If you would like a service business that will keep you busy, house painting is the one! A truck or van, ladders, brushes and some drop cloths are the main mechanical needs; you are the other ingredient needed for a thriving business. This is a business where you can get by with the bare minimum investment at first, then build slowly as your business increases -- adding sir compressors, electrical paint rollers, and other fancy equipment as you need and can afford it.
The easiest way to keep busy (probably snowed under would be a better term) is to do work for real estate and rental agencies. They have lots of work but do not necessarily pay the best -- buy they do usually pay on time.
Most commercial interests are looking for economy: they want the inside walls painted "any color, so long as it is off-white" and don't care so much about long lasting jobs because tenants damage the best quality paints almost as fast as the lower priced products.
Besides, the places look and smell fresh and clean after they are painted. These jobs you can do fast and not worry so much about matching colors to rapidly changing minds.. In fact, if you want to learn the house painting business and need income right away, this is the way to start.
To start your painting career with commercial work, contact several real estate companies and rental agents. tell them what you do, about how much you charge, and ask them to try your services.
Always leave your card with them a telephone number that someone will answer. You have a wide choice of arrangements - who supplies the paint, whether you charge by the hour, square footage, room or job.
You can undoubtedly find a paint supplier who will sell you paint on credit,,, however these sources may only handle higher priced paints that your customer will not pay for. You can do the same with ladders and brushes -- and, you can rent equipment that you will not ordinarily need (or can't afford).
Commercial accounts require careful management of your time. When they call you for a job, they are usually in a hurry. A tenant is complaining or they need the place painted in order to rent it.. You should always be in a position to tell them when you can get started -- and you MUST SHOW UP when you promise! Not showing up will lose you more accounts than sloppy work!
If there is a problem and you cannot get there when promised, call the customer and inform them a problem has arisen. They may gripe over the phone, but they will appreciate the fact that you didn't "stiff" them (they know things like this happen). If you run into problems in this area and have any helpers, at least send a helper over to start the job.
When doing commercial work, you will be tempted to accept smaller jobs by individuals -- that pay better. Doing small jobs between big ones is one thing; doing them INSTEAD is another. Decide what kind of work you want to specialize in and make that your first priority.
Commercial accounts have one additional advantage over private jobs -- they are continuing. That is, they keep sending you on job after job as long as they are satisfied with your price and work.
Normally, each private job is one-time thing. Although references to friends and relatives and word-of-mouth advertising can be a tremendous help to a successful painting business, each rental agent or real estate account represents a continuing series of jobs itself.
Contracting to paint for private individuals generally (but not always) is much more profitable than commercial work. But, it usually requires more time and effort because there are more individuals to please.
You will have to estimate the job, submit a bid, wait for a response, then start the job and undoubtedly modify details as you go -- private home owners frequently change their mind about colors or just what does and does not get painted.
One contractor sizes up his prospective clients and adds 10% to his bid for those he suspects will want a lot of modifications. When the job is completed, you will hopefully be paid in full. Here is where you can get into trouble! You have already paid for the materials and your helpers (or owe them), and the owner wants to pay you "next week."
One or two cases like this will teach you to
get a clear understanding of payment BEFORE
you start the job!
As long as you can take care of the paperwork, you can hire helpers to do much (if not most) of the actual painting. Consider hiring high school and college kids during the summer, and don't overlook retirees.
One entrepreneur went to a senior citizen's club and found a group of retired men who would go out and paint his houses without supervision. They did excellent work, kept their own time records, and did the jobs for less than half what a painting contractor would have charged!
Take a good look around your area and determine what kinds of painting jobs are needed (wood, stucco, one or two story, weatherability, styles, etc.), and adjust your efforts accordingly. When you see a need, make sure the affected people know you can provide the solution.
After a while, you will be able to "eyeball" a house and know just what it will take for the job. Until then, it is best to know what you are getting into before committing to a price.
Measure the square footage of the surfaces to be painted. For example, a wall 8' high, 50' long is 400 square feet. Subtract for large doors and windows for the exact amount of surface for that wall.
Do the same for all other walls, ceilings and offsets and subtract for the openings for the overall surface to be painted. Look on the paint can to see how many square feet a gallon will cover to estimate the amount of paint.
Nest, figure the smaller surfaces (woodworks, window sills, trim) that will be painted with gloss latex or enamel. Some guessing may be necessary for this type work, but the amounts involved are relatively small.
Some painters base their estimates on the square footage alone -- they just consider the "savings" of doors and windows against the paint and extra time needed for small surfaces.
If the job is about average, they balance out. If the job has more or less openings, a percentage is estimated. This technique is much faster than measuring all the surfaces, but is not difficult for an experienced paint estimator.
Next, consider any expendables that might be involved, such as tubes of color, paint mixers, plastic drop cloths, and any special tools. Finally, it is time to estimate the labor.
If you have ever painted the inside of a 10 x 12 foot room you know about how long it took perhaps 2-3 hours with a roller, plus another hour for set-up, trim, and clean-up. Then, do the same with the trim and "close work" and add the two.
Although you will soon develop your own gauge, you can use a temporary formula for now, based on rooms, square footage and the amount of trim.
For outside painting, the surface to be painted will have a lot to do with what it takes to paint ir properly -- some surfaces are more porous and require much more paint, some will need scraping and/or sanding, and still others require primer, sealer, and/or extra coats to cover dark colors.
Unless you already have some experienced in this area, it would be a good idea to bid those first few jobs by the hour until you can more accurately estimate them,
Although rates vary drastically in different parts of the country and even neighborhoods, an arbitrary rate for normal size inside rooms (including materials) would be about $100 each; outsiders of single, smooth surfaced dwellings, about $500.
Don't forget to consider how many coats of paint the job will take, whether primers or "color killers" are needed -- and a biggie: surface preparation.
Many frame houses have peeling or blistered paint that must be sanded or removed; some have mildew that should be sprayed with a chlorine solution (Clorox - or any brand, washed and let dry.
Inside walls may have cracks or holes that need to be repaired, and there may be places where part of the surface is missing or rotted. Every painter has a supply of putty and normal cleaning materials, but some jobs obviously need more than a normal paint job.
When bidding on or accepting a job, look it over thoroughly and agree on what is to be done about any special problems like these.
Tip: An easy (and cheap) way to spray for mildew is house a garden sprayer. Pour household bleach into the plastic sprayer jar, turn on the hose and spray the water and chlorine mixture on mildewed walls and eaves.
After an hour or so, rinse. Check for any stubborn spots and redo them. When rinsed and dry, paint right over. Note that you should not wear your best suit while spraying chlorine, and avoid breathing the fumes.
When submitting your bid, always figure it with good quality materials and let the customer know that you did.. If he wants to scrimp for a better price, let it be his decision to use cheaper materials.
This is not to say that should you choose the most expensive paints -- only good quality. Since you are now a business person,, you can probably get a discount on all your painting supplies. If one store won't give you a discount, go to another!
This is extra profit -- you need not share this savings or information with your customers, even if you cut the contract price.
To help sell your services, compile a photo album of before and after pictures. Take the before and after pictures from the same angles, and it won't hurt if the afters are in a little better light. Count the best ones in your sample job book and post the addresses (not owner names) on each, so they are real to your prospective customers.
The main pitfalls in this business are over extending -- taking on more work than you can handle, or jobs that are too complicated for your talents and/or equipment at the time. These are clearly important because in order to be successful you must earn a reputation for keeping your word.
You can avoid over extension by looking over each job carefully before accepting it -- and keep your reputation by making good on all promises, whether to big or small customers (either can hurt you if you "do them wrong"). Pay your bills, keep your word and do good work, and you will do fine.
BUSINESS SOURCES
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF PAINTERS & ALLIED TRADES, 1750 New York Ave.,8th Floor, Washington, DC 2006. Write for information abut painting.
DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC.,31 East 2nd St.,Mineola, NY 11051. Discount books, clip art, stencils, etc.
QUILL CORPORATION, 100 Schelter Rd.,Lincolnshire, IL 60917-4700, 312/634-4800. Office supplies.
NEBS, 500 Main St.,Groton, MA 04171, 800/225-6380. Office supplies.
IVEY PRINTING, Box 761, Meridan, TX 76665. Letterhead: 400 sheets plus 200 envelopes - $18.
SWEDCO, Box 29, Mooresville, NC 28115. 3 line rubber stamps - $3; business cards - $13 per thousand.
ZPS, Box 581, Libertyville, IL 60048-2556. Business cards (raised print - $11.50 per K) and letterhead stationery. Will print your copy ready logo or design, even whole card.
WALTER DRAKE, 4119 Drake Bldg.,Colorado Springs, CO 80940. Short run business cards, stationery, etc. Good quality, but no choice of style or color.
Monday, December 31, 2007
HOW TO START A PRINTING BUSINESS WITH NO EQUIPMENT
Everyone in any business, especially mail order, needs printing. But being a printer takes huge, expensive printing presses, long hours and messy work, right? WRONG. YOU can make money without the mess and expense by being a PRINTING BROKER.
A printing broker is, basically, an order taker for one or more commercial printers. You take orders for anything from business cards to circulars to large printing orders, take your agreed upon commission, then pass on the order to the printer. The printer then does the job and ships the order back to you or your customer, depending on your arrangements. Because the printer won't insert any of of his or her literature in with the job, YOU will get the return orders and commissions. You can even insert some of your circulars for your other products and services with the job, saving your mailing costs.
Here's what you need to do... Prepare a letter explaining your desire to become a broker and mail it to all the printers in your area. The smaller printers seem to be the most likely to work well with you on this. Set up a time to meet with any printers who are interested. During this meeting, explain exactly what you will be doing (selling printing jobs by mail through advertisements in mail order publications). You won't have to explain much because almost all printers are familiar with brokering. Usually, you should be able to get a 20% - 30% commission agreement, though it may depend upon the competition in your area between printers. You should be able to find printers interested in working with you, though, even those who already have brokers.
Printing is a very competitive business and printers always want more work. So, you should have no trouble setting up connections. One good printer is all you need, though being set up with more than one may be an advantage (one may be cheaper for business cards than the other, who may be cheaper at single sheet printing).
Try to get a price list of YOUR costs drawn up by each printer. This will help you if someone needs a price quote on a job. Also, you can check the mail order publications and see what other printers are charging. If you can undercut them and still keep a good margin (which you should be able to do, easily), you can make good money in this business.
Another good idea... Instead of a commission, you may want to set up a "work account" with the printer, and get your printing done for free! Printers hate to have "down time," where their presses aren't printing anything. Work out an arrangement where you will have flyers, circulars, ad sheets or whatever, ready to be printed whenever the printer has down time. Turn over the full amount of orders you receive, instead of taking your commission, and get your printing done free during this down time! Most printers will be more than happy to take this arrangement, and you can get great benefits from it!
Be sure your printer will be able to deliver QUALITY products ON TIME. These are the two biggest considerations to keep in mind when selecting a printer or printers to work with. Get samples of their previous work. Talk to them about the importance of being timely with the orders you bring in. Most printers will be understanding of your concerns, and will do their best to keep you happy, as you will be bringing in orders they otherwise wouldn't have. You have the capability to bring your local printer orders from across the country... building their business while building yours! Printing brokering is an easy way to expand your profits while expending little extra work.
A printing broker is, basically, an order taker for one or more commercial printers. You take orders for anything from business cards to circulars to large printing orders, take your agreed upon commission, then pass on the order to the printer. The printer then does the job and ships the order back to you or your customer, depending on your arrangements. Because the printer won't insert any of of his or her literature in with the job, YOU will get the return orders and commissions. You can even insert some of your circulars for your other products and services with the job, saving your mailing costs.
Here's what you need to do... Prepare a letter explaining your desire to become a broker and mail it to all the printers in your area. The smaller printers seem to be the most likely to work well with you on this. Set up a time to meet with any printers who are interested. During this meeting, explain exactly what you will be doing (selling printing jobs by mail through advertisements in mail order publications). You won't have to explain much because almost all printers are familiar with brokering. Usually, you should be able to get a 20% - 30% commission agreement, though it may depend upon the competition in your area between printers. You should be able to find printers interested in working with you, though, even those who already have brokers.
Printing is a very competitive business and printers always want more work. So, you should have no trouble setting up connections. One good printer is all you need, though being set up with more than one may be an advantage (one may be cheaper for business cards than the other, who may be cheaper at single sheet printing).
Try to get a price list of YOUR costs drawn up by each printer. This will help you if someone needs a price quote on a job. Also, you can check the mail order publications and see what other printers are charging. If you can undercut them and still keep a good margin (which you should be able to do, easily), you can make good money in this business.
Another good idea... Instead of a commission, you may want to set up a "work account" with the printer, and get your printing done for free! Printers hate to have "down time," where their presses aren't printing anything. Work out an arrangement where you will have flyers, circulars, ad sheets or whatever, ready to be printed whenever the printer has down time. Turn over the full amount of orders you receive, instead of taking your commission, and get your printing done free during this down time! Most printers will be more than happy to take this arrangement, and you can get great benefits from it!
Be sure your printer will be able to deliver QUALITY products ON TIME. These are the two biggest considerations to keep in mind when selecting a printer or printers to work with. Get samples of their previous work. Talk to them about the importance of being timely with the orders you bring in. Most printers will be understanding of your concerns, and will do their best to keep you happy, as you will be bringing in orders they otherwise wouldn't have. You have the capability to bring your local printer orders from across the country... building their business while building yours! Printing brokering is an easy way to expand your profits while expending little extra work.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
HOW TO START A MONEY BROKERAGE BUSINESS
Becoming a Money Broker is one of the easiest and most rewarding endeavors available. Virtually anyone can become a Money Broker with the smallest investment. You can start this business on a part-time basis, and earn large "Finders Fees," or open your own office and work fulltime with absolutely unlimited income potential.
Until very recently, the "secrets of money brokering" were closely guarded and known only to a few select bankers, investment corporations, and business consultants. No other business offers the potential income figure for so little investment! As an example, starting with less than $100, some money brokers have made $100,000 their first year in their business! This is the ideal way for a man or woman to supplement his or her present income, or change professions after a period of time. It is an absolute "dream-come-true" for the semi-retired, or retired office worker.
There is hardly another business requiring less than $100 in start-up cost that can put you in a six-figure income bracket so quickly. None of them give you the power, prestige, or status---respectability in your community---equal to that of the Money Broker.
To get started, you'll need stationary, envelopes, and business cards with your own letterhead. When ordering, be sure to include your phone number. Also have copies made of your Fee Agreement. We have presented a typical Fee Agreement form (which you may duplicate after eradicating the instructions we have given in blanks)
As we started, the investment in this business is small; when you have your stationary, envelopes, cards and the Finder's Fee Agreement in hand, you have spent part of it. The other part will be discussed now, because you have to "find" both borrower and lender to really get underway.
Once you have your "working paper," you will run some advertisements in your local paper under the headings "money to Loan," or "Business Opportunities." Typical ads might read:
MONEY AVAILABLE FOR BILL CONSOLIDATION, HOME REPAIR, BUSINESS EXPANSION, ANY WORTHWHILE PROJECT CALL JOHN 423-8821
(This ad would be used to "pull" BORROWERS)
BUSINESSMAN NEEDS CAPITAL FOR EXPANSION. EXCELLENT COLLATERAL AND REFERENCES. CALL JOHN JOHNSON AFTER 4:00 PM 423-8821
(This one would be to attract LENDERS)
In response to the calls or letters from prospective clients, you will have to be prepared (really BE prepared by practicing) with the proper answers and sales pitch--(to the prospective borrower): "Yes, this is John Johnson. Thank you for calling. First I will explain how we operate. I'm a money broker, Mr. (USE HIS NAME!)____. I bring you, the borrower, and the lender, together. I have different money sources available---banks, insurance companies, private investment groups of doctors, dentists, lawyers, and other professional people. My sources are in business to make money by lending out money. Let's see-- I need to determine your needs and the purpose of the loan in order to properly prepare the necessary financial papers for your loan request as many as ten different lending groups in order to get the loan for you. Once I have an approval on your loan request, I'm paid anywhere from 2% to 10% of the total loan figure...important for you to remember, though, is that I don't get paid less I GET the loan for you. I do, however charge a $100 non-refundable Application Fee to cover my expenses in preparing your request for loan papers and presenting this portfolio to the lenders. In a nutshell, that's how these types of loans are negotiated. Now then, how much will you need?
(Note that five successful registrations per will bring you $500 each week.)
This is where you begin to acquire the information you are going to need to proceed--the amount of money needed---purpose of the loan---terms the borrower wants for repayment--and a profile of his background--education, employment record, date of birth, Social Security number, marital status, general health, and number of dependents.
Next you type this information onto the proper forms, assembling all into a portfolio and presenting it with a cover letter to at least five different lenders for their consideration.
When the loan is granted, you collect your Brokers Fee--a pre-determined percentage of the total loan figure.
