Buckling down and making it through these times
May 4th, 2008
Crazy times right? Crazy times to be starting a business (we’re a year and a half past launch, I wonder when I’ll start referring to it as running a business???) It’s an economy thing and it has been crazy. We were building momentum like mad into January, and then everything just dipped. One of our boutiques that really sells our stuff well estimates traffic was down from 20 - 30 people a day to oh, about three!! THREE!!
But if this last month of business is any indication of things, then I think things are finally taking a turn for the better. We had a heck of a great show at Baby Celebration, online sales are up, and the boutique’s sales are picking up too.
We’ve been careful to keep up the momentum as much as possible, focusing on driving traffic to the site and also on keeping in touch with prospective boutiques and current accounts. It’s true that your current customers are your best customers - it’s much easier to sell to someone that already likes you and trusts you. So I’m trying to get appointments with current accounts to get in and show them the new stuff. And I’m really really trying to focus on being optimistic and putting the hard work behind it.
Time management is always a challenge, but my partner is going to take on some new project management tasks, which will help a lot. Imagine if we actually created project schedules for the mountains we want to climb? Miracles might happen.
I hope that all of you are seeing a pick up in business too!! Anyone out there have big trade shows coming up soon? Dallas? Mom2B?
We’ve got Atlanta in 9 weeks because we’ve picked up a sales rep!!!!! Right now we’re in the contract phase and I’m working on getting the first official salesman’s kit together. I can’t believe how much stuff you always seem to need when RUNNING a business.
Entry Filed under: Motivation to Keep Moving, Sales & Marketing
6 Comments Add your own
1. RuffleButts | May 5th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Wow, that is so interesting to hear how much traffic had dropped off for some of your boutiques. I was recently asked about running our business in these times of econmic concerns, and just blogged about it last week. You are so right time management and momentum are two requirements to get us all through these times.
Congratulations on the sales rep!! That is super exciting and a huge step. I can’t wait to read the reports!
I’d love to hear more about Baby Celebration! It sounds like it was totally worth the expense to participate for you. I always go back and forth on trade shows, but have most of them not worth the expexpense for us to have an individual booth plus travel expenses. I was so tempted to consider the Baby Celebration event, but have never really done anything like that. I’m glad to hear that it went so well for you! Your products are just so adorable, I can’t imagine that you wouldn’t get a great reponse!
Amber
RuffleButts.com
2. RuffleButts | May 5th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Wow, that is so interesting to hear how much traffic had dropped off for some of your boutiques. I was recently asked about running our business in these times of econmic concerns, and just blogged about it last week. You are so right time management and momentum are two requirements to get us all through these times.
Congratulations on the sales rep!! That is super exciting and a huge step. I can’t wait to read the reports!
I’d love to hear more about Baby Celebration! It sounds like it was totally worth the expense to participate for you. I always go back and forth on trade shows, but have most of them not worth the expexpense for us to have an individual booth plus travel expenses. I was so tempted to consider the Baby Celebration event, but have never really done anything like that. I’m glad to hear that it went so well for you! Your products are just so adorable, I can’t imagine that you wouldn’t get a great reponse!
Amber
RuffleButts.com
3. Georgieworld | May 5th, 2008 at 9:46 am
I am soooo glad you mentioned sales have been down lately because I thought it was just me! I have had a more difficult time getting stores to commit to Fall 2008 orders because everyone is so scared about the economy! But like you I have been talking to my stores and calling new stores to dry and drum up business and it has actually been fun! I blogged about it on the F-I message boards and even did a shout-out for your blog which has been very inspiring. Thanks!
4. Jamie Lentzner | May 5th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Congrats on the sales rep - keep an eye on them, and make sure they are the best for you. Don’t feel bad switching if they do not work out - trust me, I kept one for waaay too long. It is funny about sales - ours are up, way up for April. But we were down in March - so who knows. We also are up with people contacting us about carrying our line - but that was April, now we are in May. Keep up the good work - sounds like you are growing at a great pace.
5. ayomide | May 5th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Sounds like your business really growing! Good for you. I know times are hard but like you said focusing on driving traffic to your site and time management will help.
I am taking a marketing class that is really helpful, especially for creating your own business. Our final project we are working on putting together a marketing plan and learning how to implement what we leaned into a actual plan.
I had a question, since your business is online has gas prices effected how your products are getting to your customers? Like after an order is placed do you ship from your place of business or does the order go through your manufacturer?Has gas effected this portion of your business. Just curious.
Thanks,
Ayomide
6. Bryan | June 19th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I feel your pain; I’ve watched our site numbers go way down too.
I’ve tried a couple things that didn’t help (sales). On facebook.com you can inexpensively put an ad up. I think we had a .00001% click through.
I also tried stumbleupon.com. You will get hits from this; unfortunately our bounce rate was 94% so that’s no better either….
Uggh!
Bryan
http://www.grubsgear.com
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