All small business suggestions welcome....

**Daisygirl** · 10-29-2009, 05:33 PM

So, here is the back-story:

I had been plotting and planning opening a bead store for quite some time. I did tons of market research and wrote up a business plan. At the time I was still working at the car dealership and then my dad passed away, so my plans got put on the back burner.

I shopped my plan to various lenders and got turned down by 12 of them. Things went south at my job and I quit (perhaps unwisely jumping the gun). The 13th lender (which interestingly enough offered the best interest rate) approved my loan of $30,000. I am being very specific about the numbers because otherwise you aren't going to get a clear picture. One of the criteria was showing proof of expenses for the full amount, as the loan was for start-up costs only, therefore I was unable to put any of it back for operating costs.

Now, my situation. I had a small savings, which I have been using for the past two months while getting the store open for my personal living expenses. I need sales of $200 per working day for operating expenses and living expenses. The store has been open for 3 weeks, and I am at sales of $75 per day. With all my bills paid, both personal and store, for approximately the next 2 weeks, I am down to around $45 as of tomorrow after my mortgage comes out.

I AM STARTING TO FREAK!!!!!! What the heck was I thinking? I really wonder why I did this?!?

Okay, with that out of my system, here is my question: any and all marketing ideas welcome. They have to be free or nearly free. I am targeting beginning beaders, teens and children. We do free lessons, have a "make-and-take" studio, birthday parties, craft shows, and readymade jewelry. I advertise on Kijiji (sort of like Craigslist) for free - 3 ads per day. I am scheduled (and thankfully paid) for several small local craft shows for the month of November.

Okay, villagers, let me have em!

**kaurand554** · 10-29-2009, 05:56 PM

Maybe contact local girl scout troops and see if they would like to have a meeting at the store where you could give the children a free class? See if you could tie it into one of their badges? 10 girls = 10 parents, and the group leaders that could pass on word of mouth advertising?

**nancycg56** · 10-29-2009, 06:02 PM

The bead stores around here all have classes where you learn to make one particular piece of jewelry ~ and they charge a good amount for the class which usually includes the beads and findings.

How about a Mom's morning out while the kids are in school or some special classes to make gifts for Christmas.

I would start an email list and send newsletters to people who sign up. See if you can put flyers in nearby businesses windows.

See if the high schools nearby have a newspaper and see if it's free to advertise in them. Leave flyers wherever you can ~ bulletin boards at the grocery, library, etc.

That's about all I can think of at the moment

Good luck!

**geckoace** · 10-29-2009, 08:04 PM

Find some local small business frequented by ur target group ask if u can leave some brochures, we let people do this where I work as long as they are not competition.

Put together some kits for something specific.

**Daisygirl** · 10-29-2009, 09:59 PM

Some great ideas here. I have made a list of calls to make at the first of business tomorrow to check these things out: School paper, local girl guides, kits, and other related businesses!

Thank you thank you thank you, keep em coming!

**kaurand554** · 10-29-2009, 10:52 PM

local schools for the group leaders? Or at least ask them to give the flier to the leader, I was a leader and would appreciate a "free" week.... meaning you plan everything we just show up....... the only issue may be transportation, you may have to bring the meeting to them. But still, sounds good to me for word of mouth if you get 3 troops to participate with 10 girls that is 30 mouths... plus parents...

Also, have you thought about incorporating seniors into your target market? My local paper has many senior group activities scheduled throughout the month ... they ski, they knit, the crochet, they... do lots of things..... SENIORS... are not what they used to be, the are happy, healthy and able and most are looking for things to do.... look up council on aging, I believe is what is called here...... (I also think they might enjoy time together as well as making a gift for a loved one... that is hip (for grandchildren), they came from the generation of frugal, making, not buying...the cost of coming to class may far outweigh the companionship they receive...)

I had one question, you give free classes; do they have to buy the beads?

Another market you did not mention was the handicapped, although I am not sure how to address this (yet) I think it would be a good one, need to think it out further.............

do a booth at Special Olympics? for the finishers everyone gets to make a special bracelet; the cost of the beads vs. the publicity?

