How to Get Business
How to Get Business
by Lynne Davies (HyperloopHoops)
Get out and about and be seen. Visit craft markets with some of your goods. Show people your wares and ask for opinions. If you get a good response ask if you can trade there next time they run the market.
Hold parties to sell goods. Offer anyone that signs up to have a party at their home discount. Make the parties fun and not all about selling. People spend more money when they are happy. Remember to always have good business cards and promo material to hand out to people.
Get your local paper to do an article on you. They are often looking for local people to feature, so if you can think of an angle that makes your goods topical, contact them and tell them. I make hoops and every time there is a local carnival on I contact the local paper and offer them a story about me at the carnival etc. It gets you free promotion.
Pin up fliers about your goods in public places. Does your local market have a pinboard? How about a "goods for sale" board in the local hypermarket? Get your name out there and seen. Make sure all the photos on the promotional fliers are perfect as they are the worlds window on what you do. Have small rip offs at the bottom with your contact details, so if anyone is interested they can take that info away with them.
If the thing you make is something you can wear, always wear something of your own making every time you go out in public. You'd be surprised how many people will ask you where you got it from. Always have business cards with you to hand to them if they do ask.
Go to local independent stores and ask them if you can have a small spot in their shop window for a small fee, or trade them some sort of service. If they look interested in your products but they don't seem keen to stock them, offer them a sale or returns deal. They might go for it.
In short, be cheeky and ask people... what's the worse they can say.... no? Well you are no worse off if they do and if they say yes... well you're laughing.
Lynne Davies lives in South Wales with her partner Jon where she runs Hyperloop Hoops.
Website: hyperloophoops.com, hyperloophoops.etsy.com
by Lynne Davies (HyperloopHoops)
Get out and about and be seen. Visit craft markets with some of your goods. Show people your wares and ask for opinions. If you get a good response ask if you can trade there next time they run the market.
Hold parties to sell goods. Offer anyone that signs up to have a party at their home discount. Make the parties fun and not all about selling. People spend more money when they are happy. Remember to always have good business cards and promo material to hand out to people.
Get your local paper to do an article on you. They are often looking for local people to feature, so if you can think of an angle that makes your goods topical, contact them and tell them. I make hoops and every time there is a local carnival on I contact the local paper and offer them a story about me at the carnival etc. It gets you free promotion.
Pin up fliers about your goods in public places. Does your local market have a pinboard? How about a "goods for sale" board in the local hypermarket? Get your name out there and seen. Make sure all the photos on the promotional fliers are perfect as they are the worlds window on what you do. Have small rip offs at the bottom with your contact details, so if anyone is interested they can take that info away with them.
If the thing you make is something you can wear, always wear something of your own making every time you go out in public. You'd be surprised how many people will ask you where you got it from. Always have business cards with you to hand to them if they do ask.
Go to local independent stores and ask them if you can have a small spot in their shop window for a small fee, or trade them some sort of service. If they look interested in your products but they don't seem keen to stock them, offer them a sale or returns deal. They might go for it.
In short, be cheeky and ask people... what's the worse they can say.... no? Well you are no worse off if they do and if they say yes... well you're laughing.
Lynne Davies lives in South Wales with her partner Jon where she runs Hyperloop Hoops.
Website: hyperloophoops.com, hyperloophoops.etsy.com
Tags: business
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Cloud9 Design on -
THANKS!
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Permalink Reply by hellome on -
I could definitely stand to be more cheeky in my self promotion activities, that's for sure! And I definitely need to start making some of my bags just for me so I can carry them around. Thanks for the inspiration!
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Permalink Reply by Katherine on -
These are all good ideas. The best connection I have ever made was at a Farmer's Market that I had a booth at. The couple approached me and asked me to bring items into their store, and it was off from there. The local college students love my stuff here.
Also, company identity is super important. If your name is on a tag in your items, or printed on your items; or are on tags attached to your items, that is nice.
I can make you custom tags for your business...check them out!!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7761023
Good luck everyone!!
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Permalink Reply by Katherine on
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That is a very good idea, then you are also able to see if your items need improvements.
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Permalink Reply by Cute and Evil clothing on -
Thanks, great ideas :)
Sale or return is a good way to get your items in a shop, but I would advise anyone who is thinking about it to make sure you set down some terms and conditions/contract first. I know of quite a few people who have had bad experiences of sale or return, myself included. Not being paid, being messed around or getting items back damaged.
Not everyone will be like this I deal with a local shop who are fantastic, but it's just something to think about.
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Permalink Reply by wendyhumphreys on -
You would be surprised who many necklaces I sell right off my neck. I them I could make one almost like it , but the
don;t want that, they want the one I'm wearing.
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Permalink Reply by alkemystic on -
This is great info and motivation, I thought I was wierd being cheeky but now I see that other artists can be cheeky too.
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Permalink Reply by Soapy Blessings by Trish on -
Nice information. Gets me inspired. I need to go out and get seen more that's for sure and the weird thing is that I just spoke with the mother of one of my daughter's friends about hosting a party. She was VERY excited about that. Haven't done the flyer thing and haven't had any newspaper articles. I would look pretty funny wearing soap :) :) :)
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Permalink Reply by Lady-Syll Designs on -
Hello Katerin
Could you design for me some unique elegant tags for my Handmade handbag Ineed to know the price for 100
My company is
Lady-Syll Originals
www.ladysyllaccessories.com
Thanks
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Permalink Reply by Becca - Mycatlulu on -
Thanks for this, I want to approach my local bookstore! I just got to do it!
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Permalink Reply by naughty house elf on -
i think that one of the best ideas is beauty parlors. cheesy? not if they sell your stuff asap. i go to a few salons and spas (waxing, haircut, facial-all different salons. i just can't find one that would hold all of the best specialists), and i see chinese purses, vietnamiese bracelets, etc. looks like tiny canal street in NY. anyways, i have this dream. that one day i will get my s_ _ _ together, and approach owners of these salons. i am pretty sure that will be ok with displaying my stuff on their shelves. if i could make a sign saying "local artist etc etc etc" i am pretty sure ladies would rather buy mine (or yours at that matter).
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