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Other Added - The Beginner's Mail Order Business Guide
There are thousands of fundraising companies that can provide traditional, unique, and even bizarre fundraising products for your group or charity. If you want to raise some money you can find anything your heart desires online. This article will help point you in the right direction for when you need to find a fund raising company to meet your needs.There are many popular fund raising companies that have been in business for many years. Fundraising is a very hot topic on the internet these days. You will find fundraisers for cookie dough to dog washing. Yes, dog washing.The benefits of using a fundraising company are numerous. The most important of those is the fact that they have the experience to help you choose the right products for your particular type of fundraisers. The more notable fund raising companies will have professional staff with ample expertise to assist you in the process.The next big advantage to using a fund raising company is that they can offer many wonderful promotions. They may have special offers and incentives for your group or organization. If they have a large array of items you may be able to use them more than once and receive a continued discount for repeat businesses.If you are raising money for a church organization there are special fundraising companies that work exclusively with churches. You can find this information by searching in the popular search engines online for church fundraising company.If you are raising money for a school you can find several school fundraising companies that work exclusively with schools as well. The possibilities are really endless when it comes to a fundraising company. The best advice is to contact similar organizations and see who they recommend for a fund raising company.
* If you are selling books, for example, it would be impossible, except for a very large company, to sell all types of books. You may decide to specialize in books pertaining to sports, and may want to go even further by zeroing in on football or baseball.
SUPPLIERS
* Your suppliers should provide you with reliable, quality,
and reasonable pricing.
* Since you probably should provide some type of a money back
guarantee (30 days is standard) you should expect the same guarantee from your suppliers.
* When buying from out of town suppliers, be sure to include the shipping charge in comparing prices to local suppliers.
DROP-SHIPMENTS
* Under a drop-ship agreement which is available from many suppliers for a variety of products, the supplier ships your customers' orders directly under your shipping label.
(Suggested reading: "American-Drop-Shippers Directory".)
* It is customary that the supplier guarantees not to include any of his promotional materials with the shipme
A business owner is thoroughly responsible for their own financial survival and possibly the financial survival of their employees. Business owners, for the most part, seem to be "risk takers", who really don't easily "go with the flow". They are inventive and somewhat confident, as just having their own business does mandate that they possess these qualities.However, the ability to live with risk is very much a personal issue. Some business owners can live with more risk than others and some can manage the risk better than others.Having the ability to effectively manage risk is imperative for a successful business venture. Therefore business owners need to be able to effectively judge how much risk is "acceptable" and which business ventures are inherently "too risky" and therefore perhaps harmful to the business overall.While all businesses must grow and change continually in order to survive, every time a business makes a decision to expand or increase its offerings, a modicum of risk does exist. Most businesses face risks when they incorporate new offerings into their current ones, take on new employees, when they change their marketing techniques sufficiently, or when they expand into new areas of business above and beyond the general core or "parent" business.Each time a new project, venture or offering is added to a business, "risk containment" should be employed. It is never possible to eliminate all risks completely, but containing risks to an acceptable level will enhance the experience and keep the overall losses at an acceptable level, if failure of the new venture or offering does occur.Business owners need to assess the risk using the following principles:1. Is this risk necessary for the further development of the business? If so, why?2. Is this risk attainable for the business? If so, why?3. Is this risk affordable for the business? If not, then it shouldn't be done. A strict, realistic assessment of funds available and a budget should be worked out before a business embarks on any type of expansion or addition to its present offerings.4. Is the "timing" right for the new addition or venture? Many times, if a business is experiencing a downward cycle or other financially stressful barriers, expansions or additions are best left for another period in the life of a business.Many business owners make one of two serious mistakes: they either refuse to gamble at all, and don't therefore grow their business appropriately, or they gamble too much, exposing their business to such a high degree of risk that eventually the business finds itself in financial difficulties.Example A: John has owned his own print shop for several decades, during which time he has enjoyed much success. The newest technologies, though, could increase John's clientele and the speed at which he delivers his goods to existing clients. John, though, is thoroughly risk aversive, concerned about the expense of expenditures that would follow incorporation of the latest technologies, and therefore, John does not incorporate them. As a result, he has lost some existing clients and many times fails to add new ones, effectively hurting his bottom line.Example B: Miriam owns
necessary for his particular operation.
