Valentines Day Money Ideas?
 

Hello everyone, im Tyrone Williams and im new here.

Valentines Day is this Saturday and I don't have a Valentine but I would like to make some money?.. Does anyone have any ideas how to make some money on this day? Im pretty sure I can do just about anything.

Thanks

-Tyrone

Re: Valentines Day Ideas
 

See:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/0...&ir=Weird+News

Regards,
Steve

That's one wacky list!
 

Heheh... Thanks for posting that, Steve!

Those are some pretty wacky ideas! :)

(Yet fun to read!)

My beloved will be very surprised when she receives her present from that list... of anti-wrinkle cream made from earthworm poop!

(If I see an angry look in her eye, I'll just say... It was suggested by Steve! ;) )

Best wishes,

Dien

Re: Valentines Day Money Ideas?
 

Ha! Being the Star Trek fan that I am... I would opt for the Klingon Blood Wine :-)

Regards,
Steve

Re: Valentines Day Money Ideas?
 

However......my wife knows how much I LOVE "Extra Crispy Fries" .....she'd probably go for the "Fries Panties".....(she also knows how much MY Double-Chins LOVE those fries.....so I can "kill two birds with 1 rock")

Now.....back to the Topic at hand; Here's a guy asking a "legit" question; "HOW can someone make money on Valentines Day?"

I remember back in my college days.....me and a Frat Brother got a List of "CO-EDS" (female college students) ......sent the parents a PostCard offering to DELIVER their Daughter/s a Heart-Shaped box of chocolates with a note attached (we showed a Photo of the Box we got from Walgreen's)...and, GOT SWAMPED WITH ORDERS!

So.....this started me on my journey OFF of Engineering and towards Marketing and Promotion. I KNEW I had THIS kinda stuff....in me!

So.....back to Feb 2015. Today is Tuesday, Feb 10, 2015.....THREE DAYS til Saturday....VALENTINE'S DAY!

WHAT TO DO.....HOW to make some bux....."capitalizing" on the Marketing and Promotional Influence that Valentine's Day has on our culture.

I "look at a question" with my "discerning eyes" relating to "making money";
WHO will pay me? WHY will they pay me? How much will they pay me?

So.....I just came from a meeting with a Real Estate AGENT who happens to have her own WebSite. She has 3 people on her "Team" and is one of the top sellers in our market area.

Her "team" gets lots of listings BUT.....she'd love to get lots more because she knows "popularity does not last forever"1 (Wise woman)

So....I know she does NOT use "QR Codes" in her biz so.....I showed her a photo of someone using a QR Code on their "FOR SALE SIGNS"!

I told her I could provide her with "Signs with QR CODES" that take visitors to her ONLINE properties.

She went GaGA!

So.....my "Valentine's Day Inquisitor" as to HOW to make some BUX related to Valentine's Day.....I offered my Real Estate Gal a "VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT" of a FREE .....SIGN .....with a QR CODE that connects to HER website!
(see attached)

YOU could offer "SIGNS with QRCODES" to local RE Agents as a "Valentine's Day GIFT" from little ol' YOU! (Then.....use the 1st one to be a Testimonial to other RE Agents. Heck....in my small town of 20,000 there's over 500 Agents!!!!!!!)

And.....as another Money-Making Idea......MOST small businesses do NOT have a "Connection" to THEIR WEBSITES! on their biz cards other then a
"TEXT" line!

So.....what I did wasto take a sheet of 10 Biz Cards on a sheet.....put in a QRCode that directsto their site .....send to my printer to make me ONE Copy on a "Glossy" and cut out the 10 cards and.....I proceeded to visit each of the 10 biznesses......telling them I am offering a way for them to contact prospects just by handing out biz cards.

I asked each prospect to "SCAN" this Code with their Phone.....and....when they did....UP came their website.

Well what "I" would do is.....walk into each of the 10 biz I had made a QR Code for (the directs to their website)......show the "Mnager" what I've done and.....would they beinterested in have these CODES on THEIR phones....with a Special Valentine's Day offer of 1 Free?

