Is your product for everyone?

April 14, 2008 at 11:18 am | In Advertising, How do you do it?, Motivation | No Comments
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Hey!

I should be packing but of course I am not…..it’s all about priorities people. :)

Anyway, I was reading an email I received that was talking about why Mia Bella’s Candles are “gourmet” or more so, why they are labeled as gourmet. It stated because our candles were for the “candle connoisseur”. I have read this before when different people were speaking about where to find potential customers and such. So I started thinking, how do you know who your market is or whatyour target market is? Is it possible that people who don’t do well in retailing are just targeting the wrong customers? Then, I was like is that even possible to have a “wrong” market, because they (the smart marketing people) say that everyone isa potential customer or business partner and don’t judge.

Well, I have drawn my own conclusions on the matter.

Conclusion #1: You do have a target market or particular market of people that would be ideal for your product.

Conclusion #2: You shouldn’t judge. You should offer your product or service to all but, be able to weed through those who will buy and those who are just pulling your leg. In other words don’t spend all your time on nickels when you could be catching dollars.

Conclusion #3: Price! Different people can afford and will pay for different things. Some people are bargain shoppers and will not pay retail for anything no matter how great or “ideal” it is for them, they believe they can find the same quality or quantity for $5 less or 25% off at Wal-Mart or something.

 

What I have learned that you have to do is make your product or service available to all people, no matter what. I see billboards for $100,000+ homes in lower income neighborhoods, they may not be able to afford that house now, but they may in the future and that’s what counts.

Compare your prices not only to others in your industry online, but also in the stores that you normally shop in. Is your product double or triple the price of similar products? For me, our candles are triple the prices of the candles in Wally World or any other bargain store. Double the price of candles in other stores as well. But, they are the same price as one of the leading candles in America, so I know my customer base exists in my city since they have a store here.

Now lets say I sold candles that cost $40 or so a jar. I don’t have any shops around me that sell candles for that price. The leading candle company in my city sells candles, for half that. Where am I going to find my customers? Who are my customers? Do you see how candles at this price would be a bit harder to sell in my city?

But, if I lived in ”celebrity city”, California, where most things cost an arm and a leg, I could get away with probably selling my candles for $50 a pop in the right stores. That wouldn’t fly here where I live, we are not that high class.

So maybe if you are someone who is not doing so well retailing your particular product or service you should check your prices. See if people in your area can afford your products. If they can’t that doesn’t make them unaffordable to all, just in your city. You will probably have to advertise in other areas.

 

Hope this helps answersome questions!

 

Thanks for reading!

Jarmelia Ladson

What do “I” do from home?

April 13, 2008 at 1:38 pm | In How do you do it?, What is this blog about? | No Comments
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Hi all,

I have been on a hiatis for a few weeks due to trying to pack for a trip and getting my business in line for when I return. Off topic: If you have a wordpress blog, how do you like the new dash board? It’s all “fancy” and such. Why is the Jefferson’s theme song playing in my head? “We’re movin’ on up!” I am such a cornball! :)

So, I thought since I have interviewed others and asked them about their businesses and such, why not interview myself? I should let you all know what I do from home and what kind of business I run. I also want to tell you all about some future plans I have on expanding my business, I’ll tell you about those if this post doesn’t get too terribly long.

Okay on to letting you all know about my business…

I am a Independent distributor for Mia Bella’s Gourmet Candles. I have been with this company for about 1 1/2 years. The candles are an alternative wax candle, that is made from vegetable wax and other alternative waxes. The waxes are all natural, no parrafin. Our candles have 2 wicks and are triple scented. Triple threat! But, the thing I like the best about them is the fact that the scent is not over powering, you would think it would be since it is triple scented but, it actually isn’t and as with all candles, some scents are strong and some scents are lighter than others.

I have bruned the leading candle that is about the same price as ours and have to say, I can tell the difference. The other candle company is a “nice” candle, making it better than a bargain store candle, but it is not gourmet or a nice fit for a true candle lover. Our candles fit that bill.

So in saying that, I have learned that our candles aren’t for everyone and everybody, some people are quite content buying the $4.99 candles from Wal-Mart and aren’t looking for a better candle. And you have the others people who want a long lasting, strong scented, evenly burning candle, that actually looks nice when burning and creates virtually no soot, our candles are for them.

That is what makes our candles GOURMET. We are a step above the rest and definitely ahead of your average candle.

Our work from home opportunity:

We offer 3 ways for you to make money from home; Retail, Residual and Fundraising. You can choose just one way or all three, it is up to you. I do all three, myself and I am a trained Fundraising Consultant and Business Recruiter. I didn’t go to school or get a bachelors to earn these titles, either, I just followed the system and become knowledgeable in these subjects, you can too.

Our programs are so simple and easy to follow. You buy the candles at wholesale- Candle of the Month= $9.50 and you sell it at or above retail price = $18.95. You can sell them for more than that price, that decision is up to you, since it is your business. I sell them for a square $20.00, which allows me a 50%+ profit.

Is this business run solely online and at home?

Honestly, I get a little irritated when people say “Work from home, no commute!” and such, it is a bit misleading. You can build a business completely over the internet and never have to leave your “home office”, people are doing it everyday. This is usually the route most people who want to earn residual income go, which is when you sign-up other people who want to work from home and kind of “take them under your wing”. It’s called team building.

But, if you want to do retailing, which is selling the candles, you may and most likely will, have to leave your office chair and get out and about. I don’t mind doing this, it allows me to talk to more people face to face and interact with them. You will have to go to the Post Office to mail off scent-samples and information packets, you will need to pass out catalogs and brochures. You don’t have to do these things, but more than likely you will if you are retailing. Some people even set up booths and have home parties. You can work this business so many ways, again this is up to you!

Fund-raising also may involve you leaving your office to meet with churches or other organizations to tell them about the products and give them their packets.

So for me, I am not doing this because I can do it solely from home or because I save on gas, I do it because I can be my own boss. I don’t have a cap on how much money I can make, so the possibilities are virtually endless.

Are there flaws in this business plan or company?

I don’t think their are flaws with the company as in the structure or compensation plan, but you do have a few bad apples among you as with any company. You have those who do this exclusively for the money or people who seem to always be looking for trouble. No business is without people like this, they are everywhere but, gladly they are not the owners or the ones who make the decisions.

If you have any questions about Mia Bella and would like to contact me please feel free to send me an email. You can also fill out the contact form on my website: http://www.mbgourmetcandles.com for more information.

Hope that whatever you choose to do in life, you succeed!

Jarmelia Ladson

Fundraising Consultant and Business Recruiter

Thanks for reading!

 

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