Offer Something New In Your Business

Don't Let Your Small Business Collect Dust; Always Offer Something New and Exciting :

We've all seen those shop windows where it seems as though the display hasn't changed in twenty years, except for the thickening dust and the crack in the signboard that keeps inching longer and longer. 

As a small business owner, it can be difficult to compete with fast-paced consumer trends, where products and their prices seem to change before you can even unload your shipment. However, there are clever ways that even the smallest companies can convey a fresh sense of newness to even their oldest product or service.

Something Old, Something New - Ideas for Small Businesses:

1. Combine an old product with a new one for a "package" deal.
2. Take outdated merchandise or products and physically create something new!
3. Create a new version of a product. Authors and editors do this to their textbooks and manuals all of the time, sometimes only changing a few bits and pieces to create an entirely new product.
4. Add a new color or size. Something as simple as adding a new variety to an existing product can make the entire line seem new and fresh.
5. Get a new endorsement. A new testimonial can make even an old product more exciting to a customer.
6. Repackage an existing item. A new look on the box, bag, or carton can produce an effect that caters to a changing market.
7. Offer the merchandise at a new, lower price. See if a more competitive price begins motivating customer purchases.
8. Bring back something old. Maybe you discontinued a product years ago, and you've gotten a few requests. Or, maybe you've found old inventory and you want to make it new again. The return of an "oldie but goodie" can seem like an entirely new product, especially to customers who had never bought it in the first place.

When You Do Get Something New, Announce Its Arrival:

Don't just speak it, shout it! Getting product information out to existing customers, potential clients, as well as the press is extremely important. Consider the following ideas to announce a new product:

1. In-store signage.
2. Twitter.
3. Website/blog.
4. E-mail or newsletter.
5. Offer free samples.
6. Place it in the most visible or featured spot in your store or online.
7. Create a press release or written description.
8. Make sure all employees and staff are aware of the product's arrival.
9. Giveaways or contests.
10. Sale or promotion.

Many of the best small business marketers out there actually go beyond announcing the arrival of a new product to "teasing" and doing "sneak peeks" of a product before it's arrived. The anticipation can build and actually result in pre-orders or sales that are very advantageous for small business owners.

 

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What's Next

Next In This Guide
Part 32:
Know Your Competition - A key part of a small business market strategy is to know your competition, and find out how to deal with them. Asking a few questions will help you understand who you're competing against.

Previous In This guide
Part 30:
Joining HARO: Help A Reporter Out - Rather than searching for media outlets that might be interested in promoting your products, scan inquiries in one place by joining HARO (Help A Reporter Out).

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Street Smart Guide to Small Business Marketing

 

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