 years is a big deal. However, we can always just wait until your 200^th year anniversary to tell your story, but I don’t think either of us have that kind of patience. (We share a laugh)

Jim: All right, let’s do it then.

Publisher: How did you come into this business?

Jim: I originally had no ambition to be in the publishing business. In fact, I didn’t work much in the business or knew much about it when I began in 1975.

I  had always wanted to be a lawyer and was attending Mercer when my father who was only 47 at the time had a heart attack. That created an enormous challenge and opportunity for me to come back to town and jump into the business. I literally walked in one day and didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know what I was doing and that caused me to make some decisions.

I was about 23 years old, borrowed a ton of money and bought a bunch of equipment. We had a hill to climb ever month, but I just had to make it work with what we had. Sleeping in the office was not unusual, but I had a vision and it worked. We paid off debt and survived. In hindsight, it was the risk I needed to take at the time.

Dad recovered but had further surgery to face so as he reengaged, we both realized how much the industry had changed. Going from hot type to cold type was foreign to him. We ended up evaluating the business, he held the note and immediately I started another large payment. My dad went on to live a long and comfortable life and even shot his age (in golf) when he was 72. He passed away two years ago at age 85. He was an incredible friend and life mentor. Nothing made me more proud as when we used to walk together downtown and people would call us the “Bailey brothers.” He was a great guy and I never wanted to let him down.

Publisher: How has the business evolved?

Jim: In the early days, my grandfather would pull county records from City Hall and list every county record, every building permit, new electric service, every car sale and even marriage licenses. All of which was entered manually.

Long time business people tell me all the time that they got the paper every day because it told them who to call on.  We added news along the way and tried to cover general happenings, and really didn’t do a good enough job. That’s when we realized there was a niche for daily business news.

Through the evolution, there were never any home runs, just a lot of singles and doubles, and a lot of strike-outs and there is nothing wrong with that. We have had our competitors along the way that competed in this space. Business happens every day. As you know Brian, in this business, you are never content. You know you can always do better.

The Daily Record has evolved more in the last 25 years than it did the first 75.

Publisher: So what’s next?

Jim: We are always trying to figure out what people want. We are experimenting constantly.

Understanding how people consume their news is a full-time job. The smallest detail can’t go unnoticed. We experiment with the subject lines in our emails. We want to be first with news. It’s a very competitive business so aligning yourself with the right partners is critical.

Having our own press is a huge advantage. We can turn a story around quickly. We like having the big news to happen in the morning so we can have it printed and on the street in the afternoon. We can make this happen in two hours if we have to. But today we have to have it on line even faster.

This is a tough business. The staff here is deadline driven so to be daily, nothing can wait. We have to be as creative and precise as possible in a given period of time. I think that is how I learned and became comfortable multi tasking and making instant decisions and if not right, making them right. That’s how we as a team, have been able to produce over 27,000 continuous issues of the Daily Record.

Publisher: Now that you mention it, Jim, the daily newspaper industry has been decimated in recent years due to the Internet. Is your business model different?

Jim: I don’t think it is. The Internet now gives everyone a voice, some credible, some not. There are some great forums where discussions by many and the results of all of those opinions create some interesting results. I’m fascinated by some of the things said.

Our job is to figure out how to deliver accurate news in a timely manner. News that our reporter puts his name on and I’m willing to back up. We are always going to be paying professionals to seek out truths. The format for delivery will change, but the core model remains the same. Our challenge is how do we make money doing it?

Publisher: Are you implying all newspapers will eventually die?

Jim: No, just the way it is delivered. I like to think of AT&T or Cannon and the way they reinvented themselves. They didn’t go away, they adapted to fit the demand. Newspapers are part of the fabric of the community. It’s incredibly important. Also, when you look up a story electronically, you find what you are looking for, but think about all the other information you get in a newspaper. Let me give you an example. If you wanted to find out information on the Mayor’s budget, you can find just what you need online, but if that same story was in a newspaper it might be sandwiched between other articles that catch your eye. You may find that the JEA raised their rates or the bus route you rely on has been changed.

These may be things you had no intention of reading until you saw them in front of you.

(Added, but I think important to the answer)

Also Brian, keep in mind about 40% of those over 65, 30% Hispanics and 25% of African Americans still don’t have regular internet access. Although it’s changing, there is still a need.

Also, in this age of government transparency, people want more. Meetings of City Council and the Authorities are taxpayers business and should be open and accessible so you can attend or a reporter can share with you the action taken at such meeting.

