by MyVinylDesigner
27. January 2010 06:17
My Vinyl Designer has compiled a high-quality, pleasantly designed, printable PDF catalog for each collection on the website. Although the pages can be compiled in any type of binding system, we like using white cardstock and top-loading sheet protectors best. We especially like using the standard white vinyl presentation folders that come with 12 attached sheet protectors because they are slim, trim, and easy to handle and store.
These catalogs are meant to offer home-based and storefront businesses more vinyl sale opportunities, as well as be a quick fingertip reference for do-it-yourselfers. When a customer expresses an interest in a particular design, you simply determine the measurements, find the cataloged ready-to-cut vector image, cut, and presto, an instant sale!
CLICK HERE for specific information about the Stick Family catalogs
Alternatively, you may electronically offer the catalogs to your customers on blogs, web pages, and websites. Catalog page jpgs and downloadable PDFs accompany each collection and Add-OnPage lot.
by MyVinylDesigner
3. July 2009 05:25
So your customer enthusiastically takes her vinyl home and hangs it crooked on the wall. Do you offer to replace it free, replace at a partial expense, or what?
If you have retailed your vinyl in the appropriate price range, you will have a cushion to work with. Our thoughts:
1- Remember that little acts of kindness always help your business in the long run. Most customers feel bad about asking for replacements. Offer to replace the order at no charge ... or if the order is being shipped, ask the customer to pay just for shipping.
2- If your customers are local, offer an installation service. If people know your services are free over a certain amount (like $85-$100), they'll generally buy more vinyl to get that service.
3- Determine to do installations on a particular day of the week. Let the customer know that you'd be happy to help them install it "next Wednesday" or "next Thursday". Don't be willing to drop everything to help at that moment. Hanging vinyl isn't a quick-to-do job and it isn't a life emergency. Safeguard your schedule so that you can help without resentment. Most customers understand.
4- Customers generally only make this mistake once ... so look at this opportunity as a one-time chance to show them what exceptional customer service you offer.
5- Send scrap vinyl with first-time orders so that customers can practice hanging. Cut out chunks of messed-up vinyl orders, overlaid with transfer tape, and set the chunks aside to give out as needed.
6- Consider using the following tools when the order is finished:
Email the following video link ... http://sites.google.com/site/myvinylsupplier/
by MyVinylDesigner
12. June 2009 05:19
For small businesses who sell online, finding (or getting) the right box is sometimes the most challenging part of the sale. You need to be able to get a modest quantity at a modest price range. So, here our some of our favorite tips:
1- Recycle, recycle, recycle! There isn't anything professionally wrong with recycling. In fact, customers generally support recycling. Be lighthearted about it ... slip a little note in the package that says "Because we were were able to save you money in the packaging materials for this order, please use the coupon code "zzz" for a 5% savings on your next order", etc.
2- Ship in your empty tubing from vinyl rolls, brand new pizza boxes (from local pizza place), USPS boxes, reusable courier boxes, wide bubble envelopes and sturdy cardboard inserts from anything and everything.
3- Show that your finished vinyl has value by using inexpensive brown craft paper to roll or wrap your lettering in. A little goes a long way. Gently tie with light string or scrap ribbon.
4- Use rolls for shipping large quantities, and always roll the vinyl the way it came off the roll -- with the transfer tape and lettering showing on the outside of the roll.
5- Gently fold those single 12x12 orders in half (no heavy creasing), preferably down an area that has no vinyl, and place it on a sturdy cardboard insert. Bind with brown craft paper and or string, and place in envelope.
Alternatively, wrap in paper and string and place between two sturdy cardboard inserts and seal the outside edges with clear shipping tape. If part of the vinyl is gently folded in the process, it will easily press out on a suface if it doesn't stay folded for a long period of time.
6- Include application instructions for hanging and/or link them to the MyVinylSupplier (http://sites.google.com/site/myvinylsupplier/) website that shows them how to hang the vinyl. Remember, there is no reference to us here ... it was created so that you could have a place to send your customers to.
Can you share what shipping tips work well for YOU? Thanks!
by MyVinylDesigner
21. May 2009 04:43
When there is a church, school, scout, or other organizational activity where making a vinyl project is the main activity, may we suggest a few pointers ... for you, the event coordinator, and the people involved. Most often, you will need to courageously "coach" the coordinator with tips for running a successful vinyl event.
1- If people are looking to make a vinyl project inexpensively, AVOID suggesting that they "weed" their own vinyl. People will inevitably lose dots, commas, or other design elements and ask you to recut them. It will save you a LOT of heartache!
2- Suggest that people do not paint, stain, or sand raw wood at the activity. The process generally takes too long. Projects should be simplified so that people have a positive vinyl experience. It will influence their decision-making in future vinyl projects.
3- Suggest that people bring their own prepared surfaces to the event ... this way, everyone likes what they have. For instance, if someone is providing raw wood for people to paint, send that wood home with people a few weeks prior to the event. Or let people bring their own tiles, glass blocks, holiday plates, etc. Alternatively, event organizers can bring the non-prep surfaces to the event and distribute everything in "packages", which is sometimes the easiest.
