It's funny you made the referance to "Wal Mart" items that customers bring in to be personalized.
Last night my wife and I went there for the sole purpose of buying blank items to engrave and put in my showroom. I found that MANY of my customers see my display of engraved items, and rush out to buy them for us to personalize.
Among the highest done.....
Photo frames, both wood lasered, and metal engraved.
Cutting boards and cake pans.
Candle holders of all types.
The blank unfinished wood pieces avaliable for crafters.
Glasses, mugs, pitchers, cookie jars, salt & pepper shakers, etc.
KNIVES AND FLASHLIGHTS!!!!!
I've also made it a point to let the department people there know we engrave all these items.
It's a bit sneaky..... but simply get the dept head, and thank them for sending so & so to your shop for engraving. Say, "I'm not sure who sent the couple to us to engrave the frames they bought here for their wedding, but I just wanted to say thanks for all the engraving customers you send us. Then tell them you'll continue to send people there for the frames they need. (Which I always do).
The first time I did this with a local religious gift shop, I had jobs lined up on the in table for two weeks as even if they had never heard of you before the contact, you'll be sure they will remember you WHENEVER someone asks again.
You can even take this idea to the next level. As I have two bridal shops here in town that see EVERY one of the brides that I NEED to walk through my doors for their wedding engraving, I started doing a $5 kickback for every bride that they refer to me. There was one month I gave one of the owners a check for $125. (At an average of $200 per wedding for me) And the brides keep rolling in.
This all is of course nothing more than networking, but with a twist.
As I have found that if there isn't something in it for both of the parties, the one who gains less usually is too lazy to follow through. In example 1, your playing on emotion. (Thanks so much!!!) Exmple 2 is simply profitable for them.
Justin |