Although having them on the internet is helpful, you would never want them only on the internet. In a newspaper, it is printed and you can see it and it becomes a permanent record.

We are at the point of electronic information overload. This political season might be a good example of that. My house was flooded with direct-mail pieces. You are inundated with emails, so print orders were up this political season.

With that being said, I am not naive. We push electronic news for readers who prefer that.

Publisher: Since you brought up the topic, will we see you pursue public office again? (Bailey ended a campaign to be mayor of Jacksonville in 2010)

Jim: I don’t know. There are lots of moving parts that would have to come together. I never wanted to be in politics and didn’t have much ambition to be something other than mayor. I ran because I knew it was a critical time for our city and we needed strong leadership from someone not looking for the next job. I had the business running smoothly and I thought I could transfer my leadership experience to public service. I also had the support from my wife and six daughters. Right now, I am absolutely engaged in Bailey Publishing but as I said the last time we visited, my 37 years of business experience might be of value to many small businesses or nonprofits if needed.

Publisher: You’ve been the captain of the ship for 37 plus years now. Still having fun?

Jim: I think fun is a choice. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living. I think I could have fun with anything I do. Although there are huge demands on me, my wife is very supportive. Work, for me, is a hobby. I get frustrated now more than I used to mostly because I see people not realizing or being able to reach their full potential.

Publisher: Earlier you mentioned your civic work. Where does this passion for community activism come from?

I think it’s important. In this economy it’s important to take ownership of where you live. I can’t imagine living in a community that doesn’t celebrate their generosity. I think it originally started when I had kids. I wanted to set the example of being a great person. I wanted them to grow up thinking that this is how they were supposed to behave. I thought it would help them get engaged later on. I didn’t realize I do that much, but I guess I do.

Publisher: You are famous for your list. Let’s see it. (Friends and co-workers know that Jim has carried a to-do list is his pocket every day for nearly 40 years.)

Jim: Hahaha. Here it is. (Pulling out a folded paper wrinkled from carrying in a hip pocket). It never seems to get smaller. I re-prioritize every single night. It works for me. It’s how I keep the ball moving.

Publisher: It’s 3:30 p.m. now. How are you doing on today’s list?

Jim: Not great, I have been talking to you for an hour, but the day isn’t over yet!

Publisher: Tell me one thing people don’t know about you.

Jim: To de-stress from my day, I watch the Kardashians, or anything with Pawn or Swamp in it on TV. Before you think I’m a groupie, understand something, I’m a huge outdoors person and I think business all day. After most of my days, it is relaxing to watch something mindless.

Publisher: What?! I didn’t expect you to say that in a million years. I don’t think you are the target audience.

Jim: I know, it’s strange, but you will learn soon enough, with daughters, I’ll watch whatever they want me to. Now, I won’t miss an episode.

Vitals

Number of employees: 28

In business since: 1912

Lessons to last 100 years

• Everyone (employees) has value. You just need to find their strengths
• Don’t always look for the home runs. There is nothing wrong with singles and doubles
• Never stop experimenting
• Take pride in helping your team get better
• There should always be room in your organization for someone that gives 110%
• I’m not concerned with individual mistakes, I focus more on where my process broke down
• Part of the cost of doing business should be investing your time and resources back into your community
• Work hard, play hard
• Leaders provide solutions

SIDEBAR

6 pillars of character

Jim Bailey was recently selected to receive the Golden Rule Award presented by Character Counts. This award was created to honor members of our community who consistently live a life that personifies the Six Pillars of Character.

This is reserved for Individuals who contribute to our community in unique and meaningful ways which are consistently driven by trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship – the attributes it seeks to honor.

To see more or to attend the upcoming ceremony, click http://ccinjax.blogspot

Nine members of the Jacksonville community, each demonstrating a vested interest in the revitalization and continued success of Downtown, have been selected to serve on the board of directors for the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA).

Mayor Alvin Brown’s plans to create the DIA received unanimous approval from City Council on Aug. 15. The DIA’s projects will be guided by a nine-member board of directors who will conduct open-to-the-public business on an unpaid, volunteer basis. Of the nine, five are to be appointed by the mayor and four by the council president. All nine are confirmed by City Council.

The DIA is a key component of the mayor’s economic development strategy and will be responsible for creating and managing business development, recruitment and marketing plans in the Downtown area. The legislation gives the DIA powers established under Florida law to use Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) resources to revitalize Downtown.

The Downtown Investment Authority continues the Brown Administration’s economic development reform efforts after the City Council, the Florida Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott each approved a transformation of the former Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC) into an Office of Economic Development (OED) and the DIA.

