As many of you know, my daughter Laura Cerrano has been a Feng Shui Consultant in New Paltz for the last several years. After studying and going to client's homes, businesses, apartments and offices as well as studying with experts in the field of Feng Shui, she has been doing Feng Shui Consultations in New York City and Long Island.
I am thrilled and so is she. She needed confidence to step out and do it on her own and she's finally gotten it. But she has other interests and loves as well. She recently became a Certified Personal Trainer and was seeking some part time work in the evenings while she is home on Long Island for the summer.
Not thinking much of it and off to get some applications at places she likes for personal training, she wore a T Shirt I had ordered from Vista Print. I would never wear it but she enjoys it. It caught someone's eye at the very first place she stopped and they began to ask her questions about it.
She came home from that interview with an application to fill out-and a new client for a Feng Shui Consultation on Long Island. Today she wore it again, this time just to pick up some groceries. Today she was stopped by two people in Waldbaum's who began to question her about Feng Shui. One took her card and will be calling to schedule an appointment.
Are we missing the simple and super inexpensive ways of advertising? I had never gotten car magnets or lettering...which I ordered today. How many of us are working SO hard when just wearing a Tee Shirt can get us so much recognition-AND work? I know that many of you know about Vista Print, but are you using some of their FREE OFFERS? It seems to me if they're making a hit in New York (where sometimes people are not often known for being exactly "friendly,") it's likely to work where you are, too. MY Tee Shirst is on order : )
Carole Provenzale Founded Feng Shui Long Island and New York City in 1997 and has been a Certified Feng Shui Consultant since that time. Along with Laura Cerrano, Feng Shui Consultations are available in New York City (Manhattan), all of Long Island and New Paltz, New York for homes, offices, Businesses, renovations, pre-purchase and new construction.
Glad the T shirt is working for Laura, Carole. Many name brand Realtor brokerages have casual knit shirts with the logos embroidered on them, so definitely wearing your brand or having your message on your clothes helps. I was in a niche sandwich shop the other day and every worker was branded with the name of the store with their shirts.
Hi Carole...Your daughter has a sweet smile. That alone should get her plenty of jobs.
Now, this t-shirt, why no photo of it?
Kathleen
Ok, Carole, you are starting to freak me out! First the parallel Fullerton Loop and Central Park blogs and now Vista Print? I seriously just got done ordering post cards from there and came straight to active rain! Crazy.
What does your shirt say? I am curious! Most people are afraid of Real Estate agents. I think that we think we are going to make them commit to something if they ask us a question.
I am not one for puting a magnet on my car through. Just me I guess.
Your daughter is so pretty!
Carole, nice ThemThem to Laura, Congrats on the 2 from 1......
Carole, I never thought about that... That is a great Idea. Do you think that wearing a short with your Real Estate Company (or some funny quote) would help our business????
Hi Carole,
I came over here from Duane's post on the Light Up My Life game to learn about you and this is the first post I read. Congratulations to your daughter for her success in personal marketing. We are encouraged to wear our name tags as Realtors and it does work when I remember it. I have gotten clients from grocery lines, school events, etc. The nice thing about it is they ask you for help without you having to say anything.
I think we all get wrapped up in the newest and latest technology and social networking online and forget that our business is a people business.
Your daughter obviously didn't forget :-)
Great idea, I have a few shirts with logo on them. But.......I don't look like Laura. Congratulations to her for bringing in business wearing a T-Shirt.
Carole ~ I ordered one of those T-shirts free when Vistaprint first came out with them. I wear mine rarely, but only because I had my company name and the design on the left side and didn't really think people would see it. I'm going to wear it now and see what, if anything, happens. Thanks for the reminder!
Yes name badges and tee shirts are effective market tools; and usually the conversation is started by the potential client. Caole your daughter is beautiful.
Hi Carole,
Laura is so lovely, she would attract attention no matter what she wears! The t-shirts are certainly an inexpensive way to advertise. I've never ordered them but I have thought about it. Thanks for telling us about this experience.
You have a beautiful daughter, Carole. And I'm sure you are very proud of her! Kudos to her for being so successful in such a short time.
I think I shall look into a couple of promotional items like this. Who knows ---- could turn into something big! Thanks for sharing - and congratulations to both of you!
Hi Carole ... I would not look as good in the t-shirt; your daughter is beautiful. It is a great idea for your business. I tried wearing a branded t-shirt, and it had the opposite effect ... people moved away ... lol. I think it's the difference between Feng Shui & real estate! Maybe, I'll give it another shot. You never know.
Carole First of all your daughter is very cute!!! For some reason I thought your kids were younger!!! Second please add the link so I can get me my T-Shirts !!! Love the idea!
Gary, I honestly never would have thought a Tee Shirt would generate so much interest! I ordered another.
