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Marketing - good idea?
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=1828		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  LanceK [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:00 am ]
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Or bad idea?

Marketing Idea
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:06 am ]
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Lance, do you give one away with each commision? I have been thinking of doing just that. I sponcer my bowling team and our shirts have my logo. I have got one commision from a leauge member that saw my logo on our bowling shirt. Just the one but it more than paid for the teams bowing shirts.
Author:  LanceK [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:08 am ]
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Michael - i dont, but its a good idea .
Author:  tl507362 [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:48 am ]
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Lance, I think you are asking this question a little too late. Sounds like you already have done this. However, it is a great idea for name recognition. I like Michael's idea, give one away with every guitar purchase, customers choice. I know that ovation guitars puts a catalog with every sale and in the catalog is shirts, caps, mugs, etc. So you are on the right track.
Tracy
Author:  Rick Davis [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:46 am ]
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I've been giving a shirt or hat with my logo for some years. It's an add-on,
after the sale, nice touch. It doesn't make for more sales but it does add
some brand loyalty, I suspect.

Anyway, it's a hoot to see the shirts and hats at Festivals and shows.

Author:  Bob Steidl [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:47 am ]
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Me too, sort of. I sell my t-shirts for $2,400. They then get a free guitar.

Author:  Brock Poling [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:29 am ]
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A few years back I had "varsity jackets" made for my entire staff with our logo embroidered on the back.... I thought it would be something nice to get everyone excited about the company...

As it turned out it became excellent advertising. We got a lot of calls because people would see those jackets.

I think this logo'd merchandise is a great idea if it is high quality stuff.

Author:  arvey [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:29 am ]
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If my Customers come buy my shop to pick up their guitar they get a free Cuban Cigar and a glass of Port Seriously I've been thinking of doing up some T shirts to wear at booths and maybe have a few for sale but at this point I wonder how many people would want to Buy an Arvey Guitars Shirt.
Author:  LanceK [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:23 pm ]
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Brock - I have 6 shirts from this company - a golf shirt and 5 tees, and there all very good quality stuff. You might expect cheap material, but thats not the case here.

Here is my walking bill board from last years Riverfolk festival where I displayed my guitars



On the back is says "My Daddy builds acoustic guitars!"

I know I know -- I have no shame


Author:  Brock Poling [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:26 pm ]
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Hey... whatever it takes right....   

I think another cool idea (for healdsburg or whereever) is to make up a batch of guitar picks and put them in a fish bowl and let players & potential buyers take a small handful.

They could have your logo and contact info on them.

I would have to imagine they would be cheap to have made up and then everytime the guy played his guitar he gets reminded of your work.

Author:  Colby Horton [ Fri Apr 29, 2005 12:57 am ]
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I think the shirts are a good marketing idea, and very nice to have. How many guitars have you made to date?

Those two guitars in the pic look great!!
Author:  LanceK [ Fri Apr 29, 2005 1:09 am ]
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Thanks Colby -

How many have I made? Or how many would I be willing to bring out of the closet and show

Just putting the finishing touches on #10, When I finish what I currently have going, which should be later this summer, ill have completed 14. The first few will forever stay hidden away - locked in the closet
Author:  Dave-SKG [ Fri Apr 29, 2005 1:43 am ]
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Lance,
These days I give shirts with my logo and a hat to everyone who buys a guitar and a hat to those who just have a good deal of repair work done ( say over $400).

I once owned a t-shirt business so it didn't cost me all that much. I would give a shirt or hat to anyone I met who played guitar (who would take one)...I know, that's a bit much but I felt then, and still do, that overall ( people in FL wear t-shirts all year long) the advertising and exposure was worth it. People LOVE that kind of stuff. Another good one was coffee mugs...they sit on someones desk all day long. I used to think it was better than magazine ads until I heard Tom Rebbecke comment that he felt the Mag ads gave credibility and name recognition to his company. He said that he didn't think people bought guitars because of the Mag Ad but that they expected to see him there with the other builders.
Author:  Brock Poling [ Fri Apr 29, 2005 5:14 am ]
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Yes. And it helps keep the value of his instruments high which gives buyers a warm & fuzzy that their investment will hold value (or possibly even appreciate).

Author:  Don A [ Fri Apr 29, 2005 5:54 am ]
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The hats and shirts definitely work. I received some inquiries after my wife wore her OLF hat to the Farmer's Market. Next time I send her with business cards.
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Fri Apr 29, 2005 1:36 pm ]
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[QUOTE=Bob Steidl] Me too, sort of. I sell my t-shirts for $2,400. They then get a free guitar.

[/QUOTE]

Author:  Colby Horton [ Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:23 am ]
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Wow, Lance I am surprised! Only ten so far, to look at your guitars I would have guessed at least 25-30. Wish mine were that good. I also have some of those “closet guitars”.
Author:  Tim McKnight [ Tue May 03, 2005 12:48 pm ]
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We've done the T-Shirt thing for a couple of years too.
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