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Selling Cold Coffee In The Cold Chilly Winters?... I just did!

by Sagar Mehta
14 replies
So the other day I was just sitting around at home and suddenly felt like doing something totally different, albeit offline.

So, I got myself ready and went out at 6:30 AM in this chilly winter to a popular jogger's park to sell Cold Coffee (Iced Coffee).

At first, it was awkward to be just standing there. But eventually, I sold out all my 'stock' (which was all made at home, btw).

Today, I just learned four important lessons:

  1. Fancy looking signs attract attention, hands down. The one I used is is in the attachment. It's a little crude but the color got a lot of people staring at it. Not bad for 10 minutes of work I believe : )
  2. It takes guts to walk up to people and ask them to buy, especially when they weren't looking for what you had to sell. And they reject you to their heart's content. That made me realize the importance of 'pre-selling' for our online products.
  3. If you're in marketing, BREAK OUT of your comfort zone. That's where the money is. I've always have been a stage performer but walking up to random people isn't my thing. Today, I went ahead and did just that. Made much more sales than when I was just standing around waiting for them to come. Be proactive towards you prospects.
  4. I never would have though cold coffee would sell in a chilly environment. I proved myself wrong. If you can market it, you can sell anything, anywhere.

This was more of a random experiment to challenge myself but turned out to be an eye-opening and fun experience.

Have you ever tried your hand at a offline business like that? What did you discover?
#chilly #coffee #cold #selling #winters
  • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
    That's so wild. I love it. Good for you!

    I would like to order one cold coffee please.
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  • Profile picture of the author R Hagel
    Originally Posted by Sagar Mehta View Post

    [*]It takes guts to walk up to people and ask them to buy,
    I think that's one of the main take-aways from your story -- step out of your comfort zone. Online or offline, you sometimes need to step out of your comfort zone.

    For example, sometimes I talk to people about doing joint ventures. But they tell me they're uncomfortable approaching others, especially "big" potential partners. There's money there for those willing to step outside their comfort zone.

    Jim Straw teaches a lot of different offline business methods. Some of them require lots of interaction with others. There's money to be made for those willing to step outside their comfort zone.

    Teleseminars are good ways to create products fast or sell products. But some folks aren't comfortable doing it. There's money to be made those willing to step outside their comfort zone.

    And so on. Your lesson is applicable in so many ways.

    BTW -- Good job, Sagar.

    Cheers,
    Becky
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  • Profile picture of the author jmoney84
    WOw! That takes a lot of guts to go out and do something like that!

    I actually run a pet sitting & dog walking business and am trying to step out of my comfort zone and use some guerrilla marketing techniques tp help increase word of mouth.
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  • Profile picture of the author GoGetta
    Awesome love it! Its crazy to do things like that when you can and if you sold out, why not kick on and do it again on a more regular basis! ; )

    GoGetta
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    • Profile picture of the author theemperor
      I love it. I felt the same thing when handing out promotional leaflets for a girlfriends business a while back. 9 of 10 people rejected but 1 in 10 took it and I think it got her one sale. Okay not a great use of an hour of my time, but I did learn to get out of my comfort zone. I am more comfortable allow people to approach me, but there I did something I had to engage people I didn't know who were rushing buy to get a train! It felt great when I was finished.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sagar Mehta
    Scott, I just sent you a cold one. Hope you like it

    Becky, I think real success lies beyond our comfort zone. Good example with the teleseminars - I've myself stayed away from them for quite long.

    In a way, your post and my experience today inspires me to do things I've never done before. Here's to more crazy spells of marketing experiments

    JMoney, Thanks for your kind words.

    GoGetta (I've always LOVED your username, btw), yep, crazy things like this always give me a kick. If all goes right, I may open up a chain store for coffee and latte!

    Thanks to you too, Martin. Isn't it just weird giving out leaflets? I've tried that once and struggled with getting people to at least look at it. But if it brings in business (which it does), what the heck, I'd do it!

    Regards,
    Sagar
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    It also proves that PT Barnum was right, and the general populace is stupid (will buy almost anything if pressed).
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    • Profile picture of the author Sagar Mehta
      Originally Posted by MichaelHiles View Post

      It also proves that PT Barnum was right, and the general populace is stupid (will buy almost anything if pressed).
      PT Barnum nailed it back then!
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  • Profile picture of the author koolmeg
    I love this thread! WAY2GO for sure!

    This is a great test of one's personality! Very creative!
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgR.
    wow...that's hilarious and insightful at the same time.

    It's scary to think about it, what ways there are to make money if someone simply wants it. The "poor" person is the one who is sitting at home and complaining that he doesn't have money - and the rich person is the one who moves his *** outside, does his thing and at the end of the day comes home with a bunch of dollar bills.

    This is truly the difference between being successful and not!

    By the way...i had to laugh seeing that "Special Intro Price" tag
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  • Profile picture of the author Sagar Mehta
    Georg,

    I put that Special Intro Price tag because I was selling coffee for HALF the price it is sold by other vendors. However, it ended up turning crude lol.

    Not taking action is the biggest obstacle to success - in anything. One may not succeed even after taking all the action but taking action increases your chances at success.

    That, and sometimes, sheer good luck.

    Regards,
    Sagar
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Sagar, you will go far with the type of mindset that you have. It's all about getting out of your comfort zone and taking massive action, something which seems to elude what seems like over 90% of the population! There is no substitute for putting aside your fear of failure, knocking down all the barriers around your comfort zone, and just stepping outside the boundaries which seem to hem most of us in to take action! Fear and familiarity is what keeps us imprisoned, and the more we take action the more we chip away at that fear and start seeing success!

      Originally Posted by Sagar Mehta View Post

      Georg,

      I put that Special Intro Price tag because I was selling coffee for HALF the price it is sold by other vendors. However, it ended up turning crude lol.

      Not taking action is the biggest obstacle to success - in anything. One may not succeed even after taking all the action but taking action increases your chances at success.

      That, and sometimes, sheer good luck.

      Regards,
      Sagar
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    • Profile picture of the author FredJones
      Originally Posted by Sagar Mehta View Post

      Georg,

      I put that Special Intro Price tag because I was selling coffee for HALF the price it is sold by other vendors. However, it ended up turning crude lol.

      Not taking action is the biggest obstacle to success - in anything. One may not succeed even after taking all the action but taking action increases your chances at success.

      That, and sometimes, sheer good luck.

      Regards,
      Sagar
      Amazing - and I vouch for you since I am an Indian from India and I know how much colder it has been in India this year compared to other years.

      So selling cold coffee in the extra-cold weather ought to have been double-tough!

      Hence, a big congrats. Great to have stepped out of comfot zone.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mohammad Afaq
    Can I have one coffee please
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