Jim Francis with https://www.bestblanks.com/ is has been getting people started in custom t-shirts and promo products business for about 150 years (maybe closer to 10 but it seems like that much) - and we've asked him on the podcast today for 2 reasons: 1: Because he's a PRO in a part of the business that we have less experience in. 2: Because Sublimation is a great technology if you want to start small and really bootstrap a custom t-shirt business. 3: Because now that BestBlanks is part of the...
Oct 21, 2020•56 min•Ep. 142
If you arent making sure you are able to be found on google maps - you are 100% missing out on business! According to Brandify: 77% of people use google maps to find a local business, second place is Facebook at 38% (obviously there is overlap, some people use both) 25% of these searches are in the car. This means they might be 'in town' or 'running errands' and hoping to find someone nearby 59% of these are done at home, meaning they are seeking for nearby places Local Search Fast Facts: 78% of...
Oct 14, 2020•47 min•Ep. 141
Jason Fuchs https://www.sagepathfa.com/ is a Financial Advisor that specializes in small businesses - and entrepreneurs just like you. And he's here with some of the answers to questions that we get all the time.. about insurance, retirement and the personal "money" side of the customization business. People most wanted to learn about: Small business loan options - When to pay Cash, When to Borrow and When to Wait Using credit vs cash for large purchases Getting Set up right from the beginning P...
Oct 06, 2020•39 min•Ep. 140
Here are seven (7) things that kill business growth. Ignoring these things are certain to keep your custom t-shirt business, embroidery, sign, promo products business from being more. More sales, more profits, and more satisfying for you and your customers. 1. Bad Accounting - In other words, not knowing your numbers. All too often people think they are doing well, but they are failing slowly. 2. Ignoring Customer Feedback - Your customers will tell you what's wrong, especially if you ask them. ...
Oct 01, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 139
One thing is has become clear this year. That MOST of our new customers, and ones adding new machines to their shop, are doing a lot more than just apparel. At every tradeshow, in every industry email and magazine, even in ColDesi emails you see more and more outside the norm. Just recently we finished a video on making custom Whiskey glasses with DigitalHeat FX. And the Embroidery Grip has been selling more and more because embroiderers are embellishing more than just polos. Cutters and spangle...
Sep 23, 2020•52 min•Ep. 138
We've been actually kind of BUILDING a Marketing Playbook over the past few episodes - not on purpose. Las episode we talked about identifying your ideal customer, and recently we've done podcasts on: Ecommerce sites: https://customapparelstartups.com/episode-130/ Turnaround strategies: https://customapparelstartups.com/episode-128/ Selling Conversations: https://customapparelstartups.com/episode-127/ Winning Sales Methods: https://customapparelstartups.com/episode-124/ During this podcast we'll...
Sep 17, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 137
Here's how to build a winning ad strategy for your business: Step 1 – Choose your Niche -Fitness Coaches & Personal Trainers -Local Moms from pregnancy to toddler years Step 2 – Build your Avatar Male – 25-45 – In shape, loves fitness, likes cool t-shirts, casual minded, wants to be independently wealthy. Has own business for personal training. Probably works out of a private gym and does some online coaching. Female – 20-30 – Small town mom, loves personalized things for her children, has a...
Sep 03, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 136
Marketers are constantly talking about a "customer avatar", which translates into normal English as your Ideal Customer. Identifying that Ideal Customers is very similar to, and JUST as important as choosing a Niche Market, something we've devoted quite a few episodes to as well. All you're really doing here is creating an imaginary person. The one you'd most like to sell to. The one that will most respond to your products, your business and YOU. Once you've created your ideal customer - right d...
Aug 26, 2020•46 min•Ep. 135
Let's talk about making that BIG Decision like adding a new piece of equipment to your business, or moving into or out of a retail location, or moving your business to a print on demand model. 1. Look at the opportunity objectively and from several perspectives. Are you doing this because you're excited, or because it's objectively a good opportunity? How will your existing customers view this decision? 2. Develop goals. What are the results you expect from this decision - specifically? Like if ...
