ONE "Marketing Idea" can "change" everything!

I offered my "Browser Buck" idea to a friend who owns a Book Store and he didn't think it was "for him". He "didn't feel right" about handing everyone who comes in, a $1 Cert"!

He's a "quiet, reserved, type of guy".

Soooo....I went back to my pc and printed off some of my "Bee-Back" Cards.

These are the size of a business card, with a cartoon graphic of a "Bee" and the words.....
"Thank you for your purchase.
Use this Card for $1 Off your next purchase in our store".

When I showed these to him he "got excited". He said, "WOW! I just hand these to everyone who buys something as a "Thank You"! I LOVE IT!"

Well....that was last Monday. I just saw him at our coffee shop and he reports that he's had 6 "Bee-Back" cards come in AND....the amazing thing is, 4 of the Cards were from people who were given the card by a customer.

So....I think I will package this up and try and sell these 2 ideas to Gift and Book Shops across the country.

Only one problem; HOW do I contact the Owners of these stores?

I don't think there's any Forums where the owners "hang out".

I could set up a website and rent a Mailing List or owners and send out postcards announcing my Promotion ideas.

Anyone else have any thoughts on how to sell to Antique, Gift & Book Store owners?

Don Alm

Big D,

Start here: http://www.antiquecollectiblestore.com/

Don, go to where the owners congregate: run an ad in the antiques column and for sale columns of the newspapers. Best bet: go to the auction houses around...and hang around the sign up tables and go early to 'browse' the offerings and just start a chat with others. Better yet, arrange for a brief presentation before the audience at mid-point or somewhere close, during the auction. I've seen this done and it's very effective.

Owners of antique stores are often found at the store on Thursdays making room for what they hope to find at garage sales over the weekend. Mondays are another good day as they deliver and set up their finds (stores are often 'closed' on Mondays so they can work without interruption and endangering customers).

Another good shot is to attend mini-storage 'auctions' which are often nothing more than 'anyone want this box of misc. or this couch or...' Nothing formal, usually...but stuff moves. 90% of the people buying are resellers at most of them.

Sandi Bowman

Hey....Thanks much....L.B. and Sandi

I REALLY appreciate your response. I've been doing "Direct Selling"....also known as, "Selling IN-Person"....the last few years....so...."Remote Selling" is a subject I'm gonna havta Bone-Up on.

Thanks again,
Don Alm.....going from "wearing out Shoe Leather to Wearing out Fingernails"

That's great stuff! I will definitely use this idea for my margarita machine rental business. I typically leave business cards and referigerator magnets in the cart with the machine - now I will add "Good for $10.00 toward a rental" to them and see if it works!

Thanks for the great idea!