Hair Salon & Barber Shop Business Secrets Revealed

While sitting in the barber chair having my hair (what’s left of it) cut and styled, I had an epiphany. The next subject for the Clash blog would be about start up secrets to help you in opening your own hair salon or barber shop. After putting the word out, a successful young salon owner named Monica contacted me. Following is a Q & A session we had over a couple of acai bowls.

Describe Your Hair Salon Start Up Experience

“That’s a big question. It can actually be answered in four parts which led up to the grand opening of my salon. Inspiration, training, business plan, and courage were the principle factors leading to my successful salon opening and its longevity since.

Inspiration - As a child, mom and dad gave me a ton of stuffed animals and dolls. Armed with a pair of kiddy scissors, I went to work cutting and grooming all of the hair on all of them. As I grew older, it dawned on me that their “hair” never grew back (chuckling), but our hair never stops growing or changing. We will always have a need for barbers and stylists. That moment and realization was the turning point in my life. I knew my calling was in the beauty industry.

Training - For a barber or stylist, certification and experience are vital components to their careers. For the salon or shop owner, certification, experience, business administration, financial administration, marketing, and investing must all be accurately mastered and employed to secure and maintain a successful venture. These skills can be improved over time, but hiring and training the right people is a tremendous shortcut and advantage.

Business Plan - The guiding light of your vision is your business plan. As simple or complex as it may be, this plan is the blueprint of how your business will look and operate. Some of the necessary components of a business plan are a set of operational values and mission statement, acquiring proper training, skilled persons, a timeline targeting specific goals and deadlines, location scouting, pricing, furniture and supply cost, financing opportunities, filling key positions, and when to fill them. The core structure and outline of this plan can prevent the haphazard operation and failure that many proprietors face.

Courage - You cannot quantify the amount of courage, hard work, and persistence needed to start your own business. There are numerous “unknowns” that come with a start up, and your ability to remain committed and adapt to circumstances is crucial to your success. Meeting any and every challenge, with the ability to modify your plan accordingly will get you through the toughest of times.” Business IQ takes experience to learn, but success is attracted to fearless leaders that take bold action. If you need coaching or consulting, ask for help, but never ask for permission.”

How Did You Choose Your Salon Furniture and Equipment?

“The beauty industry is well populated with successful business models, as well as not-so-successful ones. When I was developing my business plan, I visited many salons and barber shops. I spoke with barbers, stylists, owners and customers to get first hand knowledge of what worked and what could be improved.

An interesting aspect of the salon vs. the barber shop became very evident. Most of the furniture, equipment and products were virtually the same. Decades ago, the setting of a barber shop was dramatically different from that of a salon. Now-a-days, the core structure is not very different, in fact, in many cases, they are nearly identical.

With my vision firmly laid out, I also scoured the internet looking for salon equipment suppliers and comparing their prices and financing opportunities. I broke the materials needed down into four segments; Salon equipment, salon furniture, hair products, and the reception area.

Salon Equipment - The selection of quality equipment, tools, and supplies is fundamental in creating an excellent work environment, leading to fantastic styling and customer experiences. Once you have decided on the brands, colors, quantities, and varieties, start shopping local and online stores for the best prices and terms. For example, salonca.com will offer or create a “package deal” offering discounts and special financing.

You really need to look at everything. Whether it’s brushes, combs, clippers, appliance holders, appointment books, towels, aprons, and hair dryers, be detailed in what you want, expect, and need from each piece of equipment.

Salon Furniture - The selection of salon furniture is another tremendous ingredient of the decision making process. The question here is “What theme/era are you planning for the salon?” Whether it be a contemporary, luxurious, goth, pastel, or posh theme, the quality and comfort of your furniture can set you apart from the competition.

The comfort of your salon chairs, barber chairs, cushions, styling stations, shampoo chairs and bowls will impact and can determine whether or not you win over and attract repeat customers.

Before choosing your location, these equipment and furniture details should be ironed out. It is imperative that you compare companies for pricing, warranties, and financing. Strategic planning and knowing how much you are going to spend in your start up is a key factor in determining most other aspects of your business plan. After the location has been chosen, the interior plan can be modified to accommodate the size and physical limitations of the space.

Hair Products - The hair products that are used and available will speak volumes about your salon. The better the quality of shampoo, conditioner, gel, and coloring products, the better the result for the customers. Having reached this stage in your profession, you have probably already chosen a favorite line of products. Find a reliable supplier that will keep you stocked up without breaking the bank.

Reception Area - The first impression! Having visited hundreds (yes, hundreds) of barber shops and salons, I can attest to the absolute necessity of a comfortable, well lit, relaxing environment for your customers to comfortably wait in. Offer them the opposite and you are asking to wave goodbye to your clientele.

It should always begin with a warm greeting, but there’s much more to it from that point. The reception desk, displays, pictures, chairs, tables, magazines, television, etc. all play a role in the vibe and customer’s experience. Always keep in mind that customers are shopping with more than their budget restrictions. Most often consumers patronize businesses where they feel respected, appreciated, and part of the community.

Given its impact, this area within your business should be well planned, researched, and budgeted beforehand.”

How Does Location Impact the Business?

“Quite frankly, location is everything. You will need to ask yourself, (pause) here let me ask you, it will be easier;

• How much money have you projected for rent?
• What demographic are your skills best suited for?
• Can you communicate and interact well with a diverse clientele?
• Is this going to be a permanent location or will you eventually expand and move?
• What types of businesses do you want in the vicinity of your salon?
• What are the city and/or county taxes on business income?
• Are there grants, tax breaks, or financial assistance for new businesses at the city, county, or state level?

With those questions in mind, let’s now switch gears and take a look at three typical locations for a barber shop or hair salon.

Retail Area - The cost for this type of location may be a bit higher than average. However, this can easily be offset in revenue generated with the right marketing and advertising campaign that turns passerby’s into paying customers .

A core benefit of this type of location is the visibility and traffic created by businesses surrounding it. What anchor stores are in the vicinity or nearby strip malls? Will they help promote your business? Popular grocery stores and restaurants help to attract large volumes of people, furthering your exposure and growth opportunities.