(TYPICAL FEE AGREEMENT FORM)
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS
AGREEMENT FOR FINANCIAL SERVICE
The undersigned, Borrower's name, hereby appoints YOUR NAME, as his Agent and authorizes him to submit to lenders data information supplied by the borrower, for the purpose of the lender making a loan or investment direct to the undersigned. The undersigned aggress to pay to YOUR NAME, a fee of ___% of the amount of the loan or investment obtained. The undersigned hereby pays to YOUR NAME, $____ as a non-refundable fee for the time involved to appraise the feasibility of loan requested; this fee is separate from any
other fess due, if the loan is obtained.
___________________ _______________________
Date Borrower
Until very recently, the "secrets of money brokering" were closely guarded and known only to a few select bankers, investment corporations, and business consultants. No other business offers the potential income figure for so little investment! As an example, starting with less than $100, some money brokers have made $100,000 their first year in their business! This is the ideal way for a man or woman to supplement his or her present income, or change professions after a period of time. It is an absolute "dream-come-true" for the semi-retired, or retired office worker.
There is hardly another business requiring less than $100 in start-up cost that can put you in a six-figure income bracket so quickly. None of them give you the power, prestige, or status---respectability in your community---equal to that of the Money Broker.
To get started, you'll need stationary, envelopes, and business cards with your own letterhead. When ordering, be sure to include your phone number. Also have copies made of your Fee Agreement. We have presented a typical Fee Agreement form (which you may duplicate after eradicating the instructions we have given in blanks)
As we started, the investment in this business is small; when you have your stationary, envelopes, cards and the Finder's Fee Agreement in hand, you have spent part of it. The other part will be discussed now, because you have to "find" both borrower and lender to really get underway.
Once you have your "working paper," you will run some advertisements in your local paper under the headings "money to Loan," or "Business Opportunities." Typical ads might read:
MONEY AVAILABLE FOR BILL CONSOLIDATION, HOME REPAIR, BUSINESS EXPANSION, ANY WORTHWHILE PROJECT CALL JOHN 423-8821
(This ad would be used to "pull" BORROWERS)
BUSINESSMAN NEEDS CAPITAL FOR EXPANSION. EXCELLENT COLLATERAL AND REFERENCES. CALL JOHN JOHNSON AFTER 4:00 PM 423-8821
(This one would be to attract LENDERS)
In response to the calls or letters from prospective clients, you will have to be prepared (really BE prepared by practicing) with the proper answers and sales pitch--(to the prospective borrower): "Yes, this is John Johnson. Thank you for calling. First I will explain how we operate. I'm a money broker, Mr. (USE HIS NAME!)____. I bring you, the borrower, and the lender, together. I have different money sources available---banks, insurance companies, private investment groups of doctors, dentists, lawyers, and other professional people. My sources are in business to make money by lending out money. Let's see-- I need to determine your needs and the purpose of the loan in order to properly prepare the necessary financial papers for your loan request as many as ten different lending groups in order to get the loan for you. Once I have an approval on your loan request, I'm paid anywhere from 2% to 10% of the total loan figure...important for you to remember, though, is that I don't get paid less I GET the loan for you. I do, however charge a $100 non-refundable Application Fee to cover my expenses in preparing your request for loan papers and presenting this portfolio to the lenders. In a nutshell, that's how these types of loans are negotiated. Now then, how much will you need?
(Note that five successful registrations per will bring you $500 each week.)
This is where you begin to acquire the information you are going to need to proceed--the amount of money needed---purpose of the loan---terms the borrower wants for repayment--and a profile of his background--education, employment record, date of birth, Social Security number, marital status, general health, and number of dependents.
Next you type this information onto the proper forms, assembling all into a portfolio and presenting it with a cover letter to at least five different lenders for their consideration.
When the loan is granted, you collect your Brokers Fee--a pre-determined percentage of the total loan figure.
(TYPICAL FEE AGREEMENT FORM)
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS
AGREEMENT FOR FINANCIAL SERVICE
The undersigned, Borrower's name, hereby appoints YOUR NAME, as his Agent and authorizes him to submit to lenders data information supplied by the borrower, for the purpose of the lender making a loan or investment direct to the undersigned. The undersigned aggress to pay to YOUR NAME, a fee of ___% of the amount of the loan or investment obtained. The undersigned hereby pays to YOUR NAME, $____ as a non-refundable fee for the time involved to appraise the feasibility of loan requested; this fee is separate from any
other fess due, if the loan is obtained.
___________________ _______________________
Date Borrower
Saturday, December 29, 2007
HOW TO START & OPERATE YOUR OWN FIREWOOD SUPPLY BUSINESS
Unpredictable fuel costs and the necessity of keeping warm in the winter have resulted in "boom sales" for manufacturers of wood-burning stoves. There has also been a return to the use of the fireplace as a form of supplementary heat and as a luxury that promotes the "cozy" atmosphere sought after by both middle class and affluent families. This renaissance in the popularity of wood heat, and upward spiraling sales of associated equipment, has created a demand for firewood that's almost impossible to fulfill!
A very important element: This demand has caused the price of firewood to almost double over the past several years. Whatever the "going price" for a cord of firewood in your area, you can expect it to increase by 20 to 30 percent each year for the next ten years or so.
Your potential market is a varied as the weather; it is also somewhat dependent on the weather. You'll find buyers among apartment dwellers as well as home owners. The rich are buying firewood perhaps more than the poor; those concerned with the purity of the environment and the so-called "voluntary-simplicity' folk seeking a return to the "pioneering" life are all part of your market.
And don't think for a minute that firewood sales are limited to the colder northern states. People living in Sunny Southern California and along the Gulf of Mexico buy and burn firewood for the same reasons as people living in Minnesota or Montana.
One of the secrets of success in this business is understanding why the people in your area burn firewood. Then it's a matter of learning when and how often they need it, and positioning yourself to fill those needs.
It doesn't take special education or training to become a successful firewood supplier. Just for the record, the backgrounds of people operating businesses of this kind range from farmers to unemployed factory workers to doctors, lawyers, real estate salesmen and even university professors.
The kind of equipment you'll need varies according to the type of business you want to establish, and the kind of wood you will be supplying.
The first prerequisite to the establishment of your business is to decide what kind of business - wholesale to retail outlets, or retail to the general public - you want to operate.
Next, you'll have to decide on the type of firewood you will sell. There are three major categories: l) mill ends or sawed up scrap lumber and kindling, 2) whole logs for the buyer to cut according to his own specifications, 3) fireplace and stove wood, cut and split according to the general requirements of your market area.
Your next step is to line up a source of supply. Actually, it's best to "lock in" a number of sources of supply. Later on, as your business develops and grows, you may want to offer several different kinds of firewood, that is, become a full-service dealer offering firewood to meet everyone's needs and fancies for your area. We'll discuss different categories of wood in demand, so that you can explore sources of supply and costs.
MILL ENDS: Your best source of supply for this type of wood is the sawmills in your area. If you live in a metropolitan area, take a few weekend trips to the small towns in the wooded areas of your state. With a little bit of initiative on our part, you should be able to discover any number of small sawmill operations within a 200-mile radius of most metropolitan areas in this country. What you'll want to do is buy a truckload of mill ends,
take them home and package them into sacks of firewood. Thus, a load of mill ends that you might buy for $50 would be broken down into perhaps 200 sackfuls that you sell for $5 per sack. Multiply these 200 sacks of firewood times $5 each, and you have a gross income of $1,000 for a load of wood costing you only $50. You wouldn't have to be very smart to realize that's pretty good, providing your sources of supply can keep up with the demand.
The beauty of mill ends is that they are clean, burn easily and fast, put out a lot of heat, and when broken down into sackfuls are ideal for apartment dwellers, as well as people in warmer climates needing firewood for just a few cold spells each winter. Until you have a large full-service firewood supply operation, it's suggested that you leave the sale of truckload supplies of mill ends to the larger, more established fire wood suppliers. My advice here is that you should stay within your capabilities of supplying the buying demands of your market, and further concentrate on selling what brings you the greatest profit. However, as your operation grows, the supply of truck loads of mill end firewood is definitely worth considering.
Other sources of supply for mill end lumber will be your local lumber yards, wood working or furniture manufacturing firms, and home building or remodeling contractors. In many instances, you can offer to stop by these places about once a week and clean up the worksite by hauling away the scrap lumber, and they'll let you have it without cost. It is possible to even get paid for doing this. The only drawback will be that you'll have to sort this wood, and then saw it up into the size s you want for your bundles or sacks. This is no big deal, because you can handle a pickup or trailer load with a power saw in just a couple of hours.
When you have the wood ready to package into sacks, you'll save time and in crease your profits by hiring a couple of high school students. Contact the counselors at one of the local high schools, explain that you need a couple of students for part time work sacking firewood, and you'll have all the help you need.
As for how much to pay them, establish a pay rate for 100 full sacks. Of two high school students, one would hold open a sack while the other uses a scoop shovel to pick up the wood and dump it into the sack. Between them, they can gather the top of the sack and tie it with twine. The full sacks, of course, must be stacked on a pallet or in an area ready for selling. Check the time it takes two good students, working at a reasonably fast clip, to load 100 sacks. Knowing the current minimum hourly wage rate, you can then determine the labor value of 100 loaded sacks.
For a supply of burlap bags for use in sacking your wood, check with a farmers' feed store. If you buy in quantity, you can get them at a very reasonable price. You can purchase twine for tying the sacks at the same place.
WHOLE LOGS: Many people have chain saws and fancy themselves as "do it-yourselfers," but they don't have the time to go out into the woods and bring back firewood. If you can supply these people with a location not too far from home, where they can saw and split their own firewood, you'll have a steady stream of customers. You'll need a large vacant lot - about a half acre to a full acre - and preferably on the outskirts of town. The first thing will be to put up a 6-foot cyclone fence around your lot,
and then a small garden shed type building to serve as your office.
Contact a sawmill or logging operation not too far from where you want to open your business. Arrange with them to deliver whole logs (lumber rejects) to your wood lot. Your costs shouldn't run much more than $10 per log, even for premium wood, but will depend upon the size and number delivered in each load.
If you have the vehicle and the energy, you can also contact the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management in your area for a permit to Cut firewood in government preservation areas. Then you go out into the woods, saw up downed tree s into eightfoot lengths, load them into your vehicle and haul them to your woodlot.
Still another source of supply is the farmers in your area. Talk with them and offer to "thin out" areas of standing timber, and the downed trees. Oftentimes, you can get this wood at no cost other than offering the land owner a share of the timber you take out. He may even consider your "thinning" and hauling an even exchange for the logs.
Don't forget about the road building construction companies, and commercial and residential developers as sources of supply. Actually, once you get into this business, you'll find sources of supply virtually unlimited, and restricted only by your own initiative in making contact with the property owners.
Once you have a supply of logs within your wood lot, there are many things you can do to attract customers. Run an advertisement in your local paper inviting "do-it-yourselfers" to come out and Cut their own firewood. You charge them twice as much per log as your cost, and they do the sawing, the splitting, the loading and provide their own car or truck to take them home. You are there only to supervise and receive payment.
You could also rent chain saws, axes, and the use of your power splitter. Allow the customer to select the log of his choice, and then have the hired help - high school students, perhaps - who would saw, split and load this wood into the buyer's vehicle. The ultimate, of course, would be to include delivery and stacking of this wood at the customer's residence.
Once the customer has selected his log - at twice your cost and pays you $5 for sawing it into the lengths he wants, plus $10 for splitting it for him and another $10 for loading it onto his vehicle, you're talking about $150 to $200 per cord of wood. The secret here is to have your helpers working in teams, with the kind of efficiency that means $l00 per hour for you.
FIREPLACE AND STOVE WOOD: In running a program of pre-cut and split fire place and stove wood, you combine all the principles we've discussed so far, into either a whole sale or retail firewood supply sales outlet.
The easiest and most profitable operating procedure is to set up a wood lot where whole logs are delivered to your location. Part-time workers saw these logs into 16 to 24 inch lengths for you. A couple of people with chain saws should be able to cut two cords of wood per hour. A couple of people working a power log splitter should be able to keep up with the people on the chain saws. And a couple of other people stacking this wood onto pallets as it's split, or for storage until sold, would be all the help you need.
If you can set your business up along these lines, you'll realize the greatest profits and not have to get involved in the physical part of the business. The big thing to remember is that - as the business owner and operator - your time should be devoted to selling the end product.
If you decide to be a wholesale supplier, and sell to retailers, advertise for and hire commission sales people to call on the retail outlets in your area. You'll need help in covering all the possible opportunities for retail sales of your firewood.
You should be selling sacks and pallet loads of firewood. Remember: The more you can divide a basic cord of firewood into sacks or pallet loads, the greater profit you're going to make from each cord of wood you sell.
You'll find most people buying cords or truck-load quantities of firewood before cold weather sets in, and after that, people will buy in quantities only large enough to get by, or to last out a sudden cold snap. If you should also sell bags and pallets of wood to the general public, after setting up retail sales outlets, be sure that your prices at least "average" those being charged by the retail sellers. Never "under cut" the price your retail people are charging.
If you decide to do all the selling yourself - in other words, act as your own retail outlet - you'll need to advertise.
Start out with a large three-column wide, by four-inch deep display ad in your local paper. Unless you've had advertising experience, at least contact the advertising instruction class at your local community college for help in the layout and writing of this ad. If you're not far from a large metropolitan area, you can often contact the advertising agencies in that area, and get free-lance help to assist in the makeup of your advertising.
Plan the appearance of this ad for a Saturday morning paper. Make your opening a big event - much the same as a grand opening or special anniversary sale - with free coffee, donuts and balloons for the children. Ideally, the opening of this kind of business should be staged on a weekend in late September or early October, and designed to acquaint the people in your area with your firewood business.
Get the name, address and phone number of everyone who shows up. This can be handled very unobtrusively by giving away free prizes requiring the attendees to your event to fill out simple prize drawing forms. The prizes can be a free cord of wood, dinner for two at a local restaurant, or even movie passes.
The whole purpose of your grand opening show is to let people know that you're open to serve their needs; to get them to discover your location; and to implant in their minds the memory that you can supply them with the means to keep warm when the weather turns cold.
Quite naturally, many will find your services to be more convenient, time-saving and less bother than whatever methods they're currently using. As you talk with your customers, listen to their "complaints" about their present methods of fire wood procurement, and then alleviate those problems with the services you provide.
After your grand opening, a small 2 by 4 inches display ad in the yellow pages of your telephone directory plus the posting of advertising circulars and business cards left with woodstove and fireplace suppliers, insulation and remodeling contractors and lumber yards in your area is about all the advertising you'll need to do. However, it would be wise to follow the lead of the "snow tire" people, and whenever the weather forecast shows a cold front or winter storm moving in, again invest some money in radio and newspaper advertising.
Statistics prove that 20 percent of your potential market will prepare for cold weather by purchasing before the cold weather sets in. Another 30 percent of the market will wait until the first cold snap hits, then buy from the first supplier that comes to mind. Finally, the remaining people will have to be "sold" via suggestion of the benefits your business provides.
This is the period when you begin profiting from those names, addresses and telephone numbers of people who turned out for your big opening event. Simply set up a telephone selling program utilizing the services of commission telephone salespeople, and follow up on those who had registered.
You can conceivably operate this business from your home or backyard, and definitely on a part-time basis, but the prospects of immediate success, with outstanding profits are so great that it would be wise to plan on a big operation from the start.
A receipt pad for taking orders, a "daily diary" or ledger type of bookkeeping system, a calculator and a telephone should suffice for office supplies and equipment. Until you're over the hump on the profit side, you can keep your sales receipts in a shoebox or daily staple together and store in chronological order.
A couple of other points to remember: Hardwood burns the longest and gives off the most heat; firewood that has been cut in the spring and seasoned through the sum mer is the kind most people will be willing to pay premium prices for; and giving the customer a "little extra" for his money will result in greater and longer-lasting success than quick profit schemes.
Once you've got your basic firewood supply business on a profitable basis and running smoothly, you'll find your facilities and business expertise ideally suited to adding extra profit producing lines such as the sale of firewood accessories, woodstoves, built-in fireplaces, home insulation or weatherizing services, recycling and perhaps even home remodeling.
A very important element: This demand has caused the price of firewood to almost double over the past several years. Whatever the "going price" for a cord of firewood in your area, you can expect it to increase by 20 to 30 percent each year for the next ten years or so.
Your potential market is a varied as the weather; it is also somewhat dependent on the weather. You'll find buyers among apartment dwellers as well as home owners. The rich are buying firewood perhaps more than the poor; those concerned with the purity of the environment and the so-called "voluntary-simplicity' folk seeking a return to the "pioneering" life are all part of your market.
And don't think for a minute that firewood sales are limited to the colder northern states. People living in Sunny Southern California and along the Gulf of Mexico buy and burn firewood for the same reasons as people living in Minnesota or Montana.
One of the secrets of success in this business is understanding why the people in your area burn firewood. Then it's a matter of learning when and how often they need it, and positioning yourself to fill those needs.
It doesn't take special education or training to become a successful firewood supplier. Just for the record, the backgrounds of people operating businesses of this kind range from farmers to unemployed factory workers to doctors, lawyers, real estate salesmen and even university professors.
The kind of equipment you'll need varies according to the type of business you want to establish, and the kind of wood you will be supplying.
