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Selling soft plastics online need help from anyone doing so

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Im starting a website working on it right now I have lots of different styles of baits and colors. I was wondering how many sales most people average in a week??? Do you get alot of orders? Please let me know before i get too much time and money tied up in this venture.

Thanks

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Tim

Thats a difficult question to answer, alot of people dont like to give that info out for some reason or another.

I know a few guys that do extreamly well selling soft baits on line and I know some that do even batter selling them offline.

there are also some that dont do so well.

Main thing is start off slow and work it up slow, dont go into debt over something you have no control over.

Delw

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I'm just starting out too, had the same question...

Not ready to sell, but friends and some other people

want my bait... I think if the bait works, and is priced right,

it could take off.... word of mouth, or who knows! I'm new to this!

But I wonder how well some of these guys do selling them...

I also wonder how many guys make, sculpt there own stuff!!! I do, and it's

not easy coming up with new ideas! I have a brother in law who just bought a tackle store and he is not interested in putting some of my baits in his shop, he actually looked at one and said what the *&^! Is this!!!

Had me on the floor laughing!! Maybe someone will right in and say how they r doing!

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Honestly, it's a feast or famine business......for me anyway. You learn to prepare for the famine part of the year by saving money when you're busy. It's really as simple as that. Del hit the nail on the head.......don't break the bank building your business. Start slow, let as many friends and fishermen know you're selling plastics, give out business cards, flyers, etc.,........and now for the hard part........give out "freebies". Take some of your products to tournaments, give some to bass clubs, etc. It's a sad thing to say, but there are so many guys doing this now that the average fisherman doesn't want to take the risk with a new company without giving the product a try or looking at samples first. Same thing applies to stores. This is not meant to discourage you in any way. It's just reality. I did a search on the internet the other day for "hand poured plastics" and I couldn't believe the number of companies out there now; probably about 3 times as many as the last time I checked a couple years ago. You have to come up with a good selling point; one that will let potential customers know why your product is as good as or better than the others out there. Always stand behind your product, don't sell yourself short, and most importantly.......keep it fun. When it becomes a burden or cuts into your own fishing time or time with the family, then it's time to get out.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Chris

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My suggestion is just like everyone else. Start slow with few styles and colors. Then build it up a little at a time. I cant believe how far we have come in 2 years, but its been one headache and pain right after another.

Be sure you know ALL of your costs......cover those at minimum with your sales.

I agree with Al, its feast or famine for us as well. However its a fun business and you get to meet all kinds of great people.

Basically I truely believe this business is all about marketing. If you have a decent product and the right people say its the best product.....others will believe it too.... I know for a fact that alot of those pros endorsed by the big named companies use some of "TU" members stuff, but never say anything about it because we cant write them big checks...... Its a harsh reality, but its what we have to deal with.....

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True! I have given out a ton of baits and it takes a lot of time on the internet and different forums. Getting a pro staff is half the battle but most want in on the pro staff for a name and free baits. This is where you go to a "You work for me and I work for you". Basically you give a cut rate to the new pro staffer until you start to see sales on thier end and then you know you have a guy in your corner. You can either give them away if the profits are going to be good or give them a better discount. People will not take advantage of you if they are liggett. I get a bunch of people asking all the time for pro staff.Some you just know are there for free stuff and a name, weed them out. Also spread the country out . Different parts of the country yields different ways of fishing, colors and types. Make sure that your pro staff is spread through the country and Canada. You will know within a couple of months if a guy is there for you. With Articles and promoting your baits.

The main thing is to get your baits in the hands of Anglers. I give out a ton of baits. But I have backed off due to there are a ton of people that have used my baits. I will promote free baits again in the winter months again to get the new members of forums as well.

Sponsor some local tournaments where not the winner gets your baits but the losers do. The winners already know what to fish with. It is the people who did not catch fish need some thing new and will definatly try your baits more than the winners.

Different baits, colors and sizes are the ticket. try new things and comunicate with your pro staff. especially the ones that work for you.

Timing is everything. I was lucky enough to hook up with Megastrike and all of my baits are now fortified with the purest formula of Megastrike. Because Mr. Uhrig believed in my baits and system. Go to shows and sell yourself to scent manufacturers. give out samples. mainly if you have a product they will find you as well. both go hand in hand.

Plus I have a fellow Danny Brunato in Canada who is a web designer, tournament angler, and believed in my dream and baits and he built me a killer website. Sounds like a lot but there is a lot of work and it doesn't come over night.

Those, are just some of the tribulations of the tip of the ice berg and some of the edgy parts of getting your baits out. Being honest with pictures, catches and stories and among other things. Works out better than if you told a huge tale about fish being caught. It can blow back in your face. I believe good things do come to good people. This is a very fun Business/ hobby. Just keep that in mind and you meet and talk to some very interesting people along the way.

Good luck

www.bearpawshandpouredbaits.com

Bearpaw

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