I have been doing taxidermy for 2 years now and have a store front. I work out of a city that is the closest center for about 50 outfitters. Between all the outfitters in my area there is about 1200 bucks taken and 600 bears on an average year. Of that number about half are mounted and the other half are taken back to be mounted in the USA by taxidermists. There is tremendous oportunity for work as there is only 3 taxidermists in the smaller centers around me and none in the larger center. So my question is how should I go about aproaching these outfitters for buisness. Emails, mail outs? thank you for your responces.
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Id send a flyer to each and every one. Then Id call them all and introduce yourself and told them what you do etc. Ask them if it would be okay to drop off some business cards for them to give to anyone who might ask about a taxidermist :) Or maybe they will set them somewhere or put them on their bulletin board?
Then in a few days when they get the flyer in the mail they will remmeber who you are and hopefully post it somewhere for their clients to see... :)
DO NOT OFFER KICKBACKS! that is a pandoras box.
What were the responces you got back from the outfitters and how much buisness were you able to get from sending flyers out?
i pay archery shops FOR EVERY referral - the more people i can get selling for me the better
If you do quality work you should never have to pay a kickback. Any decent outfitter should want to refer his clients to a good taxidermist.
Lets see...theres only three of you taxidermists, and fifty outfitters. Hmmm...and you wanna know how to approach THEM? How about this...do great work, and THEY will approach YOU! Now theres a great opportunity! And as usual, Jim Marsico is dead-nuts right on...no kickbacks. If youre good, theyll pay your price. If youre busy, and thankful for the referrals, youll be able to express that to them, without being held hostage by them, with paybacks.
This will positively show that you seriously lend support to their organization and will receive it as well. Be an active part in their Association...get to be on a first name basis with them...get on a Committee of sorts...volunteer to help setting up or tearing down a meeting location. Put up a display at their/your membership functions. Go to the dinners/dances/fundraisers. Donate a certificate for a mounted game head...whether they use it themselves or give it to a very deserving client. By doing this you will gain quicker acceptance than using any other method. As time goes on they will start calling on you...as both a friend, a fellow Assoc. member and a Taxidermist.
You asked what responses I got back from outfitters and how much business was generated...
Well as everyone knows IM JUST learning taxidermy. I simply mentioned a method I used for my bird and hatching eggs business :) It worked great for me.. Last year I more than doubled my hatching egg sales, and I have a 2 yr waiting list on some of my birds :) Advertising does wonders LOL.. I used flyers at the local feed stores and Bird shows, and I put my business cards anywhere I could :)And last Feb I put up my website.. Word of mouth can be very slow. I prefe advertising and let the word of mouth get around about your work...
THe only difference between me using this method to advertise my birds and hatching eggs... is that instead of selling an item your selling yourself. It doesnt matter if you are the best taxidermists, best mechanic, or have the best birds in the world ... If noone knows about you and what you do what good does it do you? Flyers, business cards, a website etc simply places your name or business name out there where people will see it.
Ive posted flyers at feed stores, butcher shops, local bulletine boards, run ads in the paper, I also link my website on my signature to most forums all so that people will know me and what I do.
Its the same with any business. IF the public doesnt know you exists its kinda hard to sell yourself or your product.
Heck if you have a store, put a big Banner up announcing TAXIDERMY by "your name"... Anything to catch the eye of the public :)
As long as you can back up what you advertise then it will all be good :)
Rae
You can't imagine the trouble you're asking for if you don't. I'd NEVER, EVER give an outfitter a kickback for any reason. I charge according to what I consider a fair profit margin. To give any of that to a guy who has nothing invested in the process is just crazy. I deal only with the customer. Once you start dealing with an outfitter, you start getting those that "the outfitter told me you could fix this" or worse, the outfitter brings something personal in and starts that old crap about having brought you so much business he should get his mount done free. The outfitter doesn't give discounts on his hunts for the most part and if you go a dozen times, I can guarantee you he's not going to give you a free hunt. He takes a client out and he gets a tip on top of his profit, he brings the work to you and YOU tip him and the customer comes and picks up his mount, pays his bill and says, "Thank you" if you're lucky. If or when your work gets up to speed, they will come on their own and you can still make a living.
The very best thing you can do at this early stage is get a decal for your truck/tailer/whatever and have some business cards to give your customers. A small add in a local sporting goods store along with business cards is more than enough. It's tough enough in the beginning as it is and to spend lots of money (or give it away) is not good business sense.
..for referrals