Guidelines established in the DIA legislation specify that members of the board have substantive ties to Downtown and be Duval County residents. Six of the nine members must be a downtown resident, a downtown retail operator, a downtown real property owner, a member of the banking or finance industry, a person with business management experience, a practicing attorney, a person with commercial real estate experience, an architect or an urban planner.

Mayor Brown’s nominees to the DIA board are:

Melody S. Bishop – An architect with Akel Logan & Shafer who serves on the A1A Florida Board of Directors and the Florida Foundation for Architecture Board of Trustees. Her firm is located in the Downtown area.

Robert M. Clements – Chairman and CEO of EverBank, which recently relocated 1,500 employees to the new EverBank Center in Downtown.

Kamaria (Kay) Harper – A practicing attorney with the Harper Law Firm and a Downtown resident.

Donald Harris – General Manager of the Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk Hotel, which is located on the Southbank.

Paul Perez – Former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and current Chief Compliance Officer for Fidelity National Financial, which is located in the Downtown area.

Council President Bishop’s nominees to the DIA board are:

Antonio Allegretti – Southbank resident with business management experience as the founding director of the Riverside Arts Market and a partner in Downtown’s Burrito Gallery restaurant. Currently serving as the Director of Downtown Engagement for the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.

James F. Bailey Jr. – Downtown business and property owner as President of Bailey Publishing and Communications and Publisher of The Financial News & Daily Record.

Oliver Barakat – A senior vice president for CBRE who represented EverBank in the company’s recent move of 1,500 employees Downtown to the former AT&T Tower.

Donald A. Shea – Urban planner who serves as the executive director of the nonpartisan Jacksonville Civic Council and has extensive experience in economic development, including service as the executive director of the Shreveport Downtown Development Authority and President and CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.

The Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) announces Clayton Bailey has joined the association as membership director. In his role, Bailey will lead the association’s membership growth and retention efforts.

A self-described multi-tasking business professional, Bailey will help build and expand the association’s member base, support membership initiatives and services, and serve as a liaison for the association’s Remodelers Council and Commercial Builders Council.

Prior to joining NEFBA, Bailey worked as a planner and liaison for the City of Jacksonville Housing and Neighborhood Department. He earned bachelor’s degrees in business management and transportation and logistics, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Florida.

NEFBA membership provides numerous benefits, including public policy advocacy, networking opportunities, professional advancement, industry recognition, member discounts, and charitable opportunities.

For more information about NEFBA, visit www.nefba.com or call 904-725-4355.

NAIOP of Northeast Florida recently announced its annual award winners at the organization’s “Annual Awards & Celebration 2012.” Hosted at the Times-Union Center for Performing Arts, the event drew approximately 200 guests who enjoyed a cocktail reception, award presentation and dinner reception.

The NAIOP annual award winners for 2011 included:

· Office Broker of the Year – Oliver Barakat, CBRE

· Industrial Broker of the Year – Bryan Bartlett, Grubb & Ellis/Phoenix Realty Group

· Emerging Professional of the Year – Joe Ayers, CBRE

· Chapter Merit Award – Erika Bjork, Colliers International

· Chapter Merit Award – Julie Bohn, Cantrell & Morgan, Inc.

· Chapter Merit Award – Tom Mundy, The Shopping Center Group

· Distinguished Service Award – Wyman Duggan, Rogers Towers Attorneys at Law

· Office Lease of the Year – EverBank, CBRE & Grubb & Ellis

· Industrial Lease of the Year – IEM, Grubb & Ellis/Phoenix Realty – Aaron Zarle

· Industrial Project of the Year – SAFT America, JEDC

· Redevelopment Project of the Year – Laura Street Enhancement, JEDC

· The Klechak Award – Jim Bailey, Bailey Publishing & Communications

· Lifetime Achievement Award – William G. Evans

To learn more, visit www.naiopnefl.com or call 904-730-8075.

The 32nd annual Realtor Builder Tradeshow drew more than 800 attendees to the University of North Florida University Center. The Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), in conjunction with the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, hosted the event, which brought real estate and building industry professionals together for a day of education and networking.

This year’s tradeshow featured a “Survivor Northeast Florida” theme inspired by the hit television series. There were more than 60 exhibit booths on display, and educational sessions covered vital topics such as renovation loans, financing and CDD fees.

