how can i expand my screen printing customer base in houston?

Question

have a small screen printing biz and want more customers, dont have a lot of advertising dollars so barter system would be great. any ideas on who needs or wants t shirts? www.uglyguppy.com

Answer 1

Attend tradeshows or events.

If you want to break into the GLBT market, set up a booth at the next Pride Street Fair, and sell some GLBT themed T-shirts (or shirts that GLBT people would want to buy).

Advertise funny shirt sayings in the local magazines (you know, the funny one liners you see everywhere). Some magazines aren't ridiculously expensive for an ad.

Good luck in Houston!

Answer 2

You have to determine, if you haven't already, who your customers are. If you are selling to schools, athletic teams, non profit organizations, etc. then you need to do some promoting in those circles. Sponsor a little league team, join a PTA, advertise on the back of church bulletins. Find the trade organizations and become a sponsor or affiliate which would get your name in front of the members.

If you are going after corporate work, then you would need to join the business to business networking groups, chamber of commerces, etc.

You might also want to consider some cross promotion ventures with other companies. Find a business that has the same customer base but don't compete against each other and share the cost of advertising. Or design a unique promotion for a real estate agent, a car salesman, a furniture store. Any business really. You just have to show them why doing business with you would be profitable and/or beneficial.

Answer 3

Join the Houston chamber of commerce, and attend all their met-work mixers. It has worked for many of us here in Tracy, Ca.