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My name is Nicole, and I am the owner of JournalJunky.com. Here is a little background:
Journal Junky offers recycled handmade journals. I created this business because:
1. I looovvve journals, writing, pens...
2. I enjoy offering earth-friendly "paper fun."
3. I am passionate about writing and the ability to express oneself.
Journal Junky`s Mission: "To inspire all to embrace the calming, empowering, and healing properties of writing."
This being said, my business has taken off in the last three months! I have been contacted by a couple of boutiques who bought my journals. This has been very exciting. Now I am ready to move forward, but I am afraid. I know all business success lies in taking risks but I am afraid that if this really takes off, I may not be able to control the success. How can I distribute thousands of journals if the need arises?!!!! I know I`m looking far into the future, but this kind of thinking has kept me from taking action.
I have decided to conquer my fears and just pound the pavement. I would like to get my little books into the local General Store chain, local hospital gift shop, locally owned bookstores, and even the local pet store. I have the phone numbers to these places, but I am not sure how to approach them.
I do not have a sales or marketing background and I don`t even know the correct jargon to use! Should I go into these places and ask for a manager and show my wares, or should I call and ask to make an appointment with the buyer? Or should I email them first? What if they are not interested? Should I try harder? I would really like to make a lot of sales for the upcoming holidays. I look forward to hearing your responses!
Thank you and enjoy your day,
Nicole Annette
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Nicole Annette
Hi Nicole,
Take heart and know you will discover within yourself these things you feel lacking as you do move forward; I know it sounds kind of lame, but our experience is that once you start, as you already have, your "fear" will fade from memory, but will also help you realize your real limits (e.g. yes a big order will hurt, for a little while, but it makes you plan for when it does come).
It is hard to open yourself up to rejection because you know it will happen; it`s hard to ask not knowing the "words" and knowing some of the answers are going to be no and perhaps put to you a bit cruelly considering this is your heart and soul you`re holding out ... but you already know you have decided to do this -- so don`t forget it`s your choice and turn away when it does hurt or you feel "they are right", suck it up and make a single goal of doing "it" until you get one YES (then build higher goals).
- Walk in or call and ask ... the people answering the phone know the answers and they handle these calls all the time. "Hi my name is Nicole and my journals are ideal for your store and I was wondering if you will help me find who I need to talk to."
- It`s easier to get a phone number than an email; cold calling emailing is "safe" but you need to do both until you know your product/message is at the right place for the decision ... then you can back off to give it some time (days/weeks; ask them).
- Work your list all at once; don`t just hit one and back off to see if you`re doing it "right"; what works in one place won`t work in another and getting contact is the one thing you can do regardless of being right.
- If they are not interested, and you need to make sure they are the "decision maker" before you hear that answer, then they are not, and you need accept and move on for the time being (if you are sure your product is right for their customers, then call back after a few months or a year and see if that is still the case or they are still the right person).
- You should always try harder!
- The holidays are already here, but you are working the local level on a personal level so it`s not without hope (big store buyers, your big order fear base, are not your target right now because they are not at your fingertips AND they buy many months ahead). That being said, some of them do have local store buying authority and do need to be on your list and are great for "practice" as they have to be nice (even if it`s just giving you the 800 number for their buyers department).
- Know it`s not easy, take little steps, but always keep moving, asking, listening, and in time your biggest challenge is going to be questioning "what you know works" so you can keep growing ... this is a journey, a process, and not a destination!
I believe in you! I know you can do it ... you`re already doing it! PLUS I think your product and mission are fantastic; "remember the lion" (he always had the courage!~)
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Chris Miller, a simple taco maker:
The Tiger Taco home in the U.S.A.
Tiger Tacos in Australia
Tiger Tacos in the United Kingdom
