Best way to sell somthing

[Beanmetalworks]

i have a product i make it is agricultral piice of machinery it carrs wrap for bale wrappers. i have sold some and think it is a product i would like to get out there but do not no the best way of doing this??? so can anyone give me advice?

i have had word with a distributor of farm machinery but they seem to want to be sole person to sell my product hmm not sure if this is best thing todo. would like to try and sell it bit myself but how to get it to open world???

 

[Beanmetalworks]

sorry for spelling mistakes typing to fast lol

 

[tigler]

Ebay and a website. Distributors will want a cut and take ages to pay you.

 

[Metalkoi]

As Tigler says Ebay or we have a magazine called the Farmers Guide round this area and theres often lots of one man bands selling pieces of kit that they build in house.
Might be worth pricing up an advert in something like this as it reaches a large audience.

 

[Shox Dr]

I would sell it direct, someone else in the chain is only going to;
a, reduce your profits.
b, increase the likely hood of copies.

 

[Beanmetalworks]

good advice ebay??? not to sure if it really a place that people got for agri equipment been in farming for 15 years not heard anyone talk about ebay but could be worth a shot... if i have to pay to do any advertising i just wanna do it right place not got loads cash to throw at advertising.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Is there not a livestock auction mart in the area, many farmer types see this as a day out even if they have no animals in there, perhaps they would let you do a display for the price of a market stall.

 

[Beanmetalworks]

yeah could do that or just get flyer and put it on every farmer 4x4 that goes to market.? but then i think i need to aiming at agri contractors not farmers from what i no most wrapping gets done buy contractor these days. have been offered by a distributor to take my product to shows and advertise it but then the downfall is that i have to sell to him only??

 

[brightspark]

so send the fliers by post to the agri contractors or anyone that is likely to use the product look em up on google its free they generaly have e mail addys e mail em cheaper still

 

[Shox Dr]

be aware the pickup on fliers is less than 1% even if they are targeted.

 

[tigler]

There is tons of agri stuff on ebay, I'm always looking at tractors, trying to convince myself it's a rational purchase !
Also, if you had a website you could link it to farming websites.

 

[Beanmetalworks]

never really got into marketing is there any easy way of makiing something on computer that i can send as a email that looks good rather that just a boring email and pic?

 

[Beanmetalworks]

no arguing that there not agri stuff on ebay just that if you got a farm on agri business your very unlikely to look on ebay for a piece of machinery. well not one that is worth any decent money. but ill put my wrap stack on there and see what happens.

 

[KemppiFrog]

http://uk.mrsite.com/shop.html

This might help
KF

 

[cumbriasteve]

I suppose the consideration is what is your distributors possible market size? are they local sales or would it be nationwide? can they provide a decent demand?

It's a lot easier selling to one distributor than seeking customers yourself, you save on advertising and distribution costs so it offsets their commision a bit. you would of course require a decent contract of sorts to prevent them getting someone else to make them if they sell well.

Where it can go badly wrong is if demand is high and you ease off other work to manage supply and then the distributor decides to end the contract.

 

[Shox Dr]

^^ what Steve says. If you chose to go down the distributor route I'd bee wanting a firm order for at least 3-5 units and some forward orders. That way you will get an idea on what they think they will sell, and it also lets you know your possible work load

 

[Hitch]

Frome show, Bath and West, Devon county show..... Gillingham and Shaftsbury.....I imagine some would be dearer than others to have a pitch at.
And some have already been and gone...Your local one is next month isn't it?

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Frome show, Bath and West, Devon county show..... Gillingham and Shaftsbury.....I imagine some would be dearer than others to have a pitch at.
And some have already been and gone...Your local one is next month isn't it?

There is also the Dorset County Show, Dorchester, 1st & 2nd of September. http://www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk/page/farming

 

[blenkie1]

No harm in doing e-bay and a website but does not seem to be a big thing in farming circles they usually have machinary sales at the bigger auction sites. Just been to one at Carlisle today and it looks like a day out for farmers to have a bit crac. Come from a wide area as well some travelling from Ireland. I have five brothers-in-laws who are farmers (one a contractor) and they don't use the internet a lot, and the youngest one in his 30s can not even switch a computer on. Most farmers are looking in farming publications or dealers so I think would be a better place to try.

 

[snowcat]

There are hundreds of ways to self promote products, firstly build yourself a website, It costs very little or nothing these days, Its a great portfolio put your web Addy on all Invoices (even sneak it onto your signature on BFF), emails etc, Its surprising how many hits it will get, I also enter a fair bit of stuff into the local county shows, again it helps if your products are winning the odd prizes, try and get someone like PFI magazine to do a little write up, again try and get your web Addy some ware on the products you've made.

Mail shots, writing to contractors farmers etc, or even knocking on doors all works.... Iv done all the above.

Id avoid stands at shows BTW they often give little return for the cost of pitch, and the time involved to set up.