Looking to expand my business

if you really want to expand your business then treat it like a business and get a budget rather than focus on free promotion. Get a plan raise some money and grow unless its a hobby?

I have been treating like a hobby but now wanting to move up to treating it like a business. I am looking at ways of cutting costs to make more profit. 

That's a fair point, but it can be a bit like the chicken and the egg, especially for more lifestyle type businesses looking to expand.

But even with free advertising/promotion there are still costs, ie your time (unless you work for free!)

I'd imagine your line of work would be quite receptive to local offline networking groups, or at least 1 or 2 meetings then move on to the next. No point peddling to the same people

If you want to capitalise on xmas cards, then look at bulk. Can/have you approached businesses? Lots of bigger businesses send out supplier cards etc. Can you do designs incorporating commercial logos? Maybe they would be receptive to the charity angle? Big business is very sensitive to be perceived as being a good corporate citizen these days.

Lots of shoe leather, door knocking and making contacts will be the way forward. Waiting for a huge surge from social media will leave you still sitting there next xmas 

Approaching big businesses is exactly what I was thinking. I was also thinking do Estate Agents send a Christmas card to a customer spending their first Christmas in a house they have bought from the Estate Agent? 

How best to approach businesses, e-mail, phone call, post, in person? 

Daunting but feel I will have to come out my comfort zone if I want to get ahead of the game. 

Good idea. Luckily I know somewhere that lists all the approved Estate Agents in the UK 

I think email is a waste of time and will just be seen as spam. Visit local ones in person to gauge reaction and hone your pitch. If it works and they are receptive, cast your net wider and give them a call.

Be polite, courteous and non pushy. If the consensus is your getting nowhere, then knock it on the head and try a new approach.

Unfortunately (as I well know from experience) sat in your comfort zone waiting for leads to come to you will never/rarely happen  Get out there and start pounding the street. If you want some humorous inspiration, just watch a few episodes of the apprentice!

Let us know how you get on 

Cheers Steve, 

Thank you so much for the tips and advice. I am on track this month to hit my retail goal of £800 sales. Last month I achieved £600, I like to stretch myself each month to do more than the previous month.

Cheers. 

Got a new team member just joined my team, business is growing. Onward and upward. 

Happy days, it's all about realistic and achievable goals. Each one you hit is a victory  But when it goes the other way (which it will) analyse why and learn from it.

Rinse and repeat

Great advice Steve. Thanks