Quick mug printing "survey"...

[VSW]

Hi all - As I am about to embark on a new mug printing venture, I thought it would be interesting to see where people's best leads come from! As well as looking for some tips (yes, it really is transparent!) I thought it might also be an interesting read for other mug-printers!

So, if you would like to comment, please score the following, 1 being the highest, of where you get your leads from!

Ebay
Own Website
Other Internet Sites
Local businesses - promo material
Local businesses - stock for them to sell
Local Fetes / Carnivals


Hopefully this is okay?
Cheers

:mrgreen:

[Justin]

I only really sell through local companies at the moment so I've based these marks on when I ran my own company full-time.

In order, top being most important:

Own Website
Local businesses - stock for them to sell
Ebay
Other Internet Sites
Local Fetes / Carnivals
Local businesses - promo material

Hope I did this ok! :lol:

[VSW]

Excellent thanks Justin - it will be interesting to see everyones results!

:D

[Ian M]

Hi Lee,

I do regular mail outs to potential new customers using both emails & the post. The reason why I do this is because I have been targeting a certain market which I know very well. I have also shared leaflets with other local businesses where we have one side of the leaflet each & it's them who deliver the leaflets. £100 for 10,000 colour glossy leaflets you can't go wrong in bringing in some orders. I also have some of my regular customers handing out leaflets at shows as they have a lot of my products on display & they also tell potential new customers about my good service & quality which money just couldn't buy. Nothing better than word of mouth advertising in my book.

Another tactic I have used is going into photographers shops & ask them if they do photo mugs or mouse mats etc. The usual answer is no & they say we just can't get them in single orders only in multiples. I then say I produce them & their ears prick up straight away. I them nip back to the car & come back with a few samples I always carry around with me in the boot. I'm pleased to say that tactic has worked every time now & one photographer I do work for we have regular joint promotions at times such as Christmas, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Easter etc. We have just done a Bonny Baby Competition where the Lord Mayor chose the winners & that brought in lots of business. The photographers have a display area where samples of my work is on show & doesn't cost me a penny apart from the cost of the samples on display. Another idea was getting in touch with schools & as well as just the school photos on offer we included mugs, mouse mats & key rings & the orders just flood in even though it is a lot of hard work but, well worth it in the end.

Another tactic that I have used is getting hold of a business card from some companies & then print that onto a mug or mouse mat & then go in & show them it & that works most times when you ask them how many times they have searched for someones business card & couldn't find it. You will find that they never throw a free mug away & then it hits them what a better promotional tool a mug or a mouse mat is as they are usually always on their desk.

Another tactic I use is sending out regular emails to my customers informing them of any new products I'm doing & they all want to know more straight away.

I tend to find that Ebay is a bit dog eat dog unless you have something unique on there & can then charge a premium for it. There is no way on Ebay I'm going to try to sell items other people are selling for no profit at all.

Ian

[Paul]

Another tactic that I have used is getting hold of a business card from some companies & then print that onto a mug or mouse mat & then go in & show them it & that works most times when you ask them how many times they have searched for someones business card & couldn't find it. You will find that they never throw a free mug away & then it hits them what a better promotional tool a mug or a mouse mat is as they are usually always on their desk.
;) this worked for me too :P

[Justin]

Echoing Ians comments, my biggest client right now is a local photo centre. They were buying sublimation stuff online and paying postage costs. I'm about to approach more photographers in the area as well, that certainly seems to work ;)

[Ian M]

Nice one Paul & have a try at some of the other things I said too. :D

Justin, it was just a matter of me being a bit cheeky going in & asking but, it has been one of the best things I have done. One thing I forgot to add is that aomeone who does large canvases got one of my leaflets through his door & we are now working together as I can't do canvases & he needed someone who prints mugs. :D We have decided to share any profits 50/50 & it is working out really well.

One thing I picked up working in the banks is that if businesses can work together in helping each other then they tend to do much better in times such as these. I think there is no better example of that than this forum which really is the way for the future.

