Question

Topic: Advertising/PR

Inventors/manufacturers With A New Printing Proces

Posted by Anonymous on 7/25/2009 at 7:08 PM ET 125 Points
First of all, this forum is a wealth of information, THANKS.

We invented an inexpensive printing process that allows for the transfer of any image (full color) onto irregular, organic surfaces. For instance, we have sold Mona Lisa slate stone tiles and rocks...or family pictures onto the same...we are constantly experiment with substrates. Nobody else in the world does this.

If I am allowed, I will give you website links.

I have many questions about marketing, but I'll focus on one thing at a time. I am concentrating on the B2B for this thread.

We maufacture museum-quality 3-D textured slate stone tile murals...a first in the market. We can sell at about 50%-70% off off other competitors using just flat tiles. We can do just about image. We can wholesale for $25 a square foot (basic services).

We made up some lovely full color postcards and I have so far (in the 4 days) mailed about 135 interior designers in my area. I can get probably 300 more. I was also thinking Mom and Pop tile stores...about 300 of those. I have the prices on the postcards.
We used labels and regular first class stamps.

Please help me with more suggestions to make this successful in this down economy...we beat competitors hands down by eons with pricing, quality, and just plain coolness...

BUT this type of thing is completely NEW and nobody knows we really exist, outside of a few tradeshows.

THANKS!!!







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RESPONSES

  • Posted by SteveByrneMarketing on 7/25/2009 at 11:05 PM Accepted
    you are allowed, please post the links.

    Thanks,

    Steve
  • Posted on 7/26/2009 at 1:29 AM Author
    You can see some of our work here:
    https://www.uniquegiftsource.net/tile.html

    ou can check out our catalogs (Stones, not tiles---different topic)
    General
    https://www.uniquegiftsource.net/files/paper_catalog1.pdf
    Old Masters/Religious
    https://www.uniquegiftsource.net/files/paper_catalog_religion1.pdf

    We can also print any photograph to stone:

    https://www.uniquegiftsource.net/stonephoto.html

    THANKS!
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 7/26/2009 at 10:58 AM Accepted
    If you have the budget, why not create your postcards on slate (or a lighter weight surface, such as a wood veneer) and give out these cards instead of your postcards? It'll make a unique first impression and give the recipient an immediate feel for what you're doing.
  • Posted on 7/26/2009 at 11:20 AM Author
    Wow...that's a great idea for marketing "in person"
    In fact...that's another great idea for the corporate gifts/3-D DM category...


    How about this...we send out our postcards...the respondent can REPLY for a free gift/sample...we send a cute little rock or wood sample...say Michelangelo...with our contact info printed over the art...along with price sheets, info...and I could build a database of "high target" DM names...the samples themselves cost almost nothing...maybe .10 to produce, and I wouldn't be handing them out to people who weren't REALLY interested.

    What do you think?
    By the way, I am so thankful to have an intelligent forum to throw around ideas...I've been looking for you guys for a while.

  • Posted on 7/26/2009 at 11:23 AM Author
    Also...we do our "rock art" on slate...on the thinnest and most lightweight we can find...Tennessee Mist...so lightweight solutions for shipping are not a problem!

    ALSO...I could glue a cheap little magnet on the back of the rock-slate postcard...could be a funky refrigerator magnet...what do you think?
  • Posted by telemoxie on 7/26/2009 at 1:34 PM Accepted
    have you considered contacting companies who create tile topped tables? I have seen lots of wrought iron patio tables which have a tile top. A lot of people might want such a table, especially if it has an image of their favorite sports team or something similar. It seems to me you could also create some pretty fancy flowerpots and so forth.
  • Posted on 7/26/2009 at 2:14 PM Author
    Telemoxie...these are discussions fit for many threads! As you can see, there are big commercial applications here.

    Yes, this new process has a concrete like finish...so we can make tile tables...or finish tables with wood or metal...and If you look on the "projects" page...you can see some cool terra cotta pots...and actual wall murals...the image HUGS the wall itself (wall can be anything)...we can do our work onsite...or manufacture a bunch of items at our studio. We can do cheap or very high end.

    That said...we have seasonal mall stores in the DFW area...I found that in 2008...the stuff priced up to 29.99 moved the absolute quickest...furniture moved at a snail's pace. Let me tell you...it was freaky watching the blood bath with all the neighboring stores...but we adapted...high priced...say over $50...is definitely out. It's weird to say that, but if I can find high end, I will jump on it.

    Something that really caught attention at the Dallas trade show was garden stakes...we took little slates and glued them onto green painted chopsticks...so you have floral stakes...garden decor...very cute.

    I will do inexpensive furniture the Christmas...and some vases, etc...I can quickly glue small rocks onto a variety of items...music boxes, clocks, etc...and increase margins hugely....SO THANK YOU


    However, I an shotgunning this at all directions...I want to get some stable repeat customers for the rest of the year. These tiles are very high margin and can be used in a variety of projects...interior decor/construction/cheap public works/landscape/furniture builder...

    They can control the price completely. My concern is that business is so OFF that even a super low cost, completely different solution may fall on deaf, near bankrupt ears.

