Tags |
|
|
Links |
|
|
Add You - Cast Stone Manufacturing: 5 Tips For Selling Your Product
I sat on two juries (felony cases) during three weeks of jury duty. I saw nearly thirty witnesses and heard four different attorneys argue their cases. In between attorneys and witnesses there was plenty of time to think over what I had seen and heard. After I reviewed the evidence, testimonies, and arguments and then deliberated with my fellow jury members I reflected on my knowledge of business communications and found a direct parallel.Here are 12 Things About Business I
Tip #5--Go to your local mall, and find out what it would cost to put up a semi-permanent kiosk. This is an idea that I haven't tried personally, but have seen in several places. You can build 4 low walls or set up several
What is meant by market segmentation?Market segments consist of groups of people or organizations that are similar in terms of how they respond to a particular marketing mix or in other ways that are meaningful for marketing planning purposes.The entire field of market segmentation is based on this idea, that consumers have differing needs. They will find value in different products. They will respond differently to marketing communications. They will gravitate toward
This is the question I hear most often from people interested in making cast stone. I've always found it odd that they aren't intimidated by the prospect of learning how to do the manufacturing process, but the thought of selling gives them the willies. In fact, they act like they'd rather be struck by lightning than face a prospective customer!
Here are 5 tips for selling your product--and you should note that none of the 5 have anything to do with hard-sell techniques. This is a business where the hard sell will damage your results more than help them. The best approach is to simply inform people about your product, and stay in touch with them.
Tip #1--Look for commercial contractors who do larger buildings. Church contractors are especially good prospects, since many churches use large amounts of artificial stone. My first customer was a small church in Tennessee, and even with a "trade discount" to the contractor, I made a healthy profit that more than paid for my time and effort.
Tip #2--Another group of people to get acquainted with is subdivision contractors. Most states have builder's associations with regional chapters, and many of them will let you join if you are involved in the building industry in any way. You can find one in your area with an Internet search. If you consider that the average house takes about 200 square feet of cast stone (foundation or fireplace/bumpout), one subdivision contractor doing 50-250 houses can keep you busy for a very long time! (Just be sure to give him a good deal.)
Tip #3--Look for log home builders/contractors in your area. This style of construction almost always has some kind of stone, and many of them have massive fireplaces and cathedral ceilings, which means a lot of stone from floor to ceiling!
Tip #4--Your local building supply is a good place to find people who are looking for your product. Work up a good wholesale price, make up several sample boards that display your product attractively, and take them down to the manager. Ask them if they'd be willing to take orders for your product. They deal with the customer, you supply the product. A good arrangement all around.
Tip #5--Go to your local mall, and find out what it would cost to put up a semi-permanent kiosk. This is an idea that I haven't tried personally, but have seen in several places. You can build 4 low walls or set up several
As a novice writer, I had no idea that cover letters existed until I attempted to submit my first short story manuscript to a publication whose submission guidelines required that a cover letter accompany every manuscript. Once aware of cover letters, however, I found myself confused. So I conducted a bit of research. If you are just embarking on the writer’s journey and seeking to submit your first short story manuscript, hopefully this article will assist you as some guides on co
Tip #1--Look for commercial contractors who do larger buildings. Church contractors are especially good prospects, since many churches use large amounts of artificial stone. My first customer was a small church in Tennessee, and even with a "trade discount" to the contractor, I made a healthy profit that more than paid for my time and effort.
Tip #2--Another group of people to get acquainted with is subdivision contractors. Most states have builder's associations with regional chapters, and many of them will let you join if you are involved in the building industry in any way. You can find one in your area with an Internet search. If you consider that the average house takes about 200 square feet of cast stone (foundation or fireplace/bumpout), one subdivision contractor doing 50-250 houses can keep you busy for a very long time! (Just be sure to give him a good deal.)
Tip #3--Look for log home builders/contractors in your area. This style of construction almost always has some kind of stone, and many of them have massive fireplaces and cathedral ceilings, which means a lot of stone from floor to ceiling!
Tip #4--Your local building supply is a good place to find people who are looking for your product. Work up a good wholesale price, make up several sample boards that display your product attractively, and take them down to the manager. Ask them if they'd be willing to take orders for your product. They deal with the customer, you supply the product. A good arrangement all around.
