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| Where to market yourself? Here are a few ideas - | |||
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Vendor days at local business such as phone company, electric co., airlines, etc. Call your local Chamber of Commerce and see if they have a list of businesses that have vendor days and get the contact person’s name/phone. They will charge a vendor fee and usually provide the table/chair/tablecloths. These tend to get setup in early January so don't wait too long or they'll be out of space! Church Carnivals / Festivals / Private School Functions - I participate in a yearly festival (tons of them in the fall) for a large church in our area. Call city offices and find out if they have a festival, most do. Private schools have carnivals and other fund raisers as well. Most private school fund raisers have a silent auction too. Donate something and they'll give you a listing in their brochure, a spot on the table for your literature and a receipt for tax purposes! Homeowners Associations - Most of the nicer neighborhoods have a homeowners association. If you can't find the number, ask your customer or someone you know in the neighborhood and they should be able to get you the number to call. If all else fails, call the realtor listing phone number for a house for sale in the neighborhood and they will tell you if there's an association. The association will have a newsletter where you can take out ads! Some have fund raisers too. Also, try older, historical neighborhoods for fund raising events you can participate in. Charitable Benefits - There are so many charitable organizations out there and they all have yearly events. I participate in one for battered women. They rent booths to display in, as well as hold silent and live auctions. These type events are well attended and people spend lots! Great for exposure! Local Library - I haven't tried this but know other people who have. Most libraries have rotating displays - call the library and find out what you need to do to get a display! As popular as hand coloring is, that would be a nice “hook” to get their interest with a display of hand colored images and a typed up history of it. Moms Clubs / Jr. League - Great source for the kind of customer you want! They have newsletters and speakers at their meetings and usually hold a bazaar sometime during the year where they rent spaces to vendors. Beauty Shops/Nail Salons/Children’s Boutiques - Here you'll probably have to “give to get”. Maybe complimentary photos of the owners family or photographing a photo displaying their clothes, hair styles, nails etc. in exchange for hanging your work/counter display for your cards etc. I know a photographer who has a great deal with several upscale children’s boutiques. Once or twice a year the shop runs a special where when the customer spends $50 in their shop, they get a $50 gift certificate with the photographer. She always does great with this one - and her average sale is $600 & up during this special. Antique Shops & Tearooms - Most people who have an appreciation for antiques love the black & white or sepia photos. I have displays in 2 of these - I provided the owners with tea party photos, matted and framed to hang in their shops. I get exposure and counter space for my literature and they get free artwork. Wedding Vendors - For those who do weddings - provide the other vendors with photos of their work - i.e. the caterer, cake, florist, D.J. They'll appreciate having photos for their portfolios and give you good word of mouth. Doesn't cost much and creates lots of goodwill. Visit bridal salons and see if you can leave cards, always give the band or D.J. your card when you photograph at weddings. And get to know as many wedding planners as possible. They are a great resource! Church / School Carnivals or Festivals / Vendor Days What I take: Portfolio What are giveaways? (I always take bags - others depends on event I'm at as to what I take) Shopping bags with handles - I order 250 for approx. $62 from Nashville Wraps. I bought the white bags and printed labels on my computer. The labels have my “signature” photo, business name, phone and web address. Put your literature in the bags when giving them out. Bumper stickers - Avery sells bumper stickers you make on your computer. Kids love to take these! Good giveaways at festivals/classic car shows. Candy Bags - I make a foldover top for a candy bag (Wilton’s sells them at any craft store). Put 2-3 pcs of wrapped candy in bag, staple fold over top to the bag and give away at your booth. Good icebreakers. Post Cards - I use www.modernpostcards.com <http://www.modernpostcards.com> for mine. My first time order was $77 with s/h for 500 cards. These are a color copy of my signature photo in b/w with tinting. Brief text/contact info on back. I take these to every event I set up at. Calendars - I bought tons of calendars at the dollar store. These are the calendars that look like a checkbook. The outer cover is plastic and the calendar slips out. Print your own cover on cardstock and glue over the other and slip back in the cover. I give these out at the end of the year vendor days and plan to give them to brides when I do bridal shows. Talk to the bride, and jot a nice note in her calendar on her wedding day. She'll remember you when she sees your note and your name. What could be more fitting for a busy bride? |
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