Aug 12, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 134
One of the problems people have about opening their small business is being shy about it. You have to tell everyone There is a thing where people are scared to share that they are starting (or started) a new business. This might be because: Fear of ridicule.. aka that's a bad idea. Fear of looking like a failure - next year you aren't in the business Fear of not being good enough - do work for them and they don't like it You HAVE to tell everyone. Nothing wrong with failure, nothing wrong with m...
Aug 09, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 133
The first thing to discuss about this episode is WHY you want to call people you've never met. Why make sales phone calls? They are proven to work (aka make you money) They are essentially free Why don't business make sales phone calls? Scary Feel they are intrusive Don't know what to say. How to get past these and start making calls? Realize you've done something WAY scarier, you started a business. You ARE being mildly intrusive, are 'interrupting' their day. It's OK. You HAVE good intentions....
Jul 29, 2020•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 132
Here is the reasons why we see this episode caught your attention. You are a new business working on a shoestring budget You are an existing business dealing with an economic downturn / recovery and uncertainty. You are doing well, but realize you might be missing out on some ways to grow your business, or ways to reduce budgets. The good news is that ALL 5 of these things work for everyone listening. Let’s get right into it, there are ways you can really use your creativity and your time to get...
Jul 28, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 131
In this CAS Podcast episode, Mark is talking with Mike Angel about ColDesi OnDemand.
Jul 23, 2020•41 min•Ep. 130
We’ve seen a huge jump in the number of customers adopting UV printers. Why is it so? Listen to this episode and learn more!
Jul 01, 2020•41 min•Ep. 129
During this episode, we’ll walk you through how to look at your business with fresh eyes. Like you were BUYING a struggling or stagnant business, not running it. This kind of “outside” perspective can reveal both personal and professional areas for potential growth and lead to a better business. The basic premise is that everything you do to make your business more attractive to a Buyer will be better for your business! First: Getting ready to “Sell” your business – because in order to really ev...
Jun 25, 2020•48 min•Ep. 128
Being the owner of a Custom Apparel company means that every person you meet is your next potential customer. You don’t want to be consumed with turning every conversation into a sales pitch, but you should be likable and know when you should try to make the move for a sale. Step 1 – just be a good conversationalist List of things that make a good conversationalist: Be friendly – Talk to people, be nice, be a pleasant person, inviting, warm. Not talking about YOU all the time – You have great st...
Jun 10, 2020•46 min•Ep. 127
The idea for this podcast came up just recently - because of a disastrous detail. One of my clients has me managing their Google Ads account, which I've been doing for about 6 months. When I first did the analysis on their ads and budget I noticed there were SEVERAL other account managers. I didn't think anything of it at the time. It turns out that they had left admin access turned on for a few previous ads managers. AND one of them had left THEIR CREDIT CARD attached to the account. So 2 Hidde...
Jun 03, 2020•53 min•Ep. 126
In this mini-cast episode, Mark from ColDesi is talking about the idea of Horizontal Marketing. Listen to this episode and learn how your business can benefit from using Horizontal Marketing.
May 27, 2020•11 min•Ep. 126
During episode of the CAS Podcast we have a special guest, one that represents a product that has basically revolutionized the custom t-shirt and promotional products business – let’s welcome Randy Rickert from Okidata, the Pope of White Toner Printing. Randy has worked in the printing industry since the 80s. His resume includes running Mutoh and being in charge of OKIData Sales in the USA. Listen in to learn a little more about the OKI White Toner Printer Revolution.
May 18, 2020•37 min•Ep. 125
Everyone out there can shoot a basketball into a hoop. You really don't even need to be taught how to do it. You could hand someone who's never seen a basketball or a hoop and say... get the ball in there. They will eventually get the ball in. In fact, they may get it the first time, or the first 3 times. How would they go up against someone who's played every weekend for 20 years though? How would they go up against a high school student who goes to practice every day? This is just like selling...
May 06, 2020•53 min•Ep. 124
All businesses are not the same. They each have their own individual personality and goals. Although every business & person is completely unique, we can categorize them. These categories can help us understand a few things: Where are you now? Where do you want to be in the future? What are your strengths now? How to sell against each category? In this episode, we will talk about each of these businesses/people and how knowing this information will help you succeed. The Pure Hobbyist Definit...
