Help Me Kick Off My Business Please

[Campchair]

Only way to get known is to get 5000 business cards made and plaster them all over your town , leave them at the Barbers , hardware store, if you have a coffee leave one at the table when you leave etc etc

That might work at your area, but I don't think that would work where I am based. I'm in the gun repair business, and I do leather items too, along with restoring fitted cases and specialized historical reproductions of shooting related leather items. I routinely hand out my business cards, but usually only to prospective customers I have already spoken with about a need they have. Cards are expensive, even if you print them 8 to sheet of Wal-Mart card stock on your printer. It takes time to cut them out so they look good, time better spent working on your craft, and the perforated stock for do-it-your-self cards is fairly pricy itself. The best use for your business card (in my very humble opinion,) is so the already interested potential customer can have an accurate source of your address, phone, Social Media site, website, etc, without having to look up or to try to remember your contact info. This is true even with Social Media. I can't count the times I used someone's card to enter the (correct and accurate) info in my electronic resources. I used to leave cards at a lot of places. I saw them used as notecards, to write grocery lists on, as scratch paper, and so on. I asked customers about how they heard of me, as I don't really advertise that much. I never could directly trace money coming in the door to me leaving a card somewhere. However, that being said, I ALWAYS include a card (or two..) with all invoices and jobs, and I can see lots of direct connections to where these were given out and a lot of repeat business. ("....can't remember the guy's name but I have his card here in my wallet....)

[BDAZ]

http://www.vistaprint.com

I just purchased 500 card for $14.95.

Cya!

Bob

Edited June 17, 2014 by BDAZ

[JLSleather]

Yeah, s'pose it's just the signs o' the times. Usedta be, feller got old enough he went to work. Even if he didn't 'feel like it'.

Nowadays, everybody is 'marketing' and 'networking'. All of it seems a bit "sensitive" to me.

Fella I never seen asked me at the saloon one night -- Hey, ya gotta dollar? to which I replied "yes, yes I do. Know why? Cuz I got a JOB". and then left him standin' there alone.

My Dad worked.

I worked.

My boys will work.

Anybody wanna ask me what I think YOU should do?

[DavidL]

That might work at your area, but I don't think that would work where I am based. I'm in the gun repair business, and I do leather items too, along with restoring fitted cases and specialized historical reproductions of shooting related leather items. I routinely hand out my business cards, but usually only to prospective customers I have already spoken with about a need they have. Cards are expensive, even if you print them 8 to sheet of Wal-Mart card stock on your printer. It takes time to cut them out so they look good, time better spent working on your craft, and the perforated stock for do-it-your-self cards is fairly pricy itself. The best use for your business card (in my very humble opinion,) is so the already interested potential customer can have an accurate source of your address, phone, Social Media site, website, etc, without having to look up or to try to remember your contact info. This is true even with Social Media. I can't count the times I used someone's card to enter the (correct and accurate) info in my electronic resources. I used to leave cards at a lot of places. I saw them used as notecards, to write grocery lists on, as scratch paper, and so on. I asked customers about how they heard of me, as I don't really advertise that much. I never could directly trace money coming in the door to me leaving a card somewhere. However, that being said, I ALWAYS include a card (or two..) with all invoices and jobs, and I can see lots of direct connections to where these were given out and a lot of repeat business. ("....can't remember the guy's name but I have his card here in my wallet....)

You can create surveys on your website or through newsletter updates.

First and foremost a leather business is a business first and then about leather. If you don't know how to manage a business, then it's just a hobby that will cost you money. My advice is find a local business mentor. Check with the local chamber of commerce, as they often have incubator programs or even a local university or community college.

Being in a leather business is about making products that will sell at a profit. Costing a product is critical and often things that are fun to make as a hobby won't work in a business model.

Since you provide almost no information on your profile, I'm not going to waste anymore time on this thread, but there are various ways of finding a niche in your local markets.

Cya!

Bob

In Canada they give out business grants for small business, they also have no interest loans for those who qualify. In the USA they may have something similar.

[WinterBear]

In Canada they give out business grants for small business, they also have no interest loans for those who qualify. In the USA they may have something similar.

I think we do have something similar through the SBDC: http://www.sba.gov/content/small-business-development-centers-sbdcs

[bluesman1951]

Cards and flyers have a big down side . A large part of them will hit the ground as litter . Who ever owns that property will not take kindly to the mess. First thing that happens is they pick one up and call your number saying come clean this stuff up . Just saying, sounds good but success is not likely .I have 30 years in business and would never consider this approach . You research areas with high tourist traffic and drop a line in the water and go fishing play by the rules or trouble will find your door .