Local Store Marketing
You might hear the term Local Store Marketing or Local Community Marketing the meaning is the same. You are going to focus your marketing efforts right
around where you live and more than likely not outside a 5 mile radius. So what
do you do within and around the local streets outside your home? Let’s explore.
The first thing you do is go for a walk. If you are
a new home-based travel agent then you must
walk the ‘hood, as you have done before, but in
a different frame of mind. This time out, you will
be looking for co-op opportunities.
jobbie with perforated edges. Hand that out and
your professional status is on shaky ground.
If the owner or manager is onsite or the person
who greets you is the owner, then be ready to
move right into the conversation about working
together to build sales for both businesses. For
you to deliver this message with confidence you
must know and understand how your product,
travel, can help sell all other products. This is the
crucial element to making local store marketing
work.
As you walk the streets you’ll be taking notice of
your fellow retailers. I’m referring to cafes, book
shops, salons, magazine stores, clothing stores,
restaurants etc. Each of the establishments just
mentioned can help you find new clients AND
join you in a tandem promotion.
Introducing yourself: As you walk into each retail
store you are going to say something along the
lines of: “Hi, I’m (name) your local community
travel agent… I have some ideas that might help
boost business for both of us… is the owner or
manager in?”
Travel Sells All Other Products: It’s true.
Customers buy a pair of shoes, a dress, a tie, a
camera, luggage, golf clubs… and many of these
items are purchased to take on a trip. Some
obvious, some not so much. Now here you are
representing the travel component and offering
to bring your attention-getting product to help
sell more of your new found friend’s product.
Leave behind material: The owner / manager
may not be in, so you’ll need to have a nicely
printed brochure – and I mean very
professionally printed – not a hodgepodge inkjet
Let’s continue to explore how you do this. Are
you ready? Let’s go for a walk around town.
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