Beer Label Templates
Brainstorming a new business concept
As I said before, I like to mix the concept of development lessons with real-life opportunity. I have a new day today for you to learn and possibly win.
A few weeks ago a friend invited my wife and I to go with them to a comedy club. When we sat to the table with a drink, our conversation turned to a neon beer sign on the wall. I told him that if he ever built a bar in my house, I would have a neon sign of beer on the wall behind the bar. My friend mentioned that he just lost a purchase at an auction to a friend. A Beer "Fosters" one.
We have a mutual friend whose last name is Foster, who happens to be finishing off your basement and putting in a bar. Then I started thinking, would not that be cool with a neon beer in his bar, and the name of the beer is the same as his surname. I would like one. Then I thought – I bet a lot of people like bars a neon beer with his name. Maybe not even have to have a bar to want one. I know things personalized or custom is very popular. Just think how many people have personalized license plates on his car. Neon is also very popular. Now I realize I'm in a very good idea.
Then I remembered an article mail order from the sixties that made a kid a lot of money. (Know your history MO) sold the family crests and coat of arms hanging posters on the wall – by mail to lists of people who share the same surname. The same basic concept as the idea. Had selected a popular name, then you have a list of everyone he could with the same surname. Then he had his custom-made for the particular surname and sold like crazy. When he stopped making money was the last name to the next.
What if someone was to offer beer neon signs personalized with peoples names. From here you can get a mailing list of people selected by the surname, which have either shown interest in things customized, have bought supplies bar, or beer making supplies. (There are other criteria they could be looking too)
Then send a personalized and limited time offer these people. An offer with a beautiful picture of a and sign only beer that bares his name. Showing how well you would see on your wall behind your bar. Would not your friends will be impressed, which is a topic of conversation.
The initial costs to test the idea's good too. By focusing on a surname at the time, you only need to design and make a sign of the displays on the principle used for promotional photos. The template for the signal would be used over and over.
Your upfront costs only to test the idea is the printing, distribution and rental list. You may even be able to use one of those CD to develop a telephone mailing list to try. The product is also unique enough to get some free press.
My next thought goes to future sales, what to sell these people to come. What about his own six-pack of beer. Bottles of beer luxury labels personalized with your name as the maker. Or maybe personalized mugs of beer or cocktail napkins. Maybe you could tie a beer at the micro feature month. Yes, a lot of options here.
Until so good. But what about those signs made? Then he thought of all the neon sign makers I've seen in the city. I bet one or more of these artists are looking for more work. If I were to broach the idea of one of them, and ask if they would be interested in design as a signal that could be interchangeable with different names (beginning with his own) with the ability to produce and sell much more, I would like to find someone happy to do it.
You just witnessed a flurry of ideas that developed a commodity to make money with direct marketing. One that will be cheaper to try and have some great potential. For those of you who are looking to develop your thing, remember to consider the possible use of the powers of other peoples. In most cases, in combination with anyone help a lot. We must also keep an eye open for what is popular and how they can apply to other things. We know that personalization is always popular, we see examples everyday. We also see that the neon is again very popular. So are the micro beers. This is history repeating itself. Learn from it.
Yes! Yes! Yes! But this firm idea of making money for someone? I can not predict the success or complete failure, nobody can. Success depends on more things than just the product. But this idea has many strong points. Just point that if I had the time, I like to try. The losses are minimal if not working. If it works, total universe of potential customers is fantastic. In my opinion, the rewards outweigh the risks.
The only problem I see is the shipping, glass is fragile. But you could make a positive output signal is sending in a large elegant wooden box, perhaps stencilled with the name gives it value … and that means its importance. Perhaps the crate can also be sometimes a wine rack. All said and done, the launch of any new concept, division, or a catalog, ends with someone who has the guts and the decision making … Do It!
As a final reminder, remember that this is a demonstration in the exchange of ideas that can be applied to many things, not have to work in neon beer signs, just plug the concept in the tool box of your mind for future reference to apply to your own particular business and thought processes.
About the Author
John Schulte is a Small Business Consultant and Direct Marketing Strategist, President of the National Mail Order Association, NMOA and author of the books: “Direct Marketing Toolkit for Small and Home based Business” http://www.nmoa.org/DirectMarketingToolkit/ and “How to Create Successful Small Business Advertising” http://www.nmoa.org/catalog/advertisingguide.asp