Hi all, new here!

Originally Posted by Eva

Thank you Phil,

Don is great for tossing out ideas but never too willing to share resources. In a perfect world, we all would be sharing but hey, nothing's perfect...

Its like your 15 minutes of fame, oh and ahh, but bottom line, YOU have to find your own way. Makes it kind of hard, sharing and all. Just sayin'...

Eva, semi-reluctant to share, just because...

Hmmm, it seems to me one would better spend their time doing research like Phil instead of complaining about another member. If you are looking for items at wholesale prices go to wholesalecentral.com unless they changed their name again. Or, do a search for dollar store suppliers. Amazing what you find about magnets and other products.

I realize Don is a big boy and can speak for himself but I don't remeber anything that says anyone has to post resources in their threads. Maybe it is just me but if I really want to know something I'll write the author and offer to pay them for thier knowledge.

But what do I know, maybe it is better to piss and moan...

Originally Posted by sandalwood

Hmmm, it seems to me one would better spend their time doing research like Phil instead of complaining about another member. If you are looking for items at wholesale prices go to wholesalecentral.com unless they changed their name again. Or, do a search for dollar store suppliers. Amazing what you find about magnets and other products.

I realize Don is a big boy and can speak for himself but I don't remeber anything that says anyone has to post resources in their threads. Maybe it is just me but if I really want to know something I'll write the author and offer to pay them for thier knowledge.

But what do I know, maybe it is better to piss and moan...

Wouldn't really call it that, it was just a matter of fact... And yes, I kind of knew I would get whipped for my comment but I can live with that. As far as research goes, have no problem with that at all, actually love doing it.

And thank you for sharing your resources, it's all good.

Eva

I have been selling Bob Ross cards in So. Cal. for a few months. I like Don's idea MUCH better for a couple of reasons.

1. The success for his cards is somewhat area-sensitive. For example, he sells ads at a price that gives him $5000 profit per card. In my area, there are a LOT of avenues for the advertising dollar so getting a company to pay $500 or more for a one-shot mailing is a struggle. The last few advertisers are going to get a discount just so you can get the card out.

2. Again, it depends on your area. If consumers in a given area are bombarded by independent advertising the response for your customers will not be anything phenomenal.

3. This gets you back to square one, calling on a lot of customers to sell a $500 ad. That is a lot of work for the profit you can make on a card. We never came near $5000 profit.

In some areas I have lived it would be a phenomenal fit because there is hardly any advertising other than the newspaper, nickel papers and a couple of senior publications. In those areas it would most likely be a goldmine because you would be the only game in town.

The $1,000 limit makes a lot of sense. BTW, the raw cost for mailing, printing etc. is right around $3,000.

Not saying it is a bad idea because it is actually very good. I would just pick my area a little more carefully.

Originally Posted by Adman

Bob Ross has conjured up a whole lot of interest in......in....in a "Direct Sales" project on a Forum where most of the viewers have never sold anything in their lives....especially Advertising!

UNbelievable! Who wouda known.

My problem with a "Direct Mail" project like this, besides the inexperience of those folks getting involved (Maybe it's the "supposed"...."hoped for"...$5,000 Profit being hung out like a carrot).....is;

The cost is around $2,500 for 10,000 Cards to be Designed, Printed and Mailed. I've been in the Direct Sales biz for a long time and I NEVER start a project that going to cost me OVER $1,000! Because....if I don't get enough paying clients....I have to refund the money they paid.

One of my Ad Projects is a 8 1/2 by 11 Fridge Magnet (it has "Important Phone Numbers at the top....a 12 mo Calendar and 4 Columns wide by 6 Rows down for a total of 24 Ad Spaces)

These Mags cost me $2 ea to be printed and mailed. I print and mail 150/mo.

Guess to whom I mail these Informative Fridge Mags (with 3 Reasons to keep them ON the fridge).....New Movers! People who have moved recently.

And....guess what kind of Advertisers I start contacting? "New Businesses" I get from my City Hall and County Courthouse.

I commit my advertisers to 3 months.....150 mailed each month. I print up 450 magnets. My cost is $2 x 450 = $900.

I charge $150 one-time set up and $450 (3 mos in advance) for a total of $600!....to have an EXCLUSIVE AD on the Refrigerators of 450 New Movers for th next 12 months!

$600 x 20 = $12,000 less $900

Don Alm....Sales Guy

Originally Posted by Eva

Thank you guys for your responses. As far as gotprint goes, was actually one the phone with them yesterday. Their booklets are way too big and they will only do the listed sizes. Looked at clubcards but they will only print on card stock.

Best for small runs would be to purchase a heavy duty paper trimmer or Staples will make cuts for $2 and cut 250 sheets or if heavier 200 sheets for the same amount per cut, then assemble myself.

Would also need a specialized stapler, no biggie.

Thanks Phil for all the links, really am not into bartering, like to keep it simple. Will read through all of Paulette's, surely will find some gems hidden in there that will work for me.

I'd like to make my booklets stand out. I will put in the extra effort to include a coverstock for each booklet. I just recently purchased the whole Master Collection from Adobe and I am in the process of learning InDesign and Illustrator.

