Blog posts of '2008' 'June'

Here is something that I hear on the phone sometimes with new customers. "I am selling these products at a booth this weekend, and I need to get things to sell. I don't have much money though, so I can only buy $100. of products". At first this probably sounds pretty reasonable. But if I ask how...

This idea for how to invest $500. to grow an African business is from Tara in Savannah, GA I would host a customer appreciation celebration for everyone who has ever ordered from me. I would use the $500 to buy business cards and goodies for my guests. It would be like an award show where I would ...

I have talked with over 200 people who have ordered the $49. Africa Imports starter kit. Some of these people never give out any of the sample products. These people obviously never get any customers. Of all of the others though, everyone single person I have talked to except three people has g...

From: Deanna in St. Louis, MO If I had $500 to grow my business, I would buy different items that I cold sell at the school in my area. I would ask for permission to have a table set up during School Programs, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, & Christmas time. This would allow the children and staff to buy things for their family members. I would keep the prices really cheap so the children can afford to buy them. The purpose would not be to get rich, but to get a new customer. Hopefully the parents would like the product and contact me for any new purchases....

These ebony key chains just arrived. We had these once before; and our customers really loved them. We haven't been able to get them easily since then though. Each one is individually hand carved in Africa from pure ebony. We only have a few, and I am not sure if we can get more. There are not ...

This idea was sent in by Georges in Guthrie, NC If I was offered $ 500. to grow my business,here are some of the things I would do: 1) Choose a special "SALE DAY" period ( 1-3 days) 2) Make brochures & fliers about the "SALE" period 3) Invite my constant customers; and ask them to bring at one new person to get a gift or a prize. 4) Invest about $ 7...

Here is another idea from one of our customers. This is from Carrie in Greensboro, NC. If I had an extra 500.00 to grow my business, I would have an open house and invite residents of nearby retirement homes who don't get out often. These people could really benefit from our products as most of ...

This is the idea sent in by Felicia in Dallas, TX 1. I would invest 400.00 in two of the top selling products. One of the best products for me to sell is the Nag Champa Incense. I have found that if you just walk up to a person and say "smell these," they will purchase the incense without any hesit...

Here's an idea from Rexanne Brown in Milwaukee, WI A: I would use half of the $500 to focus on current clients: Using my mailing list which includes names along with the client’s favorite scents/items, I would put together a mini “Thank You For Your Business” kit which would include an intr...

Over 300 people wrote in with their answers last week. Most people writing in said that they would buy more products to sell. 71% of the ideas included buying more products. Most of these people said that having more products was the absolute most important thing for them. The #1 hindrance to be...