Stahls’ recently published an Ebook full of marketing tips for the small business owner looking to sell more custom apparel and promotional items with a heat press. The Ultimate Guide to Marketing Your T-Shirt Business is a 28 page book full of simple tips, techniques, worksheets, and templates to get you thinking about how to market your business and make more sales, read on for an excerpt.
Building relationships with your customers is one of the most important things you can do to drive your business. It’s potentially even more effective than big-dollar marketing efforts. By developing relationships with your customers, keeping in touch and giving them value, you’re creating a network of enthusiastic customers who will sing your praises and help drive in more business.
Here are some ideas:
1. Make Service Personal
You can’t just assume your big customers will always reorder from you every year. A little face time goes a long way in building that relationship and keeping their business. Consider buying the team pizza or dropping off bagels as a way to say hello and thank you. You can’t buy pizza for all of your customers, but take some time to see what you can do to show your customers a little appreciation now and then.
2. Customer Appreciation Day
Host an annual customer appreciation day open house where you invite all your customers to the store for a preview of new styles and ideas. Serve refreshments and offer a 10% discount for ordering on that day. Or instead of a discount, think of something else that will get them to order on the spot, like a free cap for each coach on a team uniform order.
3. Give Back
As an apparel decorating specialist, you are probably approached by many teams and leagues to be a sponsor… because they want free shirts. You can’t outfit everyone for free, so you need to pick and choose those you support in this manner. A fundraising program is another way to support local causes in your community, offer to give a percentage of sales from the fundraiser to the cause.
4. Relationship Not Going Well? Own It!
Superb customer service is key to the success of your business and relationships with your customers. Resolve your problems professionally with clear communication. If you are behind one day in delivery, don’t put off your customer by not telling them. Be courteous and call them—customers hate surprises and will have more confidence in your business if you keep them updated. Just like in your personal relationships, transparency, or rather open and clear communication, is always appreciated.
Download The Ultimate Guide to Marketing Your T-Shirt Business to learn more about marketing your business to making more sales.