Knocking the marketing ball out of the park and ensuring your business

is a thriving success

Sales and marketing tips for visual communications, apparel decorating, and

awards & engraving professionals

13 Ways to Increase your Sales in 30 Days

NBMNetwork.com

Why this presentation?

• Small Business owner= your target customer

• Our needs: sign, banners, staff uniforms, menus…• And we had NO IDEA where to go!

• Shoestring budget: $10,000 in our pockets• We HAD to generate sales and do it quickly!

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You envision this:

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In reality:

Just because you build it doesn’t mean customers will come!

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#1: Be an Active Part of Your Community

• Join your local Chamber of Commerce• Join a local business group / meet up• Sit on a non-profit board • Go to your organization’s mixers and network! Meet other

business professionals and carry business cards.• Consider volunteering for an office. And brand yourself with

each report update you give: “Sarah Frazier, The NBM Network, reporting on our monthly financials….”

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#2 Share your Knowledge

• Help other business owners become promotional experts using your products/services• Give a free seminar at a local library

• Libraries will often help promote your event• Invite your business connections• Post on social media

• Connect with your local SBA chapter, offer your presentation

• When you educate your target customer, you move from vendor to trusted partner!

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#3 Start Monthly Turnkey Promotional Programs

• Make it easy for your customer to order• Create a schedule for them: specials planned, upcoming sales• Employee recognitions

• Don’t forget about Team T-Shirts• Team building / team sports• Product launches

• Create an excuse: we’re running banners for AutoNation, would you like us to put something on press for you, too?

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#4. Partner with other Businesses

Think outside the box…who is likely to buy your products and services?

• Did you know: in 2011, Americans spent $61.4 billion on their pets• Why not create a customizable item for Fido’s owner to display with pride?• Work with local pet store to set up a table; consider donating a percentage of sales to a local

animal shelter (and be sure to promote that!)

• The other emotional/financial soft spot: KIDS!• Connect with local youth sports organizations• Think player (photo) buttons, parent/booster T-shirts, mugs, lanyards, etc.!

• Commercial Real Estate Brokers: trade your services for inside knowledge of new lease signers

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#5. Create something organic and sell it at a Farmer’s market

• Be creative: screen printed organic T’s• Engraved herb jars• Unique veggie/fruit plaques

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#6. Create an event for HR professionals

• HR managers often have budgets for:• Corporate apparel• Awards & recognition programs• Office improvements/decorating

• Hold an open house at your shop

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#7. Advertise in school and home owners association newsletters

• Low cost• Fewer ads• You are positioned as the friendly community

provider!

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#8. Hold a community design contest

• Promote it at schools, seek media coverage, ask a local TV personality to help you judge winners• Prize= winning design will be printed/sold at your shop for 6

months• Publicity from media can be huge!

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#9. Bundle your products

• Target new businesses with “Marketing in a Box” offers• Tip: target independent restaurants!

• If you are a sign shop:• Coming soon banner, grand opening banner, stand up banners, illuminated 12 x 4

cabinet sign. Total Value: $7840; New business special: $6300

• If you are a promotional product shop:• 500 Logoed magnets, 500 Logoed key chains, 500 Logoed thank you notes, 500

Logoed customer loyalty cards. A $295 value; New Business special: $199 Added value: 500 business cards FREE when you order by 2/1/14!

• Decorated apparel:• 50 Staff shirts, 10 Manager polo shirts, 15 aprons, 50 baseball hats.

Total value: $1200; New business special: $995

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#10. Stay hungry for information and connected to your industry

• HUNDREDS of business tips, see what others are doing• Free/LIMITED subscription: issues selected by the publisher• COMPLETE subscription: ALL monthly issues, special issues, bonus reports.

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#11. Ask Questions, Talk to Other Industry Experts

• Talk with Exhibitors- they love to share their knowledge!• Attend classes – they are FREE and would cost hundreds of

dollars otherwise• Plan to attend every year, explore your options, see what’s

new

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#12. Tap into the power of The NBM Network

• NEW! Valuable business resource

• FREE to access: NBMNetwork.com

• 3 main components to site

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NBMNetwork.com –Product Guide

Fully searchable way to locate products- new items, specific items, overstock inventory

• By Category type• By Location• By Brand

Research products, options and availability

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NBMNetwork.com – Product Guide

• Once you find the product you like, click on the product name to see product details

• To contact the seller, click on the seller name

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NBMNetwork.com – Product Guide

• You’ll be prompted to login or create a new account

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NBMNetwork.com – Product Guide• Type a message to

the seller to inquire about product availability, pricing, etc.

• Don’t see exactly what you want? Contact the seller of a like item!

• Shop on YOUR schedule, 24/7!

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NBMNetwork.com – Contract Services

• Search for new work- keep your staff busy during slow production times

• Post work – outsource jobs during busy times or for services you don’t offer vs. sending customers away

• Sign up to receive email when new listings are posted with your target search criteria

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NBMNetwork.com – Contract Services

• Bid on projects of interest to you

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NBMNetwork.com – Contract Services

• Create a listing $10/30 days

• Expand your services virtually

• Receive bids on your project, you choose who does the work

• Identify new potential partners

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NBMNetwork.com – Tips & How-tos

• Loaded with videos, white papers and tips posted by suppliers, manufacturers and your peers

• Learn new techniques, how to use equipment, product applications

• Find solutions to production challenges

• Business tips to help you avoid costly mistakes

• Much to see, learn, discover!

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NBMNetwork.com – Tips & How-tos

• Search by category

• Receive email alerts

• Tag your favorites

• Add comments

• Best of all, all tips are FREE to access and post!

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Bookmark it and make it part of your business day:

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#13. Be creative…and share what’s working!

• Share design creations on Facebook and with LinkedIn groups

• Submit to magazine editors: Sign & Digital Graphics, Printwear, Awards & Engraving

• Post your insights, success stories, or horror tales on Tips & How-tos on NBMNetwork.com

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Thank you!

• NBMNetwork All Star caps and mouse pads• Special subscription promotion• Have a great show!

My contact information:Sarah W. Frazier, Director of Marketing, NBMsfrazier@nbm.comConnect with me on LinkedIn!