$4,000 A WEEK!
 

I just finished my 2nd "Coffee Mug" program and it "Rocks!"

In ALLLLLLL my years of selling....I've NEVER had anything that was so easy to sell AND....for GOOD money!

How's 4Grand a week....Cash In Fist!

Some years ago I put ONE-Color Ads (4 across and 2 down) on restaurant Coffee Mugs. I gave them to restaurants, no charge. Charged advertisers $365 ($1 a day for a year)

Ads were hard to see....so....renewals were nil.

However....one ad project I've been doing for last few yrs was providing FREE Menus in FULL Color to restaurants.

I was sitting at one of the restaurants...looking at the Menu I had just updated and a thought struck me;
"My Ads were ONLY Seen when diners are deciding what to eat....they then hand the Menu BACK to the waitress and....there go my ads....never to be seen until the next diners come in. I remembered my ONE-Color ads on the Coffee Mugs.....then...as I was looking at my BEAUTIFUL....FULL Color Ads on the pages of the Menu I had just updated.....I thought; Why don't I put my FULL Color Ads ON THE COFFEE MUGS....WHERE THEY'D BE SEEN DURING THE ENTIRE MEAL?"

WHALA! BINGO-BANGO-BONGO! I HAD JUST HIT THE MOTHER-LODE!

So....I dashed back to my office....made up a Label with my FULL Color Ads... printed it out....cut it to size and wrapped it around a Mug.

Dashed back to the restaurant and asked the owner if I could provide her with FREE Coffee Mugs.

She HAPPILY agreed. I then went to some of the advertisers on the Menu and asked them if they'd like to be SEEN....DURING THE ENTIRE MEAL...IN FULL COLOR! Quoted my price ($10 a week...$520 a year + $30 one-time setup = $550) and.....8 out of 14 gave me the OK!

$550 x 8 = $4400

Now....I had to find a supplier. Googled and found 3 that could make what I wanted.

Went to another restaurant where I had provided FREE Menus with my FULL Color Ads on the pages. Got the owners OK to provide him with FREE Mugs. Went to the advertisers and ....8 agreed to pay $550....another $4400.

So....my costs being about $400 per restaurant (I'm an ASI Member and get great discounts)....I KNOW what I'm going to be doing for awhile.

I've attached a Photo of the ONE-Color Mugs and a FULL Color Mug. The difference is AMAZING! "FULL Color SELLS!"

So....taking just an idea....making up a sample....visiting some business people and WHALA....a Barn-Burner!

GREAT Money-Making Ideas are ALL Around

Don Alm....STILL at "it"

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Hi Don...

Looks cool. How many ads are on each mug? I see there are different sizes of ads (yes?) -- Bigger ads cost more, right?

How much do the mugs cost, how many does each rest need (how many do they need each month (replacements)?

Just wanted to see the #'s before I try this too!

Thanks!

-- TW

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Those are some nice mugs.

I've been looking for a printer that could do that to a mug. So far no luck.

Also how much does each advertiser pay for the space?

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Just finished my 3rd Mug program. This thing is like "picking dollar bills off the sidewalk".

Don Alm.....STILL selling

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

nice... but you still didn't answer their questions...

REALLY!!!! Oh it's Don again
 

Hold on there sparky!


If you are an ASI Member why would you Google suppliers? I'm an ASI Member and members NEVER have to Google for suppliers.

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Sir....I became an ASI Member AFTER....Googling for Mug Makers. When I found one with a "4C" for ASI Members....I THEN joined ASI...to get the 40% discount!

Kapeesh!

Don Alm

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

So Don,


Here's the website link. Tell us which one did you buy. ASI Membership

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

For Don and others ... you do not have to be an ASI member in MOST cases to buy at a discount because these people are just like you ... they are in business to make money.

Years ago when I first had interest in what was then called ad specialties I went to the library and searched for manufacturers of ad specialty products.

If I recall correctly at that time ASI said you had to have already done business with x-amount of promotional product providers (or it may have been that I needed to have sold promotional products to x-amount of customers ... can't recall which as this was years ago prior to a stroke) PLUS pay whatever their fees were for ASI. With this information when I called a manufacturer or supplier and they asked if I were an ASI member I told them I was fairly new in the industry and was working on getting 10 suppliers I had done business with so I could become an ASI member. (I think 10 was the number requested back then.)

Anyway MOST worked with me. I think only a handful of suppliers would not work with me and in those instances I went through Kaeser & Blair if I couldn't find the product elsewhere. Now I didn't earn as much profit with K&B but I got the business.

I'm not certain if those requirements are still in place or not and since I am not in need of that I don't feel the need to use valuable time searching for that but for those who have interest I believe the link is here for you to gather this information.

Let's try to see what we can add in the way of value here. Life is short. :)

Anyway ... I hope this helps.

