How to Increase Your Scrapbooking (or any other) Business?

We are reposting an excerpt from a Q & A from www.smallbusinessmagazine.net because it represents a common problem for those who are starting out in business. How to get started?  If KT sounds like you, and you’re not the “sales-y” type, how do you build your business without cold calling and the typical hard sell?  Read this article for some ideas.

Question by kt: how to increase my scrapbooking business?
I have been an “independent consultant” for a direct marketing scrapbooking company. I am NOT a sales-y type person, and since very few of my friends are already into scrapbooking, it’s difficult for me to get business. I’ve started to think of quitting, but in a last-ditch effort have done minor paid search advertising. (I have a company-provided online presence, but they do not allow you to choose your own keywords or direct traffic to your site for free, outside of your existing customer base.) I’ve gotten a few nibbles from this, but not enough to justify the expense. I’ve also tried holding events for my customers, but so far, no one has come. I’m looking for some good “warm call” ideas or ways to reach scrapbookers – without lots of investment.  Any ideas out there?

Answer by Kacky
I am like you, not a sales-y person. If not for the internet and search engines, I would have no sales because I don’t like that aspect of business. But once in a while I get stuck doing fundraisers.

Put together starter kits in a pretty bag and hit up everyone who has ever gotten you to buy stuff from their kids. Tell them this is all they need to make a few special pages without a huge commitment. They also need to buy some to give as Christmas presents to their friends and family.

Heather Psays:

I love to scrap book but since I started doing passion parties I stay to booked up with parties and training my team. I actually pay my consultant to do my scrap books, she also makes themed books where all I have to do is put the pics into the pages. This is a great convenience and my family doesn’t even realize I quit scrapbooking. Maybe this is a service you can provide, or contact the parents of the brides listed in your local bridal announcements about creating books for the bride and groom or post your services in bridal shops?

Sherrsays:

Don’t give up, Keep trying it’ll happen stay strong good luck. (Use what you have to work with and figure out the catchiest way the present it. Ask more questions if you still need help.)

These answers provide three great ideas: (1) providing samples of your product or service, (2) finding creative ways to partner with other established firms, and most of all (3) persistence.

We tend to view sales, marketing and advertising as one and the same.  However marketing (our focus) is a “process” that you incorporate into every aspect of your business that drives sales and works hand in hand with advertising.

We hope that building your business is more about the “process” and the quality of that process, versus getting in front of people and giving them a hard sell.  When you think of it in those terms, it is a little less intimidating to the non-sales types who want to grow their business. What advice would you give to someone just starting out?

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Have You Joined The Growing Wave of Entrepreneurs?

Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo High unemployment has led to growth in entrepreneurship.

This is the first a number of posts that will take a look at building and growing a new business.  We are taking note of where things stand in terms of the way we look at work, and the shift that’s taking place.  Where some are being forced from traditional employment arrangements to unemployment, a whole new wave of people have moved to self employment (contractors) and entrepreneurship as a way to thrive and survive during the economic downturn.  For some, starting their own business developed over time from a hobby to a full time occupation.  For others, a business evolved out of necessity because of a job loss.  People have had to become even more resourceful as a result of changes in the job market.  They have had to focus on ways to grow and cultivate a new business venture through effective marketing and advertising.

According to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity released last month (by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation), in 2009 business start-ups reached their highest level in 14 years — exceeding the number of start-ups during the peak 1999-2000 technology boom.  And surprisingly, most of the growth in start-ups was propelled by 35- to 44-year-olds, followed by people aged 55 to 64.   Forget Internet whiz kids in their 20’s, older adults are taking the reins of the new “start-up economy”.

There are some very noticeable groups emerging, those who have lost their jobs or they are facing potential job loss, who need to quickly find a new way to make a living. The second group consists of those who are employed but they’ve grown weary (and leery) of the corporate world or wherever they happen to be right now. They have reached a plateau in their careers and they are now ready to use their knowledge and skills to work on their own ventures.  There are also those who are able to find jobs as “contractors” in their field.  They are technically self-employed, but they may or may not consider themselves as formal business owners.

These groups are transitioning at various rates depending on their situations, from the structure and security (items like a predictable paycheck and benefits that used to be considered secure) of a traditional job to starting and growing a new business.  They are finding out how to take their interests, hobbies, dreams and passions and turn them into thriving ventures.  The first step may involve investing time researching their chosen industry as well as market conditions.  Is there a need for their product or service?  The second question involves discovering whether their knowledge, skills as well as their strengths and weaknesses, will translate into a viable business.   These steps are all necessary to make the best business decisions.

Once the decision is made to start, marketing and advertising will be a necessity (not an option) for your business to grow and prosper.  That’s where we come in… We have many solutions that will help in a number of ways, to grow your business, gain and maintain customer loyalty, create awareness and improve things like safety and  productivity. We believe that using promotional items is a very important and effective part of your overall marketing plan.

All you’ll need to work with us is your ideas, an open mind and a desire to grow your business, improve and maintain your relationships, and be a leader in your market. You have a marketing plan that includes your customers habits, where they hang out, what they read, and how to network with them.  All you need is to make the connection.  Even if you don’t have all the planning ironed out yet, we will help you determine the most effective way to reach them in the shortest amount of time. During our series, we’ll be looking at various ways to grow your business, and make the most of your advertising dollars.

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