What is the most effective, inexpensive way to advertise?

Question

My husband and I recently started our own company and I am wondering how to go about getting our product known among retailers, as well as recognition of our company name and logo. I'm not advertising here, so I won't be too specific, however I will disclose that we are chocolatiers; hopefully this will aid in any suggestions.

Thanks!

FYI to the second answer; we do have a marketing plan in place, however, I am navigating other options which may prove more effective and less time consuming, since my husband has a full time job elsewhere, I am doing 90% of the entire work load myself. Thanks anyway.

Princess, you are very helpful and I appreciate that very much.

Mark M., you too are very helpful. Thank you.

Jake K., thanks for the link. We shall see if that can be an option.

Answer 1

You are getting some good ideas already. It's guerrilla marketing for you!

Chocolate is bought by looking and tasting. So here are a few more ideas.

1) Take the list of retailers that one person suggested. Put one or more chocolates in a really nice box, pack it well, put in your contact details and a request to speak to them next week and send it to them.

2) Go to an appropriate trade show and attach one chocolate to a business card with an attractive ribbon. Start giving them out. I saw this happen once and everyone was walking around with them.

3) Contact a wedding planner and offer your services to provide small chocolate gifts to bride's mother etc. Also as wedding favors.

4) Contact companies that plan seminars, trade shows, parties, events etc. Ask to add a sample of your product, or coupon for your services to their gift bags. These kind of companies are always looking for quality items.

Answer 2

I used to work at a well known bakery and they had a similar story, how do we impact an already saturated market? Their success story evolved around giving out free samples. If in fact you have a superior product people will buy it after a free taste. Try renting a booth at a mall or fair and have the free tasters ready. with the packaging you can include web information for ordering and so forth. Easter is right around the corner!

Answer 3

The best method of advertising is word of mouth. You can get word of mouth advertising in one of two ways. Encourage your satisfied clients to refer other people your way or you do something that stimulates a response and has people talking about you over other similar businesses. The first way will require you to provide real value and great customer service. The second way will require you to think outside of the box and do something witty or canny. Volunteer a free Disc Jockey service during a local event that has a large group of people. Have plenty of business cards or flyers ready and pass them out. The people in the crowd will think that you were hired by the event staff, and they assume you are a worthy and reputable business. You just have to be willing to put in a few free hours of your service. You will have plenty of exposure to potential customers. Good Luck!!! Jay N

Answer 4

You are in a business to business type company I think. So try this...

Purchase a quality filtered list of your target retail companies. Purchase this from a reputable sales lead generation company.
http://smallbusiness.dnb.com/find-new-customers/marketing-detail.asp

Mail a postcard type flyer to each business on the list with a picture of your logo, a picture of your company office (if you have one) and, most important, a picture of you and your husband.

Email a 5-10 sentence email which includes all your contact information and your photograph of you and your husband to each business on the list.

Wait 1-2 weeks and begin calling each company on the list.

I could be wrong, but this should cost you 15.00 per lead if you make your own postcard flyer.

Answer 5

To be frank, this is a problem.

You started the company without a marketing plan...you put the cart before the horse and you have no idea how much it costs to buy the horse.

Why don't you get some help...visit a SCORE office. You just have no idea of the hurdles involved.

Godiva spends MILLIONS to be known...Ghiradeli, whomever. You don't start the company and then sell chocolate....if you want to sell to retail you've got to already be known! Why should they take a chance when they can sell what everyone wants!...it's just chocolate no matter how good yours is!

Answer 6

Look we are not believing on expensive advertise we only believe on free advertise if we are getting high traffic by free advertising so why we are looking expensive advertise if you want to more details on it so just visit the URL given below .......actually she is organizing the seminar about SEO Planning recently so she better help than me

http://www.searchenginerankings.com.au...

Answer 7

I just got hired at a new company myself and trying to spread the word as well out to the world. try www.jobkabob.com. it's free to post an ad, if that's what you are looking for..hope it helps

Answer 8

use ppl to make it for u
I dont mean to hire somebody to do this for money
i mean let ppl talk about the company or ur product by them selfs , like friend, first customers and so

Answer 9

If you are going to build a site for business purposes, make sure to get your own domain name. Its cheaper than you think. Here is a guide to getting started: http://www.richkahmer.com/build-a-website.html

Answer 10

BUILD A NETWORK!!! You want to be in front of the people that are in front of the people YOU want to be in front of. You want to build a referral network where you reward that person something. Tune into WCYD FM What can you do for me? People ALWAYS want to know, whats in it for me. Hope this helped.