This week I attempted to get onto two of what must be the best markets from attendance point of view. I called the one (Irene Village Market) who directed me to email them via their contact form on the website. Which I did, requesting an urgent response since I would like to have displayed Beautiful Bracelets at the weekend market today (I know it's late, but with now only 4 weeks to go the time is flying by and I notice there are only 3 market dates left after today.) No response to my email yet. Neither to my application to the Bryanston Organic Market (which I'm applying to on the grounds of using beads which have recycled materials in them).
An amazing thing happened at the Acts Business Dinner last night (which, by the way, had the MOST inspirational speakers... on "coming up higher" to a level of integrity in business that may be scarce in some parts of our country if one judges by how busy
Thuli Madonsela is. It just so happened that at this Business Dinner I was sitting next to a lady who somehow is involved or linked to people in Government who arrange flea market events for Special Days like Women's Day (9 Aug), Heritage Day (24 Sept). I asked her if people actually
buy stuff at these markets and if there were any "days" coming up soon. Yes to both questions. This coming Wednesday, 16 October, the MEC for the Department of Agriculture will be present at an event to market International Poverty Alleviation Day, in Bronkhorstspruit, and I was invited right there and then to be there (official email confirmation to follow). It may be a bit far, but perhaps travel could be arranged with the friend who suggested it, also, it seems an opportunity not to be passed up considering the ethos of the "day" fits some of my goals. And of course, last week I had a number of people ask if I would please bring Beautiful Bracelets to Acts Church this Sunday, as they wished to purchase (there is a rule that one cannot have a table or stand at the Church, but there is nothing stopping me from engaging in transactions with people who approach me directly.) So quite a few sales are happening by word of mouth and it seems the "word" is spreading like wildfire, and this is a congregation of about 3,500 people so I could be very busy just with that. I have also been given permission to have a stand at the next Acts Women's Conference and sell, they will have a kind of "flea market" situation at the conference with many people selling their goods. A funny thing happened last night. As we were getting ready to wrap up and leave, one of the ladies (a friend of someone at my table), decided she just "had to have" the Beautiful Bracelet I was wearing (it was Turquoise) and she bought it on the spot! (The first time she'd heard of
Beautiful Bracelets.) Actually, there wasn't even time to tell her about the business, I will get her number from her friend and follow up. Follow-up marketing is the best and easiest way to get more business. Get loyal customers who will either purchase more Beautiful Bracelets, or will refer their friends to buy either online or in person.
Sales are starting to flow more steadily via the website
www.beautifulbracelets.co.za. I have noticed even amongst some of my friends a certain level of suspicion and hesitancy to purchase things via the Internet. Some quote hearsay evidence of things going wrong. But I personally have only had excellent experiences purchasing online and I intend to ensure that Beautiful Bracelets is a pleasant experience for anyone who tries it. "Under Promise" and "Over Deliver" on service. That's what I hope to achieve.
It's beginning to seem as though I may soon need to employ more people (the 2nd person) to assist making the bracelets just to keep up with what I can already see is an increasing demand due to the marketing I've done, via friends, social media, and of course the very fact that the Radio 702 Business Challenge is receiving Publicity.. I don't want to run ahead just yet, I will be sitting with Stan Close of
IKUSASA later today and working on the strategy for growth for the business. This is something that has to be carefully managed. No point over-reaching and hitting bankruptcy before one even starts.