Ian :D

[Justin]

Couldn't agree more Ian. I've been toying with setting up by myself again and selling direct to the public. Having the photo centre as a customer means I get a huge target market without having to go out and get it. I just need them to push my stuff more! They still stock the 'insert phot here' range of mouse mats etc. and I would liek to see these gone as it's just competition we don't need there.

Re. the school photo's. They don't do them every year at schools here but a photographer friend has started doing them and we're looking at offering packages, the parent can then choose something better than a teeny weent photo!

[VSW]

Superb comments - and extremely helpful!

I do have one or two of these things on my list but its good to know they actually work! Do you mind if I ask you a couple more questions Ian (and anyone else who knows of course!):

1. If your not near me (Warrington, Cheshire) - would you mind sharing some of your templates? (damn cheek!)
2. Do you use photoshop or something else to design in?
3. What do you typically sell mugs etc for?
4. Is this now a dull time business for you? I would love to get to that stage
5. If I have say, a fairly unique mug printing idea, could it sell for a lot more than a typical printed mug? I know its hard to say, but I guess Im asking do you have anything that you sell for alot more than the typical price, and does it work?

Just tell me to b*gg*r off if I've crossed the line!
:twisted:
Cheers
Lee

[Justin]

4. Is this now a dull time business for you? I would love to get to that stage


I do hope that should read "full" not "dull" lol....yeah, it gets dull sometimes :lol:

[Ian M]

Justin, thanks & I think schools are a bit of an untapped market for us.

Lee, thanks & don't worry I for one won't give you any of my secrets :lol:

Now, to answer all your questions.

1. I can't share any of my templates because, they are unique to all my customers & wouldn't be much use to anyone else.
2. I use Photoshop, Serif Photo Plus X4, Corel Draw 12 & Microsoft Picture It Pro.
3. The price of my mugs can be anything from £2.50 to whatever I can get away with. If I quote for a new job I always go in with a higher price because, you can always come down but not up. Remember a customer will pay a premium price for a premium product.
4. It has to be a full time business for me as my age & previous employers (banks) tending to put new employers off. A lot of the time it is a struggle but, never missed paying a bill yet but, the new Bentley will have to wait a while :lol:
5. Unique is the same as premium product so should command a premium price in my book. Try to always have a look at what the opposition charge in your area.

I won't tell you to b*gg*r off ever, I just won't answer your post :lol:

One main thing is to bear in mind is never let your customers feel like they are being ripped off. Always bend over backwards to help them & treat them like they're your best friends. I have never let one customer down on a delivery date even if that means I have to work all night. Customer service is just as much important as your quality.

Hope this has helped & good luck mate.

Ian

[VSW]

:oops: :mrgreen:

[VSW]

Thanks Ian - sounds great. Thanks for the advice!

I'm looking to get my equip from Martin when I get back from my hols, and then practice practice practice!

I'm currently using PS2 to design in, but with the Ricoh printer I believe I can use any software...

It would be great to be able to build up something that can be full time in the future....from small acorns!

:mrgreen:

[Andrew]

I think it takes a lot of hard work to get it to full time and also a decent idea/strategy. Building things up whilst you are in a fulll time job or being able to build it up quick enough whilst out of work takes some doing but can be done.

[VSW]

Absolutely, and I don't for one minute expect an overnight success - that would be foolish of me. I do have a few solid ideas though, plus a couple of contacts that should produce some ongoing orders initially... but who knows eh....!

Someone said it earlier, and I can well believe that in this business especially, you are only as good as your product and your service...

;)

[Andrew]

Sublimation is a b*tch and is forever throwing up problems at the most inconvenient times. One week all is working great the next there are endless "New" problems that come from nowhere. It's always fun.

[VSW]

I guess you could say that about most industries...? It i'll keep live interesting, and if you can get paid for doing something you love.... :mrgreen: