Coffee Mugs Another way to sell them

Originally Posted by Mugs Across America, Inc.

Hi Skip,
It's an interesting idea, but seems like an awful lot of work getting a lot of people to play ball, Seems very time consuming and what if the person you bring the mug to doesn't want to participate after you just spent $11 to make 1 mug up for them? If 10 people say no after doing that you start out losing $100 plus freight cost of shipping each one to you and all the time you have wasted laying out the ad for the potential purchaser...

Hi Mark,

Thank you for responding.

You seem to have a good program and I'm sure a person can make money from your plan. But I must not have explained my plan right. You only spend about $12 to set up the whole program Until you received the money from advertisers.

Here are the steps.

1. Order 1 mug with Realtor's business card printed on it. (You can use any Realtor in the area you are working.)

2. Take that sample to any Realtor and let them know you will put THEIR info on 100 mugs like the sample and give them the mugs for free to hand out at open houses.

3. Take same sample to businesses in the area and put Their business card in the mug with small candy samples so the mug looks like a gift Item.

(If you do not have their business card, pick one up at the front desk and place it in the cup before seeing the boss.

The best way to find businesses that will advertise is to get business cards off of bulletin boards or use business card size ads out of newspapers and hand outs.

If using ads just print the ads on card stock from your printer and cut to business card size or use preform business card stock from Staples. (One card for each advertiser as a sample in the mug.)

4. pick up deposit from advertisers and order mug with copy for whatever Realtor you are using for that area.

5. Fill each mug with business cards or Frig magnets for each advertiser and deliver to the Realtor. ( you can also sell each advertiser the business cards or the magnets)

6. The Realtor signs for the mugs with an agreement to hand out at open houses.

7. Collect the balance from the advertisers.

By doing the above you only spend $12 until you have the advertisers deposit to pay for the mugs. In fact you will have some of your profit when you pick up the deposits.

If a business wanted to send a mailing to 100 prospects it would cost at least one dollar to put together an envelope and flier and mail it. Plus the cost of a prospect list on labels or on envelopes.

To get targeted prospects (like new home owners in the area) each name would cost at least 50 cents. And that is not the best list because the list brokers use the county deed records that are recorded months later.

In fact I do not know any other way besides "open houses" to get to the new homeowner prospects so you are the first to contact them with advertisers info.

You can also make this more powerful by making the business cards into discount coupons.

You only spend $12 of your money and all the rest of the expenses are paid for by the advertisers up-front.

Hope that clears up cost issue.

Best of success,

Skip Rosell

Hey Skip.....to make "Sample Coffee Cups"....
...Go to a Dollar Store and buy "C" Handle Cups for cheapo
...Go to Staples and buy a pack of "White, Full Sheet Labels"
...On a Graphics Program (I use MSPUB) make up some "Labels" 8"wide by 3"high....with Sample Logos or Ads
...Cut Labels to the 8 by 3 size and stick on Cups making sure Label is evenly spaced from both sides of handle

I can make up as many Samples as I need....instantly. I tell prospects that this is a "Label"...actual pieces will be "Inked".

Also....Nice AD for "Mugs Across America" guy. I'd rather use Google and my Telephone to find a "Mug Supplier"....where I can buy "Vitrified Coffee Mugs" for 57 cents ea....SCREEN-Printed in lots of 180 = $102.60 + $16 per box shipping x 5boxes = $80....= $182.60 (I can make my own ads with MSPub and send to Mug Co)

Reminds me of the old saying of...."Nothing Moves Unless Something Is Sold!"

IF I...as a "SalesMan" am going out to "Sell"....I'd prefer to make as much moolah for my TIME and TALENT...as I can.

For MY Time and Talent....I prefer to pay $182.60 for 180 VITRIFIED Mugs (I can make the ads and do the proofing)....rather than $89 x 8 = $712 for my "Return" on MY Time and Talent!

Don Alm...."Sales Man"

Hey skip,
You are correct. I had misunderstood the plan. I had thought you were going to make up mugs for each potential advertiser which would be expensive if they did not buy the program. You have a great idea there.
...........................
......................as for Don,
You seem to think you can get 180 commercial grade / vitrified coffee mugs purchased , and screen printed and fired and shipped for $182. You are either dreaming or on heavy meds. If you are so sure of this, I am asking you to Prove who you are going to buy 180 vitrified mugs from, and then print and fire them for less than a dollar. What did you say ...like 78c each. ..not to mention the screen charges of $40 to $55.....I won't hold my breath.
and if you want to spend 4 hours laying out the 8 ads for the mug job and another day or two getting proofs approved, all to save $100, more power to ya. You don't get the concept that we do all the B.S. for our Contractors

Hey skip,
You are correct. I had misunderstood the plan. I had thought you were going to make up mugs for each potential advertiser which would be expensive if they did not buy the program. You have a great idea there.


Hi Mark,

Thank you the kind words. (You have a great idea there)

That idea came about because (way back then ) I did not have design ability and all I could do is copy and paste a business card.

So I designed the program to what I knew at the time. That is a lesson in itself, do what you can, but just DO IT!

