my own store/business...

Are you saying that more advertising energy should be put into faxing than a solid base on the internet?

The internet is the biggest marketing space in existence and compared to other means of getting your business out there, it's pretty much free. The only place I would put more emphasis in a company's public image is word of mouth.

 

Mox- right on. Hopefully we will be open the next time you visit. born&raised huh? so you know the state to the LFS up here...lol

Mike: Im with you 100%. word of mouth is hopefully, goin to be my biggest asset and has been the enemy of the other LFS(reefers talk). This is a small town so word travels fast!

 

lol i was wondering about his comment too.

 

pretty sure that was a bit of sarcasm....lol

 

The Internet is indeed a great place to advertise and if you are an online retailer, it's invaluable. BUT I think people don't realize that there is a whole group of customers out there that do not surf the Internet regularly and have never even peeked into any of these forums.

The majority of my friends customers, he said, had nothing to do with the Internet. The biggest accounts were those who didn't have time or the inclination to surf.

But you'll still need a nice site for those that will search, even if you don't have online sales yet. You'll need a informative page with a telephone and address as most peeps don't even look at yellow pages anymore and they take some time to come out after you sign up.

Join those local groups, as was already suggested. If you don't have one, start one and have the monthly meeting hosted at your shop.

 

What I was saying but put more elegantly Thanks!

The vast majority of our sales were spawned via word of mouth or us physically showing up at the LFS. I have contact with over 800 LFS in the US. I talk to them quite often and the internet/forums/clubs/etc topics come up often. I hear what they say and many do use it, but most say it is not their major marketing tool. Some areas it works great, like where I live (next to Silicone Valley).

Nope no sarcasm and as someone that has been in the industry and worked nearly every facet of it for well over a decade, I find you laughing at my comment to be e bit offensive. LIke I said above, I have contact with a large swath of LFS across the country, and I happen to have a TON of experience with Norcal LFS. Any of you have experience running Norcal LFS? ;D

 

: stopped right there and didn't read on as I nothing to say to that, not a style of conversation I feel like engaging with. When you want to have a normal conversation that is not dripping in sarcasm, you know where to find me.

 

Go to frag swaps, sponsor forums, put up CL ads, tell people, etc That should get the word out

 

Gresham: I meant no disrespect and wasnt laughing at you, i apologize if it read that way. I was "lol" at mikes comment about faxing advertisements. Actually, I really value your opinion, experience, and interactions/suggestions on this board. I agree with you about the internet as i am really focusing on the "local" walk-in market. I would love to hear more of your expertise/suggestions. and was hoping to get ahold of you in the future for this specific reason.

Renee:agree 100%. My main focus on the web for the time being will just be a small site. Information, hours, directions, bio. etc. It is by far the "new" phone book. Dont get me wrong, ill still list in the actual book. But, a web presence does give a certain "legitimacy" to a business. I have been thinking about getting the "humboldt reefers" going(again apparently). It mustve been a club before my time. but, somefriends and i have been talking about it, and that seems the most apt name. And, i was definitely thinking about hosting the meetings at the shop.

Thanks everyone for the thought, words, and suggestions. keep em coming. and I promise, photos by monday!!

Hey gresham, once again im sorry bud.

 

1.0- indeed it will. heck just being in the space doing work with the door open is drqing attention. I live in a small town and word travels fast. I think yesterday a half dozen or so people stopped in or poked their heads in to see what was happening!