Growing your Personalization Business with OccasionOgraphy®
Starting a new business is an exciting time, and our newest consultants frequently ask us how they can best announce their new venture to the world – in a cost-effect way. Getting the word out is key to your success, so we offer these three low-cost tips for you to consider as you build your business.
First of all, join your local Chamber of Commerce. Businesses have a profit motive to work with you, so business to business sales should be a big part of your marketing strategy. Your local chamber may waive the membership fee if you offer to provide personalized products for their next meeting… you might even throw in 100 MyMintos™ or so for their office. Each Chamber of Commerce is designed to help local business owners, from providing training and networking events to being listed in online and print directories, the exposure you gain from being in the Chamber alone can generate business for you. In fact, many OccasionOgraphy® consultants build successful businesses solely on referrals from within their local Chamber meetings. Your co-members are always looking for unique ways to market themselves, thank customers, reward employees, etc., so when you are at networking events please make sure you talk to the people around you! For instance, I’ll bet that antique store owner would love to carry Cherubs-N-Chocolate® candy wrappers customized with her store’s information. And the limousine company? Imagine the impact they could make if they showcased SplashBands™ customized water bottles or MyMintos™ for their customers’ events! They probably don't know how quickly and easily you can make it possible for their businesses to really stand out!
After you’ve joined the Chamber and feel comfortable with networking events and business to business sales, consider branching out to other groups designed specifically for networking. BNI International or the eWomenNetwork would be excellent places to start. And if you’ve ever been to a networking event before, you know that passing out your business cards is a big part of the event. Consider using OccasionOgraphy® products as your business cards, whether it is a Cherubs-N-Chocolate® customized candy bar (maybe a ‘mock’ bar to make them more portable) or a cooling and breath-freshening MyMinto™, the products speak for themselves and you will be remembered.
While you are reaching out to expand your business network, make sure that those on the home front are also aware of you new business. Send out announcements to you friends, neighbors, co-workers and family using beautiful Angels on Occasion® stationary, and (this is IMPORTANT!) include a coupon for their first order (even just 10% off will entice orders). If you have a niece, nephew or a family friend with a birthday coming up, volunteer to handle the favors for the party! Mom and Dad will be thrilled to cross something off their to-do list, you’ll be a big hit with the child, and you’ll have the opportunity to show off the possibilities Cherubs-N-Chocolate® custom candy bar wrappers with pictures and a special message for the guest of honor to all the attendees (and their parents – the real target customers!). Just remember to add your contact information to the back of the wrapper so people can find you for their future orders!
Happy personalization — you're now off and running! Good luck from all of us here at OccasionOgraphy®!