Randy

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Hi Randy...good to see you're STILL "Alive and Well"...as I am AND.... STILL "doing our OWN thing"....without....Gummit help.

In THIS economy....ya DON'T need a lot of 'Credentials"!

MY Business Attitude has always been....SEE if it Sells, FIRST.....THEN....find a way to "Supply what you sold"!

So many people I've known.....come up with a good idea (they think)...then, spend HUMONGUS HOURS....and....MONEY.....trying to "perfect" their idea, THEN.....when it comes time to go out to the Marketplace and "Get Orders"...they find their "Thing" won't sell or....they don't know how to sell it.

It's a shame that most people go about this "Bass-Ackwards".

I learned LONG AGO to....see IF you can get orders....then....find out how to fill those orders.

If your "Niche" market won't pay what YOU want them to pay...or...if YOU don't know HOW to sell them to pay what YOU want them to pay.... then...why spend another minute developing your product or "thing"!

Sure....to the "goody-two-shoes" crowd....this technique smells of "Con"!

Horse-Hockey! In REAL Life..."Nothing Moves UNLESS it Sells!" If the creator CAN'T get sales...at the price HE wants....then why pursue.

So....re: my MUGS;
You bet....almost EVERY Mug Supplier I talked with.....when I explained that I wanted to buy their Mugs "for Resale"....agreed to give me the ASI price (4C) even though I was NOT an ASI Member.

It's called...."Money Talks and BS walks!"

Anyway...thanks again for chiming in. Good to see you're "Alive and Kickin". For the last 2 wks I've been trying to contact one of my ol-time Direct Sales buddies (who told me back in Sept that they found "Stage 4 Cancer" in his colon.....at the same time I went in for MY Colonostomy and was found to be "Polyp Free")

Take care,
Don Alm in Semi-Retiremitville

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Now hold on their partner.




Your first response says you JOINED ASI. Your second one says you were not an ASI Member. Plus you haven't answered my question about which membership you purchased.

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Randy,

To add value the poster has to be upfront so others can add to it. Problem with Don's posts is, he leads people on and from my research of him in the archives has a history of exaggerating his claims.

Hey! "Exaggeration-Boy!"
 

Click on over to this guy's site.... http://okjr.ws/mugs

Then....give him a call and ask him...what he's charging for ads on HIS Mugs.

When he tells you $550 per ad with 8 Ads on a Mug....tell HIM "HE's Exaggerating!"

Then ask him "How many restaurants he's placed HIS Mugs"....and when he tells you..."Over 100 in 7 States!" .....tell HIM "He's Exaggerating!"

I post up what I've done for 2 reasons....BECAUSE I'M PASSIONATE and PROUD about WHAT I DO and HAVE DONE.....and MAYBE....just MAYBE.... what I've done MIGHT give "Hope" to someone else!".....that IF this guy can do THIS...maybe I can too.

However....most of my posts about what I've done...bring the "Skeptics Out From Under Their Rock!"...where they get their "jollies" by attacking.

Oh...Mr "Exaggeration-Boy"....I've attached another Photo of something I've done and am Proud of; In my hands I am holding a recent project called, "PHARMACY-BAG Advertising".

I provide FREE Bags to Pharmacies and I put Ads of businesses who'd like to have their ads seen by people getting prescriptions (I'm holding Bags from 20 pharmacies)

If I told you how much I NET on each Pharmacy-Bag project....you'd claim it's another "Exaggeration"!

Now....go do your "checking and investigating" and....I EXPECT YOU To Come Back and Post ANOTHER of your "Snide" remarks....so you can "FEEL Good! Then...go back under your rock!

Don Alm...."Magnet" to those who "get their Kicks" from attacking

Here's the "Secret"...
 

....to EASILY selling Ads for BIG BUX....on Coffee Mugs;

People who are FREQUENT customers of diners....those who stop in EVERY DAY....would LOVE to see THEIR MUG....on the Coffee Mugs they drink their coffee from.

So....what I do is;
Place a Card ON EVERY TABLE...announcing the coming change in Coffee Mugs...AND....if they'd like to have THEIR Ad ON the Mugs they drink from every day....to "DROP THEIR BUSINESS CARD IN THE BOX AT THE CASH REGISTER!" (where I have placed a box with a Sign announcing the coming "FULL Color PHOTO Mugs")

Then...when I go to the restaurant 2 weeks later....there are 25 to 30 business cards IN THE BOX! I give these people a call...setting up appts for the next 2 days (Tues & Wed)....and....I FILL the 8 spaces...for $550!

Works like a charm!

Restaurants LOVE the FREE Colorful Mugs....Advertisers LOVE having THEIR MUG ON THE MUGS.....and I love them....one of the EASIEST sales I've ever done.

Ohhh....on my Appt Setting phone calls.....prospects are TOLD the price will be $550....so I am going to meet them in person for 2 reasons;
1) Pick up their check
2) Get their choice of which spot they'd like to have

Works like a charm!