Thus.....my friend, looking for "ways to make money on Valentine's Day".... theres HUNDREDS of possibilities!

Don Alm......Long-Time "Possibility-Thinker"......Happy Valentine's Day

Re: For Tyrone....
 

Hey Ty..........excuse me, I got carried away above. Here's what I have done and what I suggest YOU do in the next 3 days till Valentines Day.

1) Go to Staples and buy a pack of Business Cards to print on (comes in 10 on a sheet with each perforated)
2) Pull up a Graphic Editor (I use MSPublisher) (A free one is "Serif Page Plus") and create a Page with 10 squares to fit in 10 "mockups" you make by right-clicking on photos and Logos on the 10 websites YOU chose, and putting them in the spaces along with contact info AND.....a QRCode that directs to their website. (You can find FREE QRCODE creators online)
3) Save as a PDF and email to a local copy shop and ask them to print 3 copies on 100lb Glossy Stock. Then cut the 10 cards out in biz card size 2 x 3.5
4) Go visit each biz you chose. Ask to see owner or manager telling them you'd like to show them a way to reach MORE prospects. Bring up their Card and ask someone in the office to "Scan" the Code. Then....point to the Image of THEIR website on the Phone.

5) When the "check-writer" asks "How Much".....I say, "$190 for 500 Cards with $95 deposit and $95 when delivered.....if I get 3 or more orders I give you 1 Free!...as a Valentine's Day Gift"

Now ... before I go into my first prospect's business I make up 2 Cards as "Demos" to show my first prospect.

I think vistaprint has good prices on 500 Cards.....around $25 fpr 500.

Go up to YELP and find 10 businesses that have websites

Re: Valentines Day Money Ideas?
 

Also.....one of my "Students" has been selling these Cards by making up "Demo Cards" and emailing them to prospects. Not as many orders per contact BUT.....many more contacts per day.....especially with RE Agents.

Don Alm

Re: Valentines Day Money Ideas?
 

Hey Tyrone......with this Short Notice.....you can eliminate any "digital" ways of making money. What you're wanting is "CASH-IN-HAND" and....the only way I know to get "Instant-Cash-In-Hand" is by MAKING PERSONAL CONTACT WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN GIVE YOU MONEY!!!!!

So.....today is Weds the 11th of Feb....you only have a short time to TRY to Cash-In on the "Valentines Day" EXPO!

I don't know How Much Money you're looking to receive in 3 days by "taking advantage of this Special Day"! It was created by the Florist Industry FOR Florists"...... but.....I do NOT think YOU can put together a "money-making program" in this time frame.....unless YOU can come up with some Promo related to Flowers or Gifts.

So.....with that in mind.....allow me to regress to 1991 when my wife opened her Antique Shoppe in our downtown.

On Jan 20 of that year, I got one of my "Hot Flashes" to create a "Valentine Value Week" promotion .....where any retailer could post a Special Deal for Valentine's Week.

I printed Posters that could be stuck on windows...and A-Frame signs.

In fact, I got the whole downtown involved with Special Deals to come downtown.

HOWEVER.....your claim of; "Im pretty sure I can do just about anything"
......is NOT factual".....in MY estimation! Excuse me for being Blunt!

YOU do NOT offer any of your "talents" as PROOF that "you can do just about anything" or.....any reason why anyone should pay attention to your PLEA!

In my post above.....I ASSUMED you at least had some knowledge of Sales or Marketing (Hey....that's what this Forum is about.....right!)

However....on re-looking, you come across as a guy who's been laid off of a dishwashing JOB! So....I'm sorry BUT....I "forget myself" sometimes (in my efforts to offer HELP) and believe that MOST posters HERE have some kind
of "background success" on which to draw upon to go forward into unknown waters.

Sorry for my Assumptions!

Don Alm......done LOTS and PROUD OF IT

Re: Valentines Day Money Ideas?
 

Hey!!!.. I just came back from a trip to Starbucks for my favorite caffeine drink and on the way and back....I saw THREE.....I repeat....3 .....guys on 3 different street corners.....offering FLOWERS FOR SALE.

