Discuss the fun task of marketing a t-shirt shop. Where to advertise, link building, word of mouth, press releases, search engine marketing, keyword advertising, magazines, etc.
I was checking into advertising in the local Catholic Church bulletin for a slot. The biggest church was sold out, but a couple of others in the area are available.
A business card ad with one color would run $1490. That seemed high to start off with, but on a weekly basis it comes down to less than $30 per week. My business model is internet religious, so I guess the ad is a little outside my primary revenue source, but my target market is the "religious" crowd.
So I guess the question is: Has anyone done this type of advertising in the past and did you see value in it?
I'd suggest going to outreach community organizations within the Church, for example (although this is not Church related) I volunteer at a neighborhood clean-up organization. Tell them you will provide the shirts (make sure that your logo can easily be seen) and then every time they are out doing their services people will see the shirts. Cheaper than buying an add in the bulletin, in my humble opinion.
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Joe, our church outsouces the task of selling of the ad space on the back of the bulletin, so I wonder if others don't and keep it in house.
Ted, have you looked into other advertising to see what you can get for $30 a week? Could that buy you a space in the yellow book instead? That's kind of what I am wondering, what other forms of advertising can get for $30 a week in your area, like a comparable?
I can only speak for myself when it comes to the flyer: I personally don't read the back of my flyer. In 10 yrs here, I couldn't tell you more than one or two companies that are on there. I figure I want to read what's inside, and that's about all the time I have for the flyer. The only time I really see the back of the flyer is when I fold it to put it up in the sunvisor. I do give a short mental note to thank those folks for paying to supply me with my flyer, but I don't really think "Who is on there that I can patronize in return for sponsoring my flyer?" Maybe I should, but when price shopping things I need, if they are the lowest, I'll find them that way... Maybe getting in the local phone book would be a better option for you if most folks are like me...
I do tend to agree that working with the church and church groups is the best way to get the word of mouth advertising that will have folks from your parish seeking you out for services. Seems the fine line folks walk with church work is between "donating" to the church and having "customers" at the church. Good luck to you, Ted. Let us know how it works out.
I will say the yellow book, gave me nothing but people calling for price checks. I think offering to give the church a percentage of sales is a good way too. I actually got the exclusive rights for my state to use the methodist cross on garments and other items . This was a involved process, but it has proven to be worthwhile. Keep in mind most church logo's are coptrighted and the proper steps must be taken to protect yourself. ..... JB
Girlzndolls is correct for our Diocese. The firm prints all the bulletins in exchange for the advertising revenues, so in my particuliar case I can't make the "exchange" idea work
The concept of a doing an embroidery of our church logo is a good idea. Maybe I can try the same on the Diocese.
The community involvement idea works but our church has waiting lists for all type stuff.
I really am beginning to think I will need to try something else.
Fulfillment centers look appealing to me, too. I haven't checked them out fully, but after using -- and going crazy with the labor, expense and time hog that is --> Ebay - the fulfillment centers look so good from where I sit when I hear folks talk about their stores. It might be worth a look, Ted, to see if they appeal to you at all. You get the customers to your site, and services like Cafe Press do all the rest. They also show up in Google.
Advertising in church bulletins 