Now....that's ALL the details I'm giving out. Anyone interested in trying this...
find a mug supplier....
make up a Sample Mug....
get a restaurant to agree to use your mugs...
place Announcement Cards on the Tables (with Collection Box at cash register)
go back in 2 wks to collect the Biz Cards
call prospects on Monday for appts Tues & Weds
WHALA.....$4 GRAND IN YER POCKETS!

And....guess what happens at Renewal Time? Yup....the advertisers on the Mugs are NOT going to want to drink coffee out of a Mug that has a Photo of their Competitor! They either Renew or go to another restaurant or....let ther competition have the space! Yuck! The thought of the last 2 choices is NOT considered.

So....RESIDUALS FOR YEARS TO COME!

Don Alm....giving some "details" for the "Skepti-cocki"

Hey Don - here's one for you >>>>>>
 

Hey Don - here's one for you

Last week I stopped into the local fish and chip restaurant that I frequent a couple of times a month.....l do take out so have to wait for them, and the restaurant is quite busy so there is usually a line up.

This time there was a notable difference....just off to the right of the order counter sat a large leather arm chair done in shades of gold and brown.

The actual seat had the restaurants name and logo.....the back had 16 squares approximately 8 inches square....and each square had advertisers on them...big, bold, and easy to see and read from anywhere in the lineup or waiting area.

The only drawback was that while I was there some lady actually sat in it blocking the view of the advertisers.

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

So Don,

Once again WHICH ASI MEMBERSHIP did you purchase? ASI Membership What part of that question can't you answer? Oh were you just exaggerating again?

You can post all day and avoid my question, but as everyone reads on and your refusal to answer makes your posts still questionable.

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

No disrespect intended at all, only an observation ... but I find it extremely interesting the things that we allow to become a strong hold in our minds and lives. Sometimes even the smallest of things will consume us and in the end they mean nothing at all to anyone.

As children it is part of a growing experience and you expect it with children.

Jim Rohn made a comment once regarding growth. I may not get it exactly right but he said something to this effect.

"The reason they make second grade desk so small is because at some point they are expected to outgrow them".

From time to time we all will let the trivialtries of life occupy too much of our time while the more important things are never addressed.

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" John 8:7

Remember ... "we wrestle not against flesh and blood". :)

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

In 'defense' of Don: I've been lurking in the shadows for several years (maybe 7 or so), and this is my 1st post. I've ALWAYS found Don's posts (ok, maybe 80% of them) full of good, workable ideas. I don't need to try any of them--but they give a good, base level education in (door to door) advertising.
At one point in my life, I was between engineering contracts (I was in the Defense Industry), and I needed some extra money. I 'borrowed' Don's idea of a daily restaurant special fax sheet. I put on a suit, went to a local hospital, stopped at every nurses station and asked if they would like to receive a daily fax with specials from local restaurants, and daily love horoscopes. I carried a clip board (so I wouldn't get thrown out by security), and had them fill out and sign I postcard I printed up--so my fax wouldn't be considered spam. I collected about 150 'permission' cards. I used Publisher to make up a page of business card size squares for the daily specials. Around the border of the page I 'created' horoscopes. Always something good or positive to happen for each sign. I took my stack of pink permission cards to every restaurant, clothing and jewelry store in the neighborhood around the hospital. I charged them $25 a week (probably too little, but I didn't test the price), and WALA! as Don regretably says--$1200 for each of the 2 months I needed the extra money. The hardest part was creating the horoscopes each morning! I made up 5 master sheets of daily menues (because Monday's menu repeats every Monday, etc). I edited in the horoscopes, and hit the send button. I quickly learned 3 important lessons: 1) Get off your ass and try it--who knows, it might work! and you may meet someone who opens a another (more lucrative) door for you; 2) If you get a 'No' from a prospect, you're just one call closer to your next 'yes'! (and you only need 12 yesses to make this work); and 3) each sale is worth $100 a month to you, so trudge on! trudge on! And a final note: Now that I'm back on SOWPUB, I actually search for threads that have posts by ADMAN. (I can't believe I'm admitting this) because 1)my time for reading forums is limited--so I limit the scope of the forum, and 2)Don's solutions for posted 'problems' gets my brain going! And if you hate the idea of selling face to face--get over it! Life is selling yourself--to an employer, a spouse, to a cop when you get pulled over etc.

Re: $4,000 A WEEK! - www.MugsAcrossAmerica.com
 

Don's advertising programs may not be your cup of tea or coffee but they do work if you work them. Probably the hardest part of starting a coffee mug advertising business is finding small independently owned restaurants to work with and designing your contracts... one for the restaurant and one for advertisers... and of course designing the ad layout itself. But finding advertisers the way Don goes about it is not hard to do and there are no shortage of places to get full color printing on mugs.

