Off-line sales tips needed

[iamjohns]

Could do with some advice on this. As I sell bio-food I don't really need on-line marketing tips, but more of the traditional styles. I have ads in a couple of magazines and have been dropping leaflets through doors like there is no tomorrow and have appeared at markets and car boots just to get my name out there. Today I have even been giving out free samples.
AS all this is eating into my funds with limited returns I could do with some ideas that might just inspire me.

[JBMedia]

A couple extra ideas. Try and make some business cards for yourself, and make sure to always carry them on you.

You can do quite a few things with these business cards. The one I'd suggest highly is visiting any local and/or close to you health food stores. Explain to them your service and ask them if it would be possible to leave business cards and/or maybe flyers for potential customers to see. Keep in mind, not everyone will say yes. It is part of the marketing game, but you cannot let this discourage you, you need to keep moving on and keep trying other exploits.

Another reason business cards would be good is because if you ever randomly meet someone that wants either your phone number, or you got on the conversation of your products somehow with certain individuals, you'll always have a brief description of what it is you're selling with your phone number to give out to them at all time ;)

As far as flyers, think about places in your town/city that are HIGHLY populated. In other words, visited frequently. You can always post up flyers on Publix's grocery stores bulletins, if you have them where you're at, and that's a place everyone will go. Try to think of certain areas like so. People need groceries every day, therefore lots of people will be going there.

I understand you said you're not looking for on-line marketing tips, but have you ever considered opening up an online store as well? It would definitely open up your options as far as marketing and more than likely give you better sales overall.
Those are just some basic ideas though.
Hope they help you some :)
-Jesse

EDIT: Just a tip. Think outside the box with your marketing for a minute. If it's something that you would think "turns you off" to an idea. Than maybe it isn't such a good idea. Think about how you would feel or if you would even consider re-looking at an ad with some of the various methods you've been using. It might help you weed out some possible marketing faults you have and give you more time to focus on new ones and possibly even better ones :)

[Fergal]

...I sell bio-food...

Who are your target customers? Do you sell direct to the public or through retailers?

If you can answer those questions we can give you more helpful advice and suggestions.

Have you considered selling at farmers markets or other food markets?

[iamjohns]

Who are your target customers? Do you sell direct to the public or through retailers?

If you can answer those questions we can give you more helpful advice and suggestions.

Have you considered selling at farmers markets or other food markets?

i sell direct to the public but i will think about farmers markets

[Fergal]

i sell direct to the public but i will think about farmers markets

How do you sell at present? Do you have your own shop, or do you deliver door to door?

When giving out free samples you might consider including a discount voucher for a future purchase. The advantage of this is that you are gently creating a habit in your customers' buying behaviour.

First they get the free product with a voucher. Some of them will enjoy the product and be keen to purchase again and a proportion of them will not want to waste the voucher so they will make their first purchase from you. Hopefully they will continue to the next stage with a full price purchase.

Could you do food tasting demonstrations at local food stores or shopping malls?

[AlpinNirav]

A recent study by the Dieringer Research Group found that online product research is leading to more off-line than online purchases. While online sales increased 14% from 2003 to 2004, Internet-influenced off-line sales increased 31% during that time. With Internet-influenced off-line sales accounting for US$180.7 billion, companies can gain a competitive advantage by having a Web site that is easy to use and provides consumers with relevant and up-to-date product information.

[Fergal]

...Internet-influenced off-line sales...

Now there's a phrase we'll most probably start to hear a lot more often.