INTRODUCTION
The following is designed to provide a check list for new entrants into the mail order field. Each mail order business is different, but there are common elements that apply to most mail order businesses, as well as some specific characteristics that may vary from business to business. The following suggestions were developed to assist you in avoiding costly mistakes. Apply the various points as they relate to your specific business.
COMPANY NAME
* Select a short, easily remembered name.
* Unless you are using your own name, it is required in most jurisdictions that a trade name is either registered with the county or the state.
* Before you spend money for printing material, make sure that the name you choose is not already registered to another company. You can usually conduct a name search with an office of the appropriate jurisdiction by telephone.
* You may consider using a name that describes your product.
COMPANY ADDRESS
* Most newly established mail order businesses will operate out of their home until the volume of the business requires larger space.
* Most mail order businesses prefer not to use their home address as their company address. If you do, you will advertise your home address in regional and national publications. You have two other choices, a Post Office Box(POB) or a postal box located in a commercial enterprise which rents out mail boxes.
* A POB is generally the least expensive, both to rent and for advertising purposes. (See below) Some mail order operators claim that it reduces business because people do not trust a POB address. Yet there are just as many mail order operators who disprove this notion. The decision is yours.
* If you rent a mail box in a commercial enterprise, your box number usually becomes a suite number in the address.
* Almost all publications will charge you a full word charge for each component of your address, except the Zip Code and State which is counted as one word, Example:
Information Books, 300 Main Street, Suite 611, Centerville,
Md 20910 Or:
Information Books, Box 1000, Centerville, Md 20910.
* The first address is counted as 9 words, the second one as 6 words. Since advertising costs anywhere from 50 cents to $10.00 per word (classified advertising) you could save a substantial amount of money at the end of the year if you use a post office box.
TELEPHONE
* Some mail order companies do not show their phone numbers on their stationery, others do. It gives the customer some comfort to see a telephone number, although he may never use it.
* You can show your residence phone number in the appropriate printed material, or you can obtain a business listing for your home.
* The residence phone is fine, for starters, if it is answered in a professional manner at all times.
* If you plan to sell higher priced ticket items, however,
(over $15.00) a business listing would be advantageous since a prospective customer may pick up the phone and check with the information operator whether "Company X" is listed.
BASIC SUPPLIES
* Be conservative and frugal in your acquisition of items that you feel are needed. It's always wise to start small, and as inexpensively as possible, and as you build profits, you can
buy more and better items.
* The basics are a good quality computer, Business stationery, business envelopes (#10's), and return envelopes, either #6 or #9 is fine. All items should have your business name and address
imprinted on them.
* You will also need some mailing labels and some miscellaneous office supplies.
PRODUCT
* If possible, choose a product or products that people need
on an ongoing basis.
* Be sure the product is of acceptable quality. Know the
product before you sell it.
* If feasible, choose an item that is not widely available
from retailers.
* Develop a line of merchandise. It is rarely possible to make money with just one or two items. The availability of a line of related products is paramount to mail order success.
* The more specialized your products are, the easier your marketing becomes.
* If you are selling books, for example, it would be impossible, except for a very large company, to sell all types of books. You may decide to specialize in books pertaining to sports, and may want to go even further by zeroing in on football or baseball.
SUPPLIERS
* Your suppliers should provide you with reliable, quality,
and reasonable pricing.
* Since you probably should provide some type of a money back
guarantee (30 days is standard) you should expect the same guarantee from your suppliers.
* When buying from out of town suppliers, be sure to include the shipping charge in comparing prices to local suppliers.
DROP-SHIPMENTS
* Under a drop-ship agreement which is available from many suppliers for a variety of products, the supplier ships your customers' orders directly under your shipping label.
(Suggested reading: "American-Drop-Shippers Directory".)