Ads on Mugs is not new. There are several companies that have been doing it for years. For example:
www.MugsAcrossAmerica.com

http://www.eatmedia.com.au/

Here's a video of people in Australia Drinking out of Cups With Ads on them....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSsvJ...layer_embedded

http://www.sharedadvertising.com/presentationpage5.htm

And there are many more.

Instead of constantly criticising Don for being human go look in the mirror and ask yourself what gives you the right to judge others. Look for the good and expand your horizons!

Cheers,
Steve
www.FreeBackgroundClub.com

Hey Steve....Here's one for YOU
 

When the car business was going good....I was providing Car Dealers with "Fridge Magnets" they gave to their car buyers as a Gift. They'd take a picture of the Car Buyers at time of Delivery....send the photos to me and I'd make up a Fridge Magnet that had the Dealer's Name & Contact Info at the top....the Car Buyer's Photo....then a Calendar-at-a-Glance on the bottom half with the starting month, the month the Magnet was made.

I made some GREAT money with this (I won't say how much to save the "Skeptics" time in responding)....and.....with this in mind....here's how I started ANOTHER "Money-Maker";

I walked into a Pet Groomer's storefront, planning on selling the owner an Ad on my "Pizza Box Flyer". As I was waiting for her to finish grooming the doggy she was working on....I got one of my "Hot Flashes".

She was working on a magnificent WHITE POODLE. This animal was BEEYOUTEEFULL....and....spotless. The cleanest it will ever be.

As the animal was standing on the table.....I thought, "I MUST take a picuture of this animal!" So....I ran and got my digital camera in my car. Came back and asked the groomer if I could snap a photo.

She agreed. I told her I had a promotion idea for her business and would like to come back later and show it to her.

So...I went back to my office.....cranked up MSPub.....made a Frame with a Year-At-A-Glance Calendar....printed it out on my Inkjet on the Magnetic Paper.....and whala.....a BEAUTIFUL Fridge Magnet the dog owner would GLADLY place on their Fridge (for ALL who enter the Kitchen, to see)

When I showed this to the Pet Groomer....she was taken aback and could hardly believe what she was looking at.

I told her I'd make up the Fridge Magnets for X$ with HER Business Name, the pet photo and a Year-At-A-Glance Calendar with the first month being the month the Calendar was produced.

She agreed....so....I now have a number of Pet Groomers emailing me photos of their pet owner's pets.....we make up the Magnets and mail them out.

(I keep my Graphics Girl busy)

So....once again....by "being OUT in the public"....where people are earning their livings....I was able to come up with yet another GOOD MONEY-MAKER.

Steve....because you're a photographer....I thought you might like to see this. Actually....it's the Pet Groomers who are the "Photographers". I show them how to take the photos and email to me.

I won't give out any more details....because I'm NOT "Selling the Program". It's JUST a "Money-Making IDEA" I came up with that someone can do some research on ....make up a Sample and go out and SELL it.

I've attached a photo.

Don Alm.....STILL creating Money-Making Ideas

Also....
 

While I'm remembering past projects.

I noticed something in my area. "House Sales" are starting to go back up. There were 322 Houses sold in my area since last Nov...so....this gave me TWO of my "HOT Flashes";

1) Make a Coffee Mug for Realtors that they can GIVE to their house buyers. The Mug is FREE to the realtors (Has their Logo and contact info on it)...and....it also has PHOTO Ads of local businesses that would like to reach NEW Home Buyers.

I sell the ads just as I do for the Restaurant Mugs. (I already have 2 major realtors who've agreed to hand out MY "Welcome-Mugs"...and....they've given me a List of the businesses they'd like to have on the Mugs)

2) I'm also re-igniting my "Fridge Magnets for Home Buyers". Realtors PAY ME for each Magnet. They send me a Photo of the house (Realtors take Photos of Every house that goes on the market)....along with their payment. I make up the Magnets and send them out.

Magnet has Realtor name & contact info at top....photo of house....Important Numbers and Year-at-a-glance Calendar. Guaranteed to go ON the Fridge of EVERY Home Sold.

Keeps my Graphics Gal VERY Busy.

Don Alm

Re: Also....
 

Now this is the Don I always think of when I think of Don.

Don ... over the years of knowing you one thing is for certain ... you have always brought a lot of value to those who just took the time to wrap their head around the ideas you share ... and there have been many that you generously shared on forums as well as by emails etc.

I've purchased some of your products, read and implemented some of the ideas you shared as they were on some occaisions and adding a twist on other occaisions.

I appreciate your creative thinking and ideas and there are many who think and feel the same way.

For whatever reason there will be a people who likes discord and chooses to focus on the real or imagined small things in life. I always figured that dirt can be dug up on anybody including the people digging up the dirt ... the really facinating and valuable thing is looking for the good in people.

