Article: Mail & Parcel Centers Summer Sales Ideas

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In your marketing plan, you may need to start planning for a marketing event as much as two seasons in advance. Many of the signs that we show in this article can be printed from our web site. See Store Signs.

June Weddings
Spring, starting as soon as possible in the New Year, is the time to market for June wedding shipments. Most weddings happen in June. Bridal shops and brides have packaging and shipping needs. This can be big business, depending on your location.

I got the idea to target this market when a bridal shop opened next to one of our stores. When I set up a program and did sales calls on our area's bridal shops, I learned that it was time well-spent. We give a special information packet to the bridal shops, and then we leave them brochures to set on their counters and to give to brides for shipping dresses.

Many brides have bridesmaids who are all across the country. These bridesmaids have to make sure that the dresses fit so that they can get it altered in time for the wedding. Also, many brides may live in your city, find a dress there, but they are getting married in another state.

We don't do any specials with this market. Instead we state how we specialize in services and apply an additional charge for any special packaging than what we state in our advertisement. You may want to offer specials, however. Before you start marketing to bridal shops, make certain that you are set to package these precious shipments correctly.

The objective on packaging a bridal party gown is to keep it as wrinkle-free as possible. Keep reams of white gift tissue paper available if you are going after this market. The white tissue has no color that may penetrate the gowns, and it is soft and pliable, thereby it reduces wrinkling. Use the white tissue to pack the bodice and any other parts of the dress that may get too wrinkled, such as puffy sleeves. We established an additional charge for this.

Then we use air bags or acid-free paper packing to fill the rest of the box. We do NOT use peanuts, since the peanut debris may adhere to the gown.

We use a long box that allows us to fold the gown in the least amounts of folds as possible. We use a 350 pound bursting test box, at least, so that the package can withstand the stacking procedures of the carriers without any bending to the box.

Don't forget to let your customers know about how you can package crystal or that you provide invitation printing, if you offer these services.

Also, check with the major department stores in your area about any upcoming bridal fairs and being a vendor at these.

Father's Day
Father's Day normally does not generate as many sales as Mother's Day. In our nineteen years of business, we had one year when Father's Day sales exceeded Mother's Day sales.

Remind your customers in advance that this is a holiday not to be missed. Do this with signs, mailings, coupons, and other methods of promoting a major holiday. As we stated with Mother's Day, look at December promotional ideas and use ideas that you think will attract your target market best and are within your advertising budget for the month.

Suggested Products - More Ideas & Training

Packaging & Shipping Stores Guerilla Sales & Marketing

Basic Packaging & Shipping

Other Articles & Pages of Interest:

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List of Free Store Signs