Starting with your "warm" market!

When starting a new home based business one of the most important steps is contacting your "warm" market. This is a concept many people have to struggle with because they feel they are 'bothering' people, the people they know and love. If the people you know and love don't know you have a new candle business - they can't buy from you! The worst thing someone can say is 'no thanks' and that in itself is not really that bad - right?

So first, determine who is in your warm market. Start with a list, now the most important thing to ask yourself is....

"Who do I know that wants a  better lifestyle?" Now make a list of everyone you know that may be interested in a better, healthier lifestyle...

Okay now for specific categories of people:

**Family - parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc..etc.. You might be thinking - I don't want to bother my family with this, but hey - most family members will want to support you in your new business. Once they burn one of the gourmet candles, odds are you'll have a customer for life!

**Neighbors - your neighbors next door, your family's neighbors, etc.. Don't know your neighbors? Don't worry! What a wonderful excuse to get out and MEET them! There are a few different ways to do this:

**Co-Workers: Yours, your spouses, etc... Co-Workers often like to shop while at work! I can remember seeing catalogs always flying around the office back when I worked at an investment firm.

**Friends: Just like family, let them know, odds are they'll want to support your new business venture and then become customers for life.

**Now think of who you see on a frequent basis - someone you may not 'know' but you see them all the time: School Teacher, Day Care, Bank Teller, Grocery Clerk, Pharmacy Clerk, Door Man, Mail Counter Person, Mail Delivery Person, Hair Stylist...

**Now think of those you see on a less frequent basis - Doctor's Office, Dentist's Office, Dog Groomer, Vet, Masseuse, Waiter, Waitress...

Now look how long your list is and how many contacts you have, pretty impressive huh? I'm sure you even thought of lots of people I did not mention! Now remember how the word of mouth spreads, and offer those in your warm market a bonus system, i.e. for every couple people they refer to you - you'll give them a free product!

Now that you have a good way to get started, watch the next post for places to do fundraisers, great cash for the organization = great cash AND leads for YOU!

Have an ENLIGHTENED day!

Alethea Anderson

There is nothing to fear but fear itself!