Tip #5--Go to your local mall, and find out what it would cost to put up a semi-permanent kiosk. This is an idea that I haven't tried personally, but have seen in several places. You can build 4 low walls or set up several
We all get stuck in ruts from time to time, and that happens on the job as well. You've thought about doing something different with your information technology career, but just haven't quite gotten around to it yet. Sound familiar?You can make 2006 the best year yet for your IT career. There are several simple steps you can take to accelerate your career - but you have to take the step, not just think about it!Learn something new. One of the biggest reasons you g
Tip #2--Another group of people to get acquainted with is subdivision contractors. Most states have builder's associations with regional chapters, and many of them will let you join if you are involved in the building industry in any way. You can find one in your area with an Internet search. If you consider that the average house takes about 200 square feet of cast stone (foundation or fireplace/bumpout), one subdivision contractor doing 50-250 houses can keep you busy for a very long time! (Just be sure to give him a good deal.)
Tip #3--Look for log home builders/contractors in your area. This style of construction almost always has some kind of stone, and many of them have massive fireplaces and cathedral ceilings, which means a lot of stone from floor to ceiling!
Tip #4--Your local building supply is a good place to find people who are looking for your product. Work up a good wholesale price, make up several sample boards that display your product attractively, and take them down to the manager. Ask them if they'd be willing to take orders for your product. They deal with the customer, you supply the product. A good arrangement all around.
Tip #5--Go to your local mall, and find out what it would cost to put up a semi-permanent kiosk. This is an idea that I haven't tried personally, but have seen in several places. You can build 4 low walls or set up several
Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a national business group with a focus on health, recently took a survey among 275 employers to find out the key issues affecting employee productivity.Their findings show the stress was identified by 72% of the employers as a key issue relative to productivity.Stress has been building in the workplace as employers find it increasingly necessary to have more work done by fewer employees. The result has been that employees have been asked to tak
Tip #3--Look for log home builders/contractors in your area. This style of construction almost always has some kind of stone, and many of them have massive fireplaces and cathedral ceilings, which means a lot of stone from floor to ceiling!
Tip #4--Your local building supply is a good place to find people who are looking for your product. Work up a good wholesale price, make up several sample boards that display your product attractively, and take them down to the manager. Ask them if they'd be willing to take orders for your product. They deal with the customer, you supply the product. A good arrangement all around.
Tip #5--Go to your local mall, and find out what it would cost to put up a semi-permanent kiosk. This is an idea that I haven't tried personally, but have seen in several places. You can build 4 low walls or set up several
If you're like many people, the idea of planning anything may give you an ulcer. But what if by planning, you could save money and earn even more?A marketing plan does just that. By laying out exactly how you want to spend your marketing dollars for the next year, you will save money by not having costly last minute projects, and you can properly plan your promotion in order to generate more sales!Don't wait until the new year to start planning your marketing activiti
Tip #5--Go to your local mall, and find out what it would cost to put up a semi-permanent kiosk. This is an idea that I haven't tried personally, but have seen in several places. You can build 4 low walls or set up several boards that display your various shapes and colors and what they look like installed. Include some boxes for your brochures and business cards, and a sign with your business name and contact information. With all of that in place, you don't even have to be at the kiosk--the displays and the brochures do all the selling for you!
In addition, you can talk to remodeling contractors, interior designers, stone masons, etc. They are always watching for new resources. If you aren't sure where you are going to meet these people, don't worry too much about it. If you tell everyone what you are doing, and make a few initial contacts, word-of-mouth will take care of the rest.
That doesn't mean that you can sit back and not do anything, but you will find that at least once a week, you will hear about a new prospect that you can contact--whether it's a mason who is looking for a new supplier, or a contractor looking for an alternative to natural stone, or a remodeler who's looking for a way to spiff up an older building. Just send them a brochure with a note inviting them to come look at your product, and you'll be surprised at how many show up on your doorstep!
Copyright 2006 by Dave Sharpe Permission to use this article is freely given as long as it remains unchanged and the resource box remains attached.
HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.addyou.info/article/37063/addyou-Cast-Stone-Manufacturing-5-Tips-For-Selling-Your-Product.html">Cast Stone Manufacturing: 5 Tips For Selling Your Product</a>
BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.addyou.info/article/37063/addyou-Cast-Stone-Manufacturing-5-Tips-For-Selling-Your-Product.html]Cast Stone Manufacturing: 5 Tips For Selling Your Product[/url]
Related Articles:
Bookmark it:
|