I went back around the block and bought a dozen roses from 1 guy AND.... asked if he was connected to the other guys. He said "No! He was just doing his OWN Thing to make a few bux on Valentine's Day, cause he's been outa work for 6 mos!" (YEA Obama!)

I told him I'm a local Marketing & Promotion guy and.....would he mind if I offered a way he could sell LOTS more of his flowers? He responded with, "YOU Kidding ME! I'm "on my last legs"! ANY SUPPORT would help!"

So.....I told him that the LOCAL retail shops and business offices would LOVE to have someone come into their biz and offer .....VALENTINE'S DAY FLOWERS!

So.....because I am a "DOER".....I told him to grab about 12 bunches of flowers and come with me.....let your wife stay and man the spot. He agreed and we walked across the street where there was an Insurance Biz (with 9 employees and 1 boss)

I opened the door and told the receptionist that WE are offering a "Special Valentine's Day Deal" of 1 dozen for X$ BUT....3 dozen for X$-.......!

When I began handing bunches of flowers to the folks in the office (I didn't care whether they were interested in flowers or not...I just handed them to each person)....and each and everyone....ALWAYS bent their heads down and TOOK A WHIFF, after receiving them .....and suggesting that they ALL knew someone who would LOVE to get a bunch of flowers.....the place went bonkers!

We sold 22 bunches of flowers AND.....this got the Flower-Guy so excited he "gave me a BIG HUG"! (I Work For Hugs!) and.....he proceeded to go down the street selling his flowers to local biznesses!

So.....once again....."money-making" ideas are ALL AROUND!

I'll check back on Sat afternoon to see how he did!

Don Alm.....Idea Guy

Re: Valentines Day Money Ideas?
 

WOW! I just came back from visiting with my Valentine Day flower guy and.... grabbed a bunch of flowers from his stand and went over to the local TV Channel offices and......started handing flower bunches to everyone..!

The first reaction to someone handing you a batch of flowers is.....to look at them and.....SMELL them!

Windup.....once again my "ALREADY DONE" philosophy is proven.

In fact. most of the folks I handed a bouquet to.....BOUGHT....and also bought an extra bunch!

Result being.....HEy! Make contact with a local Nursery or Florist.....see what they will sell a doz to you IF you buy X. Buy a bunch and GO OUT AND SELL EM! THEN COME BACK AND BUY MORE!

I just phoned a guy I know in the town north of me (pop 7,000) and I asked about the "kid" who comes in every Valentine's Day, Easter, 4th of July and XMas and orders a BIG Bunch of flowers and I asked if "the Kid" is going ahead" this year.....and the response was, "Yup! And...more orders this year!

So.....just imagine this for a moment; "You hand someone a bunch of flowers. What's the first thing that person does! Yup! They SMELL them! So....take advantage of this "psychological response event" in ALL your Sales efforts.

People are TIRED of being "Bull****ted To!" GIVE them the "Result" instead of "Promising" the Result! If they still reject your offer....go to someone else!

Don Alm......Deliverer

What about, something for *single* people on Valentine's Day?
 

Hi Tyrone,

Don gave you some good ideas... Selling flowers has to be a winner in the build-up to Valentine's Day, and it's a good "cash in hand" business!

Anyway, I got my brain gear box in motion, to see what I could come up with...

One interesting idea, I thought of, is - what about the SINGLE PEOPLE on Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is a day that many single people love to hate. We've all been there at some point... It's a day when you feel like you're "missing out," and nobody cares about you, either - not even the advertisers! All the focus is on those blasted "lovey dovey" couples!

So, what could you do for this neglected group - single people, on Valentine's Day?

One idea could be to organize and throw a Valentine's Day singles party! That is, a party for singles only (probably in a specific age range), where people would pay to enter. You'd have to keep track of the genders of those who bought tickets, so the male to female ratio would be around half/half.

Of course, it's probably too late for this year, but I do think it is a viable idea. Realistically, you would want a minimum of a month to promote it (and two months would be even better, to make sure you get the word out). However, you could still do it next year...