The first prerequisite to the establishment of your business is to decide what kind of business - wholesale to retail outlets, or retail to the general public - you want to operate.
Next, you'll have to decide on the type of firewood you will sell. There are three major categories: l) mill ends or sawed up scrap lumber and kindling, 2) whole logs for the buyer to cut according to his own specifications, 3) fireplace and stove wood, cut and split according to the general requirements of your market area.
Your next step is to line up a source of supply. Actually, it's best to "lock in" a number of sources of supply. Later on, as your business develops and grows, you may want to offer several different kinds of firewood, that is, become a full-service dealer offering firewood to meet everyone's needs and fancies for your area. We'll discuss different categories of wood in demand, so that you can explore sources of supply and costs.
MILL ENDS: Your best source of supply for this type of wood is the sawmills in your area. If you live in a metropolitan area, take a few weekend trips to the small towns in the wooded areas of your state. With a little bit of initiative on our part, you should be able to discover any number of small sawmill operations within a 200-mile radius of most metropolitan areas in this country. What you'll want to do is buy a truckload of mill ends,
take them home and package them into sacks of firewood. Thus, a load of mill ends that you might buy for $50 would be broken down into perhaps 200 sackfuls that you sell for $5 per sack. Multiply these 200 sacks of firewood times $5 each, and you have a gross income of $1,000 for a load of wood costing you only $50. You wouldn't have to be very smart to realize that's pretty good, providing your sources of supply can keep up with the demand.
The beauty of mill ends is that they are clean, burn easily and fast, put out a lot of heat, and when broken down into sackfuls are ideal for apartment dwellers, as well as people in warmer climates needing firewood for just a few cold spells each winter. Until you have a large full-service firewood supply operation, it's suggested that you leave the sale of truckload supplies of mill ends to the larger, more established fire wood suppliers. My advice here is that you should stay within your capabilities of supplying the buying demands of your market, and further concentrate on selling what brings you the greatest profit. However, as your operation grows, the supply of truck loads of mill end firewood is definitely worth considering.
Other sources of supply for mill end lumber will be your local lumber yards, wood working or furniture manufacturing firms, and home building or remodeling contractors. In many instances, you can offer to stop by these places about once a week and clean up the worksite by hauling away the scrap lumber, and they'll let you have it without cost. It is possible to even get paid for doing this. The only drawback will be that you'll have to sort this wood, and then saw it up into the size s you want for your bundles or sacks. This is no big deal, because you can handle a pickup or trailer load with a power saw in just a couple of hours.
When you have the wood ready to package into sacks, you'll save time and in crease your profits by hiring a couple of high school students. Contact the counselors at one of the local high schools, explain that you need a couple of students for part time work sacking firewood, and you'll have all the help you need.
As for how much to pay them, establish a pay rate for 100 full sacks. Of two high school students, one would hold open a sack while the other uses a scoop shovel to pick up the wood and dump it into the sack. Between them, they can gather the top of the sack and tie it with twine. The full sacks, of course, must be stacked on a pallet or in an area ready for selling. Check the time it takes two good students, working at a reasonably fast clip, to load 100 sacks. Knowing the current minimum hourly wage rate, you can then determine the labor value of 100 loaded sacks.
For a supply of burlap bags for use in sacking your wood, check with a farmers' feed store. If you buy in quantity, you can get them at a very reasonable price. You can purchase twine for tying the sacks at the same place.
WHOLE LOGS: Many people have chain saws and fancy themselves as "do it-yourselfers," but they don't have the time to go out into the woods and bring back firewood. If you can supply these people with a location not too far from home, where they can saw and split their own firewood, you'll have a steady stream of customers. You'll need a large vacant lot - about a half acre to a full acre - and preferably on the outskirts of town. The first thing will be to put up a 6-foot cyclone fence around your lot,
and then a small garden shed type building to serve as your office.
Contact a sawmill or logging operation not too far from where you want to open your business. Arrange with them to deliver whole logs (lumber rejects) to your wood lot. Your costs shouldn't run much more than $10 per log, even for premium wood, but will depend upon the size and number delivered in each load.
If you have the vehicle and the energy, you can also contact the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management in your area for a permit to Cut firewood in government preservation areas. Then you go out into the woods, saw up downed tree s into eightfoot lengths, load them into your vehicle and haul them to your woodlot.
Still another source of supply is the farmers in your area. Talk with them and offer to "thin out" areas of standing timber, and the downed trees. Oftentimes, you can get this wood at no cost other than offering the land owner a share of the timber you take out. He may even consider your "thinning" and hauling an even exchange for the logs.
Don't forget about the road building construction companies, and commercial and residential developers as sources of supply. Actually, once you get into this business, you'll find sources of supply virtually unlimited, and restricted only by your own initiative in making contact with the property owners.
Once you have a supply of logs within your wood lot, there are many things you can do to attract customers. Run an advertisement in your local paper inviting "do-it-yourselfers" to come out and Cut their own firewood. You charge them twice as much per log as your cost, and they do the sawing, the splitting, the loading and provide their own car or truck to take them home. You are there only to supervise and receive payment.
You could also rent chain saws, axes, and the use of your power splitter. Allow the customer to select the log of his choice, and then have the hired help - high school students, perhaps - who would saw, split and load this wood into the buyer's vehicle. The ultimate, of course, would be to include delivery and stacking of this wood at the customer's residence.
Once the customer has selected his log - at twice your cost and pays you $5 for sawing it into the lengths he wants, plus $10 for splitting it for him and another $10 for loading it onto his vehicle, you're talking about $150 to $200 per cord of wood. The secret here is to have your helpers working in teams, with the kind of efficiency that means $l00 per hour for you.
FIREPLACE AND STOVE WOOD: In running a program of pre-cut and split fire place and stove wood, you combine all the principles we've discussed so far, into either a whole sale or retail firewood supply sales outlet.
The easiest and most profitable operating procedure is to set up a wood lot where whole logs are delivered to your location. Part-time workers saw these logs into 16 to 24 inch lengths for you. A couple of people with chain saws should be able to cut two cords of wood per hour. A couple of people working a power log splitter should be able to keep up with the people on the chain saws. And a couple of other people stacking this wood onto pallets as it's split, or for storage until sold, would be all the help you need.
If you can set your business up along these lines, you'll realize the greatest profits and not have to get involved in the physical part of the business. The big thing to remember is that - as the business owner and operator - your time should be devoted to selling the end product.
If you decide to be a wholesale supplier, and sell to retailers, advertise for and hire commission sales people to call on the retail outlets in your area. You'll need help in covering all the possible opportunities for retail sales of your firewood.
You should be selling sacks and pallet loads of firewood. Remember: The more you can divide a basic cord of firewood into sacks or pallet loads, the greater profit you're going to make from each cord of wood you sell.
You'll find most people buying cords or truck-load quantities of firewood before cold weather sets in, and after that, people will buy in quantities only large enough to get by, or to last out a sudden cold snap. If you should also sell bags and pallets of wood to the general public, after setting up retail sales outlets, be sure that your prices at least "average" those being charged by the retail sellers. Never "under cut" the price your retail people are charging.
If you decide to do all the selling yourself - in other words, act as your own retail outlet - you'll need to advertise.
Start out with a large three-column wide, by four-inch deep display ad in your local paper. Unless you've had advertising experience, at least contact the advertising instruction class at your local community college for help in the layout and writing of this ad. If you're not far from a large metropolitan area, you can often contact the advertising agencies in that area, and get free-lance help to assist in the makeup of your advertising.
Plan the appearance of this ad for a Saturday morning paper. Make your opening a big event - much the same as a grand opening or special anniversary sale - with free coffee, donuts and balloons for the children. Ideally, the opening of this kind of business should be staged on a weekend in late September or early October, and designed to acquaint the people in your area with your firewood business.
Get the name, address and phone number of everyone who shows up. This can be handled very unobtrusively by giving away free prizes requiring the attendees to your event to fill out simple prize drawing forms. The prizes can be a free cord of wood, dinner for two at a local restaurant, or even movie passes.
The whole purpose of your grand opening show is to let people know that you're open to serve their needs; to get them to discover your location; and to implant in their minds the memory that you can supply them with the means to keep warm when the weather turns cold.
Quite naturally, many will find your services to be more convenient, time-saving and less bother than whatever methods they're currently using. As you talk with your customers, listen to their "complaints" about their present methods of fire wood procurement, and then alleviate those problems with the services you provide.
After your grand opening, a small 2 by 4 inches display ad in the yellow pages of your telephone directory plus the posting of advertising circulars and business cards left with woodstove and fireplace suppliers, insulation and remodeling contractors and lumber yards in your area is about all the advertising you'll need to do. However, it would be wise to follow the lead of the "snow tire" people, and whenever the weather forecast shows a cold front or winter storm moving in, again invest some money in radio and newspaper advertising.
Statistics prove that 20 percent of your potential market will prepare for cold weather by purchasing before the cold weather sets in. Another 30 percent of the market will wait until the first cold snap hits, then buy from the first supplier that comes to mind. Finally, the remaining people will have to be "sold" via suggestion of the benefits your business provides.
This is the period when you begin profiting from those names, addresses and telephone numbers of people who turned out for your big opening event. Simply set up a telephone selling program utilizing the services of commission telephone salespeople, and follow up on those who had registered.
You can conceivably operate this business from your home or backyard, and definitely on a part-time basis, but the prospects of immediate success, with outstanding profits are so great that it would be wise to plan on a big operation from the start.
A receipt pad for taking orders, a "daily diary" or ledger type of bookkeeping system, a calculator and a telephone should suffice for office supplies and equipment. Until you're over the hump on the profit side, you can keep your sales receipts in a shoebox or daily staple together and store in chronological order.
A couple of other points to remember: Hardwood burns the longest and gives off the most heat; firewood that has been cut in the spring and seasoned through the sum mer is the kind most people will be willing to pay premium prices for; and giving the customer a "little extra" for his money will result in greater and longer-lasting success than quick profit schemes.
Once you've got your basic firewood supply business on a profitable basis and running smoothly, you'll find your facilities and business expertise ideally suited to adding extra profit producing lines such as the sale of firewood accessories, woodstoves, built-in fireplaces, home insulation or weatherizing services, recycling and perhaps even home remodeling.
Friday, December 28, 2007
HOW TO SELL YOUR IDEAS FOR HUGE ROYALTIES
Here is a way to cash-in on your ideas. If they are unique some company just may be willing to pay you big bucks for some of them. This report explains how to protect your ideas to make sure that you get paid for them. Your salable ideas can be something tangible or intangible. Ideas include such things as mechanical things, chemical compounds, designs, works of art, advertising and business plans . . . ideas for improving a design, flavor, etc, of an existing product or service. Many thousands of dollars are paid out to "idea men" each year by industries. If your ideas will increase production, increase sales, or improve the product - they are willing to pay substantial money when they accept it.
First, you must know how to "protect" the ideas that you generate. Ideas that are made public by word of mouth, or even in writing, become public property unless you first make an agreement to retain all rights to your ideas. Let's say that you have an idea for increasing the sales of an existing product for company A. Write them a letter similar to this one in duplicate:
Gentlemen:
I have developed a new idea for increasing the sales of your product. This new method will not increase your costs in any manner. If you are interested in the full details I shall forward them to you upon receipt of the below signed agreement.
|AGREEMENT TO REVIEW IDEA
We the undersigned, agree to receive in confidence full details about an idea for increasing the sales of Widgets as submitted by (your name). It is further understood that we assume no responsibility whatever with respect to features which can be demonstrated to be already known to us. We also agree not to divulge any details of the idea submitted without permission of (your name) or to make use of any feature or information of which (your name) is the originator without payment of compensation, to be fixed by negotiation with (your name) or his lawful representative. It is specifically understood that, in receiving the idea of (your name) it will be reviewed in confidence, and within a 30 day period we will report to (your name) the results of your findings and will advise whether or not we are interested in negotiating for the purchase of the rights to use said idea.
Have them sign both copies and return one to you. Then you must submit complete details of your idea to the company. After they review your idea, they must, by law, follow the instructions of the agreement.
Many "idea men" are earning substantial money following this procedure. The sky is the limit, but make darn sure that you first get the agreement signed prior to disclosing your ideas otherwise, no go!
To increase your chances of having ideas accepted, spend lots of time preparing complete, minute details before you submit them. This is the key! Include illustrations of drawings if it's necessary to get the story over.
First, you must know how to "protect" the ideas that you generate. Ideas that are made public by word of mouth, or even in writing, become public property unless you first make an agreement to retain all rights to your ideas. Let's say that you have an idea for increasing the sales of an existing product for company A. Write them a letter similar to this one in duplicate:
Gentlemen:
I have developed a new idea for increasing the sales of your product. This new method will not increase your costs in any manner. If you are interested in the full details I shall forward them to you upon receipt of the below signed agreement.
|AGREEMENT TO REVIEW IDEA
We the undersigned, agree to receive in confidence full details about an idea for increasing the sales of Widgets as submitted by (your name). It is further understood that we assume no responsibility whatever with respect to features which can be demonstrated to be already known to us. We also agree not to divulge any details of the idea submitted without permission of (your name) or to make use of any feature or information of which (your name) is the originator without payment of compensation, to be fixed by negotiation with (your name) or his lawful representative. It is specifically understood that, in receiving the idea of (your name) it will be reviewed in confidence, and within a 30 day period we will report to (your name) the results of your findings and will advise whether or not we are interested in negotiating for the purchase of the rights to use said idea.
Have them sign both copies and return one to you. Then you must submit complete details of your idea to the company. After they review your idea, they must, by law, follow the instructions of the agreement.
Many "idea men" are earning substantial money following this procedure. The sky is the limit, but make darn sure that you first get the agreement signed prior to disclosing your ideas otherwise, no go!
To increase your chances of having ideas accepted, spend lots of time preparing complete, minute details before you submit them. This is the key! Include illustrations of drawings if it's necessary to get the story over.
HOW TO PRODUCE AND SELL CLIP ART COLLECTIONS.
Have you ever seen an ad in a publication that was just text? Just a big block of words. I'm sure you have, and wasn't it boring? If you're scanning quickly through ad sheets, your eye won't stop at a block of grey text. It'll skip right over. What you need to use to make your ad interesting and eyecatching is CLIP ART.
Clip art is ready-to-use pictures, borders, headlines and other little pieces of art, printed in groups on a page, that you can clip out and use in your ads and publications. Clip art can be found at office supply stores, and from mail order dealers. Here's how you can get into the business of selling clip art.
First, you need a source of clip art. If you, or a friend, are artistically inclined, draw your own. Don't worry about having to draw it small enough, you can reduce whatever you've drawn with a photocopier. It's a good idea to make your art relatively free of small details, since they'll get lost when you photocopy the picture. Draw items that would be useful in mail order ads (business related pictures, money, mail, etc.). Then, reduce them and assemble them on one page. You now have a product you can sell!
Another source of clip art is other dealers. Many dealers sell copyright-free clip art packages that you can resell, either for 100% profit or for a commission. The only drawback is it will be the same clip art that others are selling. That's ok, though, if you make sure to advertise it in places where other dealers aren't.
Finally, if you own a computer, you have a wealth of clip art at your fingertips. Many graphics and sign-making software packages allow you to create your own graphics. These can be printed out and used as clip art. A laser printer will produce the best, professional quality clip art you'll ever see. One thing to make sure of is that the clip art you sell is copyright-free. Otherwise you could find yourself in trouble. However, there are tons of copyright-free clip art collections available from public domain software dealers and computer networks. For more information on this, read the "Mail-Order Computer" report, $8 from Pat Flanagan Publishing & Design, 540 Imus, Mishawaka, IN 46545.
Use your clip art collections as a way to expand your customer base and make a small profit. For example, you could use an ad like this: "100 pieces of professional quality clip art, and 50 ad frames and borders. Only $4 and two first class stamps. (Your name and address)." I'm sure you know by now what the two stamps are for, but in case you don't, they give you plenty of "envelope space" for your other offers. This way, the clip art is an enticement for customers to send for your other offers.
Clip art collections can liven up drab, boring ads. They can also perk up your profit margins, and customer base! Be sure to use this easy business method in your own business!
Clip art is ready-to-use pictures, borders, headlines and other little pieces of art, printed in groups on a page, that you can clip out and use in your ads and publications. Clip art can be found at office supply stores, and from mail order dealers. Here's how you can get into the business of selling clip art.
First, you need a source of clip art. If you, or a friend, are artistically inclined, draw your own. Don't worry about having to draw it small enough, you can reduce whatever you've drawn with a photocopier. It's a good idea to make your art relatively free of small details, since they'll get lost when you photocopy the picture. Draw items that would be useful in mail order ads (business related pictures, money, mail, etc.). Then, reduce them and assemble them on one page. You now have a product you can sell!
Another source of clip art is other dealers. Many dealers sell copyright-free clip art packages that you can resell, either for 100% profit or for a commission. The only drawback is it will be the same clip art that others are selling. That's ok, though, if you make sure to advertise it in places where other dealers aren't.