You have certainly had your share of those taking jabs at you. I am reminded that barking dogs don't chase parked cars. While I am not calling anyone a dog ... one thing we can all agree on is that you are never parked (or sitting still). You always have something happening and bringing value to local businesses and individuals on many different levels ... and you earn a well deserved profit along the way for you and your family.

Thanks for all the creative, inspiring and profitable ideas that you have shared over the years and continue to share including the excellent ones here today!

Randy

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Amen, I think Don brings a great deal of value to these forums. All the haters should just keep their mouth shut. Everyone on earth exaggerates sometimes to some degree weather it’s about a business idea or penis length.

I have learned so much from Don & because of his ideas, I’ve taken some of them and made them my own and have made money with them. The idea I’m doing right now and making money with is The FREE Pizza Card. It’s a beauty & businesses love them. I had to play with the price for a while but it’s now selling and I have a few local people selling them for me for 40% commission. Check it out at The http://TheFREEPizzaCard.com
AND PLEASE, give me your feedback or ideas to make it better, I love them.

Thank You,
Jason Hatchett
The FREE Pizza Card Guy
http://TheFREEPizzaCard.com

Re: Hey Steve....Here's one for YOU
 

Hi Don, Yes the Fridge Mag would make a nice ad on sale. I'm not photographing as much as I use to because I've hired and trained 3 other photographers last year to shoot the portraits for me and plan on hiring 6 or 7 more this year.

My marketing system is humming along and I'm getting ready to launch a new site that people will be able to view, select and order packages from without the need for a Salesperson being present.

In the past putting prices on a website or letting people order prints from a site was counter productive. Now they still don't see any prices on my home page... instead I tell them to leave their wallet, cash and credit cards at home. My new automated sales system has built in psychological triggers that work like a charm! They don't see any prices until they see their images.

Before building this new site I would have to return with the images and show and sell each customer. I allowed one hour per customer. If they did not buy right then and there I would tell them that the portraits would be deleted as soon as they left the room. Customers would consider that to be high pressure sales. With my new site they get 24 to 36 hours to decide. When they login to view their portraits they see a big countdown timer counting off the seconds. When the clock strikes Zero their portraits are gone forever. Just 3 simple prices to choose from. I expect my profits to go up and expenses will go down thanks to doing it this way. Because now instead of only them being able to see the images they will have a chance to phone the grandparents and other relatives and send them to the web page and so far on my test runs this is resulting in much bigger orders without me having to spend a few days in a hotel room to show and sell.

Now I can focus on what I do best... getting new customers in the door while my people and systems leverage my efforts with me working just a few hours a week!

Cheers,
Steve
www.DigitalFantasyBackgrounds.com www.MomsWithCamera.com

Right On Stevo....
 

"Automation" is what the internet was made for.

I don't know if there are Pet Groomers "Down-Under" where you are, but the ones "Up Here"....love these Fridge Magnets...with THEIR Pets Photos on them.

Gets them LOTS of Referrals.....and....because the Year-At-A-Glance Calendar is only for one year....when the end of the year comes....the pet owners phone their Groomer for UpDates.

A nice little extra-income-stream....just from an idea.

Good to here from you...it's been a while. Take care.

Don Alm....."State-Side"

Also....
 

I forgot to include one of the best Fridge Magnet Calendars I've seen.

Anyone who has dogs that look like this....and....are named "FiFi & FooFoo"... they MUST have THIS Calendar.....on their fridge.

This Fridge-Mag is GUARANTEED to be seen by everyone who enters that kitchen....and....if they have a dog....guess where they're taking their pet to be groomed?

GREAT "Referral-Tool" for Pet Groomers.

Don Alm

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Hey Don,

Great posts.

I always learn a lot from your different ideas.

Often times I'll use the old S.C.A.M.P.E.R technique to create even more ideas.

Just in case you don't know what scamper means it's simply.

S = Substitute
C = Combine
A = Adapt
M = Modify
P = Put to Other Uses
E = Eliminate (or Minify)
R = Rearrange (or Reverse)

I'll switch one type of business with another.

Or I'll adapt an idea that's working somewhere else and combine it with your idea.

The way you spot new money making ideas reminds me of when I first read Jay Abraham's getting everything you can out of all you've got. Or whatever the title of his first book was.

Anyhow....

He mentioned that you should adopt an "opportunity mindset"

And that opportunities are all around you if you'll simply reprogram your mind to be on the lookout for them.

Gotta read that book again by the way.

