Promoting a mail order business
Max Blankfeld
Hi,
This is my first time with a newsgroup, and I read the "do's and dont's"
of the usenet. I hope I am doing OK.
We are a mail order company that manufacture logo watches - watches with
companies' (schools, churches and many other institutions...) logos on it - and we
advertise mostly in in-flight magazines and card-packs. This is an excelent
promotional item, since it is kind of a 24hr/day advertising, besides being also a
good item for fundraisers, and the reason I am approaching this newsgroup is to
know if someone could give me some advice on other media that could be
useful to promote this business.
Thank you!
Max Blankfeld
*****************************************************
L o g o w a t c h b y L y n x M a r k e t i n g
9434 Old Katy Rd., Suite 230 Houston, TX 77055-6300
http://www.logotime.com ph:(713)468-0018
email:lo...@logotime.com fax:(713)468-1213
*****************************************************
Matthew Osborn
On May 01, 1996, Max Blankfeld <lo...@logotime.com> wrote:
>We are a mail order company that manufacture logo watches - watches with
>companies' (schools, churches and many other institutions...) logos on it - and
>we advertise mostly in in-flight magazines and card-packs. This is an excelent
>promotional item, since it is kind of a 24hr/day advertising, besides being also a
>good item for fundraisers, and the reason I am approaching this newsgroup is to
>know if someone could give me some advice on other media that could be
>useful to promote this business.
Get in the catalogs of advertising specialty sellers?
Wall Street Journal (in fact, I'm sure I have seen ads for the very thing you are
selling in the WSJ over the years... I'd think the ads wouldn't keep running if they
didn't bring in a profit.)
Promotional letters to Special Events and Promotions businesses?
Get a booth at the annual Advertising Specialties trade show?
Letters to Human Resources departments at big companies, for their reps and
employees?
Come up with some specialty designs and sell the watches already-designed? I
mean, rather than selling the idea of a watch that I design, show me a watch with a
design I might want to buy. For instance, motorcycle watches to motorcycle clubs,
etc, etc...
Matthew
Professional Human Being, Inc.
Brian Brown
I have a few suggestions:
A) Of course, the world wide web. For about $1K, it's worth a try!
B) Trade shows - set up a booth at appropriate conferences/shows!
C) Use your product to deliver discounts/etc. to people. When people see these
watches, I'm sure they ask where they can get one. If you include "10% off new
customer" coupons with your watch orders, you may leverage excellent
word--of-mouth marketing.
D) You can now advertise in movie theaters before movies. I don't know how
effective it is, but it's a slide-show type thing. Everybody goes to the movies.
Good luck!
Max Blankfeld <lo...@logotime.com> wrote:
>This is my first time with a newsgroup, and I read the "do's and dont's"
>of the usenet. I hope I am doing OK.
>
>We are a mail order company that manufacture logo watches - watches with
>companies' (schools, churches and many other institutions...) logos on it - and we
>advertise mostly in in-flight magazines and card-packs. This is an excelent
>promotional item, since it is kind of a 24hr/day advertising, besides being also a
>good item for fundraisers, and the reason I am approaching this newsgroup is to
>know if someone could give me some advice on other media that could be
>useful to promote this business.
--
Brian Brown
ConferTech, International
Stephan Harold
lo...@logotime.com (Max Blankfeld) wrote:
<snipped some stuff>
>We are a mail order company that manufacture logo watches - watches with
>companies' (schools, churches and many other institutions...) logos on it - and we
>advertise mostly in in-flight magazines and card-packs.
... some advice on other media that could be useful to promote this business.
Are your margins strong enough to consider using local imprint shops as sales
agents? You supply sales material/brochures/samples; they take orders, get
commission/markup.
Stephan
p.s. Max, I always thought this would make a great keepsake for those big family
reunions...
------------------------------------------------
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Marcia Yudkin
Max Blankfeld (lo...@logotime.com) wrote:
: We are a mail order company that manufacture logo watches - watches with
: good item for fundraisers, and the reason I am approaching this newsgroup is to
Max: I think direct mail would be successful for you, if done properly.
You need the following:
- an excellent list of prospects (contact a mailing list broker for free
advice)
- benefit-laden copy. In other words, instead of presenting yourself as
selling logo watches, you present yourself as providing an opportunity
for schools etc. to raise funds easily. That's the benefit.
- an irresistible offer. People respond when you provide an appealing
bundle of stuff for a specific price -- don't just provide a price list,
but single out one offer. E.g., if you respond by June 30, you can get X
# of watches imprinted with your logo for only $YYY, and we toss in ZZ's
for free.
- a call to action. Make sure you ask people to do something. This
helps overcome buyers' inertia.
Good luck!
Marcia Yudkin
Author, *Six Steps to Free Publicity* and *Marketing Online*
(Plume/Penguin Books)
http://www.obs-us.com/obs/english/books/penguin
mar...@yudkin.com
Chris Carlson
I've seen logo watch advertisements in numerous business magazines, like
Business Week, etc.
Also, analyzing your target market would yield other magazines, perhaps
some specific trade rags and the like.
Good luck!
Chris
Max Blankfeld (lo...@logotime.com) wrote:
:This is my first time with a newsgroup, and I read the "do's and dont's"
:of the usenet. I hope I am doing OK.
:
:We are a mail order company that manufacture logo watches - watches with