Strip Mall - In this scenario, you will likely end up with a neighbor on either or both sides of your salon. There will also be a list of rules regarding the use of the facade, hours of operation, trash and dumpster location, etc.

You can add a property, maintenance, or building administration fee to the rent. And depending on the affluence of the neighborhood, that rent may be a hard cookie to swallow.

Again, location is everything. If there is a popular anchor store in the strip mall, foot traffic resulting in walk-ins will increase. Are there schools or community centers in the vicinity? Reaching out in the surrounding community offering promotions or even sponsoring events will attract great press and increase your visibility.

Shopping Mall - Locating a hair salon or barber shop start up in a shopping mall can get extremely expensive very quickly. The rules and guidelines for store operations and advertising are extensive and may be limiting, so get full disclosure of all policies and regulations.

Quite frankly, the idea of opening a start up in a shopping mall is way too risky. Once your business has established itself, accumulated significant capital, and a stable customer base, this may then be a viable option.”

Target Customers and Demographics of the Immediate Area

“Most salons and barber shops serve a particular customer base from a certain geographic area. Ease of access and convenience are major factors, so it is important to consider the area surrounding your location, and survey:

• Where are the surrounding competitors?
• Is there sufficient density of the market segment your salon is catering to?
• What are your prices and the wealth or affluence of the homeowners in the area?

Your location is a major decision in the success and outcome of your salon. Be mindful and extremely considerate before making a commitment to your business location.”

How do You Go About Financing Salon Equipment?

“As I mentioned earlier, salon and barber shop supply stores will typically offer financing for larger purchases. In many cases, they are willing to bundle equipment, furniture, and all the supplies into a single salon equipment package.

In many cases, banks and credit unions will offer low interest loans to help get your business started, in return for your banking business. A little research here goes a long way. Online there are a number of resources, such as Kabbage which offer short term business lines of credit. With Kabbage, you can obtain a business line of credit up to $150,000.00 with 6 or 12 month terms (subject to approval of course). You can read more about them here kabbage.com/hair-beauty-salon-equipment-loans/

Your success or failure in receiving financing hinges on your personal and business credit worthiness. Be vigilant with your credit scores, how you use your credit cards, and more importantly, make your payments on time. Late and missed payments reported to the credit bureaus can heavily impact how lenders see you, dissuading them from offering you loans or further credit.”

What Advice Would You Leave Us With?

“Do it right the first time. Make a plan, do the research, educate yourself, get the proper training, acquire the proper licensing, get your website up and running, start a social media campaign, acquire a good location, get your salon equipment and furniture, hire amazing people and train them well, watch videos like this one:

This list can go on and on. Ultimately, your business will reflect the amount of energy, education, and passion you are willing to invest in it. As with any other business start up, make sure you have a plan and have fun as it comes to life.”

Clash Graphics Print Shop Atlanta Flyer Printing

2233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 202 Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 235-3464

To view the original version on Clash Graphics, visit: www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/hair-salon-barber-shop-business-secrets-revealed/

Real Estate Marketing - Secrets Shared at a Private Event

Sitting in on a real estate marketing meeting was never on my list of things to do. Until one day, I was shamed by my best friend Shawn into going.

Looking back on the experience, I can say that it was truly an eye opener. The people were friendly, the food was excellent and the drinks were killer! Most impressive were the topics and ideas presented to the 30 men and women that day.

Following are the enlightening real estate marketing tips that were presented by Don and Pat (husband and wife real estate wizards).

Build a Website That is Capable of Generating Leads

Don began by explaining how the methods of marketing had dramatically changed over the past decade. People’s attention span was about 2 seconds and if your website content couldn’t deliver a clear benefit quick enough, it would fail.

He then showed us the differences between successful websites and poorly managed one’s. The successful sites were well structured with pertinent information, high-quality and captivating photos of all properties, video walk-throughs, and other features that enhanced the process for a buyer or seller. Take a look at this video walk through virtual tour example:

After delivering valuable information and rich content, the website left you asking for more but required your email address or phone number. This turned visitors into leads, and made the website more than a digital brochure.

After Don’s presentation, it became obvious how certain elements could greatly impact the effectiveness and value a website delivered.The two core principles Don presented that stood out were;

Navigation through successful sites was obvious and always simple. Even the novice users could get the information they needed without getting “lost” or having to search. Visitors come to a website for their own benefit; make what they are looking for easy to find and they will reward you with their attention. In the web design industry, intuitive design and ease of use is known as “user experience”. Ensure your web development company is proficient in this department, or little else will matter.

Branding and curated content that spoke to a specific segment of the market. We can’t be all things to all people. A real estate website is no different, and must clearly indicate the market and people it serves. A first time homebuyer has vastly different needs than someone looking for a luxury home. Or consider parents buying a home in a great school district and the things that would be important to them. Knowing and displaying this information on your website speaks volumes, and subconsciously lets the customer know you understand them and their specific needs. Feeling understood is an intangible that makes your customer comfortable. When setup properly, your website can help earn the goodwill and trust of a potential client.

Take a look at this well branded website that is catering to luxury condo owners:

Establish a Referral Program

Pat took over at this point and provided an interesting and shocking statistic. She said, “On average, out of every 100 people that call you, only 18 will come from your marketing efforts. The other 82 will be referrals from past or current clients.”

This made perfect sense to me. All my adult life, I have understood the building power of “word of mouth” and how important it is in any business to keep your clients buzzing about your products and services.

Thus this staggering statistic cannot be overlooked, or you will fail. Put into perspective, 8 out of 10 calls are a function of your network and six degrees of separation amongst people you know, or people that know you.

With this in mind, a large part of your marketing efforts must be to encourage and facilitate said referrals from this group. In essence, your job in marketing is to create visibility and awareness while fostering deeper relationships within your existing network.

She went on to explain how simple “rewards for referrals” would entice people to spread your name. Be creative she said, “rewards can be in the form of any number of fun things, like concerts, dinners, or money.” People want to be acknowledged and appreciated for their efforts.

However, Pat warned us, “Your service and product must contain superior quality in all of its aspects. Without quality, there will be no referrals to worry about.”