Kathleen, It just happened, I didn't get to download it yet (I usually do a batch of pictures at once) but promise to show it soon.
Cristal, I love these "coincidences" because I don't believe in coincidences :) I think you never know who you're going to meet in life, Cristal, I'm going to start wearing one!
Duane, I loved your post and hope everyone visits it, what a KIND thing to do!
Arina, She wore it only twice and has been stopped BOTH times. I think those are good odds, it certainly can't hurt to try.
Paddy, Thank you for visiting, Duane's post was wonderful and I hope people go and visit it! I never would have thought this would have been effective but it's a simple advertising method that seems to be working :)
Kris, It's funny, my daughter dresses very casually and I don't think thought much of it when she put it on--she does now!
Kathy, Mine was printed on the front and it's very simple but people are noticing it. I'm going to wear mine when I get it, this was one I had ordered but hadn't warn either.
Jennifer, Thank you. I would have not thought this would have been a marketing tool! Turns out I was wrong. It's making me rethink the pens :)
Cynthia, Thank you. I would order it, it's free for one thing and certainly wearing it to do everyday things just might cause people to strike up a converstation with you.
Carol, I am very proud of her, thank you. I'm going to rethink the smaller things I haven't gotten...pens and more magnets. I know people keep magnets. This was an unexpected surprise.
Marie, I'd try it again. Even meeting people and talking to them will make them remember you when they need to sell or buy. Keep your business cards handy!
Fernando, I thought you would have known about this site. Sign up and they will send you free offers....and you just pay shipping! http://www.VistaPrint.com And get magnets and business cards, they will come with the free offers!
Hi Carole...Great Story, Mother Like Daughter...She wil do well. Good luck....Competing with her, you'll need a Tee shirt that says "Mum's do it best with Feng Shui"
Have a Great weekend!
Hi Carole, I think a lot of us lose sight of the fact that just because we have a ton of new techie ways to market ourselves, that doesn't mean we shouldn't use what also worked before. The fact that your daughter is a real cutie doesn't hurt but since it also resulted in 2 consultations, that alone speaks volumes about it's effectiveness.
Hi Carole...I checked back to see if there was a picture of Laura and the t-shirt. Glad I did. You did a good job with both!
Kathleen
Carol...I do try to remember my pin and name tag...but don't always!
Good for her!
Carole,
What a beautiful photo of Laura! She's a wonderful young woman and daughter and it sounds like she has the whole marketing thing down pat. Please convey to her my congratulations...she's amazing (like Mother like daughter).
I've never heard of Vista Print; thanks for talking about them and proding the link....
Jo
Laura is stunningly beautiful Carole! Great post - we have golf shirts, jackets, golf towels on our bags and extra to give out and even golf balls all with our logo and website info :)
they work - people do ask and call :)
Happy she is doing so well generating business!!! - thanks for the website - I will check out to see if their prices compare to the printer we use in Indy.
Sincerely,
Grace
Hi Carole,
Laura is so pretty and a beautiful smile how could she not get job offers! Good luck on your future endeavors Laura!!
Fred, We're lucky, we don't compete we work together--she gets as attached to clients as I do :)
Marti, I wouldn't have thought it possible but that shirt has certainly generated interest. People have stopped her just to ask what it is....(Mine is on the way :)
Kathleen, I knew you wanted to see it although it didn't come out as well as I would have liked....but it works! And it was nice of you to come back, I appreciate it.
Joan, Get a Tee Shirt, it can't hurt. Even if you just grocery shop, you never know!
Jo, Thank you, Laura is a sweetheart. I love VistaPrint, I'm sorry you didn't know about it. Oftentimes things are free (which is the only reason I got the Tee Shirt :) I know people love magnets and I get many supplies from them.
Grace, If you sign up they will start sending free offers....all you'll pay is shipping. And I like the golf ball idea :)
Trace, That is so kind of you, she asked me to thank you...and I do Thank you Very Much!
Carole, great story!
One day my mother had a chiropractor appointment and she insisted on going with her. I happened to leave the office in a hurry and left my name badge on, I usually take it off, since I'm thinking "I won't be working right now". As we are leaving, making the next appointment, the receptionist ask us where are we from, and one thing lead to the next, before I knew it she said, "My good friends are coming from Florida tomorrow and they want to buy a house here in TX, they've been pre-approved by the bank and don't have a realtor, do you tink you can help them? WOW!!! I love my name badge, it really paid for itself!!!
www.carolinazepeda.com
Carolina, It's so funny that we are all focused on "high tech" things and worrying about our Google Ranking when we might be missing the really small things! I ordered one myself and will be wearing it when I'm doing running around :) Thanks for your comment.
Hi Carole,
You both are very welcome!!