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Marketing Cutbacks that Set Brands Back Years

May 12, 2025 By Barry Bright

Marketing Cutbacks that Set Brands Back Years

Do you know who probably won’t survive a recession?

Business owners who cut marketing as an “extra expense” when the economy is down.

Yes, it’s sad.

But I see CEOs make this same mistake time and time again.

You see, slashing your marketing budget can set your business back years.

And the recessions of ‘74-‘75, ‘81-‘82, and 2008 have proven that.

So why is it common practice?

Two reasons:

First, most CEOs see marketing as a discretionary cost.

Second, they’re playing defense.

Of course, it makes sense to cut extra expenses when times are tight.

But marketing isn’t a needless expense.

It’s a key driver of revenue and keeps your brand presence strong.

And cutting marketing is a critical business error.

So what should you do instead?

Take an afternoon to re-evaluate your marketing plan.

Chances are you can optimize your marketing and sales without shrinking your budget or, worse – giving your competitors an edge for the next few years.

Don’t know where to start?

Our Marketing Self-Assessment is like a marketing GPS.

It helps you determine where to take your marketing and how to get there by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your marketing.

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