Remaining Relevant With Social Media Profiles

Don picked up seamlessly where Pat left off and asked the room for a show of hands, “How many of you have a Facebook profile?” Everyone had a hand in the air. He then went on to explain that social media is the new-age dominant word-of-mouth marketing medium.

“Everyone in some way is connected by social media, Facebook alone has over 2 billion users.” and that “Anyone shying away from building and asserting their brand and value on social media is losing out on potential clients and revenue in a big way.”

After taking us on a quick tour of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, Don said this: “Quality and engaging engaging content is your #1 goal. Not sales! If you can’t focus on quality content that’s relevant to your customer, don’t waste your time.”

Home buyers and sellers are interested in a wide variety of things. Use your social media platform to call attention to the important ones that are directly affecting your clients. Some examples are: pricing trends, housing inventory levels, interest rate hikes, a new home coming available in a highly sought after area, or highlighting the schools and local amenities within a neighborhood.

Relevant facts and statistics are critical in getting people to pay attention. Stop and think, how many of us randomly post images, phrases, and comments without giving much thought to them. What if we were (as Don put it) focusing first on the end-user and their needs.

The majority of the time you should focus on their interests, but being entertaining also has its benefits. Watch how this young realtor uses her YouTube channel to be personal and showcase a day in her life:

Sponsorship of Local Teams, Charities, and Events

At this point, we all expected Pat to pick up the microphone. She did not and Don sat down. They toasted each other with their martinis as Brad came from the back of the room (microphone in hand) talking about sponsorship.

“Sponsorship of local events, charities, and athletes is one of the fastest ways to create visibility, awareness, and build trust in a community. With banners, flyers, hand-outs, and signs, you are able to personally engage and show the people your investment in their well-being and the local community.” He went on to explain, “For your yard signs to be effective, there must be a level of trust behind the brand. Only then will the SOLD sign be attached.”

Turns out that Brad is Don and Pat’s son. Also a very successful real estate agent (and great bartender too). His message ended with an emphasis on the quality of all printed material and again, “Your content on everything printed must contain the highest quality customer-focused information, otherwise it will not convey your message and simply be tossed in the trash.”

This is part one in a two part series. For the rest of these real estate marketing tips, check back here: www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/

Clash Graphics Print Shop Atlanta Flyer Printing

2233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 202 Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 235-3464

To view the original version on Clash Graphics, visit: www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/real-estate-marketing-secrets-shared/

Restaurant Marketing - Increase Sales and Fill Empty Seats

Successful restaurants establish a connection with their customers. It is this connection that keeps loyal customers coming back and telling others. Customers become “Fans for life” when the ambience and food quality come together to create a lasting emotional and culinary impression.

A fantastic example of this impression is found with a memory nearly all of us over 30 from all walks of life share: It begins with red and white checkered table cloths, dark wood finishing on the tables and booths (with their red leather padding), slightly dimmed lighting, parmesan and chili flake shakers next to the salt and pepper shakers, a juke box in the corner, and winding down to a table top PacMan or Space Invaders game somewhere close to the salad bar.

As the example illustrates, when a restaurant is able to capture all or a part of something unique and special, business picks up, sales increase and empty seats get filled. After all, “the greatest expense a restaurant can have is an empty seat.”

In this article, Clash Graphics addresses the impact of customer experience and marketing on keeping the seats in your restaurant filled. Both of which every restaurant owner should relentlessly keep at the top of their priority list.

Restaurant Customer Experience

Ask yourself this: “How do I see my restaurant?” Before answering that question, consider getting feedback from both customers and employees. Ultimately, it is the customer experience that drives a restaurant’s revenue. While it is the employees that support the customer experience by maintaining the ambience, food quality, service, and engagement with customers.

Discovery - The two principle ways a person finds a restaurant are by personal recommendations or through the marketing plan with ads, signs, invitations, etc. Both of which provide the opportunity to exceed expectations and create a customer for life.

Customer Expectations - Understanding the wants and needs of customers is vital to meeting their expectations. Encourage them to give reviews, fill out comment cards, or take online satisfaction surveys.

Customer feedback is often priceless insight that should be taken seriously. It is this information that provides an exact blueprint which enables the development of a plan to meet and exceed their needs.

Curb Appeal - What does the entrance of the restaurant look like? Are there cars in the parking lot (signaling success and popularity). Is the location easy to find for a first time customer? The importance of location and visibility cannot be overstated. That said, the outside of a restaurant will often times determine the customer’s mood and expectations before ever stepping foot in the actual restaurant.

Restaurant Staff - These are the people responsible for bringing your vision to life. In turn, they must deliver an elevated level of service, and seamlessly work together from all points in the restaurant to create an amazing experience for all customers and guests.

Think how genuinely engaged the staff at Disney World is, and how their cheer, charm, and willingness to go to any length impacts your experience and emotional association with their brand.

For this reason, service staff applicants should be screened and hired with the customers in mind. Remembering that personality and attitude are fundamental, they can’t be taught. However, the skills to support an amazing customer experience can be taught, and must be purposefully reinforced.

Food - The greatest asset (or detriment) to the customer experience is the food. It is the make or break ingredient from your menu (click here) which ultimately determines whether a seat remains empty or a restaurant has a highly sought after waiting list.

One of the most special things to hear is your customer saying, “Mmmmmm, this tastes so good...” or “This reminds me of...” It is food that is nearly always associated to people, places, and memories. Thus, being associated and part of a lifelong memory of your customer is the greatest of accomplishments.

So, when customers offer feedback on a restaurant’s food, they are speaking from their taste in food, cultural experience, and more importantly their expectations. Use this invaluable information to fine tune the kitchen and at times, refine the menu.

Superior Relationship Marketing for Return Customers

“What am I going to eat tonight?” This is the question that your restaurant’s marketing campaign should consider and effectively answer. People in general want to feel they belong and are a part of something authentic. Running promotional “gimmicks” can generate short term results, but consistent, meaningful, and engaging interactions will create “life long fans” for your restaurant.