There's a new wso coming out on 3/21 from bob ross in the WF in regards how to make money with direct mail and other printed pieces. I am bringing this up, not because I am getting any financial benefit from it but simply because I belive it is going to be worth the $9.71 the wso is priced at initially and if you buy it within the first 24 hours, you will get the OTO for free. That is the one that is a tutorial on how to use Illustrator to design your own stuff.

The whole purpose of the booklet to me is two-fold, a foot in the door while making some money and then take it from there to sell them other stuff.

Thanks again, Eva

Obviously, I'm late to this party.

Anyway, I decided I liked this idea so much I created one of these 16-page booklets as my business card. I have a cover with a title and subhead and a simple graphic. I have as the back cover the basic "business card" info. Inside pages include:

~~What's Inside (TOC)

~~A Note From Me To My Reader (introduction)

~~Several pages that introduce and briefly describe services I offer

~~What Clients Are Saying (2 pages of testimonials on the page 8-9 "center spread")

~~Profitable Resources (links to my FREE Report squeeze pages)

~~And finally, a call-to-action for anyone who wants me to create, print and assemble a similar booklet for them!

I started cutting these myself on my $20 paper trimmer. Worked OK, but not precise enough. Went to Staples and, yes, $4 to cut 250 pieces. But they wanted $.29 each to assemble (not including paper/printing; I print my own).

So, bought a $15 Staples One Touch stapler. Turns out it is the EXACT size for saddle stitching these booklets!

I've passed a few of these around and the response has been pretty enthusiastic. At the very least, they're struck by its uniqueness as a business card. One guy expressed interest in my designing one for his business (magician and children's entertainer). And I just started handing these out 4 days ago.

I have a pretty slick and efficient color laser printer. Using Staples 32 lb. laser gloss paper, I can make these for a hard cost of about ten cents each or less.

Also planning to head out next week and make a few calls to see if I can drum up some interest in these.

One print broker I spoke to said he can't get any of his printers to do a booklet smaller than 4x6. Another thinks she can find someone. I'll be interested to find out if she can find a source and what the charge will be. I don't mind making these myself on a small scale, but I'd rather do big numbers and outsource that part of it.

Just curious, Eva, have you been able to find any clients to do these for?

Originally Posted by RRG

Obviously, I'm late to this party.

Anyway, I decided I liked this idea so much I created one of these 16-page booklets as my business card. I have a cover with a title and subhead and a simple graphic. I have as the back cover the basic "business card" info. Inside pages include:

~~What's Inside (TOC)

~~A Note From Me To My Reader (introduction)

~~Several pages that introduce and briefly describe services I offer

~~What Clients Are Saying (2 pages of testimonials on the page 8-9 "center spread")

~~Profitable Resources (links to my FREE Report squeeze pages)

~~And finally, a call-to-action for anyone who wants me to create, print and assemble a similar booklet for them!

I started cutting these myself on my $20 paper trimmer. Worked OK, but not precise enough. Went to Staples and, yes, $4 to cut 250 pieces. But they wanted $.29 each to assemble (not including paper/printing; I print my own).

So, bought a $15 Staples One Touch stapler. Turns out it is the EXACT size for saddle stitching these booklets!

I've passed a few of these around and the response has been pretty enthusiastic. At the very least, they're struck by its uniqueness as a business card. One guy expressed interest in my designing one for his business (magician and children's entertainer). And I just started handing these out 4 days ago.

I have a pretty slick and efficient color laser printer. Using Staples 32 lb. laser gloss paper, I can make these for a hard cost of about ten cents each or less.

Also planning to head out next week and make a few calls to see if I can drum up some interest in these.

One print broker I spoke to said he can't get any of his printers to do a booklet smaller than 4x6. Another thinks she can find someone. I'll be interested to find out if she can find a source and what the charge will be. I don't mind making these myself on a small scale, but I'd rather do big numbers and outsource that part of it.

Just curious, Eva, have you been able to find any clients to do these for?

That's great that they were so well received, please let us know if you find a printer for the booklets. As far as myself taking action on this kind of project, No, I have not but got inspired again by YOU taking action.

Thank you, Eva

Edit; shortrunbooklets.com does a booklet up to 5.5x8.5, 1000 copies, saddle stitch for about 47 cents a piece.

Originally Posted by Eva

That's great that they were so well received, please let us know if you find a printer for the booklets. As far as myself taking action on this kind of project, No, I have not but got inspired again by YOU taking action.

Thank you, Eva

Edit; shortrunbooklets.com does a booklet up to 5.5x8.5, 1000 copies, saddle stitch for about 47 cents a piece.

Eva,

I just spoke with someone at ShortRunBooklets.com. He said they can NOT do our 2.75" by 4.25" finished booklet.

Also spoke to a print broker. He could not find anyone who would produce that size either.

I have another print broker looking into it.

But . . . it may be that "do it yourself" is our only option.

If anyone else has any ideas on this, please let us know.


Thanks,

RRG