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Re: Making Hay
Posted By: neontek In Response To: Making Hay (Dana)
Date: Monday, 8 October 2012, at 9:26 p.m.
> A slow period is a good time to do some
> maintenance, but also to get out and make
> some contacts if not sales.> For shops that are operator-owned, it only
> takes a little marketing in your area to
> boost your income especially if you do odd
> jobs. I welcome them because they can pay so
> well, but also you can make lifelong
> connections.> I just did one job for a car-club member and
> that led to three others others making
> inquiries. (These guys always have neon on
> their garage walls.)> Almost every walk-in type business I have
> been to has a broken sign in the back. Edge
> yourself into a storefront business with a
> small job, you will be the recipient of
> their future needs and maybe some free beer
> signs which are easy to resell once cleaned
> up. I never leave the parking lot without
> leaving a card with the adjoining businesses
> also.> You never know "who golfs with
> who..."> I have recently done about 8 'renos' as I
> call them of beer signs with the private
> owners paying up to $400 each to have them
> renewed. They operate and look like new when
> they leave my shop, along with the safer,
> updated transformer.> Sometimes busy work, but they talk to others
> so the word gets around and there is nothing
> more valuable than client referrals.> Like myself before I started in neon,
> non-commercial users of neon are very
> passionate about the light and learning
> about the process so I try to capitalize on
> that with a shop tour.> I have said before, but it is worth
> repeating: A small classified ad of the
> cheapest kind will cull clients from your
> area. Just make sure you are willing to
> return the calls. I get many non-neon
> inquiries that I simply refer to other sign
> shops that in turn will send clients to me.
> Only about 20% of these inquiries will be
> qualified leads so it can be tedious going
> this route.> I just received my largest dollar job
> referral ever from a non-neon sign shop that
> will take me three years before all of the
> work they want will be finished. I limit
> myself to interior or window neon only and I
> do not offer any wholesale since I prefer to
> work with end-users of neon.> Making yourself known by being on the street
> is the effective if irritating part of a
> self-made business. Much more effective than
> any phonebook listing or mailing, but there
> are many fronts in which you can wage war.> If you have a marketing method that has
> brought you work, share it.******************************************
All good ideas.
You could add motorclycle groups/clubs to your car club list too. Another similar market area for NEON.
Utilizing Sales reps from liquor distributors are also good sources for leads and getting the word out there. Especially the ones that travel to surrounding areas where you don't frequent. Bars/liquor stores they stop at always have broken NEON signs laying around or may want custom work done.
Tony D.
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