If I were doing it, I would organize it in conjunction with an existing venue, and we'd share in the profits somehow. They would be in charge of the food and beverages, and I (you) could be in charge of the marketing/promoting. I'd probably send out a few early media releases, to give news outlets a different "angle" to write or talk about in relation to Valentine's Day.

If I were a single person, I would certainly consider going to a fun "singles night" - rather than moping at home watching a stupid DVD or YouTube videos, while slowly eating a big tub of chocolate ice cream, feeling sorry for myself, and being at risk of drunkenly calling my old girlfriend who I had the bad breakup with last year... ;)

Best wishes!

Dien

Re: Valentines Day Money Ideas?
 

OK.....I dug this out of my Archives. Maybe it will give someone some motivation;

A guy I knew asked if I knew a way to make some "quick bux". (Same as Tyrone) He worked construction labor and I knew he had NO sales experience however.....he did NOT want to do any Manual Labor stuff (although he could have knocked on doors offering to take stuff to the dump for a fee)

So.....I had just come from a visit to our local Dollar Store and I noticed the HUGE selection of Valentine's Day Balloons (it was 2 days b4 Feb 14, same as today) So....I told him to hop into his Van and drive me over to the Dollar Store.

We went in and bought 20 "Heart" Balloons for a buck ea.....put them in the van and went over to my Copy Place and I asked Monica if she could make me up 2 - 11x17 Posters that said; "VALENTINE DAY BALLOONS FOR YOUR SWEETIE.....$5" in big letters. She printed it out on heavy card stock and drove over to the Town Post Office.....parked the van across the street and grabbed 10 balloons each and went and stood in front of the PO....placing the signs where they could be seen.

Folks were walking in and one guy stopped...looked at the sign...looked at the balloons and hand me a fiver and chose a balloon. Others also stopped on their way out and BOUGHT a balloon for a fin.

Windup....in about an hour all 20 were sold.....so, we went back to the Dollar Store for another "$20 investment". We were "netting" $80 per load and managed to get 6 loads of 20 ($480 cash) When we went back the next day, a postal employee gave us a hassle about "permission". I simply pointed to the "HomeLess Guy" sitting on the sidewalk with a piece of carboard that said; "ANYTHING WILL HELP....GOD BLESS" and asked if HE had a permit to "Solicit Funds" from Postal Patrons.

And....when I whipped out my Smart-Phone and aimed it at her and told her the guy with me AND I.....were Vets.....looking to raise a few bucks for our families.....she backed off.....gave me a "funny" look and went back inside.

So.....in 2 & 1/2 days.....we netted a little over $1,800 for our efforts.

NOW.....what to do next? My guy LOVED the idea of selling balloons so.... down the block from the PO was a Bakery owned by an individual (Tony) and not a franchise.

When the PO closed at noon on Valentin's Day we still had a few balloons left so.....I told my guy to follow me. We walked into the bakery ....found Tony and I held up FOUR (4) balloons in one hand and told Tony, "Hey Tony! I have a way for you to get MORE money for your Birthday Cakes and "Sell Them Faster"!

He responded with; "How's that?" I told him to offer 4 Balloons with each B'day Cake for $16 extra ($4 per balloon) I said I thought the Balloons would ADD to the pleasure of anyone buying a B'Day Cake and.....I would sell the 4 balloons to him for $2 ea.....so he'd make an additional $8 per Cake.

He looked at me....rubbed his chin.....looked at the Balloons.....rubbed his chin some more.....then.....said...."LET'S DO IT....BUT.....I'd like to offer a Choice so, can you make up some batches of 4 with different types?

"Absolutely!" was my response. I told Tony we'd be back tomorrow with 5 different batches.

So.....thus was started a business from scratch. There were 4 independent bakeries in town and 4 other in nearby towns for a total of 8.

So.....instead of buying balloons from Dollar Tree.....I took my guy over to a "Welding Supply" store where we found we could RENT "Helium Tanks" and Fill Our Own balloons.

We then found a balloon supplier online where the cost of each balloon dropped fro $1 ea to 20cents each meaning the NET would now be $1.80 per balloon.

