New Product, and placement.
Discussion
Hello folks, I have a mico business manufacturing english wheeling machines. I have only advertised them so far on ebay, and have sold 40-odd. they are £270 or thereabouts in the pricing.
I would like to take this to the next level, and get them into motoring circles, restoration specialists, and tool marts, places like that.
I have tried mail shots with my day job (conveyor engineering) and this has proven to be unsuccessful. I have thought of placement advertising, ie: Practical classic. Has anyone else have experience of product plaement, and proven best methods?
This one above is the smallest of three offerings, 722mm hign, the next is twice scale, and a further machine 2.2 meters tall.
I would like to take this to the next level, and get them into motoring circles, restoration specialists, and tool marts, places like that.
I have tried mail shots with my day job (conveyor engineering) and this has proven to be unsuccessful. I have thought of placement advertising, ie: Practical classic. Has anyone else have experience of product plaement, and proven best methods?
This one above is the smallest of three offerings, 722mm hign, the next is twice scale, and a further machine 2.2 meters tall.
justinbaker said:
Hello folks, I have a mico business manufacturing english wheeling machines. I have only advertised them so far on ebay, and have sold 40-odd. they are £270 or thereabouts in the pricing.
I would like to take this to the next level, and get them into motoring circles, restoration specialists, and tool marts, places like that.
I have tried mail shots with my day job (conveyor engineering) and this has proven to be unsuccessful. I have thought of placement advertising, ie: Practical classic. Has anyone else have experience of product plaement, and proven best methods?
This one above is the smallest of three offerings, 722mm hign, the next is twice scale, and a further machine 2.2 meters tall.
I would like to take this to the next level, and get them into motoring circles, restoration specialists, and tool marts, places like that.
I have tried mail shots with my day job (conveyor engineering) and this has proven to be unsuccessful. I have thought of placement advertising, ie: Practical classic. Has anyone else have experience of product plaement, and proven best methods?
This one above is the smallest of three offerings, 722mm hign, the next is twice scale, and a further machine 2.2 meters tall.
Why bother advertising in Practical Classic at all??? Maybe you could do a deal with them whereby you offer a draw to their readers for 1 machine, free of charge. Of course, you have to give away a machine, losing £270, but then you get a database of people who are (a) readers of Practical Classic, and (b) want your product, but are hoping to get it FOC.
Let's say you get 5000 entrants. You have to give away one free machine, but you get 4999 other names of people who want this product. You now have their data and can mail to them whenever you wish. If you get 10% on board as buyers (not impossible), you now have 499 buyers (£134,730 in revenue, 499*£270) from an initial outlay of £270.
That's what's called leverage!
First, it's worth understanding your market.
Who has been buying them?
Amateurs, small professional restorers, serious professional panel beaters?
What Makes Your Product Unique?
Cost? Size? Usability & Performance? Ability to stash away for occasional use?
One question (as a prospective buyer looking at the photo) I would have is whether the structure is strong enough. It looks a bit weak (not saying it is, but that's a reaction). Which leads to...
What Do Your Customers Think?
Have you had any feedback from people who've bought it (whether references, complaints or suggestions for improvement)?
Can you get any, perhaps an email to them along the lines of "You've had it a month, what do you think?"
We need to understand what makes your design special, where its competitive advantage lies, and who would choose your product. That will drive your sales and marketing media, and the message.
As an aside, a suggestion. Have you considered a storage unit for the rollers - to both protect and organise? Perhaps a gear case for a complete set, perhaps a small foam-lined box for matching pairs.
Who has been buying them?
Amateurs, small professional restorers, serious professional panel beaters?
What Makes Your Product Unique?
Cost? Size? Usability & Performance? Ability to stash away for occasional use?
One question (as a prospective buyer looking at the photo) I would have is whether the structure is strong enough. It looks a bit weak (not saying it is, but that's a reaction). Which leads to...
What Do Your Customers Think?
Have you had any feedback from people who've bought it (whether references, complaints or suggestions for improvement)?
Can you get any, perhaps an email to them along the lines of "You've had it a month, what do you think?"
We need to understand what makes your design special, where its competitive advantage lies, and who would choose your product. That will drive your sales and marketing media, and the message.
As an aside, a suggestion. Have you considered a storage unit for the rollers - to both protect and organise? Perhaps a gear case for a complete set, perhaps a small foam-lined box for matching pairs.
Justin, I don't think Practical Classics would give you that database but you can ask they can only say no and that's not painfull
You need to decide who and where your market is before you go into expensive advertising that usually involves expensive serial or continuious advertising
Remember people that sell advertising are under a lot of pressure to SELL YOU their advertising (they lose their job if they don't sell enough)
I've seen a lot of money (some of it mine) wasted on adverts
Always ask your buyers where they learnt of your products (this will provide you with a review of your advertising to see where it is most or least effective)
If your selling in eBay why not cover more categoies
To end I used to work in low key selling and my mate used to sell advertising, hard salespeople ARE con artist and some criminals
You need to decide who and where your market is before you go into expensive advertising that usually involves expensive serial or continuious advertising
Remember people that sell advertising are under a lot of pressure to SELL YOU their advertising (they lose their job if they don't sell enough)
I've seen a lot of money (some of it mine) wasted on adverts
Always ask your buyers where they learnt of your products (this will provide you with a review of your advertising to see where it is most or least effective)
If your selling in eBay why not cover more categoies
To end I used to work in low key selling and my mate used to sell advertising, hard salespeople ARE con artist and some criminals
Took the ideas on guys, and have had some movement on the competition idea with the help of a friend. A motorcycle publication has responded, so will keep you posted.
Placed a PH V-trader advert as it has a relation to motoring, and the racing fraternity.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/155375.htm
Placed a PH V-trader advert as it has a relation to motoring, and the racing fraternity.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/155375.htm
Edited by justinbaker on Tuesday 10th April 16:47
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