Hey, paper pushers and ink masters! April Fools, the day of hilarious hijinks and harmless pranks, has come and gone, but we want to point out some key points that could put a serious damper on your sales (and your profits!). Read up on five follies that can turn your business into a real-life comedy of errors.
1. Keep it Monochrome!
Have you ever thought that some of the print work you take on looks a little bland? Sure, you can print it, but you won't make as much profit!
Encourage your customers to spice things up! Ditch the boring and go full Jackson Pollock! Premium options add margin opportunity, so get on board. Don't be afraid to offer options! Tell them how to add color, embellishments, and even metallics to take their communication to new heights and expand your profit margins. Upgrading from plain white paper is another excellent way to add pizazz for engagement.
2. Selling One Thing at a Time!
You can sell one order at a time, but who doesn't love a deal? Look for obvious pairings but remember to add a few that are intriguing. You could create a business card bundle with card stock variations for different purposes, different images to lift the client's business, or to support events they attend. Consider offering promotional items paired with printed material to help your customer tell a bigger story.
Bundles can introduce your customers to new items and ideas to help them grow their business. Look at the industries and businesses you serve and think about bundles they can use to welcome new employees, celebrate new customers, or be more visible at their next event. You can expand bundles in any direction as you learn more about your customers and their businesses.
The 4over catalog is vast, so use it as a wish book for bundles that will fit your customers' needs. Look at each month as a new opportunity to offer seasonal and event-based bundles.
3. Turning Customer Service Into a Game of Telephone
Remember that frustrating childhood game where whispers morphed into nonsensical gibberish? Don't do that with customer orders. When critical information is passed along in conversations, high gloss can turn into the unintelligible hyena grass! Oops, there goes your client's magazine launch.
Leverage your tools to keep customer service efficient and ensure that conversations don't lead to misunderstandings of order specifications and delivery timeframes.
4. Doing BOGO Sales
Customers love a bargain, so offering a buy one get one free deal is a perfect approach, right?
Well, no. Discounting is a slippery slope that is not the best way to grow your business. Instead, look for ways to add more value to your customer relationship. Everyone loves a celebration. Add some open houses to your calendar and invite customers and others in your community to see your operation! And while you have them, show them what you can produce! And with a partner like 4over behind you, your offerings are virtually limitless!
Instead of BOGO, show them options and offer incentives and promotions for being VIP clients!
5. Delivering Without Packaging
Eliminate the frustration of unpacking by delivering orders in stacks!
Of course, that could eliminate the need for boxes and other wrapping, but the risk is that the job ends up in a messy pile. Consider creating unique packaging that acts as a billboard for your services. Printed labels, bags, and boxes act as billboards for your services. Not only can you offer custom packaging for your customers, but you can take advantage of these great products to set your own business apart and offer your customers a unique and custom experience when they order from you.
So there you have it, print resellers! Avoid these five follies, and you'll be well on your way to a year of booming business and satisfied customers. Your 4over team is here to support you! Our print pros have been hard at work developing sales tools so you can continue to reach out to your customers and expand into new markets. Don't forget to visit the Printing Sales Made Simple page where you'll find helpful resources designed to help you hit your sales targets and expand your business.
