[amayausers] Re: Trade Show FLOP!
- From: <embroideryexpress@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 21 May 2006 15:38:56 -0500 (CDT)
I have an exhibit at our community night each year. The first time I was alone
and while it was great being set up for the community at large, it was the
business community that I really hoped to target. The second time around I had
my husband watch our table while I went arount to every table and gave them a
business card and extended an invitation to come visit our shop...I had some
orders from that!
Shannon
Embroidery Express
Olney MD
>From: David Smith <macaddicted@xxxxxxxxx>
>Date: Sat May 20 21:40:56 CDT 2006
>To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [amayausers] Re: Trade Show FLOP!
>Steve,
>
>I too am just starting with embroidery. Before this I did freelance
>graphic design and I had a saying that I would tell potential
>clients: If I can't do it I'll tell you where to go... politely.
>
>It's a silly line I know, but it was based on a simple fact: I didn't
>know how to do everything, and was uncomfortable trying to do
>somethings. When I first started I might spend a half a day figuring
>out how to do something that should have taken half an hour. I would
>charge the client for 1/2 hour and mark the difference up to my
>learning something I would need to know later.
>
>You might think about taking one-offs using materials that you have
>bought wholesale (giving you the opportunity to mark them up). This
>would get around your worry about goofing up a clients personal item
>and get you the experience you need to develop.
>
>The hardest thing for a new business to do is say "No" to a potential
>customer. I learned the hard way that it is better to say no and
>guide a customer to someone who can do the work than to say yes and
>lose them because the work was done wrong and you don't know how to
>fix it. In the former case there is always the potential of that
>customer coming back to you later, in the latter case they are gone
>forever.
>
>In the mean time learn everything you can. Ask questions, we were all
>of us beginners at one time, just as you and I are now in embroidery.
>Experiment and practice on your machine and in your software. Just
>because you don't have work doesn't mean you should be working.
>
>Dave
>macaddicted
>
>
>
>On May 20, 2006, at 7:06 PM, Steve Griswold wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> Thanks. I am also at the spa show with my wife. It's our first
>> show and with only two weeks since we started the business it's
>> still a good learning experiece.
>>
>> Since there are no people that have really come for a "Spa" show,
>> the handful of people that do want something, want a one off. They
>> also want this one off on a hat they have, a jacket, a bags, etc.
>>
>> We are set up at the show to do monogrammed towels and nice tote
>> bags and have samples for people to choose from. We are really
>> targeting larger spas and resorts and have lots of sample robes,
>> towel, slippers, etc. The spa items require us to get a medium
>> size order to make it worth while with digitizing a logo, setup,
>> shipping, etc.
>>
>> My concerns with the one offs people want are:
>>
>> 1. It's not our item and we are new and I don't want to mess it up.
>> 2. It's a bunch of effort to do one hat, one robe, one jacket.
>> They would have to ship the item to us and we would have to ship it
>> back since they don't have the item with them at the show. Some
>> want a design, etc., that would need to be digitized, or created in
>> Design Shop to be close. Most come up with a business card and ask
>> if they can get the exact logo on one shirt, and they already have
>> the one shirt.
>>
>> I just don't see the money in doing these one off items. I think
>> we would have to charge a bunch by the time we pay to get it
>> digitized, send the client an email proof, setup the machine, ship
>> the item, etc. Maybe it could lead to more work, but not sure if
>> it is worth it. Any thoughts?
>>
>> It's difficult to figure out how to get medium size orders. We
>> were hoping other vendors would want shirts, hats etc and spas
>> would want 10-100 robes etc. But so far we are luck if a person
>> walks up and asks to get the hat on their head done with their name
>> on the back.
>>
>> Any ideas on target markets for medium size orders? Or is just
>> keep getting your name out by word of mouth over time the only way
>> to grow?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Steve
>>
>> Atlanta GA
>> OnleeJudy@xxxxxxx wrote:
>> Oh, that must be rotten...so few people.
>>
>> To keep the machine running, make something for YOURSELF. The maid
>> has the
>> dirty house, the cobbler's kids are barefoot, and the embroiderer
>> doesn't
>> have anything embroidered. Do a shirt with lots of different
>> animals of the
>> same theme...jungle, dogs, cats, butterflies, etc. Work on your
>> Christmas
>> presents, make a baby blanket, quilt something, etc. That way even
>> if no one
>> shows up you've still gotten some of YOUR things done, and make
>> samples to hang
>> up for the next show.
>>
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