* It is customary that the supplier guarantees not to include any of his promotional materials with the shipmen
Marketing is all about getting exposure for your business. While it’s important to have an overall plan for marketing that includes marketing gifts and giveaways, summer is a good time to suspend a few of the rules and just get out there to have some fun. Seriously. Some serious fun with marketing gifts that take fun seriously.Summer is a prime time for neighborhood and town festivals, street fairs and business picnics. If your town or a local organization is holding a health fair, craft fair or any other type of festival to be held outside, you can usually book a table at their event for as little as ?10. These little gatherings and festivals are a great way to mark yourself as one of the neighbors and heighten awareness of your business, name and services. All it takes is a little creativity and a stock of some fun, inexpensive marketing gifts that you can take with you from event to event.The Game Plan Step 1: Attract people to your table. Make it colorful, make it bright. Blow up brightly colored balloons to float from the table legs or chairs, or tape them to the edge of the table. Be sure to offer a balloon to any child who stops to ooh and ahhh at them. You’ve got plenty more where that came from, and in the meantime, your balloon will be making the rounds with your name printed on it.Make sure that you lay out a few samples of each of your marketing gifts on the table interspersed with promotional material and information about your business.Step 2: Give them something they want. There’s one thing that everyone is sure to want on a hot day outside – water! Fill up a barrel with ice and nest some water-filled sports bottles down in it. Keep the barrel behind the table so that you have to hand the sports bottles out personally. That will give you a chance to shake hands, introduce yourself and make with the friendly banter.Step 3: Give them something to think about. Make sure that your message is prominently displayed and that you have plenty of promotional materials to hand out. Take the time to talk briefly with those that express an interest in your product or service, but skip the business card just for today. Instead…Step 4: Give them something to take away. Hand them a Frisbee with your business information on it. Or a boomerang. A fan. Anything that’s fun, bright and fits in with the mood of the day. This is also a good time to use up leftover marketing gifts from throughout the year. Pull out the extra printed t-shirts and hats from the last business conference, and tuck it all into the leftover carrier bags.Among other things, the leading promotional gifts suppliers on the internet offer a broad range of inexpensive and fun marketing gifts for your summer promotions. If you’re looking for something different, browse the internet and contact one of the many experienced representatives for additional ideas or advice.
* You may consider using a name that describes your product.
COMPANY ADDRESS
* Most newly established mail order businesses will operate out of their home until the volume of the business requires larger space.
* Most mail order businesses prefer not to use their home address as their company address. If you do, you will advertise your home address in regional and national publications. You have two other choices, a Post Office Box(POB) or a postal box located in a commercial enterprise which rents out mail boxes.
* A POB is generally the least expensive, both to rent and for advertising purposes. (See below) Some mail order operators claim that it reduces business because people do not trust a POB address. Yet there are just as many mail order operators who disprove this notion. The decision is yours.
* If you rent a mail box in a commercial enterprise, your box number usually becomes a suite number in the address.
* Almost all publications will charge you a full word charge for each component of your address, except the Zip Code and State which is counted as one word, Example:
Information Books, 300 Main Street, Suite 611, Centerville,
Md 20910 Or:
Information Books, Box 1000, Centerville, Md 20910.
* The first address is counted as 9 words, the second one as 6 words. Since advertising costs anywhere from 50 cents to $10.00 per word (classified advertising) you could save a substantial amount of money at the end of the year if you use a post office box.
TELEPHONE
* Some mail order companies do not show their phone numbers on their stationery, others do. It gives the customer some comfort to see a telephone number, although he may never use it.
* You can show your residence phone number in the appropriate printed material, or you can obtain a business listing for your home.
* The residence phone is fine, for starters, if it is answered in a professional manner at all times.
* If you plan to sell higher priced ticket items, however,
(over $15.00) a business listing would be advantageous since a prospective customer may pick up the phone and check with the information operator whether "Company X" is listed.
BASIC SUPPLIES
* Be conservative and frugal in your acquisition of items that you feel are needed. It's always wise to start small, and as inexpensively as possible, and as you build profits, you can
buy more and better items.
* The basics are a good quality computer, Business stationery, business envelopes (#10's), and return envelopes, either #6 or #9 is fine. All items should have your business name and address
imprinted on them.
* You will also need some mailing labels and some miscellaneous office supplies.
PRODUCT
* If possible, choose a product or products that people need
on an ongoing basis.
* Be sure the product is of acceptable quality. Know the
product before you sell it.
