Top 5 Ways To Use Scratch Off Tickets To Grow Your Business

By Christy Townzen

Scratch tickets are fun and innovative way to grow your business. They give your customers and potential customers a chance to win varying percentages of their total sale or even a freebie with their next order. It is up to you to decide what the prize on the winning tickets will be. You can easily make these yourself with scratch stickers that are readily available or you can have them custom printed.

1. When mailing out bills add a scratch off ticket inside the envelope along with every check you write and mail. Someone has to open those envelopes and you never know – they may just be interested in what you have to offer.

2. Next time you visit the doctor, go to the hair saloon or wait at the car repair place, ask if you can leave some of your scratch tickets in the waiting area. Others are waiting there every day, just like you and will pick up your tickets. Once you find a few good places, make it a point to stop by once a week or so to restock the waiting area with fresh scratch tickets.

3. Hand out scratch off tickets during craft shows, street fairs & festivals. You could give them out randomly, within a catalog or when customers buy something from you. You can either make them valid for the duration of the festival or show to encourage immediate sales, or give your visitors a month to redeem their prize.

4. When participating in “Prim Pack Swaps” or “Mom Pack Swaps” use scratch off tickets instead of business cards. This will make you stand out from all the other participants that are still using business cards and it is a lot more fun to the recipient.

5. Include a scratch off ticket with all outgoing orders. Use specific dates on your tickets to promote future sales. This is something I like to do during November & December. I use dates such as valid through January 1st through February 28th of the following year. This helps to drum up business during slow months.

I encourage you to give scratch tickets a try. You will be amazed at the amount of new business you can generate with these little cards. They are unique and fun and will catch someone’s attention. Make them a part of your marketing efforts and watch your business grow.


About the author: Christy Townzen is a proud WAHM. She is dedicated to helping small business owners advertise and promote their small businesses. To check out her online businesses visit: Shoofly Pie Mercantile - Grungy Tags - Crafter's Sayings.

* Photo courtesy of Print Me Prim.

Visit Print Me Prim
for customized scratch off tickets.

~christy

November Trade Days

 
The Mercantile is happy to introduce you to this months Featured Site, Kraft Outlet.
 
Kraft Outlet is a leading online vendor for Brown Kraft Labels, Kraft Paper and Cardstock. Whether you are needing to make business cards, hang tags, bag toppers, product or address & shipping labels our specialty papers & labels will help you achieve that old time worn look.
 
Kraft Outlet opened it’s doors in 2004 and is dedicated to helping you achieve the look you want at an affordable price.
 
Hope you enjoyed our Featured Site. See you next month @ “Mercantile Trade Days”!

~christy

News From The Mercantile

Hello! My name is Christy Townzen. I am the new owner of Shoofly Pie Mercantile. I live real close to St. Louis, Missouri. I’m a WAHM (work at home mom) with three children. I have been crafting for several years. I started my first online business back in 2003. I have many interests in the crafting world. I am new to blogging but look forward to meeting new friends. If you would like to visit my other websites please visit www.GrungyTags.com where I offer primitive coffee stained tags for that old time worn look. And www.CraftersSayings.com where you can find free craft sayings and quotes for all your paper crafting and scrap booking projects

I look forward to helping my fellow WAHM’s promote their websites and to developing new friendships with fellow crafters.


Have a great day!

~christy

The WAHM Home Companion

Time tested household tips, from various sources, for busy Work Women At Home!



Here are a few tips for a safe and happy Halloween!



“Un-Haunting” Your House

* Welcome trick-ortreaters at home by turning on your exterior lights.
* Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard to visitors.
* Drive slowly all evening - you never know what creatures may suddenly cross your path.
* Report any suspicious or criminal activity to your local police department.



Hints on Safe Costumes

* Check that costumes are flame-retardant so the little ones aren’t in danger near candlelit jack-olanterns and other fire hazards.
* Keep costumes short to prevent trips, falls, and other bumps in the night.
* Encourage kids to wear comfortable shoes.
* Try wearing make-up instead of masks; masks can be hot and uncomforatble and can obstruct a child’s view.
* Make sure kids wear light colors or put reflective tape or stickers on their
costumes to increase their visibility.


Preparing Ghosts and Goblins for Their Tricks and Treats

* Make sure older kids go out with friends.
* Younger children should be accompanied by an adult at all times. If you live
in a rural area, offer to transport the kids in the neighborhood to another in
your car.
* Remind kids not to enter a stranger’s house or car.



Following a few of these safety tips will ensure that Halloween will be a “howling” good time for all. These tips were supplied by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.


Talk to you next week for the Mercantile Trade Days!

News From the Mercantile

Craft Show Inventory and Pricing

In the past few weeks we have been talking about all aspects of doing Craft Shows, so this week we will talk about how to answer those hard questions; "How much inventory do I take?" and "What should I charge for my product?" Both of these questions are asked every year, by every crafter.

