sarahsworld2000
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ShellBeach said:A few years go, I walked around a nice neighborhood and put out full catalogs on people's door handles. I also included a flyer about how I was tyring to step up my business in the area. I got one order from it
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pchockeymom said:Yup. I live in one of these neighborhoods. Full of doctors and executives (not us, that's for sure, just needed a big house). I had my grand opening and have attempted other open houses in my neighborhood, invited everyone, door to door. NOTHING, NADA, ZILCH, ZIP, ZERO.
Don't judge a potential customer by the size of their house.
There's the rub. That one or two contacts may just do a small order someday, or may be a host that leads to a show of $500 ($100 commission), that leads to 2 more shows, that leads to 4, etc etc. If each of those shows average $100 in commission...that was a good investment! Even one show would be a good investment, IMHO. The key though, once you get that contact, is to try to build a rapport or relationship with that person somehow...giving them recipes, your newsletter, etc. If they feel they know you a bit and are comfortable, they may stick around. The ones I've found that I didn't do that with, fizzle fast. I've spent $20-50 on a booth or table at a fair, and only get 1 or 2 good leads out of the whole thing! (been there, done that, have the T-shirt to prove it! a few of them!). And those contacts fizzle on you, or yield little in overall return.Bottom line- it's a gamble. One, if you have a good target market, could pay off. Just keep track of what you spend for your taxes. let us know what you do and how it turns out.raebates said:I'm going to think out loud a little here. The standard response for cold contacts (i.e. mailing things to people who have no previous contact with your business) was less than 10% the last time I checked. So, imagine that you send out one packet of mini-catalogs (25).$3.50 for mini-catalogs
$11.00 for postage (assuming you don't add anything that would put it over 1 oz)10% of 25 is 2.5. Average response is actually less than that, so let's say 1 or 2 people contact you.That's $14.50 for a realistic 1 or 2 contacts. That seems like a lot to me, but that's me.
I like how you broke that down! I think $14.50 to book a show with a new group of folks outside my circle of friends would be a fabulous ROI, though.raebates said:.....That's $14.50 for a realistic 1 or 2 contacts. That seems like a lot to me, but that's me.
Exactly! Booths can cost a lot more and you're still not guaranteed any leads.esavvymom said:...I've spent $20-50 on a booth or table at a fair, and only get 1 or 2 good leads out of the whole thing! ....
Not for nothing, but I think the mailings are actually being more proactive than wearing logo wear. Not knocking logo wear, it's gotten me a few contacts, but how is logo wear any different? The ball is still in their court to speak up and say they love Pampered Chef when they see it on your shirt ($20 and up) or catalog tote ($15). The good thing about logo wear, though, is it's not a one-shot mailing.wadesgirl said:Find a better way to be proactive to get "real" leads. This kind of "lead shopping" is a good way to get cold leads. The ball is in their court and unless they were looking for someone like you they aren't going to respond. .....
At least with the logowear you are there to help them and can get their information and follow up with them. Unlike mailings where it's completely up to them.ShellBeach said:I like how you broke that down! I think $14.50 to book a show with a new group of folks outside my circle of friends would be a fabulous ROI, though.
Exactly! Booths can cost a lot more and you're still not guaranteed any leads.
Not for nothing, but I think the mailings are actually being more proactive than wearing logo wear. Not knocking logo wear, it's gotten me a few contacts, but how is logo wear any different? The ball is still in their court to speak up and say they love Pampered Chef when they see it on your shirt ($20 and up) or catalog tote ($15). The good thing about logo wear, though, is it's not a one-shot mailing.
Marketing all comes down to timing, doesn't it? Someone in the market for your product and having the money & inclination to buy it.
My main caution to Sarah was what Bobbi also said - nice houses don't mean lots of money to spend on PC. It might mean two frazzled parents working such crazy hours to pay the rent, that the idea of cleaning up the house to have folks over gives them a panic attack :blushing: In which case, it would be better to go to their office and have a lunch show there.
ShellBeach said:I like how you broke that down! I think $14.50 to book a show with a new group of folks outside my circle of friends would be a fabulous ROI, though.
ShellBeach said:Not for nothing, but I think the mailings are actually being more proactive than wearing logo wear. Not knocking logo wear, it's gotten me a few contacts, but how is logo wear any different? The ball is still in their court to speak up and say they love Pampered Chef when they see it on your shirt ($20 and up) or catalog tote ($15). The good thing about logo wear, though, is it's not a one-shot mailing.
NooraK said:$14.50 might be a good cost for a new booking, but there's no guarantee that's all you'll have to spend. I sent out some mini catalogs based on recent home sale listings in our local paper once. 20-something mailings, not a one contact.
To an extent, the ball is in their court, yes. However, you will be face-to-face with the person, and you can still strike up a conversation first. Something as simple as a compliment on something they're wearing. That then opens the door for them to continue the conversation, where they might not have started one themselves (I tend to be that way, which of course isn't very productive to my business ).
And as you already mentioned, the per-use cost of your logowear goes down with each new order, show and recruit. You don't have to keep replacing it, while you do have to keep sending new minis and paying for postage for each new attempt in mailing things.
I have booked a few shows while 'working' at McDonalds. I will set up meetings with my hosts to host coach or even close shows. I'll let my hosts leave while I finalize paperwork and usually someone will approach me for information.sandilou said:I worry about that seeming like its spam, too. I would rather put on some logo wear, or take some work like putting packets together where you would have catalogs out, go to McDonald's and buy a soda and sit there and 'work' and find that younger crowd there while their kids are playing.
Sandi
sarahsworld2000 said:.... I have learned a great deal of information from all the posts and that is exactly why I love this board. To hear things from all different sides! ....
ShellBeach said:Yes, I like the pros & cons aspect of the discussion, too!
Just to throw something else out there...on the logowear, I have found a light background with dark PC lettering on the front gets the most attention. Some of the newer Merrill "concept" styles look cute, but if they are tone-on-tone or just on the sleeve they rarely get noticed. At least, in my experience. What do you all think?
sarahsworld2000 said:I went to church on Sunday for a baby blessing in a new part of town and there were lots and lots of children there are nice new homes. So I was thinking of pulling up the phonebook and mailing to that area. Can't hurt, right?
To obtain mailing addresses for potential customers, you can purchase mailing lists from reputable companies or gather addresses from customer orders and events. You can also ask for addresses from friends and family to expand your customer base.
Include a personalized letter introducing yourself, your business, and the products you offer. You can also include a catalog or brochure showcasing your products and any special offers or promotions.
It is recommended to mail out letters and catalogs at least once a month to keep your business fresh in the minds of potential customers. However, you can also adjust the frequency based on your budget and the response rate.
Yes, you can include product samples in your marketing mailers to give potential customers a taste of the high-quality products you offer. This can entice them to make a purchase and become a loyal customer.
You can track the effectiveness of your marketing mailers by including a unique promo code or tracking number in each mailer. This will allow you to see how many sales or inquiries were generated from each specific mailer and adjust your marketing strategy accordingly.