If you've been in business long enough, you understand gaining new business is essential to the growth of one's company. In some industry's new blood may be the lifeblood of the business and without it, you die. In order to reach your full potential in your venture, you then will need to have ongoing marketing strategies that may grow your business every year.
A large number of Award Shop owners need to develop corporate business and gain them as a normal account. In the end, who wouldn't want a good repeat account with a corporation like, American Airlines or Wendy's? Gaining these type of monthly accounts can boost your business and will also be used to secure other accounts as well.
Think about this... you have an engraving business and you also supply numerous products from plaques, trophies, badges, pens, etc... and you also want to develop a merchant account with your local McDonald's. You might or may not know the owner, manager or anyone employed there on an individual basis at the moment. However, once you do introduce yourself as well as your line of business, be prepared to hand the "decision maker" an impressive item. Not just a simple business card together with your contact info, provide them with something that may cause them to remember you.
Here's the idea... A lot of people enjoy receiving a thing that has been personalized for them, something with their name onto it. You as an engraver have all sorts of items it is possible to engrave and present to the manager as gift, introducing your business. Another impressive look is to have their company logo or corporate insignia engraved on the piece aswell. I suggest developing a "sample" of what you will prefer to do for them monthly and plant the theory to allow them to present a worker of the Month award.
Present the dog owner (or manager) with a 7x9 designer plaque which has their corporate logo and name engraved on it, alongside wording that best describes the appreciation award. If you don't now have their logo on file, it is possible to obtain it quite easily by searching the net for logos & clip art online. Additionally, create for them a name badge that also offers their name and logo on it. youth sports trophies to leave these items behind as a free sample, demonstrating your products and services.
Another nifty thing to do is show them a big perpetual plaque. Something around a 10x13 with a good brass header plate that has their corporate logo engraved large. If you own a laser engraver, laser their logo on black brass and present it on a walnut board. Also, double plate the header having an additional piece of gold brass and it'll cause the engraved logo to stand out more on the brass plate.
Having a worker of the Month award is great for showing appreciation to workers who do their job well. This will create an ongoing month-to-month award program that may enable you to show off many other products available for you for them. Think about it, if you are the one doing their awards and they want a banner for a special promotion, they will call you. It's your company that is on the forefront of their mind, because of them calling or seeing you every month for his or her Employee of the Month awards. Including getting additional nametags made for new employees which are hired each week, month or quarter.
Establishing this kind of account will allow you to generate more accounts just like it. Imagine going to other establishments with the same idea and adding the point that you already do it for McDonald's, Wendy's, etc... This gives you more clout and in turn builds your corporate business faster.
Using these type of ideas to "get your foot in the entranceway" will capture new business for your award shop and continue to grow your business.