Advertising specialty agencies sell promotional items such as pens, calendars, book matches and key chains to companies in bulk. Companies include their logo or slogans on these items and hand them out to potential customers as a marketing tool. Virtually any business, retailer or school can become a potential customer.
Instructions
Starting Your Advertising Specialties Agency
1. Determine whether you want to sell your items by phone and personal contact, online, by mail, through advertisements or a combination of one or more methods. Establish a working area in your home that includes a phone, computer with Internet access, filing cabinets and a rolodex. Purchase a sales and expense book. Develop an index card or computer software system for tracking visits and sales for each account.
2. Decide which type of advertising specialties you want to sell. Assess the competition in your area if you decide to stay local. Look in the phone book and online to determine the number of advertising specialty dealers and agencies in your area. Study what they offer. Make a plan to select unique products that will differentiate you from the competition.
3. Go online and look for large advertising specialty manufacturers or wholesalers who are looking for sales representatives. Look for franchise opportunities with a successful track record. Find a supplier that carries items you wish to sell. Select a supplier that offers you a dealership that is within your budget. Contact the Better Business Bureau in their area for any complaints against the company. Purchase the distributorship package once you verify that the supplier is legitimate. Order business cards, catalogs, product samples and order forms from your supplier. Get a vendor's license for reporting sales tax.
4. Start contacting businesses in your area such as real estate companies, insurance agencies, corporations and car dealers. Make an appointment by phone to visit the business owner or person in charge of advertising and promotions. Dress professionally for the appointment. Take your catalog and order forms in and present your product line. Fill out order forms for any sales. Continue to set up appointments and keep your schedule full.
5. Hire more salespeople as your repeat business grows. Find a small office and add some phones and computers. Order more catalogs, product samples and order forms. Build your business gradually as your profits increase.
Tags: order forms, your area, advertising specialty, catalogs product, catalogs product samples, product samples