Brainstorming in Session! Please COME IN!

[Former_Member]

Carried over from the other thread...

Barbara LVfromKathrynsLegacy says

Just a thought, would anyone (more computer saavy than me!) have any idea how to make a template or whatever with everyone's business card so we might just print off the applicable (knitting, jewelry, sewing, pottery, etc) page or cards as we need them? As opposed to keeping stacks of each other's cards.
Just brainstorming here, Ladies.
Barbara

[Former_Member]

My response:

Hi Barbara, I appreciate the brainstorming!!! :) And I'm planning on starting another thread for THAT purpose actually :)

That's certainly a good idea, but for myself I would think that that would put the burden of supplying the printing paper/cardstock and the ink themselves on the members. I would say that it would be up to the individual members how they want to help with the promotions. There is also the issue of graphics/logos etc... I would just as soon send my business cards to anyone who is willing to send them out :) and distribute any that I'm receiving on my end...

I'll try and move this to the new thread... if not I'll copy and paste it to be continued there :)... I'm certainly open to any and all ideas anyone might have to promote our shops! In the end it really comes down to what each individual is willing and able to do for the others. I've already offered to print temporary cards for those members who don't have any at this time...

[Former_Member]

Ok, then! I, myself do not have business cards. Guess I'll just have to have some made! Thankfully my youngest child is a graphic artist and should be able to design something for her mommy!
It would of course be easier on everyone to have each others' cards. That way we could check the favorites of our customers and send out the appropriate cards of our team mates.
Oh my, now I must get small storage drawers or something for them! Hopefully, we will have tons to distribute!
Inge, this is a wonderful idea you have come up with.
Think I'll go make a treasury list of our current members!

[Former_Member]

What size is normal for business cards of this sort? I would like to make them standard sized for ease of storage.

[Former_Member]

Good Morning Barbara,

I absolutely LOVE your enthusiasm!!! Yes, standard business cards should be best but I'll mail anything I can fit into a standard envelope! :) In fact, I am planning on sending some envelopes along with my cards - just to help out because I have so many! lol

You can also order a small amount of cards at vistaprint.com if you like...

It helps if you have someone to help with the graphics! :)

I'm just absolutely rolling with this now! :)

Thank you again! I'm looking forward to this!

It would also be a great idea to send any kinds of samples along for those willing and able to do so...

[Former_Member]

I had another idea... once I have some cards from other shop owners to pass out I am planning to contact my previous customers (there are only a few :(...) and mail them a letter including those other shops business cards.

I'll word it something like this: (fee free to copy this and modify it for your personal preferences/needs...)

Dear____________,

I want to thank you again for your purchase from my Etsy Shop (________enter shop name_________) on (____ purchase date - you can find this from your SOLD orders if you haven't kept any records - ____). I hope you are enjoying/enjoyed your item(s)!

I am enclosing a few cards/flyers from fellow shop owners with offers you may be interested in.

Please stop by my shop in the near future as I am adding new items on a regular basis! To thank you for your past patronage, please use Coupon Code (________insert Coupon Code here _________) for a (____percentage off/free shipping____) on your next order.

I hope to hear from you again soon.

Sincerely Yours,

(______your NAME_____)
(___Your SHOP's NAME_____)


This will serve several purposes:

- remind them of me/my shop
- let them know that I am thinking of THEM and appreciate their past business
- by offering a discount to induce them BACK to my shop
- to help promote other shops by including those aforementioned business cards :)

Your thoughts on this idea? Please share!

[Former_Member]

I think that's a wonderful idea!!
Very clever.

[KraftyGrannysHome]

Inge
I think that is a great idea.

[Former_Member]

Thank you. I've also just had a warning e-mail from Etsy about the notice I sent out yesterday. Someone apparently reported me :( :(... I informed them (@ Etsy) that it was NEVER my intention to spam anyone! And I will definitely NOT do it again... and that I've created this team where I (hopefully) don't violate any more rules!

In other news: While I was out earlier I came up with what I think is a great idea (of course...lol) to organize those business cards we hope to swap!

Those jewelry organizer closet hanger things with so many pockets on both sides that you can hang in your closet! I will make me one to put those business cards in! With bigger pockets on the bottom to store mailing envelopes and pre-assembled, ready-to-mail envelopes!

The one I have I need for my earrings...lol... and the pockets on the bottom aren't QUITE big enough for the envelope storage purpose...

I will make a listing for it in my shop if anyone is interested in purchasing one for THEIR swap needs! :)

Your thoughts? Please, as always, share what you think about this...

[Former_Member]

Good evening team members...

I had yet another thought today... once I have a few of your cards collected I will put them on a sheet of paper and make a few copies for the event I run out before you can get new ones to me! :) ... just a thought :)

[Former_Member]

Two more ideas to get each others' names out there...

1) I will make a copied page of everyone's business cards I get to distribute. To do this I will temporarily "stick" the business cards on a blank sheet of paper - ideally grouped by products offered, then make a copy of it. This will serve TWO purposes:

a) If I run out of someone's cards before they can send me more,
I can STILL include them in any orders I ship out
b) I can pretty it up a bit this way :)

the other idea isn't mine but from another seller who responded to my message...

To make a Newsletter featuring all of the shops whose owners I'm swapping cards with! :) For myself, at least, it will be worth it to pay for the stamp to mail a newsletter to a customer if they'll come back to make another purchase! - or e-mail it for free! I plan to OFFER the newsletter - you know, let them know I'll have one and if they would like to receive it... then add the option to send it via e-mail or via regular First Class Mail...

That's just a thought but I like the idea! It's something you can start a document in Word (or whatever program you have)... add to it whenever something new happens, then refind it near the end of the month then deliver it via e-mail or snail mail!...

Thank you all and have a great evening! :)

[Former_Member]

I LOVE the newsletter idea. I will try that.

[Former_Member]

Hey Everyone !
I am happy to be here... just had an idea and wanted to share..
Not sure if you guys have already thought about this, let me know what you think.

What if we created one card (may be virtual) with details of members and their shops - even categorize them by the type of art/ craft... and have that mailed to all our customers as a - "promotions I support"

We are 20 members strong and we can start this experiment with the current 20 members and as we get bigger we can think of ways of incorporating more information without being verbose.

This will be helpful also because we dont have to post our cards to each other or wait to receive them and imagine a customer receiving 10 business cards with their order. If that was me, I would be weirded out... and might not order a second time.

What do you think?

[Former_Member]

On the other hand we may point a customer to our stores because they got overwhelmed with all the thousands of stores while searching... and they might see stuff they didn't know they wanted/needed :). Personally I do look through the envelopes I get from big vendors - just to see what's being offered. If I don't like anything I'll pass the offers along to someone else.

Again, everyone should go with what they're comfortable with. I like sending out my business cards - but that could be because I'm old-fashioned...lol... and support the US Postal Service that's struggling so...

[Former_Member]

I like the idea of swapping cards with other shops, however, Etsy has a rule about contacting previous customers...and I'm not sure if lettermail falls under this as well. I'm a little worried about that...

I'd still be happy to swap cards with other shops once I get our new ones =)

--Sugar
Crooked Creations

[Former_Member]

I like the idea of sending business cards out, but since is really don't like vista print (they ripped me off twice with shipping), I use moo to print my cards. This means that when my sample of 100 cards runs out, its £13 for another 50... basically, I don't think I can afford to send out too many cards, so the collected sheet idea sounds good to me.

[Former_Member]

I'm up for the collected sheet idea. I just don't have enough money to send out billions of my business cards, so the collected sheet sounds great.