* If feasible, choose an item that is not widely available
from retailers.
* Develop a line of merchandise. It is rarely possible to make money with just one or two items. The availability of a line of related products is paramount to mail order success.
* The more specialized your products are, the easier your marketing becomes.
* If you are selling books, for example, it would be impossible, except for a very large company, to sell all types of books. You may decide to specialize in books pertaining to sports, and may want to go even further by zeroing in on football or baseball.
SUPPLIERS
* Your suppliers should provide you with reliable, quality,
and reasonable pricing.
* Since you probably should provide some type of a money back
guarantee (30 days is standard) you should expect the same guarantee from your suppliers.
* When buying from out of town suppliers, be sure to include the shipping charge in comparing prices to local suppliers.
DROP-SHIPMENTS
* Under a drop-ship agreement which is available from many suppliers for a variety of products, the supplier ships your customers' orders directly under your shipping label.
(Suggested reading: "American-Drop-Shippers Directory".)
* It is customary that the supplier guarantees not to include any of his promotional materials with the shipme
In some cases, opportunities for a home-based business in the medical billing field can be a scam. There are many ads appearing on the internet, in addition to ads in the classified sections of newspapers that lure people into the idea they will make good money working at home, filing claims for doctors.Beware of these ads until you have thoroughly checked them out. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned against these advertised business opportunities and has also brought charges against these scammers for misrepresenting not only the possible earnings, but also, not informing the person of the investment required to start this home business.Claims of $20,000 to $45,000 a year earnings potential is normally what is promised in these ads. In many cases, people assume they are applying for a job, as their ads will be listed in the 'help wanted' classified section. Some ads will claim you need no previous experience - just simply purchase their software and this will set you up in business!The cost of this software varies from $300 to $500 and it's claimed there are instructions in the software on how to process claims; plus, this software will contain a list of clients (doctors) who are looking for someone to do this type of work for them. Usually, this list of clients is bogus and completely useless.The general rule in paying up-front money to anyone is to be sure you know who you are paying it to and this rule would apply in this case.They will tell anyone who calls their toll-free number, in answer to their ad, that processing medical claims is a very thriving business allowing for them to earn good money. They also inform people that there are many doctors who are in search of medical billing processors.Be aware, most doctors either contract their medical billing services out to established firms or they have an in-house staff who does this work for them. Thus, it takes time and a lot of work to acquire doctors as clients who will put their trust in someone working from home.To verify a medical billing business opportunity, ask for references of other people who have bought and used their system. Several names are required to allow you to talk with a few people to get a true sense of the validity of the business opportunity. If only a couple of names are offered, beware, as these people could be 'plants' working for the scammer.Definitely, do some research on medical billing to determine how lucrative it is and how much need there is for this type of work. Check to see what kind of training is required and how much training it takes to do this. There are medical billing businesses in various communities that could answer some of your questions. Sometimes, doctors will be available to advise on this, also.Checking with your state's Attorney General's office is always a good idea, when dealing with a company not familiar to you. They will be able to tell you if there have been any complaints filed against this company, but, keep in mind, just because there haven't been complaints, doesn't mean the company is on the up-and-up. These scamming companies are constantly moving and changing their names to hide the unsettled complaints against them.
Information Books, 300 Main Street, Suite 611, Centerville,
Md 20910 Or:
Information Books, Box 1000, Centerville, Md 20910.
* The first address is counted as 9 words, the second one as 6 words. Since advertising costs anywhere from 50 cents to $10.00 per word (classified advertising) you could save a substantial amount of money at the end of the year if you use a post office box.
TELEPHONE
* Some mail order companies do not show their phone numbers on their stationery, others do. It gives the customer some comfort to see a telephone number, although he may never use it.
* You can show your residence phone number in the appropriate printed material, or you can obtain a business listing for your home.
* The residence phone is fine, for starters, if it is answered in a professional manner at all times.
* If you plan to sell higher priced ticket items, however,
(over $15.00) a business listing would be advantageous since a prospective customer may pick up the phone and check with the information operator whether "Company X" is listed.
BASIC SUPPLIES
* Be conservative and frugal in your acquisition of items that you feel are needed. It's always wise to start small, and as inexpensively as possible, and as you build profits, you can
buy more and better items.
