Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

Dominate a search query on Google for a particular key word set thus bringing traffic to your website. This can be achieved with a properly optimized site paralleled with a PPC campaign and a social networking strategy.

there are upteen types of businesses you can fusion market with to get to brides. As a soon to be bride myself, many sites let you just "click" on the area you want to marry and the services you need. Talk to hotel bridal consultants-- I am not marrying in my home area and needed info. They maintain a list of vendors for all services a bride needs. Bridal fairs are very well attended.

I'd also introduce myself to interior designers.

Mailing the brochures is one thing, but you really should go there in person.

Sell Well and Prosper tm

Don't mail.

Bring some nice peices around to the places you want to sell to. Carry it in and give your card to the receptionist. Make a quick pitch. Find out who makes the decision. Get the name and then make a phone call.

Michael

In addition to all the good suggestions from my board colleagues above, here are some alternative media channels that might be helpful. Find out if your local/surrounding churches have community boards and ask whether you can place your flyers on the board - ditto for the supermarkets. (For example, in NYC many supermarkets have community boards that effectively advertise a myriad of products and services.)

Try a door-hanger, delivered door-to-door to neighborhoods close to your business. If you live close to/in a fairly dense Hispanic area - expand your advertisement to offer the same services but for "quinceañera" parties (the Hispanic version of "sweet sixteen") - these are as big as weddings in the Hispanic community.

Also, you have nothing to lose by advertising on Craig's List, it is a free service and it will allow you to upload a maximum of 4 photos that can showcase your product.

Good luck!!
Mayrah

I'm just assuming, hopefully rightfully so, you're a female. Have you checked into Ladies Who Launch? You can find this organization on Google. Also, there's a book by the same name. Too much to mention here what they do.

Good luck!

Jean B.

If you don't have a website, get one. That'll help be found online.

Consider a booth at your local farmer's market or street festival (with attractive displays and signage).

I second Jay's response, a website could help you gain a lot of business. Also I would concentrate on commercial businesses. Many businesses use fake flower arrangements around their offices since they add a nice touch but are easy to maintain. Hotels are especially fond of this. However it may be a hard sell since they are likely to already have some in place... and they do last a long time.

Another idea would be to do a focused advertising campaign around mothers day and valentines day since flower sales go CRAZY around those times of the year. You can market your flowers as more permanent way to show the mother/wife/girlfriend that you care. That should also allow you to command a much higher selling price.

If you start a Web site, be sure to invest the time in finding the RIGHT Web developer. Otherwise, you might be wasting some money. Just because you're on the Web doesn't mean that you'll be seen. You've got to really work at it. I know, I'm in the process of having my site redesigned by someone new who REALLY knows what they're doing. And then having professional pictures is very important. You can take these yourself with a photo booth, lights and a good camera.

To piggy-back off of Mr. Hamilton-Roth's idea, look into Home & Garden shows in your immediate and surrounding areas. They are a good way to target a group I think would be interested in your product, and at the same time giving you the opportunity to show your product.