Creating a Mailing List

Maximizing each event is so key. In the Barefoot Ambassador program there are many ways to communicate, sell, reach and offer your products and services. Having your eye on growing each channel is certainly time well spent.

For example: Growing your mailing list. Barefoot releases beautiful e-mail campaigns for Ambassadors to use, but who are your going to mail it to? Your friends and family can only shop so often. You need a mailing list, a good long, strong list.

A great way to build a list is to simply have a sign up at each event you participate in. You might just be surprised at how many people join. Once they meet you, hear what you have to say about Barefoot, get an introduction to our assortment - they will be much more likely to respond to an e-mail you send them!

You can offer a "free prize draw" to collect e-mail addresses, but I find that if I just ask them to sign the mailing list they do - and it's a more straight forward way to simply ask them to join - they may just even open the e-mail when I send it.

Go Here to download a simple sign up sheet - I print these on bright orange paper and have it on a clip board with a cup of pens at the ready at every event.

Set a goal of how many valid e-mail addresses you want to collect at an event, a month, a year. The first goal I set for myself was 2000. Knowing that the turnover rate of e-mail to click to purchase is incredibly small - I knew I had to really focus on building the list.

With that goal nearly achieved I have moved my next goal to have a total of 5000 by January 2010. With the change and upgrades to the Ambassador program I have switched my e-mail management to Constant Contact. (there are about a million services to choose from - just came across this one yesterday . . . soo cute: MyEmma, wish I had found it sooner) Our new website is so robust, beautiful and much easier to "shop" - This partnered with the serious business tool of a professional e-mail service should prove to be great step in a new and right direction.

Credit Card Imprinter

A credit card imprinter can be an invaluable tool.  When at busy events there is nothing worse than taking too much time to write up your customers orders and having a line form.  What's more is putting yourself at risk for handwritten errors.  Purchasing a credit card imprinter is a great way to speed up the process and eliminate costly errors.

The model shown is available at  POSPaper.com  it sells for $16.95.  Feel free to shop around there are numerous online resources for these types of point of sale tools.  Don't forget the proper sized slips.

Remember, imprinting a credit card is just to save you from having to hand write it.  This slip should just be for your records and keep on file only until it has been entered into the Barefoot system and cleared - after which it should be destroyed.  Since I keep these for my records only - I simply imprint the card and write the total to be charged.  I do have customers sign and write in their phone number and or email.

Always get a customer phone number with credit card purchases and don't forget to record the CSV number.

Shopping Bags

I love love love the green shoppers offered by Barefoot - but we have to be honest, it is not a complete solution. I was using them for all my customers who wanted bags and quickly found I was going broke.

When ever possible I encourage people to go bag free - but that is not always possible. I found a great solution at NashvilleWraps. These bags are made from 100% recycled materials and are just nice plain kraft shopping bags.

I went for the "Shopping Bag Assortment" it contains a selection of sizes and quantities for a total of 125 bags for $38.50. All of the sizes have great uses.

A teeny small for puppet or cd purchases, the next size is good for board books or paperbacks (if you slightly bend to fit it in) The large size is good for a big bounty of Barefoot in all shapes and sizes - the Queen size - well, we should hope . . . there are only 25 - so far I have used them for household use mostly . . . but good to have around.

At this quantity they are .31 cents each . . . . safely consider this a good tool for a minimal investment.

I do still keep a small quantity of the barefoot green shoppers on hand - they are great for giving, selling and awarding a customer with a large purchase.

Customer Mailings

There are times when you need to mail a catalog or other information to customers, schools etc. I have found a few great envelops that are very eye-catching and, in my opinion, very barefoot.




Both are from EnvelopeMall. the first is the Astrobright 6 x 9 Booklet envelope - a package of 100 is $12.50. Comes in many barefoot colors and is the perfect size for a catalog. I have used it in "orbit orange", "celestial blue" and "re-entry red".

The second is the Dotted Washi, the orange is perfect and I love it love it love it - very whimsical and fun - but these are $21.95 for a package of 100, so you have to make the budget decision.



I find having these on hand always comes in very handy - and if I know I am doing a back pack fundraiser or other larger scale mailing this is first on my list of necessary supplies.

Dealing with Pipe and Drape

At larger scale events there sometimes is a "pipe and drape" set up - the color selection can really ruin your display if the colors are not "Barefoot".  I have purchased red curtain panels from Ikea to be prepared for these situations.  I always have them with me - (sometimes use them as table drapes) and if the event has black and gold pipe and drape back ground I simply hang the red curtains over the pipe, pin up my banner and off we go!

I think these are the ones I have . . . . but not sure.  It's best to go to Ikea if you can to check the weight and quality of the fabric.

here is a photo - wish I had an iron with me . . .

The Table Drape

Oh to cover the table well.  This is something I have struggled with over the years and I finally think I have it "right".   Draping the tables beautifully (and inexpensively) can really make a difference.  It is also important to be prepared for what each unique event may offer in the way of table shapes sizes and extra nooks and crannies.

I recently re-did all of my table drapes and I couldn't be more thrilled.  (BTW I own a sewing machine and can crudely sew - this does come in rather handy - but is not necessary)

I recently was at JoAnn Fabric when they were having a sale.  They had a whole group of brightly colored (very barefoot) denim.  It's a great weight fabric that is sturdy and the colors are simply divine.

I purchased one yard pieces in solids of: purple, yellow, green.  Then I  found another on sale bolt of a rich raspberry fabric in a nylon/polyester (this one is great - it doesn't wrinkle) bought many yards of this at a great price.

I cover the whole table in the raspberry  (if this piece is long enough the edges do not need to be finished - just tuck under)  - then made square "toppers" in the contrasting color (also added a ric rack trim to the toppers to give a little more punch and color . . . and because I thought it fun . . .)  

Ikea also sells some fabric in good solids - but be careful some of the fabric weights are way too thin and cheap.

 

a few personal opinion notes:  bed sheets do still look like bed sheets when put on a table.  Stick with solids.  Use the catalog and the product as your color guide.  Heavier weight fabric preforms better and lasts longer.  Find fabric on sale and buy some extra yardage, it will always come in handy.  Do your best to have a cloth that reaches the ground on all sides a shopper may see.  No need to see the ugly legs and your use of storage under the table . . .

if you can't sew - try using the iron on hem tape called "stitch witchery" or something like that to iron your seams closed - you could also fabric glue a trim onto your drapes.

Building a Display

This will be the first of many posts on building a display.  As my business has grown and changed over the years, so has my display with it.  I find new things, discover was was great, what was not so great - what, in the end was too heavy and cumbersome to bother with and all. 

Creating height is always the challenge, or should I say creating height that is not too heavy to actually carry around is the ultimate challenge.  With the goal of getting the most out of a table top space here is something new I have found to be quite useful.

The "Mammut" side table in red from Ikea.  It's a great price at $24.99 and is very light weight.  While it doesn't hold a ton of merchandise - is does a great job of adding a little height and a punch of color.  I have used them on a table top and on the floor to gain a little real estate.