I received this quote in a newsletter from Etsy a while back. I thought it made great sense.
So I started setting goals for my shop and my website. For my shop I started following people, joining circle, recruiting people to the team, anything to get more exposure. I have had some sales on Etsy but not as many as I’d like.
This is my first effort in business, so I was very uncomfortable in going out and trying to sell my products. But, my husband said one thing that made a lot of sense, "Who is going to believe in your product more than you? And a great product that no one knows about is the world's best kept secret!"
So I started setting goals for myself, my website and sales.
1. Special print note cards and gifts for wedding favors or reunion favors.
2. Possible wholesale to area merchants.
3. Re-packaging my products for different uses.
4. Creating special branded logo pendants, keyrings and ornaments.
5. Being innovative and keeping my eyes open for new opportunities.
I started seeing businesses in town and making appointments with wedding planners and event planners at various establishments who might be interested in my new personalized note cards or my new GUMPables.
The first person I visited (a receptionist) unfortunately gave me the brush off. It wasn't a great experience for my first sales call. But I got into my car and next drove to the very best wedding location in my town (250+ weddings already booked for this year). She was excited, loved my product and gave me some new ideas of how to market them.
The day ended on a very high note as I made sales to a few merchants and have a lot of people mentioning my products to the end user that I would like to purchase them. I walked into my friend's wine making business and I suggested that she might consider keyrings, pendants and ornaments with her wine labels. She loved the idea so much that she wanted to carry my photo jewelry in her business to sell.
The lesson I learned is that you can't base success on one road. You have to go down many roads to increase your ability for success.
I know that if I really want something to happen, I have to work at it.
Do you have a plan and not just a wish or are you just in the wishing stages?
Mel
