Compiling Mailing Lists

Sandy Paluzzi
The Bead Peddler

Many of you are doing summer shows.  These shows are a perfect place to start collecting names for your mailing list.  You can have a 'guest book' for customers to register their name, address and phone number.  You can also use a bowl or box to collect this contact info.  Sometimes people are enticed to place their business card or paper ballot into the bowl if you draw a card at the end of the event for a door prize.  Regardless of which method you use, make  sure to get contact info for all interested parties.

Shows are only one place to collect names.  If you work outside the home, you could probably collect names at work.  If you belong to a gym, try having a 'drawing' there.  If you can't display jewelry, hang a product sheet (see last month's column)  or a picture showcasing a variety of your pieces.  Your hair dresser may allow you to put up flyers or display pieces along with a guest book or bowl for business cards. 

Wear your jewelry.  If someone comments favorably on it, ask for their business card so you can contact them about future shows.  Are people reluctant to give you phone numbers or mailing addresses?  If so, settle for email.  But try real hard to get that mailing address.  People will read a post card, but may ignore your email even if it makes it through their spam filter.

Of course, you are collecting all this information for a reason.  You will want to contact interested people in the future.   You may want to invite all of this year's contacts to a special Holiday show.  Or, you may want to keep your contacts separate by event.  If you do the same event next year, you can let people know you'll be returning.  We'll examine ways to contact your list next month.

Is there an aspect of marketing that you'd like to see discussed?  
Would you like to share some of your marketing knowledge with other beaders?  Click here to email your questions or article proposals