Comment Cards and Satisfaction Surveys - In the above section we discussed encouraging feedback, comments, and online reviews. This not only gives your customers a sense of inclusion, but also illustrates that their opinion matters. The win for the restaurant is a better understanding of what customers not only want, but what they expect.

However, merely asking for feedback isn’t enough, and is your opportunity to prove your genuine concern and commitment to a fantastic experience.

An impactful way to encourage customers to contribute feedback is as simple as offering a free side or dessert. Not only have you gotten valuable feedback, you’ve given them a reason to come back to claim their complimentary dish.

First Time Customers - Creating an experience for a first-time customer venturing into your restaurant can be truly exciting and leave a lasting impression. Ring a bell, make an announcement, offer a token of appreciation, a discount on the meal, free drinks, a free appetizer, or free dessert. And for a cherry on top, involve the chef or owner to personally welcome and extend these accommodations.

Not only does such a gesture buy goodwill and leave an impact, but this personal touch also gives the patron an opportunity to become acquainted with signature dishes and desserts they may otherwise have never tasted. Sometimes, putting on a little show can bring big results, especially when combined with culinary charm and great food.

Celebrating Milestones - Set up a customer contact database with contact information and relevant dates (first time at the restaurant, birthday, anniversary, children’s birthdays, etc.). This information allows for dynamic future customer interaction via text, email, or phone.

Whether offering a “Half-Off” day for their “Birth” day, free champagne for an anniversary dinner, or even a free signature dish; their occasion will be unforgettable, unique, and special.

This level of personalization and attention is a sure fire way to permanently embed the idea that you and your staff care about and value them as customers.

And dare not forget about game day (if it’s that type of restaurant). If you simply collect their favorite team or sports preferences, you have the opportunity to create Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby, or World Cup events. Which affords your restaurant another rapport building opportunity, where your customers can eat, drink, and cheer on their teams while enjoying your food and service.

All too often, marketing campaigns are selfishly-focused and structured for short term results. Employing a celebratory and unique approach not only provides a higher frequency of engagement, but also establishes a deeper and more meaningful relationship with your customers.

Take a look at these guest testimonials from Adventures by Disney:

Using relational marketing you now have the opportunity to acknowledge, invite, and celebrate their milestones along with them.

Lifelong Customers Expect Value and Quality

Marketing and acquiring new customers is expensive, thus care and special attention to improve customer retention is an efficient means of improving lifetime value, and creating long-term relationships with potential loyal supporters of your restaurant.

The goal of this article has been to initiate a conversation on how customer experience and retention-focused marketing are inseparable. Simply serving decent food will only get you so far. Offering value and quality in exchange for the customer’s time, money, and experience are fundamental for a business to survive.

As people are becoming more desiring of ordering takeout and prone to convenience, it cannot be stressed enough that “value” is the key to unlocking the loyalty of lifelong customers and filling those empty seats.

High-quality food and unique experiences go a long way in communicating your restaurants commitment to earning patrons business, and delivering an unmatched service. At the end of the day, filing empty seats is a reward for the restaurant that caters to and serves its customers best.

Clash Graphics Print Shop Atlanta Flyer Printing

2233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 202 Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 235-3464

To view the original version on Clash Graphics, visit: http://www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/restaurant-marketing-increase-sales/

Three Secrets to Growing Your Gym or Personal Training Business

If you work in the fitness and personal training industry then you know how competitive and difficult it can be to keep loyal customers. Some clients give up after just a few sessions in the gym, while others will change their gyms to avoid the monotony.

You may feel people are going to come to train at your gym simply because it’s the closest one too them, but a gym needs more than being close to a client to draw them through the door. Marketing strategies are needed to not just get customers to join your gym in the first place, but also to build and maintain the relationship that keeps them coming back for more.

The only way to attract new clients and ensure old ones keep coming back for more is to offer them something that is unique to your gym. They must also be kept motivated. They rely on you to keep them on course for reaching their personal goals. It is also critical to create personal relationships with clients and offer them benefits that make training in your gym a more attractive and unique experience that what your competitors are offering.

Clash Graphics serves a number of fitness professionals that have and are aiming to grow their training businesses; below are 3 fundamental business strategies that will help accomplish that goal.

Offer Specialty-Focused and Unique Classes

One of the most common reasons for losing members – and an issue frequently brought up in customer feedback – is that there aren’t enough unique classes being offered by the facility. Providing clients with a range of relevant, popular, and interesting gym classes that give them the results they need is the simplest way to retain customers and boost business for your gym. Here are 3 fitness classes that focus and target varied demographics and customers.

Barre – Barre classes combines postures taken from disciplines such as ballet, yoga, and Pilates. Barre is popular with women in particular because it tones down the areas they want without stressing their joints. Barre is a group training that promotes community and brings women together as they tone their butt, thighs, abs, and arms.

HIIT – HIIT – short for High Intensity Interval Training – is a kind of interval training where short but intense periods of anaerobic exercise are combined with less intense periods used to recover. HIIT produces great results and is ideal for both men and women looking to push themselves past merely lifting weights.

Zumba – Zumba is an aerobic fitness program inspired by a range of Latin American dance typically performed to Latin American dance music. Zumba classes appeal to former dances and people that enjoy burning calories and enjoying an elevated heart rate while having a lot of fun.

Engage with your customers. Find out what they enjoy and any new classes they have heard of and are interested in. Kickboxing, spin, and Crossfit are all popular classes that have exploded in popularity. Listen to your clients and satisfy their interest with new and exciting ways to stay fit.

Build Community and Personalized Experiences

Personal trainers and gym owners need to give individual customers their personal attention. Providing quality customer service is another way to build sales and improve retention. Even if you have the most physically fit personal trainers around, clients will look elsewhere if they feel they aren’t treated as individuals.

A good quality personal trainer aims to make working out as enjoyable as possible. They encourage clients during the tough lifts, and show members proper form and technique to prevent injuries, which can cause clients to cancel their memberships.

Make the most out of group training and classes. Offer a range of group activities to get your customers conversing with each other and creating the kind of relationships that go beyond the gym. This creates the feeling of community and friendships, and gives clients more reason to come back to the gym outside of having a good workout.