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

I just received a call from a colleague telling me that a Mr. Don Alm was posting on this site about restaurant mug sales in Oregon. After reading these posts I found it very interesting that Mr. Alm "recreated the story of how he came up with the idea for advertising on restaurant coffee mugs"...when in fact we told him that exact story just a few weeks ago. In fact it was December 20th when we first spoke with Don. Kudos to Don for trying to get as much information out of us as possible but having been in this business for 26 years has made us wise to those who want to compete with us. In fact feel free to check us out (Mugs Across America) on the web

A couple of things those of you seriously considering this business should be aware of:
1.Mr. Alm is not using restaurant quality mugs. if he has produced any mugs yet at all. (Just selling the ads is the first part. He would also have had to have all the art work created, approved, mugs ordered and printed and delivered....all in the last couple of weeks?? (Highly doubtful)
The format that Mr. Alm has referred to (okjr) uses full color die sublimation printing on ceramic mugs....which are not restaurant quality and prone to serious breakage. All die sublimation processors use the type of mug you may find in a souvenir shop ...cheap ceramic ...but certainly not in a restaurant.
2. In the last several months we have been able to "steal" several of "OKJR's" restaurants for that very reason...restaurant owners are extremely upset about the high breakage rate and are extremely worried about such liability.
Over 23 years ago we realized that to be successful in this business you must use restaurant quality mugs or you won't be in business very long.
3. Mr. Alm may be thinking that he will have no problem selling ads for $495...just as Fitzi Cups claims you can get for an ad after you've shelled out $10,000 + for their "rights" to this idea. We love running into such competition as we keep our ad prices around the $200 price range for a years worth of advertising and we still pay our reps over 50% in commission! We continually run into restaurants where they claim that their salesman never returned after the first year.....most likely because they are no longer in the business. More often than not, they were selling the ads for $400 or more.... These are easy sales for Mugs Across America, Inc. to take over!
4. Mr. Alm claims that he gets 30+ cards in his boxes after a couple of weeks. Another round of applause. We have used this approach for years and while it certainly helps, you should assume that you will be lucky to get an average of 3 cards. The rest of the leads you get through other methods. If you are at all interested in getting into this business and learning these tried and true other methods, we would love to have you contact us at 1 800 949 cups. We will be happy to set you up with a protected territory and provide you with all the tools you need to succeed in this business.
5. If you are still interested in reading this, you should be aware of all that is involved. At Mugs Across America, we do it all for you...we provide restaurant quality vitrified mugs, we fire them at 1600 degrees so that the print will never come off (unlike the die sublimation mugs which fade very quickly with commercial dishwasher usage), we have a full graphics art department that creates the ads and send them out for approval...so that you are not spending time in the office.....you can focus on your sales and making the money. Our pricing even includes freight so that the mugs can be delivered right to your restaurants.
6. Again, check out our website to see all of our products. We not only provide a large selection of restaurant quality coffee mugs for restaurant owners to choose from, (another point that sets us apart from the competition) we also offer all American Made glassware (Beer Mugs, Pint glasses) and American Made polycarb tumblers that can also be utilized in restaurants...all with advertisements on them.
7. Though we are looking for reps throughout the country (call us!) we would love to compete head to head with Mr. Alm....so if you are in Oregon and interested, please give us a call or send us an email. (We'll even give you special pricing!)
8. Whether Mr. Alm is exaggerating or not is moot, but knowing this industry, a rep would have a very difficult time selling ads, especially in this economy at $495. (It's a whole lot easier to sell ads at our pricing ...around $198!)
Lots to consider here!
Don,We wish you luck in your endeavor ....of course we think it is a great concept, since we developed it,but please don't use our story of how we developed this business as your own.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Ragen
President
Mugs Across America
800 949-CUPS

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

I agree with L.B. Jenkins.

Re: Here's the "Secret"...
 

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

How is it that you've done all this when you just found out about the whole advertising on mugs idea a few days ago when you called our company and got all this info from our office manager. You haven't produced a single mug. You asked me to send you samples a few days ago. You are now making up stories. We googled your name and found out that this seems to be a track record of yours.

Hello Mark - I've heard of your company
 

Mark,

Great to see you post and bring this topic up to speed. Extremely enlightening.

Quality restaurant mugs! I never knew there was a difference. But then again I don't sell mugs at all.

I just went over to your site: http://www.mugsacrossamerica.com/ and looked around.

Hopefully those who want to approach this business will consider a sales career with your company.

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Thank you L.B. What do you sell and where do you travel?

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Hi Mark, Great program and product you've got but not enough sales reps to run with it. I see from your post that Don has been researching his competition. I'm not defending his actions, however I know for a fact that Don was dabbling with selling ads on mugs back in the late 90's. In Fact - Randy who posted in this thread above and I talked about Don selling a info product on the Admug program back in 2003 and Randy sent me one of the Mugs he had sold ads on in Georgia the year before. I read Dons post again and see where he says that he was selling ads on mugs in the past but not in full color. Several weeks ago we posted a question on this forum asking if anyone knew where to get full color mugs from and I guess he started to look at all of the competition at that time.

This thread should be good PR for you as my belief is most people considering doing this will take the path of least resistance and choose to work with a team that already has all of the pieces in place for them to run with.