Finally, if you own a computer, you have a wealth of clip art at your fingertips. Many graphics and sign-making software packages allow you to create your own graphics. These can be printed out and used as clip art. A laser printer will produce the best, professional quality clip art you'll ever see. One thing to make sure of is that the clip art you sell is copyright-free. Otherwise you could find yourself in trouble. However, there are tons of copyright-free clip art collections available from public domain software dealers and computer networks. For more information on this, read the "Mail-Order Computer" report, $8 from Pat Flanagan Publishing & Design, 540 Imus, Mishawaka, IN 46545.
Use your clip art collections as a way to expand your customer base and make a small profit. For example, you could use an ad like this: "100 pieces of professional quality clip art, and 50 ad frames and borders. Only $4 and two first class stamps. (Your name and address)." I'm sure you know by now what the two stamps are for, but in case you don't, they give you plenty of "envelope space" for your other offers. This way, the clip art is an enticement for customers to send for your other offers.
Clip art collections can liven up drab, boring ads. They can also perk up your profit margins, and customer base! Be sure to use this easy business method in your own business!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
HOW TO MAKE YOUR FORTUNE WITH SELF-IMPROVEMENT SEMINARS
Ever since the beginning of time, ambitious people of the world have attributed some "indescribable secret" to the success of those people with wealth. These people have spent, and will continue to spend, millions of dollars to cultivate these "secrets" within themselves.
Particularly since the early seventies, there has been a growing demand by the public to attend classes, workshops, and self-improvement seminars that will enable them to align their thinking as well as their actions, with those of people who have already achieved success.
The popularity of such best-selling how-to books as WINNING IS BELIEVING...THINK AND GROW RICH...HOW TO DEVELOP A WINNING PERSONALITY...OVERCOMING SHYNESS... IMAGINEERING... NEW LIFE OPTIONS... WINNING BY NEGOTIATION... SUCCESSFUL VISUAL-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS... CONVERSATIONALLY SPEAKING... and countless others lends reinforcement to the "need" for self-improvement seminars.
You can promote and stage these seminars either as a generalists or as a specialist in a specific area of expertise--and attain wealth for yourself almost beyond your current imagination! The market potential has only barely been scratched, affording a real ground-floor opportunity for those with the gumption to take action.
Dale Carnegie--the author of the book, How To Win Friends and Influence People--was certainly one of the first, if not "the first" self-improvement seminar market/teacher. Back in the Great Depression of the thirties, he recognized this need in people to improve themselves--he worked out a deal with the local management of his hometown YMCA-- got the word around that he was holding classes on self-improvement--and the rest is one of the truly classic unemployed-to-multi-million-dollar success stories of our time.
A self-improvement seminar is conducted much the same as a Toastmaster's Club meeting...It can be held just about anywhere, from the informal atmosphere of someone's living room to the formalities of the Hilton Convention Center.
Basically, a self-improvement seminar is a gathering of people where one or more speakers talk on a specific subject. More often than not, only a certain aspect of self-improvement, such as How To develop A Positive Mental Attitude--is the thrust of the seminar. In other words, the more successful seminars deal with "specialized areas" of self-improvement.
These speakers usually wind up their talks with audience involvement questions and answer sessions. Most of them "wind down" with the speaker circulating thru the audience, plus lots of opportunity for the purchase of self-help books and tapes by the people wanting on-going motivation and reinforcement to what they've just heard. Always-sometimes even as the featured subject of the seminar--there's a great deal of motivation projected during these meetings. At the bottom line, motivation is more the purpose of these seminars than the attendees learning something they don't already know. The favorite words of most seminar speakers is usually, "It's the difference between having a dream and taking action--a matter of saying I can, believing it, and then doing it--because you can!
Successful seminars are generally based upon the concept of giving you the power to believe you can. The speakers usually speaks from insights and expertise gained from their own life experiences. Self-improvements seminars give the attendees the tools--and the motivation--to succeed. Thus, a well-organized and well presented seminar that helps people up the ladder of success can't help but succeed because we are a success oriented society--it's an easy sell with an income potential limited only by your ability to express yourself.
You won't need an office to make it big with self-improvement seminars. The public doesn't visit you--you take your programs to them. Self-improvement seminars appeal to almost everybody--from blue-collar workers to top executives.
The average cost per person to attend a seminar is very close to $300--so your basic audience will be from the upper-income brackets--but if you handle the promotional aspects properly, you'll pull them in from lesser income brackets as well.
Many seminar promoters employ sales teams to call upon top company executives and either get the to partially pay the cost of several employees to attend as educational or business improvement investments--or to foot the bill for the sponsorship of a "group seminar" for all of that company's middle management personnel. Many specialty speakers make in excess of $100,000 per year with regular motivational and/or self-improvement seminars in this fashion.
In the beginning though, you'll get your start by staging seminars for the general public in restaurant banquet rooms, hotel ballrooms, and convention centers. These will entail advertising costs, plus the charges for the rented space, and an "on hand" inventory of the materials you want to sell to the people who attend your seminars.
Generally, you'll do best with an intensive radio advertising campaign during the week preceding your seminar date. In a metropolitan area of half a million population, you should spend a couple of thousand dollars on radio advertising, plus half as much for flamboyant newspaper advertising. Some seminar promoters invest a quarter of their budget in newspapers, then a half going into radio. Of course, the allocation of your advertising budget should be related to the previous proven pulling power of each media within that particular market. Not too much concern is given to television advertising, excepting for guest appearances of the community service talk shows.
Most promoters spend all of this effort and money to promote a series of free seminars. These free seminars usually draw huge crowds, during which special "front men" turn everybody on with super-motivational stories designed to wet the appetite of those in attendance for more. These free seminars generally last only 45 minutes to an hour, and are strictly motivational in purpose.
Each person in attendance is handed a brochure describing the up-coming "main event" as they leave these free seminars. An attempt is made to get an commitment---at least a deposit for the cost of the "real thing" which is usually set for the week following. Those who do commit themselves to attending the big one are then contacted by professional telephone sales people and given the complete sales presentation between the time of the free seminar ad the date of the real thing. With good advertising, up-front motivational speakers, attractive program brochures and experienced telephone sales people--you can count on closing about 30 to 35% of those who attend your free seminars.
If you don't have the confidence or inclination to participate--be the principal speaker--at your seminars you can hire local sales training people, professional people from the medical specialties, local "experts" known thru your area newspapers or broadcast media, and or/ nationally known speakers wiling to travel and operating thru speakers' bureaus. You might want to contact Burt Dubin of Personal Achievement Institute--225 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 305--Santa Monica, CA 90401...or Dottie Walters of The National Speakers' Bureau--400 W Foothill Blvd., --Glendora, CA 91740.
Finally, a reiteration of the fact that there are literally millions of people in all parts of the country willing and able to pay you for helping them to improve themselves. You can start with meetings in your living room, or your local restaurant. All it takes is action on your part to get it set up, and a push from yourself to start making it happen. Best of luck, and now get going with it.
Particularly since the early seventies, there has been a growing demand by the public to attend classes, workshops, and self-improvement seminars that will enable them to align their thinking as well as their actions, with those of people who have already achieved success.
The popularity of such best-selling how-to books as WINNING IS BELIEVING...THINK AND GROW RICH...HOW TO DEVELOP A WINNING PERSONALITY...OVERCOMING SHYNESS... IMAGINEERING... NEW LIFE OPTIONS... WINNING BY NEGOTIATION... SUCCESSFUL VISUAL-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS... CONVERSATIONALLY SPEAKING... and countless others lends reinforcement to the "need" for self-improvement seminars.
You can promote and stage these seminars either as a generalists or as a specialist in a specific area of expertise--and attain wealth for yourself almost beyond your current imagination! The market potential has only barely been scratched, affording a real ground-floor opportunity for those with the gumption to take action.
Dale Carnegie--the author of the book, How To Win Friends and Influence People--was certainly one of the first, if not "the first" self-improvement seminar market/teacher. Back in the Great Depression of the thirties, he recognized this need in people to improve themselves--he worked out a deal with the local management of his hometown YMCA-- got the word around that he was holding classes on self-improvement--and the rest is one of the truly classic unemployed-to-multi-million-dollar success stories of our time.
A self-improvement seminar is conducted much the same as a Toastmaster's Club meeting...It can be held just about anywhere, from the informal atmosphere of someone's living room to the formalities of the Hilton Convention Center.
Basically, a self-improvement seminar is a gathering of people where one or more speakers talk on a specific subject. More often than not, only a certain aspect of self-improvement, such as How To develop A Positive Mental Attitude--is the thrust of the seminar. In other words, the more successful seminars deal with "specialized areas" of self-improvement.
These speakers usually wind up their talks with audience involvement questions and answer sessions. Most of them "wind down" with the speaker circulating thru the audience, plus lots of opportunity for the purchase of self-help books and tapes by the people wanting on-going motivation and reinforcement to what they've just heard. Always-sometimes even as the featured subject of the seminar--there's a great deal of motivation projected during these meetings. At the bottom line, motivation is more the purpose of these seminars than the attendees learning something they don't already know. The favorite words of most seminar speakers is usually, "It's the difference between having a dream and taking action--a matter of saying I can, believing it, and then doing it--because you can!
Successful seminars are generally based upon the concept of giving you the power to believe you can. The speakers usually speaks from insights and expertise gained from their own life experiences. Self-improvements seminars give the attendees the tools--and the motivation--to succeed. Thus, a well-organized and well presented seminar that helps people up the ladder of success can't help but succeed because we are a success oriented society--it's an easy sell with an income potential limited only by your ability to express yourself.
You won't need an office to make it big with self-improvement seminars. The public doesn't visit you--you take your programs to them. Self-improvement seminars appeal to almost everybody--from blue-collar workers to top executives.
The average cost per person to attend a seminar is very close to $300--so your basic audience will be from the upper-income brackets--but if you handle the promotional aspects properly, you'll pull them in from lesser income brackets as well.
Many seminar promoters employ sales teams to call upon top company executives and either get the to partially pay the cost of several employees to attend as educational or business improvement investments--or to foot the bill for the sponsorship of a "group seminar" for all of that company's middle management personnel. Many specialty speakers make in excess of $100,000 per year with regular motivational and/or self-improvement seminars in this fashion.
In the beginning though, you'll get your start by staging seminars for the general public in restaurant banquet rooms, hotel ballrooms, and convention centers. These will entail advertising costs, plus the charges for the rented space, and an "on hand" inventory of the materials you want to sell to the people who attend your seminars.
Generally, you'll do best with an intensive radio advertising campaign during the week preceding your seminar date. In a metropolitan area of half a million population, you should spend a couple of thousand dollars on radio advertising, plus half as much for flamboyant newspaper advertising. Some seminar promoters invest a quarter of their budget in newspapers, then a half going into radio. Of course, the allocation of your advertising budget should be related to the previous proven pulling power of each media within that particular market. Not too much concern is given to television advertising, excepting for guest appearances of the community service talk shows.
Most promoters spend all of this effort and money to promote a series of free seminars. These free seminars usually draw huge crowds, during which special "front men" turn everybody on with super-motivational stories designed to wet the appetite of those in attendance for more. These free seminars generally last only 45 minutes to an hour, and are strictly motivational in purpose.
Each person in attendance is handed a brochure describing the up-coming "main event" as they leave these free seminars. An attempt is made to get an commitment---at least a deposit for the cost of the "real thing" which is usually set for the week following. Those who do commit themselves to attending the big one are then contacted by professional telephone sales people and given the complete sales presentation between the time of the free seminar ad the date of the real thing. With good advertising, up-front motivational speakers, attractive program brochures and experienced telephone sales people--you can count on closing about 30 to 35% of those who attend your free seminars.
If you don't have the confidence or inclination to participate--be the principal speaker--at your seminars you can hire local sales training people, professional people from the medical specialties, local "experts" known thru your area newspapers or broadcast media, and or/ nationally known speakers wiling to travel and operating thru speakers' bureaus. You might want to contact Burt Dubin of Personal Achievement Institute--225 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 305--Santa Monica, CA 90401...or Dottie Walters of The National Speakers' Bureau--400 W Foothill Blvd., --Glendora, CA 91740.
Finally, a reiteration of the fact that there are literally millions of people in all parts of the country willing and able to pay you for helping them to improve themselves. You can start with meetings in your living room, or your local restaurant. All it takes is action on your part to get it set up, and a push from yourself to start making it happen. Best of luck, and now get going with it.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
HOW TO MAKE UP TO $5,000 A WEEK JUST TALKING TO PEOPLE
Seminars and workshops are today's main mode of learning for adults who are beyond the formal educational system. These short-term formats serve information quickly and efficiently. You can run seminars on any subject you care to.
With seminar fees ranging from $5 to over $500 a day per person, you can generate thousands of dollars a day in revenues, with net margins of twenty percent or more. All you need is a telephone, typewriter, filing cabinet, and some forms and supplies.
If you capture people's interest, you can sell a $500 seminar more easily than a $49.95 one. Fees for seminars vary widely, but two thirds of them fall between $100 and $500. Your concern, however, is profitability more than total revenues. Set your seminar price as high as you can without participation tailing off dramatically. And don't pass the point where more participants cause your costs to rise so much that profitability suffers.
Your major advertising will be by direct mail. Direct response advertising, which includes direct mail, motivates the reader quickly. A good example of direct mail packaging is the Reader's Digest sweepstakes.
Your meeting space should convey a sense of intimacy. You neither want a huge room that looks empty even with a good crowd in it, nor a too-small room that can't accommodate the crowd. The site doesn't have to be fancy, but it must be easy to find, comfortable and safe.
The length of your meeting should be based on the amount of solid content you can provide. Don't try to puff up the length of the seminar, particularly if it means an overnight stay for the participants.
To evaluate the best length, calculate your costs for half-day and full-day programs. You may find you can deliver the message effectively in a half a day, cutting costs and improving profitability.
One risk in the seminar business is that you must commit to room space long before you know your revenues. Be sure if you reserve a room that you know the final date for backing out of the reservation.
You want your attenders to leave feeling they have gotten some valuable information and been at least mildly entertained in the process. Will it be cost-effective to hire a speaker? At the beginning of your career in putting on seminars you may want to deliver the seminar yourself, not only to cut expenses, but to get a feel for what works and what doesn't. A good presenter has a solid grasp of the information being covered, a touch of showmanship, and is reliable and prompt.
For a topic, you can show people how to present their own seminar. You can spice up the delivery with examples from your own experience, giving them a firsthand look at the field.
Determine if you attenders want networking time. For many participants, the contact with other people of similar interests is the primary reason for attending.
Finally, the seminar provides a great environment for generating other revenues. You can make money from back-of-the-room sales of computer disks, books, tapes, videos or other materials related to your seminar. Such sales can add thirty percent or more to your total receipts.
With seminar fees ranging from $5 to over $500 a day per person, you can generate thousands of dollars a day in revenues, with net margins of twenty percent or more. All you need is a telephone, typewriter, filing cabinet, and some forms and supplies.
If you capture people's interest, you can sell a $500 seminar more easily than a $49.95 one. Fees for seminars vary widely, but two thirds of them fall between $100 and $500. Your concern, however, is profitability more than total revenues. Set your seminar price as high as you can without participation tailing off dramatically. And don't pass the point where more participants cause your costs to rise so much that profitability suffers.
Your major advertising will be by direct mail. Direct response advertising, which includes direct mail, motivates the reader quickly. A good example of direct mail packaging is the Reader's Digest sweepstakes.
Your meeting space should convey a sense of intimacy. You neither want a huge room that looks empty even with a good crowd in it, nor a too-small room that can't accommodate the crowd. The site doesn't have to be fancy, but it must be easy to find, comfortable and safe.
The length of your meeting should be based on the amount of solid content you can provide. Don't try to puff up the length of the seminar, particularly if it means an overnight stay for the participants.
To evaluate the best length, calculate your costs for half-day and full-day programs. You may find you can deliver the message effectively in a half a day, cutting costs and improving profitability.
One risk in the seminar business is that you must commit to room space long before you know your revenues. Be sure if you reserve a room that you know the final date for backing out of the reservation.
You want your attenders to leave feeling they have gotten some valuable information and been at least mildly entertained in the process. Will it be cost-effective to hire a speaker? At the beginning of your career in putting on seminars you may want to deliver the seminar yourself, not only to cut expenses, but to get a feel for what works and what doesn't. A good presenter has a solid grasp of the information being covered, a touch of showmanship, and is reliable and prompt.
For a topic, you can show people how to present their own seminar. You can spice up the delivery with examples from your own experience, giving them a firsthand look at the field.
Determine if you attenders want networking time. For many participants, the contact with other people of similar interests is the primary reason for attending.
Finally, the seminar provides a great environment for generating other revenues. You can make money from back-of-the-room sales of computer disks, books, tapes, videos or other materials related to your seminar. Such sales can add thirty percent or more to your total receipts.
HOW TO MAKE REALLY BIG PROFITS WITH A CORRESPONDENCE CLUB
Due to the increasing number of divorces in this country, and apparently because of the hectic pace we lead our lives, Correspondence Clubs are becoming ever more popular. Organizing, promoting and operating a Correspondence Club is very definitely one of the most lucrative services available to mail order entrepreneurs.
