How to Market Sales of Promotional Shirts, Pens & Mugs
The advertising specialty business produces promotional shirts, pens and mugs. Marketing the sales of these items can be a lucrative business for the energetic, creative sales person. You can create marketing programs including direct mail, newsletters, blogs and, of course, cold calling to succeed in the advertising specialty business.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Establish relationships with suppliers who can produce custom printed T-shirts, mugs and pens. Contact screen printers and digital imaging companies. Check their prices and the quality of their work. Inquire if they are open to working with outside sales people and ask for their best trade rate.
-
2
Create a prospective client list by targeting the industries, businesses, schools and organizations that you would like as clients. Compile a list of potential clients with addresses, emails, phone numbers and websites. Design a series of postcards telling them about your service, and include a call to action such as "call now for a quote". Try mailing to your list at least four times per year.
-
-
3
Design and post a website that puts your marketing message across in clear language. Create a blog or newsletter with features and information about your industry and services. A printed newsletter may be sent to your mailing list. An electronic newsletter may be emailed to current clients and to those who sign up for it on your website.
-
4
Print business cards listing your services, email, name, address and website. Phone potential clients and try to schedule appointments to introduce them to your services. Call on potential customers and hand them your card.
-
5
Open a Google account. Create a Google AdWords program targeted at your geographic area. AdWords is an electronic classified ad service. Write an ad that describes your service and calls for action. You can bid for ad placement on a per-click basis, always looking to generate sales inquiries for a low per-click rate.
-
6
Follow through on every inquiry, giving accurate price quotes to clients and producing their orders as they come in. Keep in touch with past clients. They will generate repeat business and give you referrals.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Marketing is an ongoing process. Expect to run a comprehensive marketing program for a year or longer in order to build a sufficient client base.
Consider sourcing shirts direct from distributors, then take them to screen printers, allowing you room to mark up the price.
Mailing lists may be purchased, but the quality of lists varies. The most effective list is the one you create.
Do not send unwanted email advertisements, known as spam.
