After developing products and setting prices, the focus shifts to reaching Brooklyn’s $100 profit goal. The first step? Building a list of potential customers.
Building a Prospect List
Brooklyn created a list of about 15 names pretty quickly – family and friends who might be interested in her homemade scrubs. This served dual purposes: it was a forecasting exercise and a sales tracking tool linked to her P&L statement.
Alternative Sales Strategies
Beyond her personal network, we explored several other ways to reach customers:
- Posting on Facebook community groups
- Setting up neighborhood stands
- Operating at garage sales
- Posting flyers at local shops
I recommended creating a business email address rather than registering a domain initially. Keep costs low while you’re learning.
Selling to Strangers
A practical opportunity arose when Brooklyn’s grandmother held a closet sale. This gave Brooklyn the chance to pitch to strangers – people she’d never met before.
Though initially introverted about approaching unfamiliar adults, this experience pushed her comfort zone in exactly the way it needed to. Selling to people you know is one thing. Selling to strangers is where real growth happens.
Preparation Matters
To prepare, Brooklyn created printed handouts describing product ingredients and benefits. Having something tangible to hand people made the conversations easier and more professional.
Word-of-mouth marketing is a powerful way to get the message out about a product. Brooklyn’s first customer testimonial proved this – happy customers become your best salespeople.
Results
The outing proved successful: Brooklyn completed 4 sales and accumulated $60 toward her $100 goal. Phone calls were planned as next steps to reach her target.
Not bad for a 9-year-old entrepreneur making her first cold sales.