The thing is, not too many mail order operators really know how to position themselves and follow-up to attain the full potential of a Correspondence Club. And that's what this report is all about - some suggestions and ideas on how you can operate a correspondence club and realize those really big profits.
First of all, of course, you have to set up such a club, promote it, recruit members and make everybody happy. For details on just how to do this, send for a copy of our manual: START & SUCCESSFULLY RUN A CORRESPONDENCE CLUB - Only $10.00 postpaid, complete satisfaction guaranteed. Order from: "The Distributor Who Sent You This Report".
Once you've got your club organized - you know what you're going to do/offer, and how you're going to run it, you need to start putting together products and/or services your members would most likely be interested in buying through your club.
As in most aspects of mail order, the really big profits come from your customer list. With a correspondence club, you establish a customer list through the names and addresses of your club members.
Most correspondence clubs offer or send out monthly or quarterly newsletter. Check the advertisements in all the mail order publications you can find, and send off for sample copies of some of these correspondence club newsletters or newspapers. The point is to see and learn how other people are putting their publications together.
So you've got a correspondence club organized and operating you're putting out a monthly newsletter listing the names, addresses and descriptions of your members interested in meeting new people via correspondence - you've actually got a fantastic advertising vehicle to a captive audience - so as a first move, why not include a notice that you'll take in advertising from your members who have a product or service to sell. With a beginning newsletter of just a single 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper printed on both sides, and an advertising rate of $3 for 25 word classified ads or $5 for 1-inch display ads, you could easily pull in an extra $200 every time you published your newsletter. And then as the demand for advertising space grows, you simply increase the number of pages of your newsletter and about every six months or so, the prices you charge to include advertising.
When you lay out your advertising space, and start running ads for your members, you definitely should run a few ads of your own selling the extra or back-ender products and/or services you have available. And here is where you'll start to make the really big money!
In addition to offering advertising space, and self-improvement reports to your membership, you should offer exotic an/or sensual clothing - everything from stylish blouses and shirts or slacks, to swimsuits and sleepwear. The success you'll attain in offering these things is almost guaranteed because all of the people reading or receiving your correspondence club publication will definitely be interested in feeling good, looking good, and buying the products you offer, in order to gain that satisfaction. To contact the various manufacturers or distributors of the kind of merchandise we're suggesting you offer your members, simply check the advertisements in the mail order publications.
Many correspondence clubs also offer subscriptions to special interest magazines. The thing to do is to understand the wants of your members, and offer them the "extras" that they want to buy. Again, you should look through all the available publications that cater to lonely and frustrated people of this world - see for yourself what is being offered - and then sell these same kinds of thing through your correspondence club publication/membership list, for your own profit. That's where the really big money is!er products and/or servies you have availble.
The thing is, not too many mail order operators really know how to position themselves and follow-up to attain the full potential of a Correspondence Club. And that's what this report is all about - some suggestions and ideas on how you can operate a correspondence club and realize those really big profits.
First of all, of course, you have to set up such a club, promote it, recruit members and make everybody happy. For details on just how to do this, send for a copy of our manual: START & SUCCESSFULLY RUN A CORRESPONDENCE CLUB - Only $10.00 postpaid, complete satisfaction guaranteed. Order from: "The Distributor Who Sent You This Report".
Once you've got your club organized - you know what you're going to do/offer, and how you're going to run it, you need to start putting together products and/or services your members would most likely be interested in buying through your club.
As in most aspects of mail order, the really big profits come from your customer list. With a correspondence club, you establish a customer list through the names and addresses of your club members.
Most correspondence clubs offer or send out monthly or quarterly newsletter. Check the advertisements in all the mail order publications you can find, and send off for sample copies of some of these correspondence club newsletters or newspapers. The point is to see and learn how other people are putting their publications together.
So you've got a correspondence club organized and operating you're putting out a monthly newsletter listing the names, addresses and descriptions of your members interested in meeting new people via correspondence - you've actually got a fantastic advertising vehicle to a captive audience - so as a first move, why not include a notice that you'll take in advertising from your members who have a product or service to sell. With a beginning newsletter of just a single 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper printed on both sides, and an advertising rate of $3 for 25 word classified ads or $5 for 1-inch display ads, you could easily pull in an extra $200 every time you published your newsletter. And then as the demand for advertising space grows, you simply increase the number of pages of your newsletter and about every six months or so, the prices you charge to include advertising.
When you lay out your advertising space, and start running ads for your members, you definitely should run a few ads of your own selling the extra or back-ender products and/or services you have available. And here is where you'll start to make the really big money!
In addition to offering advertising space, and self-improvement reports to your membership, you should offer exotic an/or sensual clothing - everything from stylish blouses and shirts or slacks, to swimsuits and sleepwear. The success you'll attain in offering these things is almost guaranteed because all of the people reading or receiving your correspondence club publication will definitely be interested in feeling good, looking good, and buying the products you offer, in order to gain that satisfaction. To contact the various manufacturers or distributors of the kind of merchandise we're suggesting you offer your members, simply check the advertisements in the mail order publications.
Many correspondence clubs also offer subscriptions to special interest magazines. The thing to do is to understand the wants of your members, and offer them the "extras" that they want to buy. Again, you should look through all the available publications that cater to lonely and frustrated people of this world - see for yourself what is being offered - and then sell these same kinds of thing through your correspondence club publication/membership list, for your own profit. That's where the really big money is!er products and/or servies you have availble.
Monday, December 24, 2007
HOW TO MAKE MONEY WITH GOURMET GIFT BASKETS
Here's a pleasant home-based business that will challenge your creative as
well as your managerial skills. It's a fun business for those who have the
flare for creating appetizing gift packages.
A FUN PRODUCT
Gourmet gift baskets have become popular in recent years. They are a
collection of desirable items, and in such a variety that they appeal to all.
By determining the markets you want to target and the type of baskets you
want to produce, you can set your income goals for as little or as much as
you like.
CORPORATE ACCOUNTS
From the very large and the very small, businesses have needs for gift
giving on a pretty constant basis.
By targeting corporate accounts, you protect yourself from potential sales
fluctuations common to what are generally considered seasonal items.
Businesses love gift baskets because they are "safe" compared to other gifts
like chocolate (many people now carefully watch their fat intake) or wine &
spirits (many people don't drink). Of course, other possible clients for your
gift baskets include associations, retail outlets, fund raisers, and
individual customers who purchase for themselves or as a gift.
CREATIVE DESIGNS
Gourmet gift baskets are fundamentally a few nice items placed in a unique
arrangement and presented to look extravagant. Use your imagination and keep
an eye for unusual and appealing products. To keep unit price low, inventory
most commonly used items by purchasing direct from the manufacturer or main
distributor. Look for large pretty items; they will give your product "size".
THEME MARKETING
Focus on a theme and build around it. From a corporate perspective, create
presentations that communicate the corporate logo or marketing slogan.
Do not limit yourself by just using baskets as your main vehicle. For
example, a basket with an Italian theme can use (as its basket) a large pasta
bowl to hold a small vinegar, olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes and kitchen
utensils.
Raffia or "grass" can be used to cushion the items, sealed together with
shrink wrap. Finish your basket with a bow or creative ribbon, and you've
got a product that can be retailed for around $39. Your cost: as low as $12.
well as your managerial skills. It's a fun business for those who have the
flare for creating appetizing gift packages.
A FUN PRODUCT
Gourmet gift baskets have become popular in recent years. They are a
collection of desirable items, and in such a variety that they appeal to all.
By determining the markets you want to target and the type of baskets you
want to produce, you can set your income goals for as little or as much as
you like.
CORPORATE ACCOUNTS
From the very large and the very small, businesses have needs for gift
giving on a pretty constant basis.
By targeting corporate accounts, you protect yourself from potential sales
fluctuations common to what are generally considered seasonal items.
Businesses love gift baskets because they are "safe" compared to other gifts
like chocolate (many people now carefully watch their fat intake) or wine &
spirits (many people don't drink). Of course, other possible clients for your
gift baskets include associations, retail outlets, fund raisers, and
individual customers who purchase for themselves or as a gift.
CREATIVE DESIGNS
Gourmet gift baskets are fundamentally a few nice items placed in a unique
arrangement and presented to look extravagant. Use your imagination and keep
an eye for unusual and appealing products. To keep unit price low, inventory
most commonly used items by purchasing direct from the manufacturer or main
distributor. Look for large pretty items; they will give your product "size".
THEME MARKETING
Focus on a theme and build around it. From a corporate perspective, create
presentations that communicate the corporate logo or marketing slogan.
Do not limit yourself by just using baskets as your main vehicle. For
example, a basket with an Italian theme can use (as its basket) a large pasta
bowl to hold a small vinegar, olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes and kitchen
utensils.
Raffia or "grass" can be used to cushion the items, sealed together with
shrink wrap. Finish your basket with a bow or creative ribbon, and you've
got a product that can be retailed for around $39. Your cost: as low as $12.
HOW TO MAKE MONEY SELLING SCRAP
HOW TO MAKE MONEY SELLING SCRAP
You too can break into the crap metal business on a shoestring and turn someone else's junk into gold. Start out by becoming a "local junk dealer." All you actually need to get started is a couple of empty boxes and either a pickup truck or a station wagon. Any metal that you'd find is worth money these days.
Check with local machine shops, plumbers, electricians, roofers, and building contractors. And be sure and check in the neighborhood trash containers and service stations. It's a good idea to contract with these sources to remove their metal on a regular basis - most of them will just give it to you, it saves them hauling it away. Sort out the metal according to type - copper, steel, iron, tin, brass, aluminum, etc. Separated, it is worth $30 a ton more. Your next step is to search the yellow pages for scrap metal processors - they are anxious to purchase all the scrap that you can provide at the going rates.
Check your daily newspapers to keep in touch with metal prices. Also subscribe to the "AMERICAN METAL MARKET", "IRON AGE", AND "FIBER MARKET NEWS". Put up signs in laundromate and bulletin boards all over town. Distribute flyers house-to-house.
Let people know that you are in business of "recycling" scrap metals - most folks will give you what they have free. You can even establish your own "recycling center," providing separate bins for each metal. People are super ecology-minded these days and will gladly bring it to you Newspaper is worth about $50 per ton, cardboard $40 a ton, and old telephone books bring about $150 a ton.
Contact businesses and pick up their paper on a regular basis. Hundred of fortunes have been build in exactly this way - simple, low-investment beginnings. Perhaps 9 out of 10 giants of the industry started in exactly this way, and so can you. After you've gotten your feet wet, jump into the big time, the "junk automobile" business.
This is the best source of scrap metals. It requires a pretty good investment for equipment, such as tow truck, mobile crusher, and a yard to store cars to do the crushing. To begin, rent the yard, purchase a used tow truck and crusher, and contact your County Clerk for insurance and licensing requirements. Tow in wrecked and abandoned cars, buy old cars for say $25 each and strip them for usable parts - then crush them for scrap. Body shops, garages, and service stations are prime markets for used and reconditioned parts of all types. You still sell the scrap metal to processors or even brokers. Here are several publications you should consider to help you get started in this highly profitable business:
AMERICAN METAL MARKETS, 7 E. 12TH ST., NEW YORK, NY 10003;
SCRAP AGE, 6311 GROSS PT. RD., NILES, IL 60648;
INSTITUTE OF SCRAP, 1729 H ST., WASHINGTON, DC 20006;
ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY MATERIAL, 330 MADISON AVE., NEW YORK, NY.
You too can break into the crap metal business on a shoestring and turn someone else's junk into gold. Start out by becoming a "local junk dealer." All you actually need to get started is a couple of empty boxes and either a pickup truck or a station wagon. Any metal that you'd find is worth money these days.
Check with local machine shops, plumbers, electricians, roofers, and building contractors. And be sure and check in the neighborhood trash containers and service stations. It's a good idea to contract with these sources to remove their metal on a regular basis - most of them will just give it to you, it saves them hauling it away. Sort out the metal according to type - copper, steel, iron, tin, brass, aluminum, etc. Separated, it is worth $30 a ton more. Your next step is to search the yellow pages for scrap metal processors - they are anxious to purchase all the scrap that you can provide at the going rates.
Check your daily newspapers to keep in touch with metal prices. Also subscribe to the "AMERICAN METAL MARKET", "IRON AGE", AND "FIBER MARKET NEWS". Put up signs in laundromate and bulletin boards all over town. Distribute flyers house-to-house.
Let people know that you are in business of "recycling" scrap metals - most folks will give you what they have free. You can even establish your own "recycling center," providing separate bins for each metal. People are super ecology-minded these days and will gladly bring it to you Newspaper is worth about $50 per ton, cardboard $40 a ton, and old telephone books bring about $150 a ton.
Contact businesses and pick up their paper on a regular basis. Hundred of fortunes have been build in exactly this way - simple, low-investment beginnings. Perhaps 9 out of 10 giants of the industry started in exactly this way, and so can you. After you've gotten your feet wet, jump into the big time, the "junk automobile" business.
This is the best source of scrap metals. It requires a pretty good investment for equipment, such as tow truck, mobile crusher, and a yard to store cars to do the crushing. To begin, rent the yard, purchase a used tow truck and crusher, and contact your County Clerk for insurance and licensing requirements. Tow in wrecked and abandoned cars, buy old cars for say $25 each and strip them for usable parts - then crush them for scrap. Body shops, garages, and service stations are prime markets for used and reconditioned parts of all types. You still sell the scrap metal to processors or even brokers. Here are several publications you should consider to help you get started in this highly profitable business:
AMERICAN METAL MARKETS, 7 E. 12TH ST., NEW YORK, NY 10003;
SCRAP AGE, 6311 GROSS PT. RD., NILES, IL 60648;
INSTITUTE OF SCRAP, 1729 H ST., WASHINGTON, DC 20006;
ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY MATERIAL, 330 MADISON AVE., NEW YORK, NY.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
HOW TO MAKE MONEY PRODUCING DISCOUNT CARDS
There is a big money business that can be started for next to nothing, with
low risk, that involves giving away special cards. These cards are DISCOUNT
CARDS, wallet-sized cards that allow the bearer to receive discounts at
participating businesses. These businesses pay to have their advertisement
on the card. They profit from the increased exposure and from gaining new
customers who come in for the discount and become return customers.
The card-holders benefit from the discounts they can receive. And YOU benefit from the profitable advertising you sell!
This is a relatively simple business to explain. Here's an overview:
Design your card.
Figure your expenses and set your ad prices.
Contact businesses that frequently use discounts or coupons (potential advertisers for You) either in person or by mail, with an information package.
Gather the ads (and the money!) and print them together on wallet sized cards.
Distribute the cards to the public.
That's all there is to it. Of course, there are more details you need to
know, and those will be covered in this report.
This business works especially well if there is a college in your town, or any large number of people who either vacation there or move to town, but it can be run
successfully in any area. The best part (besides the money) is that you
can run this business from your kitchen table! Here's exactly what you
need to do to make great profits in the discount card business.
First, think up a name for your card. A catchy name that has words like
DISCOUNT, SAVER, MONEY, BUCKS, BIG, FREE or other dollar-saving words will
stick in people's minds. If you (or a friend) have artistic ability,
design a logo, either with your card's name, or a picture conveying the
money-saving feature of the card.
Next, design how your card will look. It should fit easily into a wallet,
so stick to credit card size. On the front, your logo should appear, along
with, at most, six ads, in three columns of two. The back should be
divided into, at most, twenty ad spaces, again in three columns (7 on the
sides, 6 in the middle). This might sound like a lot, but they will be
readable. Don't forget to put your business name, address and phone on the
front or back, at the bottom of the card.
You should also put together a poster with your logo and information about
the card. Leave space for a list of locations where the card can be
obtained, and for a list of the advertising businesses. This poster will
be inexpensive for your printer to produce, and can be produced on your
computer, if you have one, reducing your expenses even further.
Now figure your costs. The major cost to you will be printing, so check
with a number of printers for price quotes. You will want a one or two
color glossy card, with price quotes for quantities for 1,000 - 10,000
cards. Find out at what quantities significant price breaks occur. This
can help determine exactly how many cards you want to produce and distribute. This number will be important when it comes to contacting
your advertisers.
Don't be put off by how much the cards will cost! You won't have to
worry about laying out a lot of money for the production of the cards,
because you should require that advertisers pay at least half of their
advertising price at the time they decide to advertise, the remainder when
cards are distributed. Some businesses will prefer to pay 100% upfront,
which is just fine! You shouldn't deal with businesses that won't pay
anything upfront, unless you have some desire to deal with collection
headaches.
You should be thinking about how to distribute these cards. If there is
a college in your town, here's a few ideas. Contact the admissions
department at the college, explain your discount card, and see if they
would consider putting a card into the orientation materials each incoming
student gets. Also, find out places where you may put a stack of cards
for students to take. Prime locations are cafeterias and dining halls,
snack bars, libraries and any other places where students group.
For the general public, great distribution spots are similar to the college
spots. Restaurants, grocery stores, theaters, apartment buildings, anywhere
where there are large groups of people. Don't forget that you can give a
good supply to each advertiser, to give free to their customers. All you
need to do is a few good, persuasive phone calls, and your distribution will
be taken care of easily. Stress to the person you're speaking with that
making the cards available to their customers will be good business for them,
even if they don't advertise on the card, because their customers will
appreciate being given these discounts and will look upon the business as
their friend for doing so.
