Are there any sales pros can help me?

Question

I just opened an auto detailing shop and I live in a town of 30 000 people. I am in prime industrial with 1200 sqft shop with signage. I am in the directory for yellowpages. I justopened the doors for business today and no one came in or phoned. i know i need to make 1500 $ by the end of the month. I think i can do something more to encourage people to come get their car detailed but i dont want to pay for advertising. I dunno does anyone know a way to draw business in ?????

Answer 1

You need exposure. Lots and lots of hands on exposure. Go to the people, don't wait for them to come to you. You said you needed to make $1500 by the end of the month. Gross or net? That may be unrealistic. This sounds to me as if when you told everyone about your idea, the response was that you have a great idea and you will make tons of money. They probably told you customer's would be knocking your doors down to give you business. It just doesn't work that way. Your expectations on your return at the onset may not be in line with what's going on in the market. Keep in mind, more than half of new business' fail in the first year of operation. Most of it is lack of financial resources the other is bad business decisions. Not doing anymore advertising is a "bad business decision". Also you should have had enough money stockpilled to support your business for the first 6 months.

Get out after hours, (if you can't leave during the day) hand out business cards. Keep business cards on your person, every time you go somewhere hand out business cards. Make up fliers, give discount just to get people in, go to the areas, say where there is auto stores, grocery stores........places where people are coming and going.......hand out these fliers directly to your potential customers or put them under the wipers on the cars. In the area where your shop is, go during business hours (put a sign in your window, be back 1 hr) and introduce yourself to the other people in the vicinity. Even if it's an office complex. Anything to get your business name in front of people. You want to shout it from the roof tops, HEY PEOPLE I'M HERE AND I'M GOOD, I'LL DO A GOOD JOB FOR YOU, YOUR CAR NEEDS ME AND I NEED YOU AS A CUSTOMER.

That may be a little over the top, but you get the idea. You've got to let people know you are in business. You've got to make the situation attractive enough that they will want to come to your shop and not JoeJoe down the street. But also, you've got to let them know you are there and ready to do business.

Answer 2

C.Nolan had a great answer. The worst thing you can do is sit there like the Maytag repairman, waiting for the phone to ring.

Got a cell phone? Leave a note on the front door. Nobody's coming anyway.

Do everything mentioned above. And swing by the library or bookstore and read all the "guerilla marketing" books by Jay Levinson.

Also - you don't have cash for advertising, and even if you did I'd tell you to save it. But... why not go to places where your best prospects are already shopping, working, and living? Turn those businesses into commissioned salespeople. Say you find an office complex with lots of nice cars in the garage. Go to the mgmt office, get hold of the boss, say "you're going to give all of your tenants a great new benefit - a free one-time car detailing. And, I'll give them a half-off coupon for the second time, and the other half of the fee is your commission"

So basically, you are:
- getting every person in that building a coupon for a free sample (make it a basic, not a deluxe, if you're worried)
- giving all the people who show up a great discount for round 2 (you want to build a habit with them) - oh also give them coupons for their friends, and a bonus if they refer people.
- paying the bldg owner for the new business so he feels good about it and will gladly do it again and again and not be a jerk about it.

I know... this is making you tighten up. Well.. if you execute on this, you will be swamped with (free) work, and if you play it right you'll have an instant, huge list of satisfied customers who will tell their friends, and also come back again and again.

You are in a life or death struggle here. Whatever you do, take massive action, right now!

Good luck

Scott

p.s. it should go without saying... short expiration dates on all of these coupons!

Answer 3

Did you call the Chamber of Commerce to tell them you were opening? They will usually show up to a ribbon cutting. They can help you out some. Also, call your local TV station and ask them to cover the opening as a news story. Call the local cable company and tell them you are opening. Our local one does a one week FREE promo for new businesses! Also, have you gone to all of the car dealers with business cards? Offer to detail one for them for free so they can see how you work.

Answer 4

In today's economy small business owners (which most liquor stores are) can not afford to be closed on a day when a lot people are having a get together for things such as foot ball games and BBQs. That one day might bring in half of the weeks income.

Answer 5

Gorilla Marketing is a great book and should be helpful. One simple idea would be to go to the local radio station and offer to give some away some free detailing for a joint marketing campaign. Another one would be to do some joint marketing with local charities. Sell/use my services and I will donate a percentage back to your organization.

Good luck.

Answer 6

i'm sorry you are gonna have to pay for some advertising. gotta spend money to make money

Answer 7

you need to advertise..it takes time...you must be patient