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Best way to advertise for a head shop/smoke shop?

by marc.v
10 replies
Hi guys, I recently picked up a head shop as a client. They have a really good location near a university. I have a ton of ideas for them to get more business. Right at the top is getting postcards made and distributed at the school.

Can anyone recommend anything else? Maybe they need a fb page where we can do giveaways? Start collecting phone numbers for SMS, maybe?

I'd love to hear your ideas. Thanks.
#advertise #head #shop #shop or smoke
  • Profile picture of the author Climb Online
    Free munchies with every order.
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    "It is your choice of message that targets the customer, not your choice of media. There are rare exceptions, of course. But not many."
    - Roy H. Williams

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  • Profile picture of the author BLM
    I would do flyers and facebook. flyers with a discount or something
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    • Profile picture of the author RWBiggs
      Originally Posted by BLM View Post

      I would do flyers and facebook. flyers with a discount or something
      Why is it that one of the first suggestions is to give a discount. Unless the business is a discount operation, discounting just cheapens the business. Why not offer packages of products at a reduced price. If they buy the package it is cheaper than the items bought individually.

      Just for info, a head shop/smoke shop doesn't really need to discount the products. The audience that they are after is pretty much a captive audience.

      Nothing wrong with offering a discount, but I just wouldn't do it for the first time buyer.

      SMS is a great idea.

      Just my 2 cents worth.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rainmak3r
    I'd do meetup.com to start off with... get as many people as possible interested in the shop, and everyone who visits gives you their contact info... from facebook, cell phone, email... the whole 9 yards.

    Meetup is about setting up events for like-minded people... doesn't matter who it is, if it's interesting, they'll come!

    My ex once ran a meetup in Portland Oregon for hubbly bubbly at a local restaurant..
    We were anticipating a handful of people to show up... about 80 actually showed up!

    The cost?
    Just buying food and drinks at the local restaurant... I ended up making loads of acquaintances... it's Portland Oregon after all..

    ..But you get the idea..

    Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Lafuddy
    Music.

    Have them pipe this old favorite outside for passersby to hear.

    Once you get them inside, encourage sing-a-longs, like the one on the end of the video.
    Gives customers a sense of community and belonging.

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  • Profile picture of the author nesterdwarf
    Something like this-

    Code:
    http://www.thcustompromos.com/products/custom-rolling-papers/
    Everybody needs papers!
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    • Profile picture of the author ThePromotionalGuy
      As silly as this will sound your client has a ton of repeat business. They know, like, and trust them to keep buying.

      What your client needs to do now is find out where the groups are within his buyers. Some are avid paper buyers. Some are serious smoking instrument collectors. Some are scent experience purchasers.

      These groups are there and very distinct and repeat purchases will emerge inside their customer database when you study it. Find out if your client keeps a detailed customer database.

      Once you find out who the regular buyers are introduce a membership program with 3 levels of membership.

      Continuity programs are also a great way to keep a monthly passive income flowing back into the shop. Programs such as, "SOMETHING" of the month club, i.e. "Flavor of the month", "Paper of the month", "Pipe of the month".

      Inside the sales letter you would have a response card or coupon so the member could purchase and mail back or a private member's area link so they can order online. All of these items could be presold as a member and shipped discreetly to the member.

      If your client doesn't have a database of customers they can continually market back too then you could also set this up, at an additional fee, and then be the maintainer of their customer database.
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    • Profile picture of the author savidge4
      Ok so the questions you need to ask your client...

      What do you sell the most of?

      What do you make the most on?
      A: Dollar wise per sale.
      B: Percentage wise per sale.

      Its one thing to get sales, its another to target your clients money makers.

      ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

      -IDEA- I have used this in the past in Myrtle Beach SC ended up rolling into a nice thing. I friend of mine still does it there, and had a huge summer. He does and we did use to get a percentage of the door to get people in with our cards

      Instead of discounting the shops product, ask the owner if he/she is friends with any local bar/clubs that charge cover... have him/her or you, strike a deal to have a "Store Name Night" Pass out Free admission "Rip Business Cards" ( goto gotprint.com to see what that is - they are like $120 for 1000 3.5x8.5 delivered ) use 1 side and the card for the club, and then use the other side for his business. Print a 2nd set after the first "Sponsored" event, with the business card being a discount on cover, and the rest of the flier for the store.

      Get the store owner involved and present at the event. Handing out some branded T-shirts or the like. ( he /she can write them off 100% as an advertising expense )

      You can even take this a step further, and get the club to pay for the 1st set of cards at cost of course ($175 per 1000), and the second set have the store owner purchase. Of course to make this work, you do understand you will have to hand out the fliers and make a successful night for the club.

      You are doing 2 things thru this process... 1st, you are getting your primary client exposure and advertising right into his/her optimal demographic. 2nd, you are proving your skills to your next client. ( I say next, because if you pack the place, he/she will want you to do the same every week. ) <-- thus opening you up to more partnerships, with other business'
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      Success is an ACT not an idea
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  • Profile picture of the author Arzak
    I would start with local search optimization and begin collecting email addresses and phone numbers to add to a SMS list.

    Then utilize social media (FB, Twitter, Instagram, and Foursquare). On FB, you can look for groups related to the university. There should be at least one large group where students trade stuff (mostly books probably). See if it's okay for you to advertise there.
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    • Profile picture of the author joe ferdinando
      Loyalty Card +SMS Marketing+Flyers(for Loyalty Program signups+SMS)

      Loyalty members get:
      1)Buy 10 get 1 Free
      2)10% off all orders (Store prices can be raised 10% for those who hagel price)
      3)Mobile coupon offers through text! (Can upsell mobile website or responsive website design for all devices)
      4)Email list to send discounts and coupons (Can upsell email marketing)
      5)Direct mail campaigns! (Flyers, postcards)
      6)Facebook page

      I use a loyalty program that collects:
      1)Mobile phone numbers
      2)Email addresses
      3)Local mail address
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      Ferdiworks.com
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