Apr 29, 2020•45 min•Ep. 123
Leah Calvert has been in the custom apparel industry for over 20 years. Her business, 918 Design Company, works with gymnastics, cheer and schools. Their focus is on spirit wear – t-shirts, bags, etc. Her business has gone from a huge focus on live events to working from home. What has she done and how can this inspire you? This short but information packed interview with Mark Stephenson and Leah Calvert is a great listen for business inspiration.
Apr 14, 2020•19 min•Ep. 122
Marshall has 30 years of direct industry experience including running his own custom apparel businesses, working for fulfillment software vendors and doing boots on the ground consulting for shops all over the United States. During this podcast, Marshall shares his experience in many areas, but in particular on the impact of creating a business plan, following that plan, improving plan and sales processes and more.
Mar 23, 2020•55 min•Ep. 121
5 ways to inject life into a stagnant business: Get some bling transfers Opposite Marketing Month - Methods Opposite Marketing Month - Markets Call 10 Customers and Ask what you're missing out on Back to Business Basics What are the basics? Put your selling shoes back on - chances are if a business is stagnant you might not be hitting the pavement and selling. Call old leads and lost deals. Take a hard look inside - face some hard truths on what you do wrong. How is your processes? Is your busin...
Mar 04, 2020•48 min•Ep. 120
A CRM is a Customer Relationship Management software. It’s designed to help you organize your customers, track interactions and even more complex items like creating invoices and setting reminders to follow up. A CRM can also help you create business automation. For example, if you mark a customer as someone to follow up with in 6 months, you can have an email automatically go out in six months and a reminder pop up in your calendar to call them. Why have a CRM (should you have one)? – If your c...
Feb 26, 2020•50 min•Ep. 119
You can really bring out your best in social media, but you can also bring your business down. Making you look WORSE! Here is step 1 to nailing stellar social media skills! Social Channels Facebook YOU have a profile YOUR BUSINESS has a page and your BUSINESS PAGE has a group YOUR PROFILE Posts on the group and is the face of the group. Profiles One human face should be associated with the profile. Groups types of groups Open: Anyone can view the group, its members, and their posts. Closed: Anyo...
Feb 19, 2020•51 min•Ep. 118
1. Perfect basic online presence Google my business, bing, facebook (technical set up) 2. Perfect your ecom or online showroom (if have one) Images Nothing broken Technically correct and optimized (https, ssl, etc) Emails / auto responders set up Google analytics HIRE SOMEONE (that you aren't related to) 3. Physical Marketing Collateral Business cards Brochures Samples! - if you don't have some, get some this means, have sample shirts or hats or something you are willing to give away and a show ...
Feb 12, 2020•58 min•Ep. 117
It’s 2020. You are still in business. You made it. What’s next? How will you do better? Do More of what works Spend more on what works Do new things 1. Look at your 2019 review. And determine how to spend more time replicating that. Can you go to more events? Can you meet more people? Join more groups? Ask for more referrals? Go on more sales calls? The big question: do you have the time and/or will to do this? 2. If you had paid ads... spending more. If you paid to attend 2 markets, can you pay...
Jan 22, 2020•53 min•Ep. 116
How do you determine if you had a good year and plan for the next one? There are some simple metrics that are normally used to determine a businesses success like: Did revenue grow compared to previous years Your expenses and revenue are growing at a healthy rate together You have a mix of new and repeat customers You have profits in the bank Profit margins are high and healthy for the business These are all very important and you have to spend time looking into them consistently. However, let's...
Jan 08, 2020•50 min•Ep. 115
Pricing is an EMOTIONAL thing for most small business owners. It's tied up with how you feel about money. About how much money it's okay for you to make. About feeling bad when you think you're charging too much. About your pride when you ARE charging too much, but need to make a change. The Impact of Pricing: I've told this story before. About the customer and the $8 DFX Shirts, but I'm going to tell it again because it should terrify you. Pricing too high is tricky as well. With price testing ...
Dec 26, 2019•1 hr•Ep. 114