Now that you have your printing quotes, determine how much you can charge for
advertising. Estimate what your phone, advertising, driving and postage
expenses will be. Lump these all together and you have an idea of what your
costs will be. Now, multiply that figure by five. Divide that figure by the
total number of advertisers you will have on your card. The number you end
up with is the average price you could charge per ad. Does this sound
reasonable, considering the number of cards you'll be distributing? If so,
it should make a good starting point.
For example, if you are planning to distribute 8,000 cards with 26
advertisers, and your estimated expenses will be $1200, the formula is
($1,200 x 5)/26, or $230.77 average ad price ($28.85 per thousand), and your
profit would be $4,800. Considering the benefits the advertiser will get
from the cards (they will be kept and used for a long time, usually 3 to 6
months, and 5,000 people will be exposed to their ad repeatedly over that
period of time), this will probably be reasonable. You need to consider the
economy in your area, the size of your area, and any competition you might
have, as this can effect what you may be able to charge.
When you decide how much to charge for ads, here are a few things to keep
in mind. Ads on the front of the card should be much higher priced than on
the back, and, as a result, should be slightly larger. On the back, you can
set two different ad rates by putting using "boxed ads." An ad with a black
box around it will be noticed more than one without, so it can be slightly
higher. A good example of ad prices corresponding to the above average ad
price would be $200 for a plain ad on the back of the card, $230 for a boxed
ad on the back, and $260 for an ad on the front of the card.
Now's the time to contact potential advertisers. Here's a short list of the
types of businesses that will be most likely to take advantage of your
service: Restaurants, particularly fast-food and snack establishments +
Theaters + Printers + Dry cleaners + Oil change and auto parts businesses
+ Travel agencies + Clothing stores + Hair salons + Formalwear stores
This is not a complete list, but it should give you an idea of the types
of businesses you need to contact.
low risk, that involves giving away special cards. These cards are DISCOUNT
CARDS, wallet-sized cards that allow the bearer to receive discounts at
participating businesses. These businesses pay to have their advertisement
on the card. They profit from the increased exposure and from gaining new
customers who come in for the discount and become return customers.
The card-holders benefit from the discounts they can receive. And YOU benefit from the profitable advertising you sell!
This is a relatively simple business to explain. Here's an overview:
Design your card.
Figure your expenses and set your ad prices.
Contact businesses that frequently use discounts or coupons (potential advertisers for You) either in person or by mail, with an information package.
Gather the ads (and the money!) and print them together on wallet sized cards.
Distribute the cards to the public.
That's all there is to it. Of course, there are more details you need to
know, and those will be covered in this report.
This business works especially well if there is a college in your town, or any large number of people who either vacation there or move to town, but it can be run
successfully in any area. The best part (besides the money) is that you
can run this business from your kitchen table! Here's exactly what you
need to do to make great profits in the discount card business.
First, think up a name for your card. A catchy name that has words like
DISCOUNT, SAVER, MONEY, BUCKS, BIG, FREE or other dollar-saving words will
stick in people's minds. If you (or a friend) have artistic ability,
design a logo, either with your card's name, or a picture conveying the
money-saving feature of the card.
Next, design how your card will look. It should fit easily into a wallet,
so stick to credit card size. On the front, your logo should appear, along
with, at most, six ads, in three columns of two. The back should be
divided into, at most, twenty ad spaces, again in three columns (7 on the
sides, 6 in the middle). This might sound like a lot, but they will be
readable. Don't forget to put your business name, address and phone on the
front or back, at the bottom of the card.
You should also put together a poster with your logo and information about
the card. Leave space for a list of locations where the card can be
obtained, and for a list of the advertising businesses. This poster will
be inexpensive for your printer to produce, and can be produced on your
computer, if you have one, reducing your expenses even further.
Now figure your costs. The major cost to you will be printing, so check
with a number of printers for price quotes. You will want a one or two
color glossy card, with price quotes for quantities for 1,000 - 10,000
cards. Find out at what quantities significant price breaks occur. This
can help determine exactly how many cards you want to produce and distribute. This number will be important when it comes to contacting
your advertisers.
Don't be put off by how much the cards will cost! You won't have to
worry about laying out a lot of money for the production of the cards,
because you should require that advertisers pay at least half of their
advertising price at the time they decide to advertise, the remainder when
cards are distributed. Some businesses will prefer to pay 100% upfront,
which is just fine! You shouldn't deal with businesses that won't pay
anything upfront, unless you have some desire to deal with collection
headaches.
You should be thinking about how to distribute these cards. If there is
a college in your town, here's a few ideas. Contact the admissions
department at the college, explain your discount card, and see if they
would consider putting a card into the orientation materials each incoming
student gets. Also, find out places where you may put a stack of cards
for students to take. Prime locations are cafeterias and dining halls,
snack bars, libraries and any other places where students group.
For the general public, great distribution spots are similar to the college
spots. Restaurants, grocery stores, theaters, apartment buildings, anywhere
where there are large groups of people. Don't forget that you can give a
good supply to each advertiser, to give free to their customers. All you
need to do is a few good, persuasive phone calls, and your distribution will
be taken care of easily. Stress to the person you're speaking with that
making the cards available to their customers will be good business for them,
even if they don't advertise on the card, because their customers will
appreciate being given these discounts and will look upon the business as
their friend for doing so.
Now that you have your printing quotes, determine how much you can charge for
advertising. Estimate what your phone, advertising, driving and postage
expenses will be. Lump these all together and you have an idea of what your
costs will be. Now, multiply that figure by five. Divide that figure by the
total number of advertisers you will have on your card. The number you end
up with is the average price you could charge per ad. Does this sound
reasonable, considering the number of cards you'll be distributing? If so,
it should make a good starting point.
For example, if you are planning to distribute 8,000 cards with 26
advertisers, and your estimated expenses will be $1200, the formula is
($1,200 x 5)/26, or $230.77 average ad price ($28.85 per thousand), and your
profit would be $4,800. Considering the benefits the advertiser will get
from the cards (they will be kept and used for a long time, usually 3 to 6
months, and 5,000 people will be exposed to their ad repeatedly over that
period of time), this will probably be reasonable. You need to consider the
economy in your area, the size of your area, and any competition you might
have, as this can effect what you may be able to charge.
When you decide how much to charge for ads, here are a few things to keep
in mind. Ads on the front of the card should be much higher priced than on
the back, and, as a result, should be slightly larger. On the back, you can
set two different ad rates by putting using "boxed ads." An ad with a black
box around it will be noticed more than one without, so it can be slightly
higher. A good example of ad prices corresponding to the above average ad
price would be $200 for a plain ad on the back of the card, $230 for a boxed
ad on the back, and $260 for an ad on the front of the card.
Now's the time to contact potential advertisers. Here's a short list of the
types of businesses that will be most likely to take advantage of your
service: Restaurants, particularly fast-food and snack establishments +
Theaters + Printers + Dry cleaners + Oil change and auto parts businesses
+ Travel agencies + Clothing stores + Hair salons + Formalwear stores
This is not a complete list, but it should give you an idea of the types
of businesses you need to contact.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
HOW TO MAKE MONEY PRODUCING CABLE TV ADVERTISING
If you have cable, you've no doubt seen local advertising on most of the channels. There are three ways a local business could produce a commercial. One, they could do it themselves (and we all know what that looks like); two, they could have the local cable business do it for them (which can also look quite amateurish); or they can have an outside individual do the production. This is where you come in.
If your video skills are top-notch, you can produce excellent commercials for local businesses at agreeable prices. If you have marketing skills, so much the better, but it's not an absolute requirement. As long as you can clearly answer the "4 W" questions (who, what, where and why), your commercial will be good.
The only drawback to this business is that you should use 3/4 inch broadcast format video, which is incompatible with a home video camera. A camera for this type of videotape usually costs around $3000, less if it's used. There is a way around this expense, though.
Most cable stations have what is called a "public access" channel. This channel is designed so that individuals and groups from the community can produce their own shows, to be aired on the channel. Contact your local cable company and find out if they have such a channel. You should be able to rent time on their equipment. This is a real boon when it comes to editing a tape, as they will have the equipment necessary to make your tape look professional. They usually offer short courses on using the equipment, too.
Market your services directly to the small businesses in your area. Good prospects are auto dealerships, restaurants, retailers such as video, book, and computer dealers, and, in election years, local political candidates (hope they get elected - you can expect a return customer!). Your quality production, coupled with a reasonable price, should entice prospects to become customers.
Most commercials will be either thirty-seconds or one minute, and will be shot on location at the customer's facilities. If they provide the copy for the commercial, you only have to direct the commercial. Run through the script with whomever will be reading it, to make sure that it will fit the time without sounding rushed. You want to aim for a relaxed, natural sound (unless, of course, you're working with your local crazy car dealer, in which case they may want an auctioneer sound!). Above all, make sure the script tells WHO the advertiser is, WHAT they do, WHERE they are, and WHY people should give them their business. This is what the customer needs to hear.
Also, make sure your customer is happy with the result. After shooting the video, edit it (you should be able to ask someone at the cable company to help you), then review it with your customer. As long as you've presented the advertiser in a good light, you'll be in good shape.
The first few times you produce a commercial, you may feel like you're flying by the seat of your pants. Just relax, use good common sense, and always remember that the job of the commercial is to convince the skeptical customer to spend his or her hard earned money with your client.
You should expect to spend a few hours during the shoot, to get enough takes for editing. Get four or five good takes. That way, any bad parts that you find when reviewing your taping can be replaced with a good take.
A thirty- to sixty-second commercial should be able to be shot and edited in one day. The first one or two may take a bit longer, but that's okay. It's better to take your time when learning the ropes, rather than rush through and end up with substandard results. Because your overhead will be low (if renting equipment, instead of purchasing), you should be able to undercut your competition. In a decent size city, you can expect to charge between $500 and $1,000. Longer commercials are more negotiable, depending upon whether or not you will be asked to write the script. The half-hour long "infomercials" have become a bonanza for many advertisers, and they are a goal you can work up to, as your skills grow.
Watch commercials and listen to them. Keep mental notes about how the advertiser is presented, what message the commercial gives, and if you feel the commercial is successful. Incorporate the best elements of the commercials you see into your own shoots!
If your video skills are top-notch, you can produce excellent commercials for local businesses at agreeable prices. If you have marketing skills, so much the better, but it's not an absolute requirement. As long as you can clearly answer the "4 W" questions (who, what, where and why), your commercial will be good.
The only drawback to this business is that you should use 3/4 inch broadcast format video, which is incompatible with a home video camera. A camera for this type of videotape usually costs around $3000, less if it's used. There is a way around this expense, though.
Most cable stations have what is called a "public access" channel. This channel is designed so that individuals and groups from the community can produce their own shows, to be aired on the channel. Contact your local cable company and find out if they have such a channel. You should be able to rent time on their equipment. This is a real boon when it comes to editing a tape, as they will have the equipment necessary to make your tape look professional. They usually offer short courses on using the equipment, too.
Market your services directly to the small businesses in your area. Good prospects are auto dealerships, restaurants, retailers such as video, book, and computer dealers, and, in election years, local political candidates (hope they get elected - you can expect a return customer!). Your quality production, coupled with a reasonable price, should entice prospects to become customers.
Most commercials will be either thirty-seconds or one minute, and will be shot on location at the customer's facilities. If they provide the copy for the commercial, you only have to direct the commercial. Run through the script with whomever will be reading it, to make sure that it will fit the time without sounding rushed. You want to aim for a relaxed, natural sound (unless, of course, you're working with your local crazy car dealer, in which case they may want an auctioneer sound!). Above all, make sure the script tells WHO the advertiser is, WHAT they do, WHERE they are, and WHY people should give them their business. This is what the customer needs to hear.
Also, make sure your customer is happy with the result. After shooting the video, edit it (you should be able to ask someone at the cable company to help you), then review it with your customer. As long as you've presented the advertiser in a good light, you'll be in good shape.
The first few times you produce a commercial, you may feel like you're flying by the seat of your pants. Just relax, use good common sense, and always remember that the job of the commercial is to convince the skeptical customer to spend his or her hard earned money with your client.
You should expect to spend a few hours during the shoot, to get enough takes for editing. Get four or five good takes. That way, any bad parts that you find when reviewing your taping can be replaced with a good take.
A thirty- to sixty-second commercial should be able to be shot and edited in one day. The first one or two may take a bit longer, but that's okay. It's better to take your time when learning the ropes, rather than rush through and end up with substandard results. Because your overhead will be low (if renting equipment, instead of purchasing), you should be able to undercut your competition. In a decent size city, you can expect to charge between $500 and $1,000. Longer commercials are more negotiable, depending upon whether or not you will be asked to write the script. The half-hour long "infomercials" have become a bonanza for many advertisers, and they are a goal you can work up to, as your skills grow.
Watch commercials and listen to them. Keep mental notes about how the advertiser is presented, what message the commercial gives, and if you feel the commercial is successful. Incorporate the best elements of the commercials you see into your own shoots!
Friday, December 21, 2007
HOW TO MAKE MONEY IN THE CLOCK MOUNTING BUSINESS
You could till make use of this idea:
Most successful clock making businesses started out as hobbies. This business involves buying (not manufacturing) clock works and mounting them in unique, attractive faces, holders and motifs that you create. Many different types and prices of clock works are available from various supply houses that you can fashion into works of art.
A clock can be mounted on any number of crafted or non-crafted items: burlwood, toys, funny faces, paintings, etched mirrors, souvenirs, marble slabs, sculptures, photographs, family keepsakes, or just about anything you can imagine.
In fact, you might well come up with a new idea. What about a large picture of your child, with a clock in one corner - or one on a picture of your mother-law (you're "on your own" on this one!).
One enterprising couple made clocks from used circular saw blades: the wife painted scenes and numbers: the husband applied a protective covering and mounted clock works on them.
You do not have to know about clocks or watch repair, or have any special talents. The clock works, whether electric or wind-up come complete, ready to mount.
The main thing is to space the numerals evenly so they look as if they are a part of the object. One technique is to arrange the face numbers on a attractive slab of wood. They can be "spaced" with a paper pattern.
Draw a circle the right size and use a compass to divide the circle into 12 equal parts of 30 degrees each. Center the numbers on the 12 dividing lines, with the bottoms just touching the circle. When properly placed, glue them lightly in place to keep them from slipping and apply your finish (usually resin on wood.
When the finish is thick enough and well cured, drill a hole at the center of the proposed dial circle and mount the clock from behind, letting the hands shaft project through the hole. Add the hands, and your clock is finished. Some hand-crafted clocks are really works of art and bring over $100 apiece!
Prices for quartz (battery operated) clocks start at about $3 each (even less in quantity), which means that your total materials cost to produce them is considerably lower than their potential value.. In most cases this business results in getting paid for both you time and a profit on the material.
Marketing hand-crafted clocks is worth a little extra effort because the difference in price realized can be significant. Since one of the main selling points is beauty, take some good pictures of your best clocks and mount them in a photo album (a good quality album with nothing but clocks in it). Use a good camera and get shots that show only the clocks with contrasting background.
For example, use a white sheet as a background for a dark clock; dark velvet or a plain, dark wall for a light colored one. Take pictures with negatives, which you can use to have a brochure printed.
Another technique is to set up a display of your clocks -- at your place, a rented display window, or in a store (on consignment).
The display should show off your clocks to their best advantage - good lighting, contrasting plain background, with no other distractions in the immediate area. They can be displayed in a dedicated section of shelves or a display case, or even in a suggested decor.
The main idea is to treat them as valuable items, which is how you want potential customers to see them!
To get started in the clock making business, send off for as many price lists as you can for works and mounts. Clock suppliers will provide you with detailed mounting instructions for their products.
In the meantime, experiment with finishing techniques - resin coating, painting, sand blasting or whatever your pleasure. When you have decided what kind of clocks you will start with, set up your working area and get the necessary tools and supplies.
For natural wood finishes, you will probably need things like stains, casting resin, cleaner, brushes, tin strips, wood finishing materials, clamps, saws, and glue.
To obtain an extra thick coat of resin, build a retaining wall (the tin strips) around the piece to form a reservoir. Pour in the resin and tap out any bubbles. When it has cured remove the walls, shape and apply resin to the edges. When satisfied with the thickness and uniformity, polish and assemble your finished clock.
Your first few projects will probably NOT be perfect -- in fat, they will probably include several "features" that you will have to learn NOT to do -- or at least to do better.
These efforts need not be losses, however. They can be sold for reduced prices at flea markets, given to relatives (presents?), or sold to retails stores (even second hand stores, if necessary).
Do not show these first efforts to any store or customer that may later be a prospect for your best efforts (and higher prices). If you try to sell imperfect models today, you risk damaging your reputation before it ever gets started!
People who build successful businesses withhold their products and services until they are GOOD. From that point, they NEVER offer anything of lesser quality. This is why Marshal Fields can get ten times as much as KMart for an identical item!