My guy went about creating a "Balloon Route" AND.....even got into "BALLOON EXTRAVAGANZAS" for Weddings and Special Parties.

He moved to a larger city AND.....he will never forget the time he and I were standing in front of the PostOffice selling "Valentine's Day BALLOONS"!

Thanks for letting me "pull this off one of my Memory Hooks"!

Don Alm......who gotten GREAT satisfaction out of helping others earn money.

PS....the SowPub software only allows Photos up to 97kb. And if anyone would like to see a picture of ME....standing next to the "Balloon Delivery Van" with a bunch of Balloons.....send me an email to [email protected]

drunkenly calling my old girlfriend
 

Might be an opportunity to make some extra cash. Prank call old girlfriends. Something like one of these calls: http://www.prankowl.com/

Regards,
Steve:D

Re: Valentines Day Money Ideas?
 

OK.....it's Friday the day b4 VD. Here's what I told two of my "young students";

ALL.....I mean EVERY Florist in EVERY town in the country is "running their buns off" delivering flowers HOWEVER.....the florists that do not have a Mobilized Website are MISSING .....MANY orders for flowers!

Hey! Whether you believe it or not....we are in the MOBILE AGE! In my small town there are 5 florists. I'll bet only 1 is Mobilized.

So.....I happen to have a piece of software I bought from Dave Cisneros that can present an image of ......what their website looks like now and.....what it will look like when I "Mobilize" it.

So.....next Tuesday (Monday is a holiday).....I....and my "students" will be walking into florist's stores with our phones in hand.....asking to see the Owner (When asked "Why?"....we respond with, "to show him why he missed a lot of business on Val Day and why he won't have to miss any more!")

The owner comes out....I greet him and say, "I'd like to show you what your business looks like on a mobile phone!" as I whip out my phone that is already to show my Before and After image.

I point to the B4 image and say; "Here's what consumers saw on their phones last week!"

Then I say; "The image on the right is what they COULD have seen and..... what they CAN see on future holidays.....if you agree to let me make a "Mobilized Site" for you!"

I then WAIT.....PATIENTLY....for his response (first one who speaks now, loses!) His response will usually be, "OK...How Much?"

AND.....instead of quoting a price NOW.....I want "MORE CONVICTION" to having little ol' ME make a mobilized site for him so....I say: "Do you realize that you probably lost 10 to 30 flower orders or more last week because
"Phone Users" saw THIS (point to image on left)???????? (wait for response)

Whatever his response is I then say; "However.....Mother's Day, Father's Day and other Holidays are coming up. Do YOU....REALLY want to miss the orders you COULD get from "MOBILE Phone People"?

His response now.....if not Totally to pay you ANY AMOUNT so he doesn't have to MISS Future "Mobile" orders.....should be: "Yup....let's do it!" if not, reach out your hand....thank him for his time and LEAVE....this guy's either Broke or and Idiot!

Anyways.....thanks again Dien for having this Forum where "Real Entroopreneers (aka Doers) can toss in their "On The Field of Battle" experiences.

Don Alm......long-time Doer

Re: Valentines Day Money Ideas?
 

Don, thanks for your bouquet of great ideas!

So, when the savvy florist takes you up on the offer, how do you create this mobile page?

What's the missing step here?

You subbing out the job on Fiverr or to a local techie, or ... ?

Thanks!

Re: Valentines Day Money Ideas?
 

The "missing step" is 10 or 20 different WSO's or other programs that offer "Mobile Site CREATOR" programs (I like WILLR's or Quentin Brown's stuff)

HEY! Understand the "Basics of Sales".....YA GOTTA GIT AN ORDER.... THEN...FIGURE OUT HOW TO FULFILL iT.....and if you can't, refund!

"NOTHING MOVES.....UNTIL SOMETHING IS SOLD!!!!!!!"

I'll never forget an "Inventor" group I belonged to in Chgo. Every Thurs eve we met and discussed "Inventions and Invention Marketing".

