Business History Books » Business Consultant » Marketing in the USA
Marketing in the USA
Question:
39 Marketing Hi Phil, I would recommend you call your software product a "software tool" for the carpet industry. Because US tool distributors are the constantly looking out for new lines to put into their catalogs. You should approach these distributors asking ONLY for their advice on how you should market your new software tool, and probably many will put it into their catalogs. In which case your marketing costs will then be minimal! Good luck Mark Metcalf — Your Own Marketing Dept Looked After By Professionals — Breakthrough" We also work with accountants, consultants, etc. For FREE Info, FREE Newsletters, FREE Reports, and FREE Business Growth Assessment
Response:
>THe program is for high end contractors and costs 7500 for a single user >licence. If you have the volume of work it will transform your business. If >you dont do that much large scale planning it may be an extravagance.
The customer that I had requested the info for does around $1.5-2 million a month in flooring sales, 30+ sales people, 4 locations, and maintains a multi-million $ inventory. I’d say they do a little vol. The customer here sells to contractors across the USA. Such is the case with many carpet resellers in my area. >Please let me know itf you still want more information.
I do…otherwise I wouldn’t have asked. I’d been awaiting a response as I’d already contacted my customer about your software. Jeff Front Porch Computers Inc – Open 7 days 706-259-7999 706-259-9346 Fax 800-GO-PORCH Over 50,000 computer/business equipt items available As seen in Nation’s Business, WorldTrade, Compuserve Mag, etc.
Response:
We have a very successfull UK software product. It is desined to help planners work out how much carpet (or other floor coverings) they will need for an installation. We we know would be of interest to contractors in the USA and are now looking into the best way of marketing over. If anyone has any suggestions we would very grateful Regards Phil "Charter & Posting Guidelines" and "The FAQ" Available at these fine places: your news server, www.dejanews.com , www.dakine.demon.nl/mbmm/ PLEASE, reduce quoted text to essential when replying. Max line length at 80.
Response:
Further to your posting below, a couple of questions first…. – what price do you sell the software for? – how do you currently sell it; direct? via direct mail or ads? or via channels? – how many customers do you have in the UK? i.e is there a good base of reference sites. What I am trying to get at is whether it is possible to sell the software via some form of a direct model, or whether due to price, volume of sales required, previous experience, the only route is via an indirect channel. If this is so then the issue is a straight-forward (!!if only) search for a suitable partner(s) with good access to your target market. The answers to the questions at the start will help me give a more considered response if of interest to you. Regards >We have a very successfull UK software product. >It is desined to help planners work out how much carpet (or other floor >coverings) they will need for an installation. >We we know would be of interest to contractors in the USA and are now >looking into the best way of marketing over. >If anyone has any suggestions we would very grateful >Regards Phil
Peter McHugh: RUBIC Consulting___ Solving Software Export puzzles www.rubic.demon.co.uk TEL: +44-1884-25 12 88
Response:
> We have a very successfull UK software product. > It is desined to help planners work out how much carpet (or other floor > coverings) they will need for an installation. > We we know would be of interest to contractors in the USA and are now > looking into the best way of marketing over.
1) Make a version that works in yard and inches, not metric. 2) Design killer sales letter 3) Buy a list of flooring contractors 4) Find a low-cost, reputable mail contractor in the states to mail for you (the contract cost will cost less than over-seas postage) promotional, I just don’t want to put more effort into this response if the suggestions won’t be used). Scott Nelson Visit FYW Enterprises home page for all your busines writing & web design needs at http://fyw.hypermart.net (Awards won: "True Style" "Cool Reality" & "Website Innovation") Check out "Dude’s Science Fiction Reading List" at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/1475/sftitles.htm
Response:
>We have a very successfull UK software product. >It is desined to help planners work out how much carpet (or other floor >coverings) they will need for an installation. >We we know would be of interest to contractors in the USA and are now >looking into the best way of marketing over. >If anyone has any suggestions we would very grateful >Regards Phil
I’d definitely be interested in more info on your software. Our store is located in Dalton Ga<Carpet Capitol of the World as they like to call it>. In fact one of my customers has recently requested info on such SW. Please contact us with more info ASAP. As for how to market such software….outside the Dalton Ga area I doubt many computer dealers/resellers would be interested in a product that is so specialized. If I were you I’d go directly to potential customers via trade magazines and flooring trade shows. How about going to the manufacturers as it’s something that would be of real benefit to their customers. I’ve had one of my customers<major carpet mill> request us to provide help in setting up systems for dealers. Provide a solution they can sell to their dealers. Jeff Front Porch Computers Inc – Open 7 days 706-259-7999 706-259-9346 Fax 800-GO-PORCH Over 50,000 computer/business equipt items available As seen in Nation’s Business, WorldTrade, Compuserve Mag, etc.
Response:
Thanks for the information. > 3) Buy a list of flooring contractors
Do you know where I could buy a list of flooring contractors Regards Phil
Response:
THe program is for high end contractors and costs 7500 for a single user licence. If you have the volume of work it will transform your business. If you dont do that much large scale planning it may be an extravagance. Please let me know itf you still want more information. Regards Phil
Response:
Dear Peter, Thanks for your responce. We currently sell it for 7500 per single user lincence and have around 60 installations in the UK. We currently have many of the big name contractors and one or two manufacturers (those who do their own installations). Whilst devdeloping the program we sold only through word of mouth but we are now about to start advertising the product in the "Contract Flooring Journal". We target only the contract side of the industry were the volumes are smaller but the price can be a greate deal higher. I hope this gives you enough to go on. Many thanks for the interest Regards Phil
Response:
>Thanks for the information. >> 3) Buy a list of flooring contractors > Do you know where I could buy a list of flooring contractors
You won’t be floored by that one, http://www.copywriter.co.uk/resource/mailinglistmin.html has links to listbrokers who let you search their lists on te net. UK based http://www.fletel.co.uk lists*fletel.stargate.co.uk emailed me that they also do US lists (not checked the site yet). reception*databaseamerica.com http://www.databaseamerica has 6589 floor laying, refinishing and resurfacing, 12656 floor materials 3769 carpet layers 19425 psychiatrists So the need for grounding = the need for grounding. I got sent the databaseamerica database of 11m businesses and 180 m consumers/households, it is a fascinating snapshot of the US. Also one can see age and household income by area/zip code. Beverly Hills does not have much low income housing. Stating the obvious, you’ll need to also select by turnover. Mom and Pop will go pop or stay mum if offered 7500 pound software. John John Block Creative, marketing aware work which Freelance Copywriter talks rather than blandly bores, actively promotes your product, International and aims to be the best Welcomes Dollar and Sterling, in your market sector.