“In today’s market, it is more important than ever to stay on top of the latest industry trends and to connect with your colleagues and peers, and the tradeshow brings real estate and building professionals together for that purpose,” said Michael Bourré, 2011 president of NEFBA and president of Bourré Construction Group. “We appreciate the hard work and dedication of the committee that organized this notable event and the positive response we received from participants and exhibitors.”

Along with the focus on industry trends and education, guests enjoyed short Survivor-themed activities and entertainment, music and light fare. Awards were given in several categories in the booth competition. The winners include:

•Florida Times-Union – Best use of theme booth

•Bailey Publishing – Best all-around booth

•Coldwell Banker Vanguard – Most interactive booth

•PrimeLending – Most original booth

•Jay Lesowitz (Florida Times-Union) – Best costume

Sponsors of the Realtor Builder Tradeshow included Platinum sponsor Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Gold sponsors PrimeLending, Nocatee and the Florida Times-Union, and Silver sponsors Fidelity Bank Mortgage Services, ICI Homes and Bank of America Home Loans. The event’s Bronze sponsors included Community First Credit Union, Lennar, Mattamy Homes, Metro Market Trends, Nader’s Pest Raders, Pulte Homes, Ryland Homes, Showhomes and Southern Lifestyle Homes.

For more information about NEFBA or the Sales and Marketing Council, visit nefba.com.

The Northeast Florida Builders Association’s (NEFBA) Sales & Marketing Council congratulates the winners of its annual Laurel Awards. The Laurel Awards recognize outstanding architectural design, interior design, marketing and sales efforts in the home building industry in Northeast Florida.

The theme for this year’s Laurel Awards was the “Business of Green” and a new green awards category was added to highlight top green marketing and design features. The Laurel Awards winners include:

Best Green Homes: Palermo – ICI Homes

Best Green Office – Over 800 sq. ft.: Sisler Johnston Interior Design

Best Green Promotion: KB Homes

Best Architectural Design – Detached – $310,000 – $325,000: The Bartram – Forest Hammock – Drees Homes

Best Architectural Design – Detached – $350,000 – $375,000: Jasmine with Bonus – Willow Cover at Nocatee – Lennar Homes

Best Architectural Design – Detached – $475,000 – $525,000: The Venticello – Palermo – ICI Homes

Best Architectural Design – Detached – $525,000 – $550,000: The Versaille – Palencia – ICI Homes

Best Architectural Design – Detached – $800,000 and over: Plantation ll – Magnolia Preserve – ICI Homes

Best Billboard – Developer/Community: Nocatee – Montello Agency

Best Green Brochure – Builder/Community: ICI Homes

Best Brochure – Associate: Montello Agency

Best Design Center: ICI Homes

Best Direct Mail Piece: Ocean’s Edge

Best Interior Merchandising – Amenity Center: Fleet Landing – Leeward Manor – Sisler Johnston Interior Designs

Best Interior Merchandising – Detached – $200,000 – $215,000: Brio – Chandler Designs

Best Interior Merchandising – Detached – $215,000 – $245,000: The St. John – Eagle Landing – Chandler Designs

Best Interior Merchandising – Detached – $250,000 – $285,000: Aurora – Samara Lakes – Chandler Designs

Best Interior Merchandising – Detached – $290,000 – $310,000: Augustine lll – Johns Creek ll – Chandler Designs

Best Interior Merchandising – Detached – $310,000 – $330,000: Lancaster – Cedar Bay – Chandler Designs

Best Interior Merchandising – Detached – $340,000 – $360,000: Rosebury – Old Sebastian Point – Chandler Designs

Best Interior Merchandising – Detached – $360,000 – $390,000: Kaila – Greenleaf Village at Nocatee – Chandler Designs

Best Interior Merchandising – Detached – $500,000 and over: The Sydney – The Colony at Green briar – Sisler Johnston Interior Design

Best Landscape Design – Detached Home: KB Homes

Best Logo – Associate: Chandler Designs

Best Logo – Builder: Montello Agency

Best Print Ad – Color – ¼ page or under: Ocean’s Edge

Best Print Ad – Color – ½ page or over: Mattamy Homes

Best Consumer Related Publication: Florida Homebuyer – Jacksonville – Homebuyer Media

Best Industry Related Publication: Realty Builder Connection – Bailey Publishing

Best Radio Commercial – Developer/Community: Ocean’s Edge

Best Website – Developer: www.oceansedgeliving.com – Ocean’s Edge

Best Website – Associate: www.clockworkmarketing.com – Clockwork Marketing

Best Sales Office – Under 800 sq. ft.: Mattamy Homes

Dick Baker Memorial Award: Charlie Clark

Developer of the Year: The PARC Group

Golden Service Award: CornerStone Homes

Lender of the Year: Diana Dilallo – Prime Lending

Marketing Director of the Year: Walter Hawkins – Lennar Homes

Realtor of the Year: Judy Hicks – Re/Max Coastal R.E.

