Generally everyone is too busy talking to listen. I am trying t listen to people as I learn this business. It has provided me some pretty good ideas too. The creation of Honey Maple Syrup cashews and pecans came from listening to customers.
My Dirt Shirt came from listening to a woman voice a need for “an adult bib that does not look like a bib”. Made from a recycled shirt and looking just like a shirt front, it really wows everyone. Another thing that came from listening to comments about it was my decision to trademark the name. Certainly this was costly and only time will tell if it will be worth the cost. Now I face the the challenge of trying to market two very different products. While a business professor might not approve, this is where my lack of business knowledge makes me more open!
For about 2 years I have been learning how to present my product and myself. Of course I have wasted some time and money but I don’t beat myself up too much. I have not been able to find a mentor and even the experts can’t always tell which things are going to ‘make’ it. I go to as many markets as my body will allow me to! The network of fellow vendors and business people are my best resources.
For $800 and 7 hours of driving I have an opportunity to go to a 3 day training session that will also feature a a 2 day online tutorial. The question is, do I want to? I believe the ‘take-off’ point will just be a lot of review. Will I be able to utilize enough of what they teach me or is it just concepts? I’ve had enough of those and that is part of why I have begun this blog, to begin to utilize another concept. I consider what my immediate goals are in terms of bringing up a new package size, the new machine to accomplish this, and the new label system I will need and I think…maybe not.
Anyone have any feedback out there?
