Surrounded by Opportunity Embroidery Project

Selling doesn’t have to be confined to specialized groups and organizations. It should also include everyday acquaintances. Focus on dealing with people you know, since you already have a relationship established. For example, if you currently have a job, offer your services to your co-workers. Even if they don’t buy anything, chances are they will tell someone else about you and that person will tell someone else and so on. In fact, treat everyone you come in contact with as a potential sales lead or a link to a sales lead. Always be quick to tell anyone who will listen what it is you do.

With this in mind, take a moment and write down the names of everyone you can think of from school, church, organizations and associations. (Also include friends, neighbors, and relatives.) You should end up with several hundred names on your list. Now divide it into the following groups: High Potential, Modest Potential, and Low Potential. For those who are on the High Potential list, send a personalized letter, then call to follow up within 5 days of sending. For those who are on the Modest Potential list, send a letter, wait two weeks and send another letter as a reminder. Then, follow up with a phone call. This leaves the leads in the Low Potential Group. Obviously, they probably won’t lead to much in the way of business, so don’t expend too much time or effort on them. In fact, after a careful review, you might want to delete these names from your list.

Letters and phone calls can help pave the way for making a sale, but ultimately its face-to-face contact that makes the difference. You may not realize it, but what people are really buying is you! Of course the product being sold is embroidery, but if the customer doesn’t like you, they probably won’t buy anything from you. Switch roles for a minute, and think about the people you purchase merchandise and services from. Chances are you patronize the ones where you really like the staff and/or the owner, even when you know that you can get the same thing cheaper somewhere else. So the impression you make is the core foundation for a profitable relationship. Loyal customers are the result of close business relationships, and loyal customers become repeat customers, which is a requirement for long term sales growth.