Prioritize Online and Search Marketing

Search engine optimization and marketing through search engines allows customers to discover you when looking for a gym or personal trainer in their area. Consider how important and valuable it would be to have your service right in front of potential customers right when they want to find a workout solution or personal trainer. There’s also the important fact that these people might be customers you would otherwise have no access to, and they might go to a competitor.

Search engine marketing involves creating and distributing content relevant to your gym and potential clients. Create content that would interest your customers and makes you – and your gym – come across as an expert. You are an expert after all!

The content should be a mix of things like workouts, ideas for meal plans, and photos and videos of exercises. After producing the content you should push it out onto your social media networks and make use of relevant hashtags and keywords.

It all goes together to tell a search engine that you have a lot of relevance to fitness training, which means that your business will show up higher in Google search results when people search for local gyms and personal trainers.

Note: 9/10 online experiences start with using a search engine, and over two-thirds of customers that perform local searches go to locations within 5 miles of where they live.

Grow Your Gym Through Meaningful Marketing and Action

It is important that you think proactively about the next strategy you will use – along with how to best communicate the value and benefits of your services to ideal customers.

All too often a promotional or marketing campaign is focused entirely on bringing in new customers – and they do it well – but without considering, or indeed offering, the kind of long term care and attention needed to retain customers.

The process of marketing your gym or training business is an ongoing one. Surviving in the modern market means building interest and credibility through word-of-mouth, impactful advertising, and – perhaps most importantly – the results and experiences you deliver to clients.

Once you satisfy your customer’s needs, you must continue creating an unforgettable experience in the gym to keep them engaged, committed, and spreading the word.

In a later series we will cover specific strategies and promotions that will instantly drive new business. Check back, and for additional printing and marketing articles, visit
http://www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/

Clash Graphics Print Shop Atlanta Flyer Printing

2233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 202 Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 235-3464

To view the original version on Clash Graphics, visit: http://www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/three-secrets-growing-your-gym-personal-training-business/

Political Campaign Marketing - Identifying & Developing a Narrative

Each and every candidate puts forward a set of policies and values which represent their intentions if elected. The voters are seemingly voting based upon these policies and values.

Skillfully optimized political campaigns target and influence the votes we cast. Policies and values are great to have, but alone, will not win an election.

Marketing is the arrow while public opinion is the target. Everything from coffee mugs, t-shirts,
yard signs, bumper stickers, campaign rallies, and talk shows are used to impact that opinion on a candidate or an entire political party. For high quality campaign printing products visit www.clashgraphics.com/campaign-printing.

In this article, we address the identification and development of a narrative, which is required to run and win a political campaign.

Political Narrative Explained

“Narrative-building is essential for almost every complicated argument because it’s the only way to get our pattern-seeking brains to discount contradictory facts and data.”, as described by Jonah Goldberg for National Review. A narrative is a communication mechanism that must be strategically created.

Identifying the Narrative

For a political campaign, there is no other aspect as important as the narrative. Look no further than the candidate. It is the candidate’s set of beliefs, character, personality, and history which mold the narrative. Considering, representing, and exemplifying the wants and needs of one’s constituents is largely what makes a candidate worth voting for.

Presidential Campaign Narrative Example

2008 - Presidential Election John McCain vs. Barack Obama - With John McCain, the narrative was wrapped in a blanket of long term experience, having made serious sacrifices for the country as a wartime veteran. “Country First” and “The Original Maverick” were slogans based on his life and history.

Barack Obama’s narrative was focused on his being a junior Senator and a political outsider. “Change We Can Believe In” and “Yes We Can” became the focus as the campaign developed while inspiring the hope for real change and political reform.

At the time of the 2008 election, there were several factors which led to Barack Obama’s victory. Many argue fatigue over the Republican party and a desire for radical change in Washington D.C. were the deciding factors. It is undeniable however, that Obama’s “Yes We Can” and “Change” narratives were suited and appealed to the majority of voters in 2008 and 2012.

Developing the Narrative

Over the course of a campaign, the primary narrative does not alter. The details of it are exalted to attain a desired reaction from a specific voting demographic. A candidate must consider their hometown, age, ethnicity, wealth, education, and gender. Then careful research and a deep understanding of the opinions and emotions of voters, allows one to succinctly summarize and verbalize a core purpose and aim of the campaign. The following five steps will assist in the formulation of a political narrative:

Interview the Candidate - Learn about the candidates past experiences, how he/she was influenced in life. Gather stories or anecdotes which can be used throughout the campaign.

Create Compelling Ads from the Narrative - Using current events and demographics as a guide, create ads which speak to voters and the issues they are dealing with.

Use the Candidate’s Personal Stories - Voters typically cast their votes for someone they can relate to. In this case, it isn’t as much about party affiliation or even politics. The most effective hooks are sometimes derived from the candidate’s personal stories, allowing voters to get a glimpse of and relate to the person.

Current Events and the Message - As a campaign progresses, the narrative and message should be able to absorb current events at the local, national, and international level. Voters will learn about breaking news and wait to see what the candidate has to say.

Target Narrative Keywords and Phrases - Once the campaign has developed the narrative and its message, the keywords and phrases should then be turned into campaign marketing materials, such as: coffee mugs, t-shirts, yard signs, bumper stickers, hats and banners for rallies, town hall meetings and conventions.

Narratives are Branding Strategies

Similar to how large companies employ branding tactics, creating a narrative makes a political party or a candidate the favorable brand. It is through the narrative that people are able to relate to the candidate.

As with any marketing strategy, this sort of branding must be masterfully employed. Even the most well-tuned narrative can backfire. However, when implemented correctly, a narrative and its slogans can be remembered for generations. “Prouder, Stronger, Better” and “Morning In America” were campaign gems that made their way to bumper stickers, yard signs, t-shirts, and flyers from coast to coast as Ronald Reagan swept the 1984 presidential election. 

Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/440469/political-narratives-make-facts-serve-larger-storyline

Photos: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/President_Reagan_giving_Campaign_speech_in_Austin%2C_Texas_1984.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/64/CountryFirstMcCain.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonythemisfit/2263437899

Clash Graphics Print Shop Atlanta Flyer Printing

2233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 202 Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 235-3464

To view the original version on Clash Graphics, visit: http://www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/political-campaign-marketing-identifying-developing-narrative/

Advantages of Using Printed Postcards in Marketing

Some of the most effective means of marketing your products to customers, even in today’s digital world, are direct mail solutions. The opportunity to create a lasting impression can be made if you deliver a strategic mailing that has a benefit or valuable offer.

Email is cheap to deploy, and just as easy for your customer to ignore. However, your brand’s postcards can be customized, and crafted in a way that a potential customer may be compelled to engage your services. Doing this can be accomplished with customized printing, or integrating personality and humor in your branded direct mail campaign.

Clash can help create and print your postcard mailer, but first here are five benefits to note of using a postcard as a marketing strategy:

It Costs Very Little to Use Postcard Marketing

Postcards cost very little to nothing to use. In the US, it costs just about a dollar to print and send by First Class Mail.

Direct mail costs vary based on size, but postcard mailings under 4 ¼ x 6 inches are eligible for a reduced postage rate.

Postcards Present a Huge Opportunity for Building Your Brand

One particular purpose of building a brand is that you try to stamp your business as a household name in your field. When you add a touch of Technology in all your marketing strategies, like adding a QR code inviting the receivers of the postcard to see more of your goods and services, you are not just seen as an authority but one who is influential in the ever changing technology industry. You can even include a value-added offer such as a discount or coupon which can draw more and more people to your business thereby building your brand. Take a look at these
QR code examples for more ideas that may spark your creativity.

Postcards Can Help You Diversify Your Marketing Strategy

You can get to offer business deals to your regular customers, or get more offers from new prospects in just one mailing. Postcards are more than just sending a mailer, they can be used as an oversized business card or mini-information sheets.

They Give Instant Results

Because of the ease of printing and its small size, and also since you can create a sales note quickly on them, you can get sales from them 2-3 days after releasing them to be mailed.

Postcards Foster Increased Friendship Among Relationships

Postcards strengthen relationships among businesses because of the friendly note which they carry along. You can personalize the note on them to give your business a friendly look which will attract customers to your brand. Some ways to personalize your postcard include but are not limited to showing off your customers on the card by means of testimonies or pictures, displaying the customer’s name on the card etc.

Postcards Are Still a Reliable Means of Business Marketing

The advantages are much more than the few mentioned here, but they should be enough to provoke your thoughts towards including them in your strategy. I recommend you test run them if you have never tried it before, and you will be amazed at how effective they can be even in this present technological age.

Clash Graphics Print Shop Atlanta Flyer Printing

2233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 202 Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 235-3464

To view the original version on Clash Graphics, visit: http://www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/advantages-of-using-printed-postcards-in-marketing/

Printing Paper - Weight & Thickness Conversions Guide

The appearance of printing projects depends on the right combination of varied printing paper and customization options. However, knowing and choosing the best options may be challenging because there are so many options to choose from. Most buyers make mistakes because of the confusing multitude of paper types. Here, we will explain the available paper weight choices and how to tell the difference between each of them.

Choosing Your Printing Paper

To most consumers, paper is either flimsy or firm. Although, there are numbers and metrics used to signify the thickness and sturdiness of paper.

A good rule of thumb is: the greater the weight or point, the more sturdy and durable your material will be. Below are various paper weight units of measurement and their definition.

Paper Weight and Measurement Definitions

Since all manufacturers don’t use the same metric, our team at Clash created a quick reference for the most commonly used paper types, weights and measures.

Learn this basic unit of paper weight measurement.

Pound – Distinguishes how many pounds 500 sheets of a specific paper grade weighs. Each respective paper grade has an industry standard size.

Point – Refers to the thickness of an individual sheet when measured with a device that measures micrometers, or thousands of an inch.

Below are the more popular paper weights.

Text – This paper can be referred to as “offset”, and has a wide range of uses.

Bond – Uncoated bond stock, often called “writing” paper, is most often used in office printer and copy machines.

Cover – These stocks are mostly rigid and not easily folded. Cover stock paper is frequently used on publication covers, business cards, folders and postcards

Paper Coating

Paper coating adds a tactile and visual appeal to printed materials. These coatings are flexible in their application. They can be used on the entire surface, or a certain part of the paper to highlight your logo or company mark for example.

UV Coating: (Ultra Violet): The solvent-free UV coating is a lustrous, glossy, very protective coating that provides a chemical and abrasive resistant hard finish. It may be used strategically to make a logo or picture stand out or used on an entire surface.

Aqueous: This water-based coating is thinner than UV coating. It protects surfaces from dirt, fingerprints, and scratches with its medium glossy finish. It is mostly used on brochures and postcards as well as business cards, protecting them through their journey in mails and deep pockets.

Paper Types

The right paper type can make your printing project really stand out. With choices ranging from gloss to dull, satin and matte, you can greatly improve the look of your project by simply selecting the right type. Get familiar which each type below:

Gloss – Just like a photograph, this appears as a glossy surface.

Satin – Coming halfway between gloss and matte, it enhances full-colour graphics even while preserving eligibility of the readable text. And it still looks shiny and attractive

Matte – This kind of finish is perfect for text-heavy documents. It appears smooth yet not as shiny as the other kinds of finish. It also removes fingerprints.

Uncoated – Stock that has not been coated with any sealant. UV or Aqueous coating cannot be applied to this type of paper.

Custom Printing Options That Stand Out

Your materials must be effective in conveying your message, but a unique finishing solution is a simple way to make your project more appealing to your audience. Below are some of the popular customizations you may choose to incorporate in your next project.

Embossing – Love to feel the designs and texts as you run your fingers over the paper? Using high pressure, embossing uses a specially-made die to create these impressions.

Metallic Ink – Using ink with fine reflective metallic particles create a look you won’t see around. To get that shiny and lustrous look, gold and silver are the go for.

Foil Stamping – By using heated die to stamp foil to paper, you can create design that shimmer and add texture to certain texts or graphics.