    ALSO, I have this idea I would like some input...
    The COOP direct mailing place here has a full page, (they print) mail circular that goes out to 55,000 households in a geographic area for $980. I can do half page for $650. There are no contracts, and the price drops dramatically with repeats. I was thinking of a B2C (full retail, not wholesale) online/phone ordering thing...focusing on the tile art...I could run sales on specific popular art pieces (Last Supper, Mona, etc.) for a call to action.

    What do you think about that? I really need some more smart info...

    ALL OF YOU..THANKS...PLEASE KEEP THE COMMENTS ROLLING.




  • Posted on 7/26/2009 at 9:12 PM Author
    telomoxie...good idea...I will contact mom and pop furniture makers who do tile based items...THANKS!

    PS...sorry, didn't read your suggestion closely enough the first time
  • Posted by BizConsult on 7/27/2009 at 10:48 AM Accepted
    Neat stuff – website needs some work though – a few suggestions. I went to the first link (Tile) and it has black and grey type on a charcoal background – near impossible to read the black. None of the pages fit, left to right, on the screen – don’t make a visitor scroll side-to-side.

    Homepage is laden with city names in the bottom half for no apparent reason.

    Services page cuts off text under “Delivery Schedule” and launches into Legal Terms & Conditions.

    Stone Photo Order page – would not show the original photos – they make the clarity on stone seem muddled – just show the end result products and make them larger for better clarity.

    Could also use some verbiage/copy scrubbing...drop all text into Word and check for partial sentences, etc.

    -BizConsult/Steve
  • Posted on 7/27/2009 at 11:30 AM Author
    Thanks, I will work on that! The original designer of the website is not a native English speaker...so I've been slowly plowing through this website...which is rather large...to correct things.

    I have some aesthetic suggestions from Jay as well. Thanks so much!

    More suggestions welcomed!
  • Posted by marketbase on 7/27/2009 at 4:08 PM Accepted
    This application could be very well served by being featured on a local/national morning show as well as being featured at large home shows, craft fairs/conventions, etc. While a shot-gun approach is tempting given the incredible range potential for this service/product, a marketing plan is an absolute must, Consider getting samples out to photographers , interior designers, contractors, etc. Be sure to know your production parameters (how small--or large--an item can the image be produced on), limitations (what surface simply does not work?), etc. as part of that plan, too.

    Good luck,
    You have an outstanding opportunity!

    jag
    MarketBase
  • Posted on 7/27/2009 at 5:14 PM Author
    Jag...that is very kind of you...
    The size can be an inch wide....to an almost unlimited large size...Really, the limit is computer memory (which can be upgraded), because we do such high resolution...1200 dpi...the vinyl signs you see in stores are typically 300 dpi. That is one of the reasons i call this output "museum" quality.

    I told Jay this morning that we had set up very nice booths at the tradeshows in Las Vegas. Atlanta, and Dallas...these are the big ones. In 2007, the creator did very well in Las Vegas...in 2009...everybody died. We did pretty good and had wonderful, enthusiatic feedback, but overall, all the vendors all all of the major tradeshows bombed pretty bad because of the cautious purchasers. It was very revealing to see such a day/night flip in retail-purchaser/buyer behavior. I really want to avoid the expensive, exhausting trade shows if I can.

    What do you think about my postcard idea in response to Jay's stone-postcard suggestion? Send a pretty regular postcard with a free sample offer (with contact info printed on the art) offer...etc (see above)...postcards are cheap...and I can send one to everyone...interior design, photographers, tile dealers,. etc.,etc...but those who contact me for samples will be my strong leads...why do you think?

    Shiney, smooth surfaces are the least cool of the application...because the surface "hugs" the texture underneath...so if it's smooth, it's somewhat plain.
    But it's still cooler than the regular, flat print available. Like on decorative plates (see my "projects" page). I guess I've become spoiled working with nature's odd surfaces.

    At the tradeshow, everyone thought these were all painted, one of a kind...like an artfair...I had to explain that any image could be manufactured onto untold thousands of stone, tile, etc. We can manufacture many thousands a month. Each piece was different, but it is mass produced.

    I deeply appreciate this folks. I really needed help.

    I am working on the website prettiness as we speak.











  • Posted on 7/27/2009 at 5:22 PM Author
    Jag...I'll see if the local stations are interested...I know I was disappointed with the Star-Telegram wouldn't even acknowledge my repeat attempts...here is this awesome print process developed my scientists born raised, and educated in the area...this process was developed here...so maybe the Dallas Morning News will cover it.
  • Posted by marketbase on 8/5/2009 at 9:13 PM Member
    Sorry, been preoccupied with family member's health issue...email each of the national morning shows, major national newspapers, magazines, sports teams' marking staff, etc. Who owns the Dallas Morning News? Go there. Get a compelling subject line (to pique interest) and a quick loading, colorful image, under which you will have a can't beat % off offer to first time buyers. Just put together a plan and work it. You WILL hit the jackpot on this one.

    Best,
    jag
    MarketBase
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