It's hard to tell when done is or is not being truthful, I agree. The pet photos in his sample fridge magnate calendars are ones that I took. But Don did not do anything wrong with using my images. He purchased my pet photography info product back in 2003 and everyone who purchased it has my blessings to use my images to make up samples.

So maybe he has done Pet Photo Fridge Mags or not... but I have after buying Dons info product on Car Dealership Fridge Mags. Despite what anyone thinks of Don as a person, one thing is for sure, his ad programs are good profit generators for those who are willing to run with them.

Anyone reading this post who is considering selling ads on mugs would be wise to team up with MugsAcrossAmerica.com

Cheers,
Steve
www.FreeBackgroundClub.com
Get a Free Digital Fantasy Background Each Month!

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Thanks Steve,
I appreciate all your support. However...I must admit that I would be curious to see the mug that Don Alm had sent to your friend from Georgia back in the late 90's to early 2000's. We had 2 full time reps in GA at that time and I'd be curious to see if it was one of our mugs we produced. I would also be curious to see one of these 3 full color cup jobs that Don has produced in last few weeks that he was talking about in his post. I believe he said he was on his 3rd order. When he called me 2 weeks ago acting like he wanted to be a part of our program, he was acting very naive to the whole concept.
Just tons of questions and eventually told me he was too busy with other things to mess with mugs.
His post on this sight was practically verbatum of what we told him about how set up our contractors with the display boxes and table cards to drum up leads.
I have no problem with competition unless they are about ruin the whole concept and area by using an inferior product that can ultimately seriously burn or scald a restaurant patron when the handle simply falls off one day while they are drinking from the mug, or someone cuts their lips on a sharp edge on the rim because the mugs chip very easily and are not vitrified restaurant quality. I do have some legit competition out there that use a safe, quality product. We don't mind any of them, they don't steal our sales material, or pretend to have come up with the concept, and they don't short the restaurant on the number of mugs they need and the best part is that their ad rates are more than double what we charge, so it's not hard to get customers to advertise with us verses them. The point is that the restaurants don't get a bad taste in their mouth to the whole concept if a quality product is used. Most ASI distributors don't carry any Commercial grade mugs. You have to import them or buy from a restaurant supplier and then find someone with experience and knowledge in high temp ceramic inks.
On another note, I checked out your sight and I like what you are doing.
I wish you the best of luck in your future ventures!

WOW!!!
 

It's really amazing how you "girls get yer panties in a dither"!

Ya really "get yer jollies" trying to discredit little ol' me.

Just a little background;

1) I AIN'T sellin' a course on "Coffee Mug Advertising"
2) I've been selling "Ads on Mugs" since around 1998 or 99
(Here's a post from Richie Carey WAAAY back in 2003;

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++
Richie Carey….July 24, 03…..4:40pm
Here's the scenerio...you have use of a retail store space in a decent location (tourist town, fair amount of traffic) until next March. You DO NOT want to SELL physical products because that opens up sales tax issues, hiring issues, etc, etc.

You want to use this visible physical location as a MARKETING tool ONLY - free flyers, free cd-roms, free maps, who knows...maybe you charge other businesses to display their flyers, etc.

Would you use it as a physical face for a local business portal site? Would you give away free coffee and doughnuts with ads on the coffee cups? (tip of the hat here to Don Alm ;-)What would you do?

Thanks!!

Richie)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++

Did ya notice the "Tip o the hat comment...about Ads on Coffee Cups"?

Ol' Woody Quinones even thanked me in his "Little White Mug" Manual he wrote back in 06. (http://www.thepromotionalguy.com/mlwm.html)

3) I started selling FULL Color Ads on Coffee Cups last year...COMBINING THE ADS WITH ANOTHER AD MEDIA.....SO MY ADVERTISERS GET TWO....I REPEAT....TWO AD MEDIA....WITH THEIR ADS ON.....FOR EXTRA EXPOSURE!

AND.....I AIN'T GONNA TELL YA WHAT DEE UDDER "AD MEDIA" IS!!! So....go bout yer "Conjecturin'"

Then...I started having the dye-sub mugs chip and break....so I went on a hunt to see if I could find someone had an answer to the problemo.

Decided to check out "Mugs Across" to see what they were doing. STILL charging less than $200 fer an ad. That's what I STARTED WITH! NOT worth my time.

So....I combined FULL Color Ads on Mugs WITH....something else....and got my price UP!

But....mugs are chipping in SOME of the dishwashers....same as the guy in New Hampshire.....HOWEVER....if you "gals" were to PHONE the restaurants he's showing on his site NOW....http://okjr.ws/mugs... you'd find that some of them have had HIS MUGS....IN there diners for OVER 2 YEARS!

So....some of his Dye-Subs ARE holding up!.....as are mine. I think I've found a supplier who has better quality mugs.

So....go ahead an' jump up an down like little chilluns. Makes YOU appear VERY JUVENILE.....in fact....You "Girls" are downright LAUGHABLE!