* The basics are a good quality computer, Business stationery, business envelopes (#10's), and return envelopes, either #6 or #9 is fine. All items should have your business name and address
imprinted on them.
* You will also need some mailing labels and some miscellaneous office supplies.
PRODUCT
* If possible, choose a product or products that people need
on an ongoing basis.
* Be sure the product is of acceptable quality. Know the
product before you sell it.
* If feasible, choose an item that is not widely available
from retailers.
* Develop a line of merchandise. It is rarely possible to make money with just one or two items. The availability of a line of related products is paramount to mail order success.
* The more specialized your products are, the easier your marketing becomes.
* If you are selling books, for example, it would be impossible, except for a very large company, to sell all types of books. You may decide to specialize in books pertaining to sports, and may want to go even further by zeroing in on football or baseball.
SUPPLIERS
* Your suppliers should provide you with reliable, quality,
and reasonable pricing.
* Since you probably should provide some type of a money back
guarantee (30 days is standard) you should expect the same guarantee from your suppliers.
* When buying from out of town suppliers, be sure to include the shipping charge in comparing prices to local suppliers.
DROP-SHIPMENTS
* Under a drop-ship agreement which is available from many suppliers for a variety of products, the supplier ships your customers' orders directly under your shipping label.
(Suggested reading: "American-Drop-Shippers Directory".)
* It is customary that the supplier guarantees not to include any of his promotional materials with the shipme
One summer night more than forty years after the sinking of the Titanic, the world was stunned as the impossible repeated itself. Unlike the Titanic however, the Andrea Doria sank due to human error, causing a whirlwind of rumors about sunken treasure and crew negligence. Was the treasure real? Why did she sink? The answers to these questions seemed forever-locked in mystery as the doomed liner settled in her watery grave. The day after her sinking though, young millionaire adventurer Peter Gimbel became the first person to dive to the wreck and returned to the site often over the next two decades to probe for answers.Rika and I watched the Discovery Channel’s presentation of Gimbel's final trip to the site in 1981 as he and his team explored submerged passageways and attempted to salvage the liner's safes. His 25-year obsession with the Andrea Doria unlocked the riddles surrounding its sinking and solve once and for all the mystery surrounding this tragedy. Gimble was a treasure hunter.Hidden treasure has always captured our imagination. As a child, I would walk along the beach, fully expecting to the tip of a treasure chest sticking out of the hot sand at any moment, or to find a diamond ring. To my mind, finding a diamond ring would make me and my family instant millionaires and I would be like Richie Rich. Who of us hasn’t read Treasure Island? It’s a fascinating idea, isn’t it?“Somewhere over the rainbow” and Hidden Treasure are exciting, yet elusive, triggers to our imagination. We don’t really believe we will find it. Many people buy lottery tickets yet most don’t really believe they will win the lottery. What about finding out about REAL treasure, and then creating a way to discover it? Dreams are stories are great, but then Monday morning comes around and many of us slink reluctantly back to our boring jobs, grudgingly chain ourselves to our desks and wish it was home time. Like the manager of my building, a wonderful guy with massive potential. He freely admits that Monday is the worst day of his week, every week, and it gets progressively better as the weekend gets closer. Friday is his best day, and there is a visible transformation. He is happy, singing, excited and energetic. That lasts the whole day. And after two days, Monday finds him morose and dejected again.I love working on my business. I look forward to Mondays. That’s because my business is a treasure hunt! I know the treasure is out there, in the form of people who join our DollarMakers Joint Venture Forum. We discover a treasure regularly! We know it’s there, and there’s no risking of lives, decompression chambers, millions of dollars of costs or man-eating sharks. Unlike Mr. Gimble, we won’t dredge up a safe with no treasure in it. That’s why my business is so exciting. As we discover wonderful entrepreneurs, we discover treasure. We can make an unlimited amount of money using Joint Ventures. If you’d like to join my treasure hunting team, visit our website.
BASIC SUPPLIES
* Be conservative and frugal in your acquisition of items that you feel are needed. It's always wise to start small, and as inexpensively as possible, and as you build profits, you can
buy more and better items.
