Senior citizens are generally not a large marketing segment for mobile detailers or car washers, however, they should not be ignored. You will find in a near by area a seniors-only mobile home park. You will also find square dance clubs and senior centers. All of these places can be extremely good places to look for new business. If you want to accelerate word of mouth advertising, you should meet with people in these groups. Wash cars at senior centers while they play cards. Hand out flyers, etc.
In mobile home parks you should hand out flyers and put flyers on bulletin boards in the recreation rooms. If you wash one mobile home in a mobile home park, the word of mouth will spread the news of your service like wildfire. Next thing you know, you'll be washing every mobile home in the place. Sometimes a simple visit to the park's manager who usually lives on-site is enough to get the ball rolling.
Many senior citizens belong to groups like: veteran's groups, AARP, Masonic Lodges, temples, churches, senior volunteer programs, Shriners Clubs, garden clubs, sewing clubs, antique auto clubs, Audubon Society, arts councils and various political groups. Many of the more affluent seniors play golf and many of the local courses have senior discount days where you can meet the senior crowd. They are usually members of well-known local clubs and organizations; great for word of mouth networking. Many times they will have their cars washed while golfing. Usually most municipal or older golf courses have senior day discounts once per week. Some seniors simply use the driving range during senior day. This is good as it provides good turn over in the parking lot. Every hour new golfers come to hit balls.
Square dances are very popular amongst the older crowd. A city with a population of over 50,000 could have as many as four to five groups. Each group may have a membership of fifteen to one hundred people.
Any city or community worth its salt has a senior center. It is imperative to develop a good working relationship with the program director. She (usually a she) is in contact with all senior groups, activities, field trips and such. Senior centers usually have racks of pamphlets near their entrance with interesting information, schedules of upcoming events and lists of names, phone numbers and addresses of the board of directors of various non-profit organizations throughout the area. You will be amazed at the incredible network seniors have and how fast word of mouth information spreads. Many seniors are involved in more than one group or activity. You may be at a bridge club meeting washing cars one day and the next day you will get called by the instructor at the square dance club. Then the following day you wash cars for a political action committee while volunteers stuff envelopes. This can go on day after day. You can significantly speed up the word of mouth advertising with this segment by showing up at various senior centers.
You must also remember that negative word of mouth topics permeate from these groups too. Don't let this happen to you. Spend an extra minute or two with each senior customer. Ask them if they wouldn't mind giving two or three flyers to their very best friends. Usually they will. Get to know each senior customers by name; you'll be glad you did. Name dropping amongst seniors is great, a they value relationships with friends with much higher regard than the younger crowd does. They will try to help you by offering advise about how you might attain more business and places you might go to. Acknowledge these tidbits even if you think they are ridiculous. It is sometimes the ridiculous things that bring you to a new idea. Even if you don't want any new business, listen anyway. Many of the greatest ideas we ever go to help our company innovate came from talking with seniors with a slightly different perspective than today's rat race.
Accept all tips from seniors even if you think they can't afford it. This is one of the greatest compliments they can give you. It means they accept you. This is not an easy thing for a senior to do, especially since younger generations constantly fail to even acknowledge their existence and fail to meet their work ethic expectations. The gap has been widened before you got there and it is your job to close the gap. By uniting the seniors and your company and uniting the kids of the multitude of fundraising groups you help, you can unite the entire community. You can be something everyone can talk about. Grandparents and grandkids can all talk about your company.
Too get information on car wash fundraisers, search Google; "car wash fundraisers"
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
personalized cleaning services Des Plaines ..First you have to start with knowing your budget and... Read More
The challenges of the small business owner are well documented.... Read More
Why would you use an event pass?Event passes are often... Read More
Why should you always maintain a good report with a... Read More
By outsourcing to skilled professionals you'll be able to grow... Read More
If you own a mobile car washing, pressure washing or... Read More
The stock market is still on a wild roller coaster... Read More
The modern Franchise business model and the much different business... Read More
A solopreneur I know disappears from my radar screen for... Read More
Here are just a few ways to increase and diversify... Read More
A Brilliant Marketing Idea... sounds great but what is it?... Read More
Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who... Read More
You know what makes me really happy? Drinking a Starbucks... Read More
I was floored! I couldn't believe what they were saying!... Read More
Hi, Charles...here, Your Cap and t-shirt guy From Texas. How... Read More
The following tips have come from a wide variety of... Read More
If you're just ramping up your small business email newsletter,... Read More
Sexual Harassment is a disturbing part of employment life in... Read More
Being a small or home-based business owner can be loads... Read More
Whether it has been thrust upon you by external market... Read More
There is a Batting Cages Business for those people who... Read More
Discover How Specialized Cost Containment Creates A New Win-Win Position... Read More
If you interviewed business owners of failed businesses, a majority... Read More
Maximum efficiency in the cleaning industry is a key to... Read More
Concrete cleaning can be a lucrative business to start. Here... Read More
family-safe home cleaners Arlington Heights ..No matter your age or station in life, we all... Read More
There's been a recent rise in the number of elderly... Read More
If you are in the pressure washing business and are... Read More
So you want to start a business but you don't... Read More
Many small businesses do quite well due to the blood,... Read More
My 16 year-old daughter said, "Gee Dad! You look just... Read More
WHEN you are operating or planning a small business that... Read More
Winning small and home based businesses today must continually shake... Read More
A cherished business doctrine is that growth must be a... Read More
At first glance, this topic may seem a little repetitive,... Read More
TRUTH IN THE LAWN MOWING INDUSTRYWe do not wish to... Read More
Maximum efficiency in the cleaning industry is a key to... Read More
Your product is dying. With the same inevitability that we... Read More
Most small businesses will not even try to advertise on... Read More
On Monday the Department of Corporations in California revoked franchise... Read More
Debt collection letters--an overview"Debt collection letter" in the singular may... Read More
The last time I spoke and went into a bit... Read More
One overlooked individual in the process of taking a company... Read More
Company mottos can easily be printed on a business card.Sometimes... Read More
Many people ask how many graphs or charts they should... Read More
I'll be the first to admit that I went a... Read More
Franchising Directory Sites-Paid Advertising, Lead Generation for FranchisingFranchising Directory Sites... Read More
One of the biggest fears people have about starting a... Read More
Business consulting opportunities might be just what your are looking... Read More
Q: I really want to start my own business, but... Read More
Small Business |