well its deer season again, last year I took in a couple of deer and since
it was my first year I thought ,well that isnt to bad.
this is the third day of deer season, in wv and I havent taken in anything
I put my add in the yellow pages , handed out business cards and all of
that kind of stuff. this taxidermy business is really tough to get into
.
just venting, getting kind of tired of setting here all week and nothing
coming in the door.
I even dropped my prices this year to increase the numbers some.
Just dont know what to do at this point.
any suggestions?
quitting sounds to be the most reasonable thing to do..............
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It sounds as if you are new to the business, and that "underpricing" is a point some of your peers may use against you. As I've said dozens of times, this is the ONE business in America where advertising is mostly wasted money. Your customers are your yellow pages, business cards and billboards rolled all into one. As the word gets around, business will reach a point where you'll wish you were back here.
But I'm not worried, I have a real job, dropping the price wont help at all, or you would have the work knocking at the door. I bought a pile of capes from the butcher, I have a TV box of antlers from years of hunting, and so I will make my own mounts while I get ready for next year. The window has closed for new customers this year; I didn't promote at all this year and it shows. I do believe that if you don't promote, you will perish. Next year will be my year to plan for. Why quit Brian? What will that do for you? Do you have a sign by the road? Have you put a add in the paper? Did you put a display of you're work up at a local fall hunters get together? Signs in all of the sporting goods stores in you're area? Business cards all over bulletin boards of every store and business in the county? Did you do all of these suggestions? Or just put a phone number in the phone book yellow pages.
I really didnt cut my price, I decided to give the boards for free,
in hopes that this would bring in a few more customers.
Kind of a special for this year only.........
I too think that advertizeing is a waste of money in this business...........
but how else do you get people in the door?
I have some mounts out there , I guess I just need to give it time to
grow, thanks for your imput...........
I used to advertise where it's cheap, flyers at rod and gun clubs, shooting clubs, gun shops, outdoor stores and maybe some grocery stores. Also, presence/displays at NWTF, DU, PU, your county sportsman federation banquets and Natinal H+F Day events is a big plus. If you can get some of your work into small popular shops is a huge help, stay away from the big outdoor stores, I don't think people can get the up close and personal look they need to judge your work. I agree with George, going yellow pages, newspapers etc. doesn't give you the payback as word of mouth... Hang in there, if your work is good people will soon take notice and you'll be like us, never being able to CATCH UP!
Is your work high Quality ? I have been in bus for years and I always say Quality sells no matter what.I promise this will work I don't advertise and I can'y keep up to the volume,but the Quality keeps
em returning for more Quality mounts.
hey brian where in wv are you im in wv also and buisness is doing pretty good for me and we only have a bow season in my county like george said word of mouth is the best advertising just dont give up so soon.i would never give free boards thats money outta your pocket i have guys around me that does taxidermy for 150 to 180 a head but guess who gets more buisness me cause they know there getting good quality just be paitent work will come
I'm lucky I guess with word of mouth work what I'm sick of is I want you to do my deer I'll call you back dead end calls after you give them a price gotten no lie 30 of them I'm not dropping my price I have the attitude the bitterness of a poor job long outlasts the sweetness of a cheap price sorry just needed to gripe thanx sean
I get alot of price checkers, they call say they will be here, get directions and make an appointment. I stick around the shop, wait, wait,sometimes late for work....these people never show, dont call back and are basically pain in the asses..........
You just dont know when you get calls whether or not these are real customers or just pains
I`m not full time and have things to do other than set at the shop..... how can you get people to do what they say they will do...