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NO more janky emails... FREE tip inside!

I remember being fascinated with the working world as I repeatedly watched the Working Girl in the '80s.  One of the lines that I remember vividly to this day is when Melanie Griffith's character says to her best friend, "If you want to be taken seriously, you have to have serious hair." 

I am not saying that everyone who starts a new business has to go out and get a fancy, new haircut.  Well actually, that will help too if you end up getting an in-person meeting :)  But first thing first.  Do not pitch to store owners and retail buyers using a janky email.  NO MORE sexymama1985@yahoo.com.  None of that!  If you want to be taken seriously, you have to take your business seriously.

Here is a quick and simple tip that you can apply to your business right away. 

Once you have your domain name (you can register one at godaddy.com for about ten bucks!), you can sign up for a Google apps account and setup up to 10 email accounts for free.  Did I mention that it's FREE?  So even if you're a ONE-man operation, you can setup email accounts such as: yourname@mycompany.com; info@mycompany.com; wholesale@mycompany.com; press@mycompany.com and have it all forwarded to you.  You get the picture?  This simple change can make your company look 100% more professional than sending out an email using your personal email account.

Are you guilty of using your personal email account for your business?  No worries, take action now!

Here's to making your product (and company) retail-ready!

xoxo

Grace Kang
Your Retail Product Mentor


p.s. A BIG, warm welcome to all of the new readers who joined our community!  You are going to love the resources you will find here to help you make your product retail-ready... Enjoy!

p.s.s. Be sure to drop by Oh My! Handmade blog tomorrow as I will be answering a juicy question on our monthly Ask Grace Q&A column.

Are you HOT for your business?

I don't know if it's the HOT weather that we've been having here in NYC or these two HOT chics, Marie Forleo and Laura Roeder, spicing things up at RHH B-School, but I am feeling HOT... for my business.

You know that lovin' feeling...
Your noodle is cookin' with some juicy ideas and you can't wait to implement them!

So take action NOW!  If you have been contemplating about selling your product to more retail stores, put down your laptop and get out there and be seen.  JUICY secret - retail buyers are looking for you as much as you are looking for them.

1. Start local.  Get your product in the hands of your "ideal" customers at local fairs or flea markets and get feedback!  Even the ladies from Foley & Corinna and Carol's daughter started out this way.  Besides, you never know who's going to be walking the market.

2. Walk around your neighborhood and find local boutiques who can be a good fit for your business.  Small businesses love to support and promote local designers and artists... it keeps the money in the community!  Be personable in your approach.  Share with them how your product can "complement" their current assortment, NOT duplicate their current mix.

3. Creat a buzz with your fan-base using social media.  Let's face it.  Everyone is on-line these days.  If you have a big following on your Twitter or Facebook page, retail buyers are MORE likely to pick up your line than if you have 0 followers.  They want to know that if they buy your line that hopefully some of your fans will also become their customers as well.  So use it to your advantage and put it on all your marketing materials.   Whenever you introduce a new retail partner to your stockists list, share with your fans and get them pumped up. I am sure that they will appreciate being able to go into a physical location to buy your products in-person anytime!

If you found these tips helpful (or do-able), leave a comment here and tell us your action plan.  We will be cheering you on!

xoxo
Grace


p.s. A BIG, warm welcome to all of the new readers who joined our community!  You are going to love the resources you will find here to help you make your product retail-ready... Enjoy!



photo image by etsy shop handz