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Thread: Started a business, now what????

  1. #1
    Doh! braheem24's Avatar
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    Started a business, now what????

    No, it's not my first business but it is my first setup outside of an established patient base area.

    I've been so wrapped up in construction I dont feel like a business owner anymore.

    I'm making a list for myself of the items I need to advertise and build the business and seem to always forget some of the obvious items till it's too late (deadline for yellowpages :hammer:)

    Can you please list the basics you would do to bring in and build business.

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
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    The most important, and perhaps the only thing of importance: A source of referral.

    Chip

  3. #3
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Contact the Chamber of Commerce in that area and see if they do a members ribbon cutting ceremony. Get some champagne and horses duvers;), and voila, a cheap party. Our local paper puts all these pictures in for free from ribbon cutting events.

  4. #4
    One of the worst people here
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    one of the more important items is to build awareness. People cannot buy from there if they do not know it exists. So that should be the main goal of your promotional plan.

  5. #5
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    Advertise...advertise...advertise! Check the local schools in the area, if your area is like mine schools are looking for cash. Buy ad space in the athletic venues' of the local schools.

    Produce an introductory flyer and pound the pavement distributing them to local businesses.

    If your budget can accommodate it, research the highest rated radio station and place an ad there.

  6. #6
    bilateral peripheral scotoma LandLord's Avatar
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    price your glasses so low that people will tell their friends
    Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

  7. #7
    One of the worst people here
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    Quote Originally Posted by LandLord View Post
    price your glasses so low that people will tell their friends
    but you will still be more expensive than Wal-Mart

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by For-Life View Post
    but you will still be more expensive than Wal-Mart
    Total assumtion.

  9. #9
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    Assuming you already know who your target market is going to be you might want to target them specifically. Get some local teens(they work cheap) to hand out flyers and coupons for 20.00 off at the mall. See if you can't get the local community paper to feature your business. I have found that if I write most of the article myself and email it to the paper they will stick it in there someplace with ebellishments from their writer.

  10. #10
    One of the worst people here
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    Quote Originally Posted by obxeyeguy View Post
    Total assumtion.
    You do not think that Wal-Mart gets its products for much less than you do?

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by For-Life View Post
    but you will still be more expensive than Wal-Mart
    Quote Originally Posted by For-Life View Post
    You do not think that Wal-Mart gets its products for much less than you do?
    Retail price and acquisition cost are two different animals.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by obxeyeguy View Post
    Retail price and acquisition cost are two different animals.
    I agree. But Wal-Mart has the ability to drop its price lower than yours at any time. Do you?

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by For-Life View Post
    I agree. But Wal-Mart has the ability to drop its price lower than yours at any time. Do you?
    Once again, this is a total assumtion on your part. What I can do, and what I choose to do are often different things. You are assuming that I can't lower my price to their's if I choose, because they buy cheaper. They most certainly do buy cheaper than me, but for all you know, I'm independantly wealthy and can sell for whatever I want.

    Can I survive competing strickly on price with wally? I don't know, and most likely ever won't, as I don't try. But, your correlation between what they buy for, and what any of us can sell for makes no sense. I can lower my price to $1 if I want, can you or wally?

    Can I stay in business? Sure I can, see above....:p

  14. #14
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    My thoughts....

    I have spent the last year and a half in a practice which tries to set itself apart from "the herd" by offering the best patient service, quality product range, and most importantly(I think), two year warranties on almost everything that gets sold here. That may not be new to some of you out there but it was new to me and I can already tell after almost 2 years here that our patients pay more for there glasses/contacts here but it's the quality service and 2 year coverage that keeps them coming back. We are down somewhat right now but we still have a pretty steady stream of patients who drive long distances for some of the exclusive lines we sell here. Most of our competition only offers 2 years on their premium A/R coated products where we offer it on all lenses A/R coated or not. We have a couple frame lines that go from $500 to $1200 and there are at least 3-4 of those sold every month. When I see them come through I just shake my head, I don't get it either but those people always go out the door with some of the biggest smiles on their faces-perhaps only because they still have that kind of dough, I don't know. I guess my point and suggestion would be to strive to somehow set yourself apart from whatever is the available "norm" in your area. Back that up with a sincere effort to make every patient leave with a good feeling from having done "business" with you and you should have a good start. I wish you luck!

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by obxeyeguy View Post
    Once again, this is a total assumtion on your part. What I can do, and what I choose to do are often different things. You are assuming that I can't lower my price to their's if I choose, because they buy cheaper. They most certainly do buy cheaper than me, but for all you know, I'm independantly wealthy and can sell for whatever I want.

    Can I survive competing strickly on price with wally? I don't know, and most likely ever won't, as I don't try. But, your correlation between what they buy for, and what any of us can sell for makes no sense. I can lower my price to $1 if I want, can you or wally?

    Can I stay in business? Sure I can, see above....:p
    Very true, but to be a smart donkey, I can say that selling below cost with the attempt to push out the competition can be charged under the competition act :cheers:

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by For-Life View Post
    Very true, but to be a smart donkey, I can say that selling below cost with the attempt to push out the competition can be charged under the competition act :cheers:
    Then you can spell Walmart at any new store in a rural area, as that is their history.


    Not really sure if the competition act applies in the US.

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