Although the world is going digital around us, there are some things that really cannot be replaced by a digital counterpart and the trophy retail business is an example of one such business. Trophies for sporting, academic and business excellence are a traditional constant in Western society and continue to be used as in the past. Individuals considering entering the trophy business need to build or acquire a trusted customer base of academic organizations, sports clubs, and corporations, for which they present and enter their annual or occasional awards.
Promoting the business through advertising will help build the existing customer base and attract new customers from the general public for items such as christening mugs, 21st glasses, and wedding and anniversary plaques. In the past, trophy companies offered simple plaques, medals, and figurine trophies, but advancement in technologies has allowed the introduction of innovative ideas for awards that include crystal, marble, glass, wood, and composites, providing a wider range. options for customers and even environmentally friendly. materials. There are some sidelines that you can include, such as display cabinets and a design service. You can have display cases built to customer specifications, for individual awards, or for award collections. Desk prizes, designed as stationary business card holders or caddies, are examples of additional activities that can be marketed in the business world and also sold online. Always keep a good variety of items on display in your store for customers who need a trophy or award today.
Sports clubs are one of the leading buyers of cups, trophies and award plaques, so it is a good idea to contact all the local sports clubs in your area when taking over your business, announcing that the business is now is in new hands. Annual meetings with existing customers are recommended to keep up with changing trends, giving the company the opportunity to show off new lines and advertise special offers.
Every trophy business should have reliable suppliers, so you need to do a thorough research to find several wholesalers who supply the products you want to market to your clientele. A wide range of options is always attractive to prospective buyers, whatever market you are serving, so be sure to locate wholesalers with quality merchandise and reliable delivery service.
A trophy business generally includes an engraving and engraving machine that is fully computerized and can handle a variety of font styles and sizes and requires no special design skills. Available fonts and styles can be printed on paper for in-store display and in your brochures. A display of available trophies is also important both in catalog form and on shelf examples. Trophies and plaques should be available in budget designs as well as higher quality designs to meet the needs of a variety of budgets. Gold and silver plated products should always be available as long as they provide that high quality option.
Each trophy store should have a website attached to complement the storefront and attract business from other parts of the country. The website should be maintained and kept up to date to help the business adapt to the times and ideally should include a blog for SEO purposes. If a website already exists for the business you are looking for, it should be given a new look so that customers can see that the business has changed hands. Delivering brochures to the mailbox can also be a good way to let the community know that you have taken over the business, and additional advertising in local newspapers is another way to promote your business.
Include any product lines that will make your trophy business stand out and give the business individuality. This may require some imagination and an element of risk, but let’s face it, business requires an element of risk to be successful. Choosing a collectible item that interests you will personalize your store and also produce another line of business to promote. Because a trophy shop sells awards for excellence, its own reputation for excellence must also be realized.