| Are you an outgoing person who likes to
meet and befriend new people? Would you like to personally welcome your new neighbors and
help them acquaint themselves with the community and the local businesses? Then
“Welcome Service” is the perfect venture for you!
In this profession you get paid to personally welcome new
residents in your community and provide them with a free welcome bag which contains ads,
coupons and freebies from the local businesses along with useful information regarding the
neighborhood.
Interested in starting your own welcome service business?
The following checklist will guide you through the setting up process with ease.
1. Creation of Business Plan
The creation of the business plan is the first step to be
taken when starting a venture no matter how small it may be. A business plan helps you to
guide your business in the correct path. Information such as the business history,
business summary, designing and production plans and financial plans should be noted here.
2. Finding Your Target Market
A welcome service need not be focused only on new
residents. You can offer your services to newly wed couples, families with new babies,
students, etc. Before starting off on your venture you should research and find out your
target market in your community. For example, if there is a university located in your
area, your target market can be the students. Since every year, new students shift into
your community.
3. Searching for Sponsors/Local Businesses
Sponsors play a major role in your venture, since you are
paid by them. Your local businesses would be willing to sign up with you as you are
providing them with inexpensive and personalized target marketing. Your sponsors could
range from grocery shops, greeting card stores and barber shops to sports centers, movie
theaters and local banks. Selecting one or two businesses from each category will give a
privileged feeling to your sponsor as well as making your offer more lucrative.
4. Signing Up Sponsors
After selecting the sponsors the next step would be to sign
up with them. It is important that you properly explain the service which you are offering
and the benefits it would yield to the business owner. Once the business owner is willing
to sponsor your newcomer welcome bag, you can sign up a contract with him/her for a
particular period of time. A contract is extremely beneficial in protecting your interests
as well as your sponsors.
5. Designing the Welcome Bag and Sponsor Ads
You can have loads of fun and excitement designing your
welcome bag. Whether it is a plastic bag or a paper bag, bright and colorful or sleek and
elegant, what shape it should be, all these different choices lies in your hands. The
welcome bag would be a visual representation of your business. But you should always
remember that the main focus should be on the ads in the bag. The designing and printing
of the sponsor ads also should be done by you. You can either use a pre-designed template
for all the ads or design each ad uniquely using the information provided by the sponsors.
6. Fixing the Correct Price
When fixing the price always remember to incorporate all
your venture expenses into it. For example the cost for traveling, printing the ads,
designing the bags, etc. Also you should take into consideration the competitive
advertising rates in the market.
7. Marketing Your Venture
Marketing your services is vital since it enables you to
establish your business and obtain good sponsors. Your welcome bag would be the main
marketing tool. In addition to this you can also utilize business cards, a website,
flyers, marketing letters, etc. to spread the word about your services to your potential
sponsors. |
