Do you want to make money with your laser, with methods almost NOBODY is using anymore? I may be able to lend a hand. I have one word for you. HUSTLE.
    It’s hard to make sales, especially during the pandemic. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that EVERYONE is looking for ways out of this tunnel. That means your customers (other business owners) are just like the rest of us. They need business, and they are missing human contact. Therein lies the advantage. Don’t be like everyone else and call or email them.
    Let’s use a fictitious business. A bar is good. We’ll call it Johnny’s. The first thing you need to do is RESEARCH. Don’t try to sell to Johnny without at least knowing his needs and who he is first. It’s also a show of respect that you cared enough to figure that out. DON’T get your phone out and Google Johnny’s and then try to sell them over the phone. Instead…
    1. GO have a drink at Johnny’s so you can do some intelligence gathering. What glasses do they use? What do they serve their drinks on? Do they have menu holders on the tables? All good information. DO NOT try sell them during your intel gathering visit.
    2. Go home.
    3. Cut some beer flights, etch some glasses and menu holders with Johnny’s logo (you can Google that) and Cut and etch some wood beer tokens.
    4. DON’T call Johnny’s. Go there again with your samples and ask if the owner is around. If he’s not, ask them when he will be in.
    5. TALK TO THE OWNER. Have lunch with him. Give him what you made. Bring a card (hopefully something cool you etched so it’s memorable) Don’t write anything down or give him figures. Instead, take an hour and take an interest in his business. Tell him how you prefer to sell local and help local businesses.
    Human-to-human selling is a lost art. This whole process is called hustling. Close the deal verbally, right then and there. When you get home, then you can send him the invoices and boring stuff. If he cancels on you afterwards, you don’t want to do business with him anyway. Never do business with someone who doesn’t keep their word.
    Do this with every prospective business close to you. Cake shops need cake stands. There’s a pattern for that on Etsy. Is there a small coffee shop? They need coasters, countertop displays for their cupcakes and sandwiches. There’s a pattern for that. Is there a Mason’s lodge, Elk’s lodge or Rotary club in town? They need fundraiser items. Wedding planners and Avon-type sales model folks are a gold mine for display pieces. Little league baseball and other local youth sports groups need fundraiser items as well (tumblers make great fundraisers, hopefully you opted for the rotary attachment). The possibilities are endless if you hustle.
    Selling local saves you on logistics and shipping, and it gives you the upper hand because you know your city. You’ve been to most of these places already, and you know a lot of people around you. It helps.
    Get out of your house and do the work. A laser is just a tool. You’re already ahead of the rest of the game by buying a Thunder, but now you have to feed it. You’re not feeding your laser with Pinterest searches and cold calls.