Retailers Forum Sept. 2014 Sept 2014 | Page 98

FORUM WORKSHOP Forum Workshop After a six-month period, place an ad in your 9 9 second choice publication for the same time period. When you find out which publication is • most effective, judging by the sales figures, S stick with it (or them). Be consistent until years E have passed and you have so much business P T you donʼt want to handle any more. Then run E an occasional ad so that old customers are reM minded of your existence. Invisibility implies B nonexistence. You should also build a mailing E R list. Every time you sell something, try to get a name and address. If you use sales contracts 2 0 or hand-written sales receipts, this is easy to 1 do. Another way to build a mailing list is to col4 lect business cards. Have a drawing, for example; put a fishbowl on your counter for cards and give away something small – an excellent idea for restaurants. Ednaʼs publishing company has a monthly business card drawing and a trivia contest. Magazine readers answer questions based on ads and articles in her downtown magazine. Prizes are typically donated in exchange for free publicity in the magazine. Classy Ladyʼs Judy Harris uses her mailing list to announce the arrival of each seasonʼs inventory, and she has found her responses rate is higher from direct mail than any other form of advertising. But direct mail to a mailing list only reaches existing customers. So donʼt limit yourself. Put a “guest register” and pen on your counter. continued.. every Day’s a treat! Costumes are year ‘round money makers! e sal ole Club Wh me u Cost 100’ s sto in C all occ k assi ons Retro 60’s, 70’s, 80’s Adult Costumes F O R U M Gigantic Kids Selection Full Line of Sexy Costumes Plus Sizes Too Fast same Day shipping • Flat Rate DeliveRy www.UsaCostumers.com