That is a great idea.

Btw, I see our E/N friends are getting evem more creative, I love it. I recomend this web site to at least 5 people per weekend.

Darwin, here is a tip given to me by a man who really knew his way around advertising, (he started a coupon magazine in our area that was so succesfull he was offered an extremely good buyout deal)

If you choose to post flyers about your product and/or events you will be present at, don’t make them the standard 8"X11" size. Reduce the size so 4 will fit on a page and cut them apart. The reason-When you approach a business and want to leave flyers, the big ones take up so much counter space that you’ll be lucky if they let you tape one up somewhere in their shop. but if you leave them a stack of ‘mini’ ones, they are more inclined to keep them right by the register to hand out to customers and the bonus…your flyer advertising dollars just stretched 4X’s as far.

My product color is basic black, my hang tag and my card are glossy black with the product tm logo on the front and identical use instructruction pictures on the back.

Even though it is a small space, by using simple drawings, i was able to put 3 separate brush function illustrations on them,,,, I felt by adding value to the card for the reader it would/hopefully should get one additional micro second read before it hit the trash.

The hang tag with the combo instructions on the back, helped keep my packaging cost to 7 cents per shelf item….I used my business card maker to make them an I have a handy dandy hole punch. I had them in 5 days. The hang tag makers wanted 3 weeks and 25 cents each

Business cards are cheap, take the time to put some graphics on them. I have a product photo on mine that explains exactly what the product is, no explanation necessary. Full color, printed both sides, heavy card stock. People that aren’t interested will return the card because they think it cost a lot. People that are interested will keep it and at least take a second look before it hits the trash. Hopefully you have a name on the card “in bold print” that will be rememberable and they can google you if they lose the card.

Following up on what Penster said… for a great smoky (bacon) aroma on your bags/materials, get a bottle of “Liquid Smoke” and strategically place just a drop (from a medicine dropper) on the material.

It gives things a whiff of BACON (and you know what that does to most guys!!)

Julie, sounds like my experience with the AirTrike, If I set it outside the booth to drum up traffic, all we talk about is the trike….I have learned to make them work for it a bit, it sets behind my table now and I call them in with a “It’s a dollar a ride.” joke…they walk over to look but the brush table is at the front line…

Penster, I ment the company cost for the stamp at 25, not to sell. I like your ideas though. Regarding selling the bags, if I were at my own vending booth, yes, I would sell them.

I was thinking of using them as a company gift at my store openers, I would only be at each store for 4 hours and the stores would not be stocking the bags. Maybe I should get the stores to stock the gift bag also…. You guys always give me so many new ideas…

You’re welcome, Darwin. A little story about wrapped gifts: In Canton, TX, there is something called First Monday and it is a huge swap meet or whatever (a little bit of everything) and the first Monday before Christmas in 2003, I rented a booth (I was traveling from Maine back to Yuma, via Texas). I had a life-size mannequin which was stretched out on the 8’ front table and she was covered by a nice comforter and her head was on a pillowcase with it arranged around her crown. I had wrapped about 12 boxes and had them stacked on a side table. Probably spent about $100 in wrappings but they were beautiful. I could have sold the comforter, the wrapping paper, the ribbon, the pillow inside the pillowcase, the mannequin’s wig but could not sell a pillowcase.

Darwin, love the brown bag but not rope yarn, use the rawhide shoe laces that can then be tied to brush handle for hanging storage, charge 15 cents plus cost of leather string and no way $25, what does the brush cost? Gift package should be 3.99 or 4.99 max, 2.99 if cost is low….

Retail background, see what consumer values, as a value.. Beverly Hills thinks more expensive better, not necessarily other venues. Love the personal stamp. Now, what about a b-bque rub in those little brown bags?? Partner with??? Recipe gurus..another revenue stream and compliment to product.

Nite

ps…make sure the tablecloths and bags and everything else smells like bbque, hicory whatever, it triggers the senses to “want it”….bbque perfume, make u hungry even if you just ate…..draw the crowd..Next show, have something cooking, if code allows, draws crowds., mini crockpot of sauce, just a thought, smell is one of the strongest senses. .

Here is the deal, a 15 cent gift bag. Brown paper bag, a 2 hole punch for making holes at the top. A piece of rope type yarn a foot long and a custom stamp for 25 dollars.

Becomes a rustic look that matches the rawhide hang string on the brush…. I just love the E/N population…. thanks Julie.

Or, a plain paper bag with a “GrillBuster” stamp on it… :-)

If I do any more boothing I will probably do that. I am transistioning to setting up a factory booth in front of my contracted stores for a half day each as part of them taking on the line.

But, as I am typing, I am thinking, why not make the bags available to the shoppers who stop at my booth, "If you buy a GrillBuster as a gift, stop on your way out for a gift bag…..

Darwin, Do you have room in your ‘booth’ for a few wrapped packages – already to give as a gift? There are wonderful wrapping papers out there – maybe even some related to grilling, BBQ. Or use plain brown bag paper, as though it is a secret.

That is what I thought. I had them printed on both sides with instructions on how to use it on the back side and I had at least 3 min face to face before I handed out a card. And after Frank White told me to recomend the product as a present I sold a lot more as a present, I also planted that into a lot of minds as I handed them a card.

Especially to the ones who said they didn’t have a grill. After teasing them that buying a good grill cleaner it would motivate them to buy a grill, I would ask them if they knew anybody who grilled. Invaribly, the younger apartment dwellers said, hey, that would be a great gift for dad…

So we will see…. Now back to production, am having a minor challenge with rust creep under the powder coat at the scraper edge. Am soving it by becoming a zinc plating expert. I love my job.

Any publicity is good right? Especially if your biz cards are like mini sell sheets or list a website with your goods for sale. You doing online sales yet? Either way, I why not? If just half of those who took your card told one person about you, it’s worth it (even a smaller percentage too).