How Do You Give Out Catalogs in the Neighborhood?

[erinstevens]

Don't waste your catalogsI live in a large apartment complex, and I've given out I don't know HOW many catalogs with friendly flyers, mini-catalogs, everything. NOT A SINGLE CALL. Better bet: distribute your catalogs to local coffee shops, doctors offices (anyplace with a waiting room), nail salons.... That way, if they don't want it, they leave it for someone who does (and your money doesn't get tossed in the garbage...). =)

 

[pampermeRai]

Getting catalogs to neighbors

Our homeowners association placed our newsletters in our mailboxes. When the postal worker saw that, it was reported and cost our association about $300.00. They were told nothing could be placed in or on the mailboxes. My guess is some mail carriers report these infractions and some do not. If you want to hang catalogs, I would suggest placing them in bags and hook them on doorknobs. Also, does your neighborhood have a home owners association? If so, is there a rule agains soliciating in the neighborhood? If not, you really do not have much to lose by hanging them.

Has anyone tried mailing out catalogs to the neighbors in a "Current Resident" format? Interested in seeing how this works

 

[Terrygyrl]

Got my bags!I got my bags yesterday so I think I will try this next week. You don't know until you try! My neighborhood has lots of new houses so I hope people will want to show off their new homes with a party.

 

[Pampered Laura]

Just as a word of warning... although I looooove the flyer that was posted above (thanks SO MUCH for this!) , make sure you change the March special to read "Mixing BOWL" instead of "BOWEL". teehee!

 

[Jayne]

I'm doing the same thing. I saw the flyer posted from another thread yesterday and ordered my bags from Nancy's right then and there. I was going to use new catalogs, not even thinking about all the old ones I have left (thanks everyone)! Nancy is probably really busy right now shipping out all of those bags. I can't wait to get mine. It's a great idea!! GREAT FLYER TOO!! I think I'll make labels with the little poem just posted and put them right on the catalog!! I love this site. Soooo many GREAT ideas!!

 

[marionwilliams]

I would also like to know how your bags were made up? Did you just put in a catalog? Did you include a business card?

 

[marionwilliams]

How did you make up your bags? Did you include a catalog and business card?

 

[pamperedchefpowers]

i put a flier in the bags that said a PC lady lives in your neighboor hood call to book a party or host a show and recieve a gift. Then i put in an old catalogue and my info in a pc door bag. I paid the neighboor boys $15 to put 150 on peoples door. I got about 10 calls for orders =$400 and 3 parties booked. I hope more will come, Find a 13 yr old that needs money its much easier then doing it your self.

 

[chee65]

I noticed the the flyer had some color to it. How do you make so many copies of the colored flyer? Do you print it on your computer or do you take it to a copy place? I was thinking if I printed 100 copies on my printer it would cost alot. What does it cost to make colored copies at a copy place? Anyway just curious how you do it.

Thanks,
Charlie

 

[maryhenderlite]

On my HWC invites that I did for my host, I did it in grey scale, and printed on pink paper. It turned out great!! the ribbons looked as if I had did them in a different shade of pink, when it was all done in black and white. You may want to go get a pack of brightly colored paper, and try that..(just my opinion) I do my on my home computer. not sure how much some place would charge.. i would guess .25+ a copy. maybe more for color.

 

[its_me_susan]

There's an Avon lady in my neighborhood who-bless her heart-is always putting catalogs in a plastic bag on my mailbox flag. Since I have a ton of Fall catalogs I was considering doing this too with a not saying call for a new catalog, blah blah. Does anyone else do this? Is it legal to mess with peoples' mailboxes? What time of day should I do it? Before the mailman makes his run or after?

Thanks!

Our post office has said it's not legal to leave them in post boxes. I love the idea of leaving the old ones (I have a stack myself). One of our directors sends a Whip Cancer note with new catalogs around her neighborhood and raises about $1000 in sales that way ~ people that wouldn't ordinarily buy, but in May to help with the fundraiser. Just a thought.

 

[chee65]

Thanks for the response. I will try to do it on colored paper. The owner of postnet gives me a discount at her store. She only charges me .05 cents per copy in black and white. So I guess it's a good deal.

 

[nicolespcshows]

I had absolutely no luck doing this. I have done this 3 times now in my neighborhood with catalogs and invites for my open house. There is only 1 or 2 people that ever show up from the neighborhood so from now on I only put catalogs and flyers in their mailbox. I will make sure that new neighbors that move in get new catalogs and a note introducing myself.

 

[pamperedangie]

Laundrymat's are a good place, dry cleaners, doctor's offices, Big O Tires, Hair salons... as ErinStevens said above, ANYWHERE with a waiting room.

 

[chee65]

Well my 5 year old son and I put flyers and old catalogs on 100 door knobs today in my neighborhood. We did this from 12:30 to 1:30 and by 6:00 we got our first order. It was over 100.00 and he told me that he will be ordering more in the future. So even if that is the only order we get from doing this I would consider it a success. Since the old catalogs weren't doing me any good. I ordered more bags from Nancy's, because I have more catalogs I can do this with. I will keep you guys updated as to how it goes the next few days. Plus, my son and I had a great time doing it, he had so much fun.

Thank you for the great ideas.
Charlie