Die Cut – From straight out of the normal curves to perfect circles to the outline of imagines and company designs, die cutting helps create an infinite range of contours.

There are plenty of printing customization combinations. Knowing paper weight thickness, coating types, and finishing options will help ensure your next printing project is a success.

Clash Graphics Print Shop Atlanta Flyer Printing

2233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 202 Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 235-3464

To view the original version on Clash Graphics, visit: http://www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/printing-paper-weight-thickness-conversions-guide/

Marketing With Custom Printed Banners

People usually associate marketing of business with only online means like email marketing and blogging. However, there are equally effective ways of marketing businesses with the aid of tangible items such as printed banners. It is a perfect means of advertising if there is a large gathering. In this article, you will learn how to use a banner as a means of advertising in a festival, conference or trade show. Then contact www.clashgraphics.com to print this custom banner.

Define your target audience

Knowing everything about your ideal customer is the first thing you should be aware of before you create a banner. Determine the specific location where your target audience would be. It is also important to know that everyone is distinct in their own way. Therefore, you should cater for every individual difference.

For instance, people with different personalities attend a sporting event. Therefore, you must find the particular thing that would appeal to all of them. The banner should communicate this appealing thing, and it should be concise enough to pass along the message as quick as possible.

Branding with a Custom Banner

People learning about your brand should feel emotionally connected to it. They should feel happy and excited whenever they see your brand. You need to ensure that your banner triggers an emotional reaction.

Ensure that your banner has its uniqueness so that it could catch the attention of the people. Since you have only a few seconds or minutes to catch the attention of the audience, it is important that the banner has a strong image and personality. In order to design an amazing banner, these are some of the questions you need to answer:

• Can your audience relate to your brand’s value by merely looking at your banner? Is the banner simplified enough so they wouldn’t have to look for long before they understand the message?
• What should be their next step or action after seeing your banner?
• Is the uniqueness of your brand properly represented in the banner?

These considerations will ensure the proper messaging and design of your banner. Remember your goal is to capture attention, communicate a message, then create an action.

What’s Next After I Capture the Attention of the Audience?

It is necessary for you to determine the next cause of action you want your target audience to take after gaining their attention through the banner. Do you want them to visit a website, call a number, visit your office location, attend a seminar you are putting in place, etc.? Ensure the banner complete its advertising purpose it is intended for, and it should lead the audience to what they are to do to move one step closer to your business.

An Efficient Event Advertising Product

It is highly important for you to note that you would have only a few seconds to catch the attention of your target audience. Therefore, it should be concise but meaningful enough to pass along your intended message as quick as possible. In other to do this, you need to think the way your target audience would.

Check if the vinyl banner is attractive enough to draw the attention of the people at the gathering. Your banner should be unique and distinctive since there would be other banners at the event that would be competing with yours for attention. This is a big moment to let everyone know about your business; you need to make it count.

Employ the services of the best graphic designer to help you design your banner to pass along the intended message in an effective way. Your banner is a very powerful marketing tool, and you should make use of it to advertise your business to a large and visible audience.

Clash Graphics Print Shop Atlanta Flyer Printing

2233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 202 Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 235-3464

To view the original version on Clash Graphics, visit: http://www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/marketing-with-custom-printed-banners/

Marketing your Business or Product with Custom Stickers

Stickers have always been a part of advertising campaigns thanks to their durability, affordability, and eye-catching nature. With the help of digital printing technology there are now endless possibilities when it comes to designing stickers. It’s also never been cheaper to order the finished design in bulk packages.

Stickers remain one of the most versatile and affordable marketing solutions on clashgraphics.com. Below we’ll be taking a look at the advantages of stickers, along with where to leave them and how to benefit the most from using them as a part of your marketing and promotional campaigns.

Everyone Loves Stickers

Who doesn’t love sticking stickers? I’m not sure if they love it because of the way the adhesive smells, or if they just get a kick out of decorating things with stickers, what matters most is that everyone loves doing it. How many laptops and car bumpers have you seen plastered in stickers? These stickers have meaning and they have value because they let people express themselves and the brands they use and associate with. With some cleverness, a polished design, and in particular if you have a lifestyle brand, you can be sure that someone will use your stickers to decorate something.

Design the Stickers to Fit the Brand

One of the main benefits to using stickers is that they can be custom designed to generate a great response from a small budget. There are many ways to customize stickers, including all the different shapes, sizes, and colors they can be printed in. You can create a star-shaped sticker, a round sticker, or a sticker that has been meticulously cut into the shape of the logo of your company. Get creative with the design and consider how you want the stickers to be used.

Best Places to Put The Stickers

One of the most important things in marketing is novelty. Your stickers will get more attention if they are left in unexpected places. If the sticker shows up in a surprising place, then the customer is more likely to see it and pay attention to it. The following are some for the best places to put the stickers.

On an Entrance Door - Plenty of companies have found creative ways to use glass entrance doors as part of their sticker marketing campaign. Find ways you can take advantage of the movement and transparency of glass doors to enhance and promote your brand in clever ways.

In restrooms - Public restrooms are a great place to put stickers, whether on the mirrors, the hand dryers, the floors, the sinks, and even in the stalls. There’s generally only one place for your eyes to go when you use the lavatory. Putting the right sticker in the right place creates a compelling message and is an effective way to deliver a sales pitch.

On walls or ceilings - If there’s some big sales event at the retail location, then you should plaster the walls in stickers to draw the attention of customers, create interest, and deliver a call to action. Ceilings are another good place for stickers, especially in places where customers will spend time looking up (such as using a dentist char, in the mall, or climbing stairwells). Custom stickers are a great way to create an effective marketing campaign.

Affordable and Efficient All-Purpose Marketing Material

If you’re looking to reach a large audience and improve product awareness, then this simple but impactful marketing method is a solid choice. There are plenty of different ways to promote a brand, but not many of them are as effective, affordable, and attention-grabbing as a good custom sticker. Durable stickers produce great results in the short-term, with a lifespan that allows them to continue to deliver in the long-term. Investing even a small amount in custom stickers boosts sales and brand awareness, while being so cheap that it pays for itself plenty of times over.

