Description
You've found local businesses that need custom apparel, reached out to them, and maybe even had a few great conversations. So why aren't those businesses actually placing orders?
Maybe they told you they'd keep your information. Maybe they loved your work but never followed up. Or maybe you sent them a message and never heard anything back!
**Just because a local business isn't ordering from you doesn't mean your prices are too high or your products aren't good enough!**
In today's Makers & Movers Podcast, we're kicking off a NEW three-part series called **From Local Connections to Paying Customers!**
Last week, we showed you how to find local businesses that could use custom apparel and how to approach them without sounding like a pushy salesperson. This week, we're taking the next step and focusing on how to turn those opportunities into actual paying customers.
**5 Things We're Covering:**
1. **You're Contacting Businesses That Don't Actually Need Shirts:** Learn how to recognize a legitimate apparel opportunity instead of wasting time contacting every business in town.
2. **You're Reaching Out at the Wrong Time:** Understand when businesses typically purchase apparel and why timing can make a difference.
3. **You Don't Understand How They Buy Apparel:** Learn why existing suppliers, purchasing requirements, and ordering processes can prevent a sale.
4. **They Haven't Seen Enough to Trust Your Business:** Discover how to use real examples of your work and a professional ordering process to build customer confidence.
5. **You're Ending Conversations Without a Clear Next Step:** Stop letting interested prospects disappear without knowing what needs to happen next.
Whether you're pressing DTF transfers from your spare bedroom, creating custom rhinestone apparel, or running a growing T-shirt business from your garage, these tips can help you make better use of your time when pursuing local customers.
**FREE WORKBOOK — LOCAL FAVORITE STARTER WORKBOOK**
Last week, we released our FREE Local Favorite Starter Workbook inside The Decorated Life Community.
We challenged you to identify five real businesses or organizations in your community that could potentially purchase custom apparel. Today, we're taking that list further by evaluating which businesses actually have a reason to order, when they might need apparel, and what could be preventing them from becoming customers.
If you haven't downloaded the workbook yet, join the FREE side of The Decorated Life Community:
https://www.patreon.com/thedecoratedlife
**PAID MEMBER BONUS — LOCAL FAVORITE COMPLETE WORKBOOK**
Paid Decorated Life Community members have access to the expanded workbook with additional training and exercises covering prospect research, identifying decision-makers, customer introductions, demonstrating your value, building relationships, and a seven-day action plan.
**THIS WEEK'S 3-PART MAKERS & MOVERS SERIES: FROM LOCAL CONNECTIONS TO PAYING CUSTOMERS**
Monday: 5 Reasons Local Businesses Aren't Ordering Shirts From You
Wednesday: How to Turn an Interested Local Business Into a Paying Customer
Friday: Stop Starting Over Every Week to Find Shirt Customers
**QUESTION OF THE DAY:**
Have you ever approached a local business that seemed interested in your custom apparel but NEVER actually placed an order?
Did they disappear after receiving a quote, tell you they'd keep your information, or simply stop responding? And did you ever figure out why?
Tell us in the comments! We'd love to hear your experiences.
**SHOP THE RHINESTONE WORLD**
Rhinestones, HTV, apparel decorating supplies, tools, and more.
https://www.TheRhinestoneWorld.com
#MakersAndMovers #TShirtBusiness #CustomApparel #DTFTransfers #HomeBasedBusiness #SmallBusinessTips
**SHOP THE RHINESTONE WORLD**
Rhinestones, HTV, apparel decorating supplies, tools, and more.
https://www.TheRhinestoneWorld.com
#MakersAndMovers #TShirtBusiness #CustomApparel #DTFTransfers #ApparelDecorating #SmallBusinessTips
Shop The Rhinestone World:
https://www.TheRhinestoneWorld.com
FREE SHIPPING on qualifying orders over $99 after discounts and before shipping.
Subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss Bling Night Live every Wednesday at 7:00 PM CST and all of the other training, tutorials, business conversations, and live shows from The Rhinestone World.
Want to keep learning with us? Join our YouTube Memberships and find the level that fits you: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9k3KEjKJPqtoG-3CWyROHA/join
Join The Decorated Life on Patreon and connect with us as you build your apparel decoration business: https://www.patreon.com/thedecoratedlife