Takeout Menu Binders [Reposted from archive]

Holy Camoly......20yrs ago (1994) I was in a Ch of Comm luncheon when the speaker asked; "Can I have a show of hands of how many here have a Fax in their office?"

Out of about 200 people in the room almost every hand went up. I happened to be sitting at a table with 3 restaurant owners. I looked over at the 3 guys and asked; "Hey! Why don't you guys get the Fax Nos from the folks in this room and Fax them your Daily Specials?"

One of the restauranteurs responded with; "Hey Don! Why don't YOU put something together....I'd be the first one in!"

The other 2 chimed in with; "Ya....include us too!"

So....I went home to my "man-cave" and put together a Sample "Daily Special Fax Sheet"

This was a standard sheet of paper with a Banner Headline....room for 4 Daily Specials from 4 restaurants....and....Ad Spaces around the edges.

To determine the "audience" I phoned local offices asking to speak to the Office Mgr. When she came on I said "I'm putting together a Daily Special Fax Sheet with daily specials from 4 local restaurants and...if she would give me their Fax # I'd Fax over the sheet every day b4 noon....as a convenience
for her office personnel.

Almost every office mgr I spoke to LOVED the idea and quickly gave me their fax #. I soon reached my goal of 25 offices.

I started out by charging each restaurant $50/week for 13 wks = $650 x 4 = $2,600......and charging $40/wk for 13 wks = $520 x 12 Ads = $6,240 for a nice $8,840

I then proceeded to go to 4 other nearby towns and.....had to pay a programmer to rig up a Fax System to send out 100 faxes a day.

So...I then set up an affiliate in 7 other towns.

I was nick-named "Fax Man".

Thus....once again....a profitable business from just an idea.

AND....faxes are STILL with us...probably more so now. So....why can't someone give this a try?

When the "Junk-Fax" Law came into being.....it always tickled me when I'd post info about my Fax Biz on a Forum and invariably someone would comment that; "Ya can't do dat anymore, it's Illegal!"...even after I explained I PHONED each recipient office and "Got Their Permission"!

Don Alm......bringing back fond memories