13 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
13 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

ANY SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!

by johnboy50
10 replies
Hi Guys

I have access to some very good competitively priced cleaning products. The problem lies in marketing them to businesses. COLD CALLING!!! Who likes that right!! The profit margins are extremely generous for sales people but there is still a problem recruiting people to do the cold calling, even I am reluctant to do it.

I am in an area of about 200k people with a lot of potential businesses, yes there is competition & a large rural population.
The rural area is not such a problem as there are people who are quite keen to go & chat/sell to Farmers on a daily basis. This area does well. It is the businesses in the towns that are the problem.

There must be a 'Modern way' with today's resources to reach the target market without physically knocking on doors, surely! With all the WSO's that have come out lately for Offline Marketing maybe someone could point me in the right direction for one of these that might suit.

I have thought of 'Snail Mail' maybe a coloured envelope to peak the curiosity with a great sales page & discount coupon to get interest. E-mail would be good too if you could get the potential customers to open it & be able to hold their interest!

Any other suggestions would be great.
If you wish you could comment here or PM me if you are reluctant for others to see your great ideas/thoughts! I am sure there are some
knowledgeable people in here who will have some great ideas.
Thanks
#suggestions
  • Profile picture of the author webapex
    Postcard and envelop mailing campaigns seem to have higher success when they don't look like advertisement, this helps them get past the initially trash can sorting phase.

    If you have a business address, make a fully developed google Places page (it's free) this will pop up for searches for Cleaning Supplies, Your Home Town.

    You can guy google Aswords ads that go to a Places Page (they have a blue stick pin), without having to own a business web site, though it would be wise to have an online catalog. The cost per click is probably too high for lower priced products. If you weren't aware you can localize some internet ads so you are not paying for someone across the world to read your ad.
    Signature

    “An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field” Niels Bohr

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4389128].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Rezbi
    If you were local to me I'd offer to sell them door to door.

    I used to sell Kirby vacuum cleaners that way, plus a few other things.

    There's not better best school of selling than in person.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4389144].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author johnboy50
      Thanks Guys for your suggestions so far!
      This idea of the coloured envelope could/would make one curious enough to at least open. Getting the addresses would not be a problem.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4389650].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AvJake
    I would set up a website and start driving local traffic to it. Offer your services and give discounts that they can only receive through your site.

    Market cards (or advertise in paper) locally and there out, giving your website page and showing the discount they can receive there.

    This should be a start,

    Hope this helps, good luck!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4389647].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author johnboy50
      This sounds a good way & maybe have an opt-in page as well!
      This would be more suited to the home buyer than the businesses. Its the business who would buy more in bulk, I would think. As I would not have a middleman,ie a rep I could offer a decent discount to both. Just the businesses would not likely to be looking for these products through the media I would imagine.


      Originally Posted by aveyjake View Post

      I would set up a website and start driving local traffic to it. Offer your services and give discounts that they can only receive through your site.

      Market cards (or advertise in paper) locally and there out, giving your website page and showing the discount they can receive there.

      This should be a start,

      Hope this helps, good luck!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4389702].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author johnboy50
        Just had an AAAhuh! moment, I just thought what 'Aveyjake' said, using mailouts with the offer in the website. A mail-out to the businesses could be the way to go & a local newpaper offer to pick up the home buyer!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4389724].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mitchell Assin
    hmm... cleaning supplies... it almost sounds like you are trying to sell in bulk? to business's

    Mabey try to connect with discount stores or start an online website targeting discounted products for sale in your local area .. mabey try check out what your competitors are doing in your local area and seeing which ones are successful and why - then do it better

    a charity event? like a bbq.. sounds like its a decent sized city you are in so maybe you can approach city hall get a list of business's that will help throw a community bbq and develop a cleaning product for bbq stains on clothes.. depending on what type of cleaning products you are trying to promote .. yup lol

    some ideas anyways ~
    Signature

    To your success,

    Mitchell Assin

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4389748].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Sherry Driedger
      Have you tried approaching any janitorial/cleaning services in your area? While many may be required to use products supplied by the businesses they are cleaning for, they may also be in a position to suggest your products to those businesses. If they like the product themselves, they would be able to provide you with a quality referral. They might also turn out to be potential sales persons for your product.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4389826].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Mitchell Assin
        Originally Posted by Sherry Driedger View Post

        Have you tried approaching any janitorial/cleaning services in your area? While many may be required to use products supplied by the businesses they are cleaning for, they may also be in a position to suggest your products to those businesses. If they like the product themselves, they would be able to provide you with a quality referral. They might also turn out to be potential sales persons for your product.
        That is a good idea

        offer them money or a test sample or freebie or part of the commission ~
        Signature

        To your success,

        Mitchell Assin

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4389858].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author johnboy50
    Thanks everyone for your input here. There are some good suggestions for me to work on.
    Cheers
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4397664].message }}

Trending Topics