* The basics are a good quality computer, Business stationery, business envelopes (#10's), and return envelopes, either #6 or #9 is fine. All items should have your business name and address
imprinted on them.
* You will also need some mailing labels and some miscellaneous office supplies.
PRODUCT
* If possible, choose a product or products that people need
on an ongoing basis.
* Be sure the product is of acceptable quality. Know the
product before you sell it.
* If feasible, choose an item that is not widely available
from retailers.
* Develop a line of merchandise. It is rarely possible to make money with just one or two items. The availability of a line of related products is paramount to mail order success.
* The more specialized your products are, the easier your marketing becomes.
* If you are selling books, for example, it would be impossible, except for a very large company, to sell all types of books. You may decide to specialize in books pertaining to sports, and may want to go even further by zeroing in on football or baseball.
SUPPLIERS
* Your suppliers should provide you with reliable, quality,
and reasonable pricing.
* Since you probably should provide some type of a money back
guarantee (30 days is standard) you should expect the same guarantee from your suppliers.
* When buying from out of town suppliers, be sure to include the shipping charge in comparing prices to local suppliers.
DROP-SHIPMENTS
* Under a drop-ship agreement which is available from many suppliers for a variety of products, the supplier ships your customers' orders directly under your shipping label.
(Suggested reading: "American-Drop-Shippers Directory".)
* It is customary that the supplier guarantees not to include any of his promotional materials with the shipme
In each of us, there is a creative spark - a unique purpose and destiny for which we are born. Most of us have forgotten what that special gift is, or we are afraid to live it. My successful secret formula as outlined in my seminars, e-book and CD's will help you unlock your creative potential and discover your purpose in life. Passion, right-action, hard work and a commitment to excellence will create the quantum leap you desire in your life today!I have been involved in entrepreneurship, creative endeavors and public speaking for many, many years. First of all, I would like to say that I incorporate a unique blend of lessons and concepts that I have researched, studied, learned and experienced over the years to access my own creativity, to develop my ideas and launch my own intellectual properties and entrepreneurial ideas into successful business ventures.In my seminars I incorporate ancient secret wisdom, creative lessons and exercises to open you up to the deeper parts of your mind, heart and soul, where creativity is born and nurtured. After that we get down to the business aspects which will include how to protect your intellectual property, strategic business planning, funding your idea/business, developing prototypes, marketing, advertising, promotions and sales, and others important steps to launch or expand your ideas and business—and some of the challenges you may face and pitfalls to avoid.As most of you know, I have created a unique life for myself. I am an entrepreneur, executive producer, writer and motivational speaker. I have many, many interest. I am writing my autobiography: The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword, polishing up the first book of my mystery series: Prince D'Arcy de Montebello, writing another book on entrepreneurship and I do consulting and public speaking. I also love to teach. I would have to say that my top three passions are: creating, writing and helping others any way I can.There is an imminent need for love, and light, and personal empowerment in the world today as never before. Many of you may also know I ran for the presidency in 2004 as a true-democrat and write-in candidate in the eleventh-hour to “right the wrongs of America!” So I know first hand about the need to bring about truth, peace, love and compassion in this very disturbing and violent world. And the key begins within each of us. That’s why I have decided to focus a lot of my energies on teaching others about creativity and how to put your creative ideas to work to make you money through entrepreneurial ventures. There is an huge need for this, especially now.My philosophy is that if each of us are lifting our own light up, in our own way, through positive thinking, positive ideas and creative thinking then we can focus on building or growing or expanding our own businesses and entrepreneurial ventures. This is something each of us can do right now. We can choose to focus on the light within and bring it forth and share with others, instead of focusing on all the fear and negativity in the world…I call it “drowning in the illusion”. So you can chose, right now to either sink or swim! And that is where I come in. To help you swim, to help you soar, to help you fly!We all know that Light
* If you are selling books, for example, it would be impossible, except for a very large company, to sell all types of books. You may decide to specialize in books pertaining to sports, and may want to go even further by zeroing in on football or baseball.
SUPPLIERS
* Your suppliers should provide you with reliable, quality,
and reasonable pricing.
* Since you probably should provide some type of a money back
guarantee (30 days is standard) you should expect the same guarantee from your suppliers.