Best of success,

Skip Rosell

Many people are often stuck for an idea as to what to get a person for a gift. Funny coffee mugs are something anyone would appreciate receiving.
No matter what the occasion may be there is bound to be a mug of some sort that will be suitable.
No matter who it is a coffee mug is something that will be used in the home. Whether it be for coffee, tea, or hot chocolate the majority of people use a mug at some point in time. This makes funny coffee mugs a gift that is not only humorous but useful as well.
Think of the person that you are buying the mug for when looking at funny coffee mugs. There personality, age, quirks that they may have can all be used as factors when trying to pick a mug that will suit them to a tee. Perhaps they love a certain cartoon.
You can find mugs that are specifically designed to resemble cartoon characters. Tweety, Scooby, Mickey and Minnie are just a few of the many popular mugs that are available.
Sayings that are on mugs is another type of mug a person may choose as a gift for a person. Many places around the country have mugs that have sayings on them that range in numerous topics such as fishing, hunting, sports, age specific themes and many other things.
Taking a bit of time to look at what is available is the best way to ensure that you find a gift that is perfect for the person you are buying it for. Many places are around now on the internet that sell these items so this can be a very easy way for you to locate one. By browsing the many websites you will see that there are numerous choices that will be available, this can give you a lot of laughs while you get your shopping done.

Hi Don,

Thanks for responding.

Hey Skip.....to make "Sample Coffee Cups"....
...Go to a Dollar Store and buy "C" Handle Cups for cheapo
...Go to Staples and buy a pack of "White, Full Sheet Labels"
...On a Graphics Program (I use MSPUB) make up some "Labels" 8"wide by 3"high....with Sample Logos or Ads
...Cut Labels to the 8 by 3 size and stick on Cups making sure Label is evenly spaced from both sides of handle

I can make up as many Samples as I need....instantly. I tell prospects that this is a "Label"...actual pieces will be "Inked".

For my program I would rather have an "Inked" sample with a Popular Realtor's ad on the mug Since I'm not putting the advertisers ads ON the mug. It looks more professionial.

Also....Nice AD for "Mugs Across America" guy.

I'm not trying to advertise for anyone but if a person does not have your talents and salesmanship they are better off focusing on the sales and let a professional do the rest. If a person does not have a supplier for the mugs, does not have ad design knowledge, does not know about breakage of mugs, etc. then they are better off using a person like the "Mugs Across America" guy for his talents and knowledge. That is called outsourcing.

Now if there was a program out there that teaches all of the above and is a reasonable price it may be better to learn all the ins and outs if the amount of profit is worth it.

I'd rather use Google and my Telephone to find a "Mug Supplier"....where I can buy "Vitrified Coffee Mugs" for 57 cents ea....SCREEN-Printed in lots of 180 = $102.60 + $16 per box shipping x 5boxes = $80....= $182.60 (I can make my own ads with MSPub and send to Mug Co)

Reminds me of the old saying of...."Nothing Moves Unless Something Is Sold!"

Your saying is true and "Nothing happens unless you do something" is also true. If knowledge of designing an ad is stopping someone then they would be better off using someone like Mark to get started.


IF I...as a "SalesMan" am going out to "Sell"....I'd prefer to make as much moolah for my TIME and TALENT...as I can.

For MY Time and Talent....I prefer to pay $182.60 for 180 VITRIFIED Mugs (I can make the ads and do the proofing)....rather than $89 x 8 = $712 for my "Return" on MY Time and Talent!

If they have the talents needed, your report on mugs may be the way to go, because as a salesman you can teach a lot about how to SELL the program. But if you are using MS Publisher then you can not teach them to design in a more professional program like PhotoShop or Illustrator.

Best of success,

Skip Rosell

Hey Skip, Thank you for the kind words.
I mean it!! You are a smart man!
you are 100% correct about saying, If someone does not want to deal with all the legwork and tedious paperwork, the ad layouts, the proofing, the making of the film positives and the silk screens, the printing and firing, and dealing with the freight companies and negotiating LTL shipping discounts etc.. and simply focus on selling the mug ads at a reasonable price.(under $196 per year) and get paid over 50% of total revenue in commissions, they can come to us and get all that done for them at an extremely low cost. They can focus on selling, which is where they are going to make money!
I just want to set the record straight.
You nor I, nor Don Alm, can buy vitrified mugs for his claim of 57c ea.
not even close. We buy commercial grade vitrified mugs by the semi load and we pay over a dollar each (BLANK) UNPRINTED. You then have to ship your mugs to a decorator that knows how to high fire vitrified products and pay that person a minimum of 55c each, because they have to fire up their kilns and lears to 1600 degrees. It's expensive! Plus each case of mugs weighs 40 lbs or more. Shipping is at least $100 using a truck line or UPS with Doublepacking each carton, so there is no breakage. And you have screen charges. Don does not have a clue. As far as using publisher to do ad layouts, I don't think that there is a decorator alive that accepts that format these days. Vector art is the wave of the future. most decorators require art in adobe illustrator format. If you've never used it, plan on taking a college course!