Although you will probably buy your initial supply of materials from your local hardware or hobby store (Walmart carries some good supplies), look for a good source to buy materials wholesale, or at a significant (20-40%) discount.
Experiment with the different materials and DO NOT overlook freebies, some of which might make fantastic clocks. Examples are: driftwood, used (weather beaten) lumber, slabs of native rock, magazine pictures (coated with resin), old shovels or radios.
Also, compare brands, prices and results of products to make sure you are using a $65 per gallon resin when a $15 would do just as well.
Other possibilities are custom clocks (made from a customer's materials, or idea), thematic (a pallet clock for an artist), nature (oak slab with acorns for numbers), and clocks for special uses (designed to fit on top of a computer, or on the dash of a motorhome.
When you stop and think about it, there must be millions of possibilities that have not yet been discovered -- is one of them yours?
Once you have the materials and skill to produce clocks, you will automatically have attained both the skills and the means to make many other products that can be used to augment your business.
For example, plastic [paperweights with imbedded acorns or pills or beautiful plastic coated and/or decorated jewelry and trinket boxes (some with music boxes) and whatnot shelves.
A word of caution about resins and finishes that are often used in clock making. Read the labels on the finishes, thinners, cleaning materials carefully. Most are highly flammable and many are toxic to breathe. Make sure your working area is adequately ventilated and have a fire extinguisher handy -- just in case!
BUSINESS SOURCES
INSTRUMENTS SERVICES, 433 S. Arch St.,Janesville, WI 53545, 800/558-2674. Clock movements, quartz works and conversions, hands, auto clocks.
NAMES & NUMBERS, INC.,2235 16th Ave. North, St Petersburg, FL 33713, 813/323-4021. Wholesale clocks, parts, numbers, custom molding of dials.
VAN DOMMELEN CLOCKS, 9 A Church St.,Lambertville, NJ 08530, 609/397-0554. Dutch clock kits; Zaanze weight driven, delft tiles; wall and mantle versions.
CAS-KER CO., Box 14069, Cincinnati, OH 45214,513/241-7073. Clock parts for hobbyists and craftsmen.
TIC TOC ROCK CLOCK CO., Box 1038, Port Washington, NY 11030. Wholesale clocks mounted on Brazilian agate (from $20).
TIMESAVERS, Box 171, Wheeling, IL 60090. Manufacturer of clock motors and hardware.
TIME AMERICA, Box 2288, Norcross, GA 30091. Manufacturer of clock works, motors, parts.
STEEBAR, Box 463, Andover, NJ 07821. Clock parts and mountings (oak cut-outs etc.).
I.C.I., Box 158, Intercession, FL 33848. Cypress slabs for clocks, furniture and craft work.
EXOLITE CORP., 806 1/2 16th St.,Wheatland, WY 82201. Wholesale clock works, blanks, rockhound supplies, cut stones, etc.
KLOKIT, Box 542, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. Claims to be #1 seller of quartz and mechanical movements for beginners and professionals - from $14 to $1500. Free catalog.
CASTOLITE, Box 391, Woodstock, IL 60098. Liquid resin and molding supplies for casting, coating, repairs, reproductions and crafts.
GREGORY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.,Box 1303, Jackson, MS 39205, 800/647-7152. Wooden and marble plaques. Good supply of woods and marbles at excellent prices.
QUILL CORPORATION, 100 Schelter Rd.,Lincolnshire, IL 60907-4700, 312/634-4800. Office supplies.
NEBS, 500 Main St.,Groton, MA 04171, 800/225-6380. Office supplies.
SWEDCO, Box 29, Mooresville, NC 28115. Three line rubber stamps, business cards, etc.
IVEY PRINTING CO., Box 761, Meridan, TX 76665. Write for price list.
ZPS, Box 581, Libertyville, IL 60048---2556. Business cards and letterhead stationery. Will print your copy ready logo or design, even whole card.
By Home Business Publications,1993.
Most successful clock making businesses started out as hobbies. This business involves buying (not manufacturing) clock works and mounting them in unique, attractive faces, holders and motifs that you create. Many different types and prices of clock works are available from various supply houses that you can fashion into works of art.
A clock can be mounted on any number of crafted or non-crafted items: burlwood, toys, funny faces, paintings, etched mirrors, souvenirs, marble slabs, sculptures, photographs, family keepsakes, or just about anything you can imagine.
In fact, you might well come up with a new idea. What about a large picture of your child, with a clock in one corner - or one on a picture of your mother-law (you're "on your own" on this one!).
One enterprising couple made clocks from used circular saw blades: the wife painted scenes and numbers: the husband applied a protective covering and mounted clock works on them.
You do not have to know about clocks or watch repair, or have any special talents. The clock works, whether electric or wind-up come complete, ready to mount.
The main thing is to space the numerals evenly so they look as if they are a part of the object. One technique is to arrange the face numbers on a attractive slab of wood. They can be "spaced" with a paper pattern.
Draw a circle the right size and use a compass to divide the circle into 12 equal parts of 30 degrees each. Center the numbers on the 12 dividing lines, with the bottoms just touching the circle. When properly placed, glue them lightly in place to keep them from slipping and apply your finish (usually resin on wood.
When the finish is thick enough and well cured, drill a hole at the center of the proposed dial circle and mount the clock from behind, letting the hands shaft project through the hole. Add the hands, and your clock is finished. Some hand-crafted clocks are really works of art and bring over $100 apiece!
Prices for quartz (battery operated) clocks start at about $3 each (even less in quantity), which means that your total materials cost to produce them is considerably lower than their potential value.. In most cases this business results in getting paid for both you time and a profit on the material.
Marketing hand-crafted clocks is worth a little extra effort because the difference in price realized can be significant. Since one of the main selling points is beauty, take some good pictures of your best clocks and mount them in a photo album (a good quality album with nothing but clocks in it). Use a good camera and get shots that show only the clocks with contrasting background.
For example, use a white sheet as a background for a dark clock; dark velvet or a plain, dark wall for a light colored one. Take pictures with negatives, which you can use to have a brochure printed.
Another technique is to set up a display of your clocks -- at your place, a rented display window, or in a store (on consignment).
The display should show off your clocks to their best advantage - good lighting, contrasting plain background, with no other distractions in the immediate area. They can be displayed in a dedicated section of shelves or a display case, or even in a suggested decor.
The main idea is to treat them as valuable items, which is how you want potential customers to see them!
To get started in the clock making business, send off for as many price lists as you can for works and mounts. Clock suppliers will provide you with detailed mounting instructions for their products.
In the meantime, experiment with finishing techniques - resin coating, painting, sand blasting or whatever your pleasure. When you have decided what kind of clocks you will start with, set up your working area and get the necessary tools and supplies.
For natural wood finishes, you will probably need things like stains, casting resin, cleaner, brushes, tin strips, wood finishing materials, clamps, saws, and glue.
To obtain an extra thick coat of resin, build a retaining wall (the tin strips) around the piece to form a reservoir. Pour in the resin and tap out any bubbles. When it has cured remove the walls, shape and apply resin to the edges. When satisfied with the thickness and uniformity, polish and assemble your finished clock.
Your first few projects will probably NOT be perfect -- in fat, they will probably include several "features" that you will have to learn NOT to do -- or at least to do better.
These efforts need not be losses, however. They can be sold for reduced prices at flea markets, given to relatives (presents?), or sold to retails stores (even second hand stores, if necessary).
Do not show these first efforts to any store or customer that may later be a prospect for your best efforts (and higher prices). If you try to sell imperfect models today, you risk damaging your reputation before it ever gets started!
People who build successful businesses withhold their products and services until they are GOOD. From that point, they NEVER offer anything of lesser quality. This is why Marshal Fields can get ten times as much as KMart for an identical item!
Although you will probably buy your initial supply of materials from your local hardware or hobby store (Walmart carries some good supplies), look for a good source to buy materials wholesale, or at a significant (20-40%) discount.
Experiment with the different materials and DO NOT overlook freebies, some of which might make fantastic clocks. Examples are: driftwood, used (weather beaten) lumber, slabs of native rock, magazine pictures (coated with resin), old shovels or radios.
Also, compare brands, prices and results of products to make sure you are using a $65 per gallon resin when a $15 would do just as well.
Other possibilities are custom clocks (made from a customer's materials, or idea), thematic (a pallet clock for an artist), nature (oak slab with acorns for numbers), and clocks for special uses (designed to fit on top of a computer, or on the dash of a motorhome.
When you stop and think about it, there must be millions of possibilities that have not yet been discovered -- is one of them yours?
Once you have the materials and skill to produce clocks, you will automatically have attained both the skills and the means to make many other products that can be used to augment your business.
For example, plastic [paperweights with imbedded acorns or pills or beautiful plastic coated and/or decorated jewelry and trinket boxes (some with music boxes) and whatnot shelves.
A word of caution about resins and finishes that are often used in clock making. Read the labels on the finishes, thinners, cleaning materials carefully. Most are highly flammable and many are toxic to breathe. Make sure your working area is adequately ventilated and have a fire extinguisher handy -- just in case!
BUSINESS SOURCES
INSTRUMENTS SERVICES, 433 S. Arch St.,Janesville, WI 53545, 800/558-2674. Clock movements, quartz works and conversions, hands, auto clocks.
NAMES & NUMBERS, INC.,2235 16th Ave. North, St Petersburg, FL 33713, 813/323-4021. Wholesale clocks, parts, numbers, custom molding of dials.
VAN DOMMELEN CLOCKS, 9 A Church St.,Lambertville, NJ 08530, 609/397-0554. Dutch clock kits; Zaanze weight driven, delft tiles; wall and mantle versions.
CAS-KER CO., Box 14069, Cincinnati, OH 45214,513/241-7073. Clock parts for hobbyists and craftsmen.
TIC TOC ROCK CLOCK CO., Box 1038, Port Washington, NY 11030. Wholesale clocks mounted on Brazilian agate (from $20).
TIMESAVERS, Box 171, Wheeling, IL 60090. Manufacturer of clock motors and hardware.
TIME AMERICA, Box 2288, Norcross, GA 30091. Manufacturer of clock works, motors, parts.
STEEBAR, Box 463, Andover, NJ 07821. Clock parts and mountings (oak cut-outs etc.).
I.C.I., Box 158, Intercession, FL 33848. Cypress slabs for clocks, furniture and craft work.
EXOLITE CORP., 806 1/2 16th St.,Wheatland, WY 82201. Wholesale clock works, blanks, rockhound supplies, cut stones, etc.
KLOKIT, Box 542, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. Claims to be #1 seller of quartz and mechanical movements for beginners and professionals - from $14 to $1500. Free catalog.
CASTOLITE, Box 391, Woodstock, IL 60098. Liquid resin and molding supplies for casting, coating, repairs, reproductions and crafts.
GREGORY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.,Box 1303, Jackson, MS 39205, 800/647-7152. Wooden and marble plaques. Good supply of woods and marbles at excellent prices.
QUILL CORPORATION, 100 Schelter Rd.,Lincolnshire, IL 60907-4700, 312/634-4800. Office supplies.
NEBS, 500 Main St.,Groton, MA 04171, 800/225-6380. Office supplies.
SWEDCO, Box 29, Mooresville, NC 28115. Three line rubber stamps, business cards, etc.
IVEY PRINTING CO., Box 761, Meridan, TX 76665. Write for price list.
ZPS, Box 581, Libertyville, IL 60048---2556. Business cards and letterhead stationery. Will print your copy ready logo or design, even whole card.
By Home Business Publications,1993.
HOW TO MAKE MONEY CLIPPING NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Many organizations, businesses, and just individuals have a great interest in what is put in print about them. They constantly seek information as to their "public image". This widespread interest provides a good opportunity to operate a clipping business.
You will need access to many newspapers, local and perhaps national as your business grows. Go through each paper and clip out articles, photos, etc., which mention some person or business of local or national prominence. Keep an alphabetical file and accumulate clippings on the various individuals and enterprises.
When you have accumulated sufficient clippings, photos and other information, write to the individuals and firms advising them you have a collection of articles about them which you will send upon receipt of so much money per article, etc. Many of those you contact should order.
Also clip out research reports on various subjects which may be of interest to professional people.
Retail merchants are often interested in advertisements that are being used by their competitors, hoping to be able to dream up better or competing ads. They may also be interested in advertisements featuring different product lines to give them promotional and advertising ideas for their own products.
Information on marriages, divorces, births, deaths, new businesses, etc., are also of interest to many different kinds of organizations.
You can use the "Directory of Periodicals" at the library to get names of magazines and publishing companies when you have expanded to the point you can use clippings form national media.
Don't clip or send copyrighted materials. Clips from magazines are most always copyrighted. Newspaper articles are not usually copyrighted unless it has UP/AP or other codes (United Press... Associated Press, etc.). Syndicated features and cartoons are all copyrighted.
You will need access to many newspapers, local and perhaps national as your business grows. Go through each paper and clip out articles, photos, etc., which mention some person or business of local or national prominence. Keep an alphabetical file and accumulate clippings on the various individuals and enterprises.
When you have accumulated sufficient clippings, photos and other information, write to the individuals and firms advising them you have a collection of articles about them which you will send upon receipt of so much money per article, etc. Many of those you contact should order.
Also clip out research reports on various subjects which may be of interest to professional people.
Retail merchants are often interested in advertisements that are being used by their competitors, hoping to be able to dream up better or competing ads. They may also be interested in advertisements featuring different product lines to give them promotional and advertising ideas for their own products.
Information on marriages, divorces, births, deaths, new businesses, etc., are also of interest to many different kinds of organizations.
You can use the "Directory of Periodicals" at the library to get names of magazines and publishing companies when you have expanded to the point you can use clippings form national media.
Don't clip or send copyrighted materials. Clips from magazines are most always copyrighted. Newspaper articles are not usually copyrighted unless it has UP/AP or other codes (United Press... Associated Press, etc.). Syndicated features and cartoons are all copyrighted.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
HOW TO MAKE MONEY BUYING & SELLING USED CARS & TRUCK
Today, with the average consumer now spending up to $16,400 for a new car, consumers realize the importance of investing in lower-priced used cars. With millions of buyers entering the used vehicle market every year, a wealth of opportunities exists for anyone who is looking for extra income, or a new and lucrative full-time career. The key to making money in this business is to buy low, and sell at a huge profit! This report will show you how to get started down your road to riches!
OPERATING YOUR OWN USED CAR BUSINESS
The goal of many people is just to make a little extra income. If you consider $1,000 to $3,500 or more for a single sale in one month to be "extra income," you could easily make that in your spare time without much effort.
On the other hand, you may be one of those people who want to be their own boss. While it's true that the risks are often greater than if you just worked for someone else, it's just as true that risks and rewards go hand in hand. If you're willing to take the plunge, the potential returns are also greater. If you have a bit of an adventuresome spirit and confidence in your ownlskils and abilities, operating your own used car business may be the ideal way for you to make big, big money!
ADVANTAGES OF OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
The opportunity to express your own ideas and do things exactly as you want is among the primary advantages of operating your own business. The challenge and excitement of running your own operation also ranks high on the list. Another big advantage is that you will receive all the profits generated by your time and efforts. Then the potential exists to develop a part-time business into a full-time career that produces an income you never thought possible.
SKILLS & ABILITIES NEEDED
The same type of personal skills that are necessary to successfully work for someone else are also required to be successful in working for yourself. Personal skills would involve being conscientious, dedicated, determined, and persistent, in addition to possessing good human relations abilities.
There is also another type of skill that is necessary that involves the ability to manage and organize your activities, and possibly those of others if you hire car salespeople to work for you.
This skill should be taken very seriously, because it is these skills that can cause one business to be a huge success while the other is a total failure.
Lastly, you will need technical skills. These are the skills that include the knowledge to perform the activities involved in the used car business. It is this combination of technical, personal, and management skills that will make your operation successful.
GETTING YOUR USED CAR BUSINESS ESTABLISHED
Whether you are operating your business on a part-time basis, people will expect you to provide the type of service any consumer expects. They will also associate the type of service they can expect with the image you create for your business. This image will be impressions you make on others.
For example: Will people perceive you as handling high-, medium-, or low-priced vehicles? Will your used cars appeal mostly to the rich, the poor, or the middle class? Do you sell something for everyone or do you specialize? (Just pickups, just vans, etc.)
Any positive image is fine, as long as you are consistent in everything you do within the scope of that image. The image you create will largely set the tone for all your business activities, including selection of a businesss location, type of vehicles handled, prices charged, etc.
SELECTING A LOCATION
If you are going to buy one or two cars at a time for resale on a part-time basis, then working right from your home shouldnn't pose a problem for you. However, if you intend to eventually have a large, full-time business operation, the most important ingredient that can lead to success or failure can depend on your location. What constitutes a good location varies with the type of business. But in the used car business it means being highly visible in a high traffic area and being situated so that driving customers can get to you. In many cases, the location you consider ideal may not be available or if it is, the cost may not be practical. In that event, you will have to do strong advertising and promotion work to make customers aware of who you are, what you are selling, and where they can find you.