Here were about 50 people (guys and gals) who had either gotten a patent or were "thinking" about getting one and.....this one guy tells us about this new "tool" he got a patent for and.....his primary target to sell to was.... SEARS!

So.....he goes thru "the channels"...gets his Patent (after about $7,000 outofpocket" for Lawyer fees).....gets a meeting with Sears and.....
Waits.....and Waits....and Waits....to hear from them whether they're going to buy his "Patent"!

So.....wind up is....Sears goes out and has one of their suppliers create a similar tool.....and puts it on the market....and....the guy with the "patent" sues and.....10 yrs later....he gets a "settlement".

Whoopee Fizz! The "settlement" probably covered his attorney fees.

So.....from this I learned that....regarding "NEW" products or services....
"THE FIRSTEST with THE MOSTEST" always wins!

Anyways.....there MANY places to find "Mobile Creation software".....again, the MAIN THING IS.....YA GOTTA SELL IT FIRST!

You do this by "making a MOCKUP of prospect's existing site...showing how it looks on a phone.....then....show how it COULD look....IF they pay YOU.

Geez Louise.....we are IN the "Mobile Age".....the best way to get orders is to GO VISIT biznesses who've already spent money for a website BUT....did not Mobilize it!.....and....the best way I know is simply to walk in...find the person who writes the checks.....show him how YOU can help him reach potential customers/clients/patients.....quote your price and....if he doesn't go ......walk away!

DON'T .....take advice from those who "supposedly"sell Programs or Reports telling you to charge $97 or $197 or $297 for Mobilizing existing websites, CHARGE $497 AND MORE!

Heck....I know 3 guys who ask for AND GET....$1,297 and up to mobilize sites!

Again.....thanks for allowing me to toss in some of my experiences.

Don Alm

Old Klingon proverb: Revenge is a dish best served cold!
 

Thanks Steve,

Wow, what a crazy site...!

It reminds me of a crazy business I wrote about once before...

Sending dead flowers!

Here's the original post... with info I got out of a 1987 newspaper...

http://www.sowpub.com/forum/showthread.php?p=30078

-----
14 February 1987
St. Petersburg Times

Flowers with a twist

NEW YORK - It's the thought that counts, and sending an ex-lover a box of dead flowers for Valentine's Day says it all.

Manhattan entrepreneurs Bill Verderosa and Mark McConnell on Friday credited a lot of trampled feelings for a recent boom in their unusual business, Drop Dead Flowers.

Operators of the 6-month-old venture deliver a black lacquered box of very dead flowers, replete with dirt, taken from the dumpsters of local cemeteries, and wrap it all in a purple bow - all for $37.50.
-----

I did some more "sleuthing"... Here is a website which is doing this weird business today...

http://thepayback.com/getrevenge.html

Of course, forgiveness is better than revenge. But sometimes... you just can't help but follow your baser instincts! After all, you can always ask for forgiveness later, right, after you've had your fun? ;)

Best wishes,

Dien

P.S. I can imagine this business would be very popular among jilted Klingons... ;)

Re: Old Klingon proverb: Revenge is a dish best served cold!
 

I'm tempted to buy a pack of their parking tickets. Can't tell you how many times I thought the parking space I wanted was empty only to see some jackass had pulled in enough to block 2 spaces.

Love the site.

(Fake) Parking ticket: Inventing a Parking Space
 

Hi Tom,

Using those fake parking tickets would be pretty funny...! Pity you'd probably want to "skidaddle" before they came and looked at the fake ticket (just to be safe)... ;)

I like some of the sample "offences"...

Parking Like a Jackass
Driving a Hunk of Crap
Ugly Driver Violation
Parking too Close to a REAL Car
Inventing a Parking Space

I seem to come across drivers who commit these "offences" every day...! ;)

http://thepayback.com/tickets.htm



By the way, Tom, I loved the latest issue of "Senior Moment!" That video you linked to is hilarious... :)

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to link to the actual issue... Anyway, here's the subscription page. It's definitely not just for "seniors" but is good for everyone... :)

http://www.senior2senior.org/newsletter.html

Best wishes,

Dien