Marketing Your Children's Clay Handprints Business on a "Shoestring"

Marketing your clay handprints home-based business is something YOU can afford to do!
2 Tips to get you started with minimal costs!

Going into business for the first time can be scary. In our situation, we initially had very little funds to get started. However, we knew that we needed exposure for our clay handprints to become known and to build our business and we were determined to make it work because we believed in the benefits that a home-based business would bring our family. So we decided to start small which we did by first offering our product to merely our family and friends. We received an overwhelming positive response. We soon learned that the wonder of our ceramic handprint home business is that it needs very little marketing in order to grow and to bring in repeat customers.

1. Advertise first to your family and friends
Offering your product first to your family and friends can be done by simply picking up the phone or inviting them to have ceramic prints made in ordinary conversation. Once they have prints made, your finished product will hang in their homes as and advertise themselves to all who see them. Furthermore, they will mention it to their family and friends creating a web of promotion for your product. Although this may sound simple, this was our first marketing strategy. Not only was there no cost involved, it continues to be our most effective form of marketing and has been the foundation of our home-based business.

2. Personally visit preschools, doctor’s offices and hospitals and all mom’s groups.
Rather than making your customer’s come to you, go to them! Not only do you save on costly advertisements, your customers will have the opportunity to personally meet you and find out more about ceramic handprints. Bring along a few sample prints for them to look at! Preschools, doctor’s offices and hospitals are full of babies and children, which are your client base. Make your service known there simply by introducing yourself and your business, or make up a simple flyer to leave in the waiting room or office area.

Once again, this is an affordable and pleasurable way to spread the word about your business while minimizing your marketing expenditure. Over the years, we have found that our most valuable and effective form of marketing has been through relationships. Begin with the relationships you already have in your friends and family. Then begin building relationships in your community through preschools and pediatric- medical establishments. Marketing through relationships is not only affordable, but also rewarding! Marketing your home-based business is something YOU can afford to do!
Marketing your home-based business is something YOU can afford to do! In both our In Studio and At Home Training business opportunties we show you step-by step how we have successfully marketed oursevles for 34 years. Let our experience work for you. We can show you how! Call us, you will be glad you did. (800) 808-8615
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The Joys of Starting A Ceramics Business

Starting your own ceramics business can be fun, creative, and profitable. Your studio can be set up so that you work from home in your house, outside studio, or garage. You can start with a small space and grow as you need to.

In 1972 we started this ceramic business in a spare bedroom in our home making clay beads. We made necklaces, earrings, pins, buttons, and our one-of-a-kind ceramic art. We had a very small electric kiln in our garage and fired often. We also made coiled planters, which were very popular then, filled all our planters with our clay beads and buttons and fired them together because we were able to save on kiln space and for economical benefits.

The joy and beauty of making these ceramic beads and buttons while developing our ceramics business was that we were able to create our clay sculpture pieces as well to sell at local galleries, gift stores, and craft faires. Our clay jewelry line now created an extra income for us with very little expense. Plus, we had another product to add to our business.

As we made money we invested in more supplies and equipment. This has truly been one of the great benefits of owning our ceramic business. Throughout the years we have found ways to make new clay products with low costs that we were able to market well, create extra income for ourselves, and at the same time, create our ceramic art work.

Since 1974 we have been making children's and babies hand and foot clay prints for families. This ceramic hand print and footprint business has been great! The families, kids, and babies we work with are wonderful and the this clay hand print business has created a way for us to increase our income as well. Throughout the history of our ceramic business we have found ways to make new clay products that are fun, creative, and profitable! You can do the same!

The Lost Art of Customer Service

When you start your business having good customer service is what will set you apart from the rest, and is what will assure you of repeat business. In today's world of computerized robots and non-human menus, getting a real person on the other end of the phone is a breath of fresh air.

This is the beauty of our ceramic handprint business. Our business is personalized. It is my husband and myself. When a customer calls they talk to one or the other of us. This is very reassuring to them. If they have a particular question or concern, we are here to help them.

Our policy is simple: The customer comes first. We aim to please. We want all of our customers to be happy with Pawprints no matter what the cost. If we make a mistake on one their orders, we not only redo it, but, because time is money, we actually give them another ceramic handprint for free. This takes a potential problem, and creates a win-win situation for everyone! They in turn tell their friends and family how well they were treated by us, and we now have them as a happy customer for life.

This ceramic handprint business is a very personalized business to be in. We are dealing with babies, children, families and their pets! Our business is one whereby we have the opportunity to offer not only a life long treasured keepsake, but, we are also able to know our clients and their families for generations.

Repeat business is something we all want to build on. Being accountable to your clients and their needs will keep them coming back for years. In todays world, good old fashioned customer service is rare. By offering your clients personalized and genuine customer service, and letting them know how much you truly appreciate their business will keep them happy and coming back to you for generations.