Whether you select a location at your home or in a business district, you must make certain you are operating within city and county zoning ordinances. Zoning ordinances are regulations specifying what each parcel of property within a community can be used for. If the location you decide on is not zoned for the type of business you want to start, you can appeal to the zoning commission to obtain a "zoning variance." If approved, you would be allowed to use the property for your business.
HOW TO LOCATE USED CAR SUPPLIERS
To get started in the "Buy-Low, Sell for Huge Profits" used car business, you will have to locate suppliers. In some cases you will be able to buy directly from individual car owners. At other times you will go to independent auction houses or attend U.S. Government Auction Sales where you can often purchase vehicles for pennies on the dollar.
At independent auction houses vehicle owners have auctioneers sell their vehicle by getting buyers who are at the auction house to bid against one another. Generally, there is a minimum bid set. The person who offers the highest bid over the minimum set has the winning bid. The seller however, also has the right to sell the vehicle below the minimum bid if he chooses. Incredible bargains can be found at independent auction houses.
Independent auction house sles take place throughout the U.S.A., many on a weekly schedule. For additional information of auction house locations refer to your telephone directory under "Auctions" or "Car Auctions," or write to:
National Auto Research N.A.D.A. Used Car Guide Co. P.O. Box 758 8400 Westpark Drive Gainesville, GA 30503 McLean, VA 22102-9985 (404) 532-4111 (703) 821-7193
(800) 554-1026 (Except Georgia) (800) 544-6232
(800) 523-3110 (In Virginia)
U.S. GOVERNMENT AUCTIONS
A wide variety of personal property either no longer needed or seized by the Federal Government is periodically placed on public sale.
The Department of Defense and the General Services Administration are the principal Government sales outlets for surplus property. As items become available for public sale, catalogs and other types of announcements are distributed to people who have expressed an interest in bidding on the types of property being offered.
Sales generally are on a competitive bid basis, with the property being sold to the highest bidder. Among the many thousands of items sold are automobiles and other vehicles of every imaginable make and model. In fact, tens of thousands of vehicles are sold by the government at public auctions throughout the country every year!
How can there be so many vehicles for sale? Because the Government is so huge that it's difficult to even comprehend just how much property is amassed for resale. In fact, the government seizes, conficates, and forecloses on property that results in many millions of pieces of property every year, and the numbers continue to grow.
Incredibly, the government isn't like a private business that is interested in making a profit on items it sells. The government is mostly interested in eliminating the enormous stockpiles of seized and surplus vehicles and other properties. As a result, many thousands of vehicles are offered to the public through government auctions at a fraction of their actual values. This is where you can buy just about any model of vehicle you want at super-huge savings, and make incredibly-high resale profits.
HOW TO GET ON THE GOVERNMENT'S
VEHICLE AUCTION MAILING LIST
Both the Government Services Administration(GSA) and the Department of Defense maintain mailing lists on persons interested in seized and surplus property sales. People on these lists are sent catalogs and other sales announcements in advance of sales and are given the opportunity to inspect the vehicles and other property and submit bids.
Each GSA regional office maintains a mailing list for sales of property located in the geographical areas it serves. For general information about sales conducted by GSA, or to be placed on the mailing list, write to any of the following addresses.
The Department of Defense maintains a centralized mailing list for the sales of its property located in the United States. The Defense Surplus Bidders Control Office, Defense Logistics Services Center, Federal Center, Battle Creek, Michigan 49016, maintains this list.
GSA CUSTOMER SERVICE BUREAUS
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION REGION 6
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
7th and D Streets, SW 1500 E. Bannister Road
Washington, DC 20407 Kansas City, MO 64131
Serves: District of Columbia, Serves: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,
nerby Maryland & Virginia Nebraska
REGION 1 REGION 7
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
Post Office & Courthouse 819 Taylor Street
Boston, MA 02109 Fort Worth, TX 76102
Serves: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusets, Serves: Arkansas, Louisiana, New
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
REGION 2 REGION 8
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
26 Federal Plaza Bldg. 41-Denver Federal Center
New York, NY 10278 Denver, CO 80225
Serves: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Serves: Colorado, Montana, North
Rico, Virgin Islands Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
Wyoming
REGION 3
GSA Customer Service Bureau REGION 9
Nineth & Market Streets GSA Customer Service Bureau
Philadelphia, PA 19107 525 Market Street
Serves: Delaware, Pennsylvania, San Francisco, CA 94105 Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia Serves: Samoa, Arizona, California,
Guam, Hawaii, Nevada
REGION 5
GSA Customer Service Bureau REGION 10
230 S. Dearborn Street GSA Customer Service Bureau
Chicago, IL 60604 Auburn, WA 98002
Serves: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Serves: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon,
Ohio, Wisconsin Washington
HOW TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF USED VEHICLES
Whether you attend auctions or purchase a vehicle outright from a seller, you must know what it is worth. The best way to determine a vehicle's average market trade-in or wholesale value, average loan or average retail value is, is to subscribe to the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide, published monthly by the National Automobile Dealer's Used Car Guid Co., 8400 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102-9985. Write for current subscription rates.
N.A.D.A. also publishes guides as followss: Official Older Used Car Guide...Official Wholesale Used Car Trade-in Guide...Official Title & Registration Book...Official Recreation Vehicle Guide...Official Motorcycle/Snowmobile/ATV Personal Watercraft Appraisal Guide...Official Smaller Boat Appraisal Guide...Official Larger Boad Appraisal Guide...Official Mobile Home Appraisal Guide and the Mobile Home Appraisal System.
A weekly used car market guide is also available from: National Auto Research, P.O. Box 758, Gainesville, GA 30503. Write for current subscription rates.
REGIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS
The average values listed in the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide are based upon reports of actual transactions by dealers and auction houses throughout each area for which a guide is published. A used car guide-book normally includes 1)Domestic Cars; 2)Imported Cars; and 3)Trucks. Manufactures' names are listed alphabetically.
SECURING LICENSES AND PERMITS
City, county, state and/or federal licenses or permits are often required before entering a particular business or service operation. Often, these are issued solely as a fund-raising measure, and are therefore easy to obtain simply by submitting a fee.
On the other hand, licensing is also used as a method of regulating the competency of those entering a particular field and to protect the public from shady operators. In some cases an exam is administered, and moral and financial requirements may need to be met as well.
In the used-car business, most states require that you obtain a dealers license if you are buying and selling vehicles for the purpose of making a profit. However, you are not required to apply for a license if you only make an isolated or occasional sale. You are not considered to be in the business of selling motor vehicles in that event. "Isolated or occasional sales" in many states means "the sale, purchase, or lease of not more than five motor vehicles in a 12 month period".
Once you begin to sell more vehicles for profit than is allowed by your state law on an annual basis, you should apply for a Dealer's License by contacting your State Department of Public Safety or Department of Motor Vehicles.
Check with your attorney or other city officials to determine what licenses and permits are needed. Simply starting up a business without having the proper authorizations can result in severe penalties, and you could be forced to discontinue operations.
Many states, and some cities and counties, require that sales taxes be collected. The stated sales tax permit is available from the State Department of Revenue, City and county permits are available from the tax department in those jurisdictions.
Even though a certian amount of "red-tape" must be tolerated to obtain some licenses and permits, this is usually a one-time occurrence. Then, it's just a matter of simply submitting an annual renewal fee.
OPERATING YOUR OWN USED CAR BUSINESS
The goal of many people is just to make a little extra income. If you consider $1,000 to $3,500 or more for a single sale in one month to be "extra income," you could easily make that in your spare time without much effort.
On the other hand, you may be one of those people who want to be their own boss. While it's true that the risks are often greater than if you just worked for someone else, it's just as true that risks and rewards go hand in hand. If you're willing to take the plunge, the potential returns are also greater. If you have a bit of an adventuresome spirit and confidence in your ownlskils and abilities, operating your own used car business may be the ideal way for you to make big, big money!
ADVANTAGES OF OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
The opportunity to express your own ideas and do things exactly as you want is among the primary advantages of operating your own business. The challenge and excitement of running your own operation also ranks high on the list. Another big advantage is that you will receive all the profits generated by your time and efforts. Then the potential exists to develop a part-time business into a full-time career that produces an income you never thought possible.
SKILLS & ABILITIES NEEDED
The same type of personal skills that are necessary to successfully work for someone else are also required to be successful in working for yourself. Personal skills would involve being conscientious, dedicated, determined, and persistent, in addition to possessing good human relations abilities.
There is also another type of skill that is necessary that involves the ability to manage and organize your activities, and possibly those of others if you hire car salespeople to work for you.
This skill should be taken very seriously, because it is these skills that can cause one business to be a huge success while the other is a total failure.
Lastly, you will need technical skills. These are the skills that include the knowledge to perform the activities involved in the used car business. It is this combination of technical, personal, and management skills that will make your operation successful.
GETTING YOUR USED CAR BUSINESS ESTABLISHED
Whether you are operating your business on a part-time basis, people will expect you to provide the type of service any consumer expects. They will also associate the type of service they can expect with the image you create for your business. This image will be impressions you make on others.
For example: Will people perceive you as handling high-, medium-, or low-priced vehicles? Will your used cars appeal mostly to the rich, the poor, or the middle class? Do you sell something for everyone or do you specialize? (Just pickups, just vans, etc.)
Any positive image is fine, as long as you are consistent in everything you do within the scope of that image. The image you create will largely set the tone for all your business activities, including selection of a businesss location, type of vehicles handled, prices charged, etc.
SELECTING A LOCATION
If you are going to buy one or two cars at a time for resale on a part-time basis, then working right from your home shouldnn't pose a problem for you. However, if you intend to eventually have a large, full-time business operation, the most important ingredient that can lead to success or failure can depend on your location. What constitutes a good location varies with the type of business. But in the used car business it means being highly visible in a high traffic area and being situated so that driving customers can get to you. In many cases, the location you consider ideal may not be available or if it is, the cost may not be practical. In that event, you will have to do strong advertising and promotion work to make customers aware of who you are, what you are selling, and where they can find you.
Whether you select a location at your home or in a business district, you must make certain you are operating within city and county zoning ordinances. Zoning ordinances are regulations specifying what each parcel of property within a community can be used for. If the location you decide on is not zoned for the type of business you want to start, you can appeal to the zoning commission to obtain a "zoning variance." If approved, you would be allowed to use the property for your business.
HOW TO LOCATE USED CAR SUPPLIERS
To get started in the "Buy-Low, Sell for Huge Profits" used car business, you will have to locate suppliers. In some cases you will be able to buy directly from individual car owners. At other times you will go to independent auction houses or attend U.S. Government Auction Sales where you can often purchase vehicles for pennies on the dollar.
At independent auction houses vehicle owners have auctioneers sell their vehicle by getting buyers who are at the auction house to bid against one another. Generally, there is a minimum bid set. The person who offers the highest bid over the minimum set has the winning bid. The seller however, also has the right to sell the vehicle below the minimum bid if he chooses. Incredible bargains can be found at independent auction houses.
Independent auction house sles take place throughout the U.S.A., many on a weekly schedule. For additional information of auction house locations refer to your telephone directory under "Auctions" or "Car Auctions," or write to:
National Auto Research N.A.D.A. Used Car Guide Co. P.O. Box 758 8400 Westpark Drive Gainesville, GA 30503 McLean, VA 22102-9985 (404) 532-4111 (703) 821-7193
(800) 554-1026 (Except Georgia) (800) 544-6232
(800) 523-3110 (In Virginia)
U.S. GOVERNMENT AUCTIONS
A wide variety of personal property either no longer needed or seized by the Federal Government is periodically placed on public sale.
The Department of Defense and the General Services Administration are the principal Government sales outlets for surplus property. As items become available for public sale, catalogs and other types of announcements are distributed to people who have expressed an interest in bidding on the types of property being offered.
Sales generally are on a competitive bid basis, with the property being sold to the highest bidder. Among the many thousands of items sold are automobiles and other vehicles of every imaginable make and model. In fact, tens of thousands of vehicles are sold by the government at public auctions throughout the country every year!
How can there be so many vehicles for sale? Because the Government is so huge that it's difficult to even comprehend just how much property is amassed for resale. In fact, the government seizes, conficates, and forecloses on property that results in many millions of pieces of property every year, and the numbers continue to grow.
Incredibly, the government isn't like a private business that is interested in making a profit on items it sells. The government is mostly interested in eliminating the enormous stockpiles of seized and surplus vehicles and other properties. As a result, many thousands of vehicles are offered to the public through government auctions at a fraction of their actual values. This is where you can buy just about any model of vehicle you want at super-huge savings, and make incredibly-high resale profits.
HOW TO GET ON THE GOVERNMENT'S
VEHICLE AUCTION MAILING LIST
Both the Government Services Administration(GSA) and the Department of Defense maintain mailing lists on persons interested in seized and surplus property sales. People on these lists are sent catalogs and other sales announcements in advance of sales and are given the opportunity to inspect the vehicles and other property and submit bids.
Each GSA regional office maintains a mailing list for sales of property located in the geographical areas it serves. For general information about sales conducted by GSA, or to be placed on the mailing list, write to any of the following addresses.
The Department of Defense maintains a centralized mailing list for the sales of its property located in the United States. The Defense Surplus Bidders Control Office, Defense Logistics Services Center, Federal Center, Battle Creek, Michigan 49016, maintains this list.
GSA CUSTOMER SERVICE BUREAUS
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION REGION 6
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
7th and D Streets, SW 1500 E. Bannister Road
Washington, DC 20407 Kansas City, MO 64131
Serves: District of Columbia, Serves: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,
nerby Maryland & Virginia Nebraska
REGION 1 REGION 7
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
Post Office & Courthouse 819 Taylor Street
Boston, MA 02109 Fort Worth, TX 76102
Serves: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusets, Serves: Arkansas, Louisiana, New
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
REGION 2 REGION 8
GSA Customer Service Bureau GSA Customer Service Bureau
26 Federal Plaza Bldg. 41-Denver Federal Center
New York, NY 10278 Denver, CO 80225
Serves: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Serves: Colorado, Montana, North
Rico, Virgin Islands Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
Wyoming
REGION 3
GSA Customer Service Bureau REGION 9
Nineth & Market Streets GSA Customer Service Bureau
Philadelphia, PA 19107 525 Market Street
Serves: Delaware, Pennsylvania, San Francisco, CA 94105 Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia Serves: Samoa, Arizona, California,
Guam, Hawaii, Nevada
REGION 5
GSA Customer Service Bureau REGION 10
230 S. Dearborn Street GSA Customer Service Bureau
Chicago, IL 60604 Auburn, WA 98002
Serves: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Serves: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon,
Ohio, Wisconsin Washington
HOW TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF USED VEHICLES
Whether you attend auctions or purchase a vehicle outright from a seller, you must know what it is worth. The best way to determine a vehicle's average market trade-in or wholesale value, average loan or average retail value is, is to subscribe to the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide, published monthly by the National Automobile Dealer's Used Car Guid Co., 8400 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102-9985. Write for current subscription rates.
N.A.D.A. also publishes guides as followss: Official Older Used Car Guide...Official Wholesale Used Car Trade-in Guide...Official Title & Registration Book...Official Recreation Vehicle Guide...Official Motorcycle/Snowmobile/ATV Personal Watercraft Appraisal Guide...Official Smaller Boat Appraisal Guide...Official Larger Boad Appraisal Guide...Official Mobile Home Appraisal Guide and the Mobile Home Appraisal System.
A weekly used car market guide is also available from: National Auto Research, P.O. Box 758, Gainesville, GA 30503. Write for current subscription rates.
REGIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS
The average values listed in the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide are based upon reports of actual transactions by dealers and auction houses throughout each area for which a guide is published. A used car guide-book normally includes 1)Domestic Cars; 2)Imported Cars; and 3)Trucks. Manufactures' names are listed alphabetically.
SECURING LICENSES AND PERMITS
City, county, state and/or federal licenses or permits are often required before entering a particular business or service operation. Often, these are issued solely as a fund-raising measure, and are therefore easy to obtain simply by submitting a fee.
On the other hand, licensing is also used as a method of regulating the competency of those entering a particular field and to protect the public from shady operators. In some cases an exam is administered, and moral and financial requirements may need to be met as well.
In the used-car business, most states require that you obtain a dealers license if you are buying and selling vehicles for the purpose of making a profit. However, you are not required to apply for a license if you only make an isolated or occasional sale. You are not considered to be in the business of selling motor vehicles in that event. "Isolated or occasional sales" in many states means "the sale, purchase, or lease of not more than five motor vehicles in a 12 month period".
Once you begin to sell more vehicles for profit than is allowed by your state law on an annual basis, you should apply for a Dealer's License by contacting your State Department of Public Safety or Department of Motor Vehicles.
Check with your attorney or other city officials to determine what licenses and permits are needed. Simply starting up a business without having the proper authorizations can result in severe penalties, and you could be forced to discontinue operations.
Many states, and some cities and counties, require that sales taxes be collected. The stated sales tax permit is available from the State Department of Revenue, City and county permits are available from the tax department in those jurisdictions.
Even though a certian amount of "red-tape" must be tolerated to obtain some licenses and permits, this is usually a one-time occurrence. Then, it's just a matter of simply submitting an annual renewal fee.
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