A long time ago I read somewhere that the gauge for a GREAT show was if you had 10x your booth rent. So if you paid $100 for your booth rent and had $1000 in sales, you had a GREAT show. Well I have used that formula for the last 16 years and I find it still works today. For today's craft shows I think you need to include the price of travel and all expenses you would incur in doing that show, like hotels, gas or trailer rental.If you add this amount to the cost of the booth rent then you have a true picture of a GREAT show.


One of the hardest things I do as a crafter is finding the magic number for inventory. It always seems like I never make enough of some things. If you are just starting out it is always better to be on the safe side, you would rather leave them wanting more than have to pack up a huge amount of inventory. Now don't get me wrong, one of my pet peeves is a booth that looks naked. Keep your booth as full and well merchandised as possible. I am always moving things around during the day. I tweak the arrangement of things to keep it looking fresh, but on the other hand I hate a booth that looks like Wal-Mart, everything lined up in rows and not one bit of imagination used to display their wares.

My inventory rule is what my husband calls the SWAG system, Scientific Wild Ass Guess! There is no rule for what to bring or how much to bring. I am a folk artist, so most of my things are one of a kind, I also do my shows back to back for a month so there is very little time to replenish stock; with all this in mind, I try to have at least one whole set of items for each show and then my inventory that is One Of A Kind. My philosophy is, "If I sell everything at the first show, well so be it!" I used to drive myself crazy thinking that if I sold out at the first show I needed to kill myself making stuff for the second, third and forth shows. Well I can tell you that is usually the kiss of death for that item and when I quickly re-made the items they never sold as well. Be happy with what you have done, I try to place a dollar value and if it is sold in the first or the last show, it took care of itself.


Pricing is a whole different story! Some people price by the cost of materials, some price by the time it took to make the item multiplied by an hourly wage, others just guess! My formula is simple, I never get below 3x the retail cost of materials. This is my jumping off point, after that I look at how hard it was to make, how many hours I put into something and then just look at what the market will allow. You may have gotten a terrific deal on your supplies and maybe it only took you 30 minutes to make the darn thing, but if similar items are selling for a much higher price then I price accordingly. My husbands hard and fast rule is NEVER LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE! Now to counter that you have to look at vendors who have overpriced themselves because they have a very time consuming craft and want to get back minimum wage for all the hours put into an item, this usually never works out. I have seen many hand crocheted afghans at shows with huge price tags on them and hardly anyone takes a second look. This is a prime example of a craft that is not profitable for resale. When the price to make the item exceeds the price customers are willing to pay it is time to stop making that item. You have to look at this as a business decision, not a hobby that you like to make. If no one buys the items, all you have is a hobby with a lot of Christmas gifts for family and friends. One other word on pricing it is always easier to mark something down than mark something up! If you start out too high you can always adjust to find the right market. You will kick yourself over and over when you find that your items are priced too cheaply and you could have gotten more for that item.

Next month we will finish our series on Craft Shows with everything you need to know about the day of the show.

Thanks for stopping by,

The Homemakers Handbook

A monthly offering of new and sometimes "classic" family recipes for busy working women at home!





Mom's Beef Vegetable Soup

1 pkg stew meat
1 pkg baby carrots, cut in half
4 potatoes, peeled and cut into large cubes
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 large can stewed tomatoes
1 box frozen corn
1 box frozen green peas
2 cans beef broth
1 Tablespoon oil
salt and pepper to taste

In a large dutch oven heat oil and add stew meat; cook until browned on all sides. Next add the carrots, potatoes, onion, stewed tomatoes and beef broth; salt and pepper to taste. Cook over medium low heat until beef is tender. Add frozen corn and peas and let heat through. Serve with corn bread for a wonderful dinner or healthy lunch. Makes a huge pot so there will be leftovers.

September Trade Days

The Mercantile is happy to introduce you to this months Featured Site, Mamaw's Creations.

Mamaw's Creations Online store has been open since 2002 and it seems like Marie has been crafting all of her life and doing craft shows for over 20 years. She is a stay at home Mamaw of 7 grandchildren and she loves it! One of the ways that she relaxes is by going into her craft room and designing patterns and making Primitive and Country crafts. Marie is always striving to create something new for her customers to enjoy and she thanks the Good Lord for giving her a creative mind.

Browse through the many handcrafted items that Mamaw's Creations has created to make your home feel warm and cozy! Whether it may be Patterns, Raggedy's, Gingerbread dolls, Snowmen,Stitchery pillows, Prim wearables, Electric Candles, Primitive ornies, you will find that special item you are looking for to put a smile on your face!

Hope you enjoyed our Featured Site and see you next month at "Mercantile Trade Days"!