4- Suggest that project samples be the exact replicas of what people will make. It is beyond frustrating to receive something smaller, larger, or different than the sample. People want to get what they see.
5- Suggest that people prepay before attending the event. Otherwise, people tend to "forget" their money and it creates more work for the event organizer. You should not assume the responsibility for collecting everyone's money.
6- Request that you receive one lump sum payment, not a bunch of little payments, at the time the vinyl is picked up. You don't want everyone trying to individually pay you ... too much time involved. Try not to cut too early, because orders generally change at the last minute.
7- Request that the final order be submitted to you a couple weeks before the event, but be flexible with last minute changes. Again, it's all about creating a positive vinyl experience for everyone, including the event organizer.
8- Quietly decide in your mind to offer free replacements for mess-ups. You don't need to announce it, but this act of generosity will carry you a long way in the vinyl business. This can be done the week AFTER the event.
9- Offer easels in vinyl tile projects as another way to increase revenue. You can buy the easels at wholesale prices, then offer them for twice as much. They'll still often cost them less. Remember, you run a business! Here's a link to a company we buy easels from. Be sure to call them and ask about their wholesale pricing. http://www.easels.com/
10- Offer discounts on volume orders. When people know you are offering a special savings for a particular organization, they will generally buy more. People like to save money. And, you will still make good money if everything is priced right. (The pricing shown on our Group Pricing Sheet example is the actual pricing we charge for most groups.)
11- When the event organizer first approaches you about doing vinyl, offer a one-page sheet of suggestions (if they don't already have an idea) ... like the one shown here ... that she can take back to her committee for selection. Suggest that they offer a few designs at different price points. Some 12x12 designs could cost $7-$8 and others could cost $13-$15. This allows more people to participate in the project.
12- Once they've determined which designs they want, then offer to lay them on out on a sign-up sheet ... like the ones shown here ... and print them off for the event coordinator. She will LOVE you for this! It will be her tool for gathering information and collecting money in a neat, orderly way. It will also save you a TON of time and ensure that you get all the info you need.
13- Lastly, ask for the sign-up sheets at the time of the order (you can always return it when the order is picked up). This sheet will become your right hand in making sure such a large vinyl order is properly done.
So, tell us your thoughts. Any extra tips?!! Congrats for reading through this very long post!
by MyVinylDesigner
30. April 2009 04:16
These are things we like to do ...
1- We place pre-printed stickers on the back of every finished order so that people can easily contact us at a later date. It's like our autograph on the project, and it always goes on the backside, in the bottom, right-hand corner. It's FABULOUS for gift projects because it introduces us to a brand new group of people and goes with the gift wherever it travels over the years.
2- We also like to place little white stickers (just the simple office type) on the backing of vinyl-only orders. It directs people to our MyVinylSupplier website for application instructions. Then, while they're there, they can see other's finished ideas, color swatches, and categorized design ideas. Great for boosting sales! If they see something they like, they simply call us with their order. (We hope everyone uses the tools and resources here ... it was created to help our customers' customers see what can be done with vinyl, and there is no reference to MyVinylDesigner. It simply adds to your portfolio of tools. If you have a blog or website, embed our photos and rotating galleries --- excluding the finished photo gallery. Or, if you don't have an online presence, direct your customers to MyVinylSupplier for application instructions with a sticker or simple business card. Then have them call you with their order for pricing.)
3- We purposely hang samples of all sorts of finished projects around the store, because people like to see finished ideas. (If you just do online sales, perhaps you could ask customers to send pictures of your finished work in exchange for free vinyl. It's a great way to create a portfolio. (Be sure to watermark your photos!) Or if you sell from home, incorporate vinyl in different ways around the home.) We have vinyl on tiles, mirrors, picture frame glass, wood, walls, plexi glass, bottles, metal, and other creative substrates. It stirs the creative imagination of customers.
4- We also show the three-steps-of-vinyl-application on the wall so that customers can see what vinyl really is, and how it is applied to the wall. The first step shows how the vinyl arrives to the customer with transfer tape and backing and is taped to the wall. The second step shows the backing removed, with just the vinyl and transfer tape. (Customers can peel a little portion of transfer tape off to see how easy it works.) Then, the third step shows the vinyl on the wall, as it would looked finished. We use the analogy of a sandwich, when explaining that vinyl is like the filling tucked between two slices of bread.
5- We like to have both raw cut and finished wooden boards on-site. That way, the person who wants to do it themself can pick it up a raw board and go. Alternatively, the person who wants a finished board can quickly have the vinyl cut and project done within 20-30 minutes, or less. It's great for last minute custom gift giving!
6- When we see that we will have extra vinyl remaining at the time of a cut, we cut a duplicate design at the same time so that no vinyl is wasted. Once the extra design is weeded and transfer tape applied, it goes into a scrap bin where it is sold for half price. It doesn't take more money or time and it makes for less waste and more money. It's easy for people to go to the bin and grab $20-$40 at a time.
Tell us what things boost YOUR vinyl sales ....
Subscribe