[Woodcarver] Websites and Advertising

[Bonnie Schroeder]

Hi Joe:

So how does a person find out about Home Shows other than searching the Net?
I never seem to hear about them until after the fact .  :)

Bonnie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Dillett" <jdillett at thecarvingshop.com>
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Websites and Advertising



> DONATIONS to the Woodcarver Mailing List can be made using PayPal OR

regular mail. Click this link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html

> Hi Bonnie,

>

> As Jan says "All of the above".

>

> I have a web site. My business card directs my potential customers to my

web

> site. The web site, I feel, saves me the high coat of doing a professional

> looking brochure. I found that direct mailing, even to your target market,

> didn't yield orders but I wouldn't forget about direct mailing because it

> didn't work for me.

>

> My most successful advertising is the Home Shows. These are shows where

the

> public is looking to build or remodel and they come for ideas, seek out

> contractors, select cabinets, windows, a furnace, so my carved home

> furnishings fit right in. I don't know if you have those types of shows

near

> you. One of these Home Shows here sells an 8 X 10-foot booth between

> $900 -$1,500 for a 3-day show. My profit level is not high enough to pay

> those prices. I get into these shows free by demonstrating and doing

> seminars. Talk to the show promoters about becoming one of their featured

> attractions in exchange for a free booth. Being a featured attraction

means

> that you might have to do some demonstrating on TV to promote the show or

> maybe do a radio spot. Those are always fun and I get to promote my own

art

> besides promoting their show. Because I can cramp my display into one 8 X

10

> booth or spread out into 3 booths the promoter likes to use me to fill

> unsold spaces or last minute cancellation's. What that means is sometimes

I

> can't set up until the promoter knows if everyone they sold a booth to

going

> to come. It also makes my business look very prosperous having more than

one

> booth most of the time.

>

> Through these shows I find out from potential customers who their

> architects, designers, contractors are. I contact those people on behalf

of

> my customer and also for any other future business.

>

> This strategy has yielded me lots of leads of which if I can hit one out

of

> every 10 jobs I quote gives me more work than I can handle.

>

>

> Joe Dillett

> The Carving Shop

> 645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3

> Somonauk, IL. 60552

> (815) 498-9290 phone

> (815) 498-9249 fax

> http://www.thecarvingshop.com

> jdillett at thecarvingshop.com

> http://www.carvingmagazine.com Carving Magazine web site and Readers Forum

> http://www.carvingmagazine.com/chat/chat.shtml Live Chat for Carving

> Magazine.

> http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett

> http://www.citizenactions.org

> **************************************************

>

>

> ----- Original Message ----- 

> From: "jan oegema" <jancarves3 at rogers.com>

> To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>

> Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 12:39 PM

> Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Websites and Advertising

>

>

> > DONATIONS to the Woodcarver Mailing List can be made using PayPal OR

> > regular mail. Click this link:

> > http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html

> >

>

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------

>

>

> I don't have a lot of money, and I'm not sure where it is best spent.  I

do

> carved doors and mantels - should my first advertising venture be doing up

a

> brochure and contacting architects, interior designers.builders etc?  Or

> would my money be better spent on a website - if so, can I do it myself or

> should I get someone to do it?

>

> Bonnie Schroeder

> Victoria BC, Canada

> +++++++++++++++

> I would say ALL OF THE ABOVE

> If you want to be seen make sure you can be seen

> I did have my website build locally

> The lady did a great job (In my eyes) and very reasonable

> But if you are realy smart (wich I am NOT) you can build your own website

> Good Luck and keep us informed

>

>

>                                     Woodbutcher Jan

>

>

> You are invited to check out my website..

>        http://www.janscarvingstudio.com

>

> Also take a look at my picture trail albums ...

>          http://www.picturetrail.com/woodbutcher

>

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------

>

>

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