Don Alm...."gittin da girls all wound up in dere panties agin"!

Re: $4,000 A WEEK!
 

Hi Mark!

You have an excellent program. Steve had posted a link here a few days back and one thing I really like is that you do MORE than just the typical coffee mug.

Years ago back in '92 as I recall when I sold my first mug one of the things I thought would be a great seller but never pursued was the plastic tumbler like the one on your website. I believe that would be even a better seller in some markets than the coffee mug.

I don't want to leave you with the wrong impression because I did not buy my mugs from Don. It was however (IF memory serves correct) about that same time frame that I became aware of Don and some of the creative advertising ideas he would promote.

Like Steve I am not defending any action Don may or may not have taken. I do know that the many ideas Don brings to the table are money making ideas no matter who came up with the idea. Which came first anyway ... the chicken or the egg? And in the end does it really matter?

I got mine from a company that went out of business almost as quickly as I got the biz plan and sample mugs. I ended up ordering through a catalog from Kaeser & Blair on my first mug.

As far as quality of mugs go I guess I never knew there was a restaurant quality mug because the ones I sold were from an ASI supplier and they held up really well. Matter of fact I still drink coffee daily from the first mug I ever had printed. Of course I have seen some thicker mugs at restaurants but since the ones I sold back then held up so well I never looked for a higher quality.

Anyway ... it is great seeing that you have such a successful mug business. Selling coffee mug advertising was always one of the most fun and easiest to sell out of all the various advertising and marketing I have done over the years.

Much continued success to you.

Randy

Where's Woody?!?
 

1) You're NOT Selling a course on "Coffee Mug Advertising," eh?
REALLY:
http://midasreports.com/
#6 - AD MUGS

REALLY?!?
You're talking "INTEGRITY?!?"
... hahahahahaha

What does Woody think of you NOW?!?
http://www.sowpub.com/forum/showthre...ight=Integrity

AS for L.B. Jenkins
AND
Mark A. Ragen of
Mugs Across America, Inc.

Thank You for Posting Your Comments!

Thanks,
Christopher

PS. Notice that whenever someone posts any Q's questioning alm,
there is ALWAYS 1 or more NEW Registered Users THANKING him
for his info and, in some cases, they've been 'Lurking for years?'

Sounds a bit DESPERATE to Me, doesn't it?

;)

In fact....HERE'S Da "Inside Scoop-Poop"
 

To get MY price for MY Ads on MY Mugs.....I COMBINE the Ads on the Mugs WITH....either an Ad on the;
DAILY SPECIAL BOARD
or
MENU!

So.....go play wid yer Tiddly-Winks!

Some of "You" people ....make me want to Vomit! YOU are "Sickos"!!!!!!!!!
Don Alm....headin' fer da medicine cabinet to get a swig o Milk-O-Magnesia

Imitation as a Strategy...
 

Just to clear up any misunderstanding, many people participating in this discussion (on both sides) have been posting here since the early 2000s at least... (They can identify themselves if they wish to, or you can search through the early posts...)

As for my view on this... I feel if you are using someone's artwork, photography, etc., at the very least the source should be credited...

However, on the other hand, taking business "ideas" from others and using them has probably been happening since neanderthal man...

I'll give you a quick example... In Australia, there is a very successful chain of stores called "Bunnings"... it is a kind of "warehouse" hardware store. That's right - it's just like Home Depot! Bunnings "stole" the concept of a hardware warehouse from Home Depot - and became very successful in Australia with this concept, just as Home Depot are successful in the USA! However, nowhere in a Bunnings store will you see "Home Depot" credited for the concept (surprise surprise)...

Microsoft "stole" the basis for their first operating system, "MS-DOS" - from other software called "CP/M", which was created by Digital Research. However, I've never heard of Microsoft crediting Digital Research for the concept!

And of course, Microsoft's "Windows" operating system copied Apple's "Macintosh", which in turn got its ideas from Xerox's research unit... (At least Apple gave Xerox a whole bunch of shares in return for taking their ideas - ideas which Xerox weren't using commercially anyway. However, I believe Microsoft gave Apple nada.)

The first credit card ever created was Diner's Club, back in 1950. Visa (1958, originally as "BankAmericard") and Mastercard (1966) came along later to the party. However - strangely enough - I've never heard Visa and Mastercard acknowledge their debt to Diner's Club for the concept!

Anyway, you get the drift. There are about a billion other "copycat" stories just like those. Just to see how common this is in business history, there's a book all about it (where you can read about many other examples) - "Managing Imitation Strategies" by Steven P. Schnaars.

However, you can prevent others from copying you and succeeding. That's what the whole concept of a "toll position" is all about...

(Before you ask - yes, the Harvey Brody toll positions project is still chugging along on its pre-planned track - we've been very busy behind the scenes!)

- Dien