Clash Graphics Print Shop Atlanta Flyer Printing

2233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 202 Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 235-3464

To view the original version on Clash Graphics, visit: http://www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/marketing-your-business-or-product-with-custom-stickers-/

Vector vs JPEG and Bitmap Graphics

When you create a logo or business card design for a company, you’ll have the choice between using vector and JPEG or Bitmap graphics. You should always, always use vector graphics when you can for anything professional like a logo or printed material. Clarity and great quality at any size are two of the greatest benefits of the vector format. Though there are several other reasons and more to know about Vectors, JPEG, and Bitmap graphics. Our graphics and printing team www.clashgraphics.com can assist you in choosing the best file format for your printed materials, but first learn the benefits of each digital file type below.

The Difference Between Vector and BMP Files

A Bitmap image or graphic is made up of pixels. JPEG images are too. However, vector graphics are made up of, you guessed it, vectors. These graphical renderings are made up of points and paths rather than tiny squares. There is a major difference between the two of them and that is scalability.

If you’ve ever tried to resize a jpeg then you know how dangerous and useless it is to do. Because it is a lossy compression format, once you expand a JPEG too far beyond its original dimensions, the image becomes very distorted and low quality. Thus, scaling JPEGs and BMPs leaves you with a broken image that is no good to anyone. This isn’t the case with vectors. Vectors are unique in that no matter how much you scale them, you won’t see any loss in clarity, appearance, or quality. You only have to design a vector image once and you can alter the size of it as much as you need. If you create a vector logo, you can later make it large for a banner, or small for a business card. It’s as easy as that.

The Pros and Cons of Vectors, JPEGs and Bitmap Graphics

The ability to enlarge without distortion is a huge benefit, though vector graphics are not perfect. There are some advantages with bitmap images. JPEGs and Bitmaps are good formats for photos and anything that requires a realistic rendering. Bitmap graphic and images and also represent gradient color shifts better. Clearly pixels do have their advantages in some cases. Vectors work well in solid colors and the ability to scale, while Bitmaps and JPEGs give you more freedom and realistic appeal. The downfall being Bitmaps and JPEGs require you to raster the vector art, transforming the graphic into pixels. Intense zooming or stretching of these graphics beyond their original dimensions will make the pixels obvious and can make your printed materials appear blurry or of lower quality.

Bitmaps are also easier to open and edit. True vector files are saved in the .EPS or .AI format. Not many picture programs can open those files. Realistically, some of the few options you have to open and manipulate vector files are Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, or other professional grade graphic design software. However, Adobe Illustrator is a program that any professional graphic designer will have.

Vector to BMP Graphic Conversions

Sometimes you might need to rasterize or turn a vector image into a Bitmap (BMP) image before you can use it effectively. The good news is that doing so is quite simple. If you are working on something like a logo, it’s recommended that you always create your initial logo design as a vector graphic in .AI or .EPS format. Though sometimes you might need more than a vector can provide. There is also good news there. There are some graphic design programs that allow you to give vector images the photorealism of BMP images while keeping their scalability.

There are differences between vector images and pixel-based images like BMPs and JPEGs. It’s important that you know the difference and use the right kind during your design creation process. Be sure to work with a vector when you can, as it can always be converted. However, know when a BMP might be useful and simply rasterize or convert your vector graphic.

Clash Graphics Print Shop Atlanta Flyer Printing

2233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 202 Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 235-3464

To view the original version on Clash Graphics, visit: http://www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/difference-between-vector-jpeg-and-bitmap-graphics/

What is Pantone and How to Color Match When Printing

Pantone is, to put it simply, an American company that created an effective method of ensuring color match. Their name has become synonymous with this highly precise numbered color system. It’s so good, in fact, that it used in the majority of the printing companies throughout the industry. If you’re going to work in or with printing, then you need to be aware of Pantone colors and how you can benefit from it to ensure color match of your artwork, document and materials. Read this article to learn about using the Pantone system in printing or click here to contact a printing representative about specific color matching questions.

The Importance of Color Matching

Color matching is very important in the printing industry. If you create something, or someone shows you something they created, you want it to print precisely as you’ve seen the proof don’t you? If you found that perfect shade of red you wanted, but then the printer used a fairly generic red then your whole job may be ruined or at least you may be disappointed. Color matching is important because it ensures that the image that you create is the same one that the printer creates and delivers to you. Sometimes that perfect color isn’t a generic one and you need something more unique. The Pantone system is filled with unique colors and many brands choose an exact number and color tone to represent their company.

How Does Pantone Help In Printing?

The Pantone system is a collection of over 1100 different colors that are all carefully labelled. When you find that unique color that’s just right for your project it has a name and a number assigned to it. Printers read these numbers and are then able to recreate the color exactly. If you tell a printer that you want a red then it’ll give you a red. If you tell the printer that you want a specific shade of red then you won’t get it unless the printer can recognize and identify it. Printers that run on the Pantone system recognize all the different shades and color tones, and are able to recreate them. This gives you perfectly matching colors every time and ensures the image on the printed-paper matches the same image on the computer.

How to Use the System in Design and Printing

The Pantone system isn’t that difficult to use. You start by finding the exact color you want in the Pantone color palette and make a note of the number it is – ‘Red 199’ for example. If you’re the graphic designer commissioned by a client, you would then send a sample to the client so they can approve it. When you have their approval you create your artwork using this pantone color. Then send it off to a printer capable of utilizing the Pantone system.

The printing operator will then look up the mix that they need to make that specific color. Then they print out what it is you’re creating using the color and their sheets, guides, and chips to make sure that it’s perfect. When everything is said and done you have something printed that looks just how you intended in the design.

Using Pantone colors is essential if you want to ensure color-match printing. People in the printing industry will be expecting you to use it as a standard, so it’s vital to get used to it. There are tons of options, so enjoy the benefit of exact match colors, just try not to get lost in the extensive color palette!

Clash Graphics Print Shop Atlanta Flyer Printing

2233 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 202 Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 235-3464

To view the original version on Clash Graphics, visit: http://www.clashgraphics.com/printing-tips/what-is-pantone-how-to-color-match-when-printing/