* When buying from out of town suppliers, be sure to include the shipping charge in comparing prices to local suppliers.
DROP-SHIPMENTS
* Under a drop-ship agreement which is available from many suppliers for a variety of products, the supplier ships your customers' orders directly under your shipping label.
(Suggested reading: "American-Drop-Shippers Directory".)
* It is customary that the supplier guarantees not to include any of his promotional materials with the shipment; or to use your customer's name for any future mailings.
* Drop-shipping arrangements are suitable for people just getting started. It allows you not to have to carry a costly inventory.
* As your business increases and you develop a sense of what sells well, you can stock limited supplies of certain fast selling items, and continue utilizing drop-shipments for slower products. Eventually, as your business flourishes, you can carry an inventory of everything you sell.
* Handling your own shipments is advantageous for the following reasons: It cuts down on your shipping expenses, it decreases the shipping time, and it allows you to include promotional material directly with the shipment.
* When you do utilize drop-shipments, be sure to send your customer a note that his order is being processed and he can expect it by, or around a certain date.
* It is unnecessary to make your customer aware of the fact that the item is being drop-shipped. Include some promotional material with your letter or note.
PRICING
* Buy at a price that allows you an adequate mark-up. In setting your prices, allow for all costs:
* Cost of product, shipping cost and postage, bank charges including credit card charges, wrapping, bad debts, rejects, refunds, etc. In addition, the other normal overhead costs need to be considered,. Lastly, there is the substantial marketing cost for advertising, and for printing of
promotional items. (See following paragraphs)
* Your prices of course, have to be fair and in line with your competition.
* It is not necessary that you make a big profit on each and every item. the real profit in mail order comes from follow-up orders.
* THE 3 BIGGEST EXPENSE CATEGORIES IN MAIL ORDER ARE:
ADVERTISING, PRINTING COST, AND POSTAGE. Over 80% of your total expenses are in this area. Watch these expenses very carefully.
ADVERTISING EXPENSE
* Start with classified ads. As you test them and know what
is successful, you can switch to display ads.
* To test an offering and a specific ad, run it once in a specific publication and you should get a reading that could be very positive or very negative. It might also be inconclusive. If that is the case, simply run it again.
* It is best to test an ad by running it in different publications.
* Advertise in publications that advertise similar products.
* If you have a sure seller, buy larger space.
* Special interest products should be advertised in special interest publications.
* Keep on changing the ad and offering until you are satisfied
it is right.
* Examples of changes you can make are: size of ad, copy,appeal, special gimmicks such as discounts, free gifts or reports, etc.
* Remember that a given ad can be 20 or 30 times more successful than another ad advertising the same product. It pays, therefore, to continue testing until it is just right.
* Repeat a successful ad until you no longer get a satisfactory return.
* The conventional advertising cost is 15% of sales or more in
mail order.
* To evaluate your advertising cost, think in terms of cost per inquiry. This is calculated by dividing the number of inquiries into the cost of the ad. that cost may vary from about $$0.80 to $2.00 or more.
* Be careful when you allocate advertising funds to small mail order publications. The ad may appear to be very inexpensive. However, a $15.00 ad that gets no response is a lot more expensive than a $150.00 ad that gets over 100 inquiries.
* Stay away from those publications that have no news or editorial content, and also those that have poor printing quality.
* There are a number of quality mail order publications, but it takes time to find the right publication for your product.
ADVERTISING COPY
* Write tight copy.
* Write as you speak. You are generally appealing to a mass market.
* Prepare your copy carefully. It must fit your specific medium.
* The emphasis should be on YOU rather than I, the company.
* Be sincere and don't make unreasonable claims, but remember that you are selling.
* Try to convince the reader that you are reliable and
trustworthy.
* Give simple specific instruction.
* Key all ads to test their effectiveness.
* Check and double check, and h
HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.otheradded.com/article/31085/otheradded-The-Beginners-Mail-Order-Business-Guide.html">The Beginner's Mail Order Business Guide</a>
BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.otheradded.com/article/31085/otheradded-The-Beginners-Mail-Order-Business-Guide.html]The Beginner's Mail Order Business Guide[/url]
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