Do you have local army vets, who need help with hand movement? although you may be donating your time and supplies.... you could get real news coverage....

Although you may feel down in the revenue; any good publicity is still publicity...........

Good Luck!

**Molemommy** · 10-30-2009, 12:25 AM

we have a antique shop and at first it was very slow....
try vista print and they have great things most are free... (they send emails all the time for free items) like business cards, flyers, etc. all you pay is shipping which is very reasonable... I got 250 bus. cards and flyers, stamps magnets for car, all free and paid only $8.00 shipping...
we put the flyers and cards everywhere they will let us and we have grown... keep your chin up and keep trying no small business is profitable from the begining...
also see if you have a local business (dont know the correct term) but they meet about once a month and they do allot of advertising and here it is like a $25 a year fee and you get great advertising...
hope this helps some..

**Siebrie** · 10-30-2009, 06:08 AM

Contact bridal shops and offer friendship bracelet making for bride and bridesmaids as a friendly hen night/afternoon activity. Maybe they can all work on a necklace for the bride?

**ktsmama** · 10-30-2009, 09:13 AM

How about trading advertising with a specialty children's clothing store. You hang an advertisement in their window and they put one in your window. This will cover the children demographics and the mother's of those children.

Also, how about daycares that do field trips.

Another place that would probably let you put something on a bulletin board is your church. They also might be interested in bringing the children/youth groups for classes.

**NikoSan999** · 10-30-2009, 09:51 AM

The only thing I can think of that hasn't been posted ( unless I missed it ) is Bead Parties. Like Mary Kay or candles or Tupperware. Lot of time involved especially in evenings but this is what I would do to get it moving. Have friends host the parties and have a few "gifts" for a few games. I'm sure some of your friends have other friends that you don't know to keep the "circle" moving. How about your daughters friends mothers? Anybody or bodies to get the snowball rolling.
I don't know anything about beading or how expensive it is so don't have a clue if this would work but maybe find a cheap project that could be done at the party?
Have order sheets printed up on your own computer and saved for changes later. Also price sheets to hand out. They can be saved on your computer and updated at any time.
Take plenty of stock with you to sell on spot. And/or samples of all the beads for order taking to fill later. ( preferably cash up front ). Maybe take some of your own finished projects for either sale on spot or to show what "can" be done. If you started now you might make quite abit for finished projects for Christmas presents. Not to mention crafters wanting to make some themselves.
Find a table easy to transport and nice tablecloth for displays at the party. Like they do at the craft shows.
Make flyers to advertise the parties and hang up anywhere and everywhere you can possibly hang them.
Just like Mary Kay etc with your own tweaks.

**geckoace** · 10-30-2009, 10:04 AM

what about making some contacting some local preschools or daycare and marketing it as a Christmas gift the kids can make and give to parents.

i know when i was little that had those little santa shops in the mall where kids could go in and buy little nonsense to give as gift and my sons preschool used to always have the kids make something for every holiday and bring it home to us. in home daycare especially because they may not have the resources for large scale projects but this would be simple.

**Greebo** · 10-30-2009, 10:05 AM

http://www.gmarketing.com/

**StartingOver** · 10-30-2009, 11:27 AM

How about making "spirit wear" necklaces geared towards a specific sport/activity.

I only say this as my ds is in marching band, and one of the mom's creates jewelry and she made necklaces in the school colors and put a pendant that read "band mom" or your choice of a musical note.

I've since then seen other mom's sporting these same necklaces for football (and they had their son's jersey number on the necklace), basketball, volleyball etc....I think she keeps pretty busy w/this....word spread pretty quickly. And they are very cute!

**Minner77** · 10-30-2009, 12:12 PM

Just wanted to note what a clever (and that's an understatement!) group of marketers you all are! I don't even have a business (other than owning a rental fourplex) but found this thread intriguing.

I'm duly impressed by you all!

~MF

**Daisygirl** · 10-30-2009, 12:33 PM

Wow - you guys are incredible. It is amazing what a bunch of creative minds workig together can come up with!

We should market ourselves as a "think tank"