Sales Manager of the Year: Michael Carlo – Lennar Homes

Site Agent of the Year: Samuel Schneider – Lennar Homes

Site Agent of the Year – Partnership/Team: Teresa Santos & Jason Schneider – Lennar Homes

More information is available at www.smcnefba.com or www.nefba.com.

The 31^st Annual Realtor-Builder Tradeshow drew more than 600 attendees at its celebration of the latest creative ideas, resources, and trends

Most creative booth: PrimeLending

 in real estate. The Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), in conjunction with the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR), hosted this year’s medieval themed event, Vive La Renaissance, at the University of North Florida’s University Center. More than 60 booths were on display at the tradeshow along with several educational break-out sessions highlighting green construction, social networking and home staging.

“The Annual Realtor-Builder Tradeshow is a gauge for every facet of our entire industry,” said Amanda Dandy of Prudential Network Realty and event co-chair for NEFAR. “Judging by the positive response to the Renaissance theme, enthusiasm of booth participants, support of the committee and increase in sponsorship and tickets sold, we are in the process of renewing the local housing market.”

The Vive La Renaissance theme was carried through to the event décor as a $100 donation toward the charity of choice was given for the best booth in several categories. This year’s winner for best themed booth was Cascades at World Golf Village with proceeds going to support its charity of choice, daniel. Winner for best booth décor was Bailey Publishing, whose proceeds went to Hubbard House. The most creative booth went to PrimeLending Ventures, benefiting daniel, and winner of the award for most original was Urban Trust Bank benefiting the Jacksonville Humane Society. An additional prize for best costume went to The Four Musketeers of Prime Lending.

In addition to the contests, all attendees were eligible to win $500 by visiting representatives from select booths and collecting stamps to enter the grand prize drawing. Valerie Shaw of LMH Leasing Solutions was the lucky winner.

Sponsors for the event included: Platinum Sponsors Urban Trust Bank and Cascades at World Golf Village; Silver Sponsors PARC Group at Nocatee, Bank of America, ICI Homes and VIP Staging and Home Management; Publication Sponsors NEFAR News, NEFBA Buildor News, Homes and Land Magazine, Realty-Builder Connection, Florida Times-Union, Florida Homebuyer Jacksonville and Renaissance Creative. The food for the event was provided by Mimi’s Café, Grill Billy’s Catering, Heirlooms, Dunkin Donuts, Taste, Tidbits, Time for Wine and 3 Sister Chocolate.

 “This year’s tradeshow was a huge success, thanks in large part to the hard work and dedication of the builder and Realtor communities,” said Donald Ster of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and event co-chair for NEFBA and SMC. “We truly appreciate the support and pride shown for our industry through the participation of our sponsors and guests. We look forward to the continued success of this important industry event for many years to come.”

The Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) advocates for the builder community and strives to represent members through industry groups, training and effective representation on the issues that affect the construction industry in Northeast Florida.

Best Booth Decor: Bailey Publishing

Most Creative Booth: PrimeLending

Most Original Booth: Urban Trust Bank

Best Themed Booth: Cascades at World Golf Village

Best Costume: The Four Musketeers of PrimeLending

The annual PawPrints painting event will be Aug. 21, beginning at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Bay and Ocean Sts. in downtown Jacksonville. Jaxson de Ville will be on hand to cheer painters, who will paint paw prints on the streets from Bay to EverBank Field. The annual event that helps kick off the Jaguars’ first pre-season home game, is sponsored by the Downtown Council of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce. The council is primarily comprised of small business owners, says council member Bonnie Arnold, owner of Bonnie’s Floral Designs.

Painting the path to the stadium will take less than two hours, said Arnold, who encourages all small business owners to team up and show up in comfortable shoes, old clothes, a hat, and team spirit. Painters will be treated to coffee, orange juice, bagels, and donuts, and water and ice will be provided along the route. Once the painting is done, there will be a party, which will also include mimosas.

The event is sponsored in part by Geer Services, My Best Friend’s Closet, Duval Paint, Martin Coffee, Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, and Bailey Publishing.

For more information, to reserve a spot on a painting team, or to create